JP6215600B2 - Wireless information collection system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless information collection system that collects detection information such as gas, water, or electricity usage.

  It is equipped with a wireless slave unit connected to a gas, water, or electricity meter, and a wireless master unit capable of wireless communication with the wireless slave device, and the detection information such as the meter collected by the wireless slave device is transmitted via the wireless master device. A wireless information collection system for transmitting to a center side device is known. A wireless information collection system is also known that includes a relay device that relays communication between a wireless master device and a wireless slave device.

  Here, in the wireless information collection system, when a wireless slave device is newly installed, the wireless slave device needs to be preliminarily associated with a wireless master device or a relay device that performs communication. In view of this, a wireless information collection system has been developed for the purpose of smoothly performing the association processing between the wireless slave unit and the counterpart terminal (for example, Patent Document 1).

  In the wireless telemeter system described in Patent Document 1, it is described that a wireless slave device and a wireless master device or a relay device are associated with each other in the following flow. First, the wireless slave device transmits a broadcast message including the identification code of the wireless master device registered by the external setting device or the like to a plurality of counterpart terminals. Next, the wireless master device or relay device that has received the message analyzes the contents of the message, and in the wireless master device, when the identification code included in the message matches its own identification code, Transmits a reply message to the wireless slave device when the identification code included in the message matches the identification code of the wireless master device associated with itself. Then, the wireless slave device transmits a message to the selected one of the wireless master device or the relay device that has received the reply message, and the wireless master device or the relay device that has received the message is a wireless Sends a marriage reply message to the slave unit and displays the marriage result by itself.

JP 2009-98746 A (published May 7, 2009)

  However, in the wireless telemeter system described in Patent Document 1, the wireless slave device transmits a message message to only one partner terminal that actually performs a match among the wireless master device and the relay device that are preparing for the match. It was something to do. That is, in the conventional wireless information collecting system, no consideration is given to the partner terminal that does not engage with the wireless slave device even during preparation of the association. Will continue to wait even after having partnered with other counterpart terminals, and cannot immediately proceed to other processing.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a wireless information collection system in which the process of matching between a wireless slave and a counterpart terminal is improved.

  A wireless information collection system according to the present invention includes a wireless master device connected to a center side device, a wireless slave device connected to a detection device, and transmitting detection information detected by the detection device to an associated terminal; In the wireless information collecting system, the wireless slave unit receives a message including identification information of the counterpart terminal from a plurality of counterpart terminals, and transmits identification information of one terminal that performs a match among the plurality of counterpart terminals. Broadcast transmission to a plurality of counterpart terminals.

  According to the present invention, the counterpart terminal in the preparation state for the wireless slave unit knows the success or failure of the relationship with the wireless slave unit by comparing the received identification information with its own identification information. Therefore, it is possible to provide a wireless information collection system with improved matching processing between the wireless slave unit and the counterpart terminal.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the outline | summary of the radio | wireless information collection system 100 grade | etc., Which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the main structures of the wireless main | base station 110 which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the main structures of the radio | wireless subunit | mobile_unit 130 which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the matching process of the wireless information collection system 100 which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the display which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention and shows the upstream terminal related with the radio | wireless subunit | mobile_unit 130. It is a schematic diagram explaining the outline | summary of the radio | wireless information collection system 100a etc. which concern on Embodiment 5 of this invention.

[Embodiment 1]
A wireless information collection system 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described.
(Configuration of wireless information collection system 100)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of the wireless information collection system 100 and the like. The wireless information collection system 100 includes a wireless master device 110, a relay device 120, and a wireless slave device 130. The wireless information collection system 100 of the present embodiment employs a so-called tree type network topology.

  The wireless master device 110 has a plurality of relay devices 120 and a plurality of wireless slave devices 130 under its control, and is connected to the plurality of relay devices 120 and the plurality of wireless slave devices 130 so that data communication can be performed wirelessly. Yes. The relay device 120 has a plurality of wireless slave devices 130 under its control, and is connected to the wireless slave device 130 so that data communication can be performed wirelessly. That is, the wireless master device 110 is connected to the wireless slave device 130 so that data communication can be performed wirelessly, either directly or via the relay device 120. As the radio, for example, a radio in accordance with the standard “ARIB / STD-T67” can be used.

  Here, the wireless master device 110 and the relay device 120 viewed from the wireless slave device 130 are referred to as upstream terminals. On the other hand, the relay device 120 and the wireless slave device 130 viewed from the wireless master device 110 are referred to as downstream terminals. The wireless master device 110 viewed from the relay device 120 is an upstream terminal, and the wireless slave device 130 viewed from the relay device 120 is a downstream terminal.

  The wireless master device 110 is connected to the center side device 11 via a line 13 so that data communication is possible. The center side device 11 includes an NCU (Network Control Unit) for connecting to a computer and a line 13. The line 13 may be a wired line such as a telephone line, and may be wireless such as a mobile communication network. The wireless slave unit 130 is connected to the meter 12 by wire. The meter 12 detects the usage amount of gas, water, electricity, etc. as detection information, for example.

  By configuring the wireless information collection system 100 as described above, the center side device 11 and the meter 12 are connected via the wireless information collection system 100, so that the center side device 11 can detect the detection information of the meter 12. Can be collected.

(Configuration of wireless master device 110 and wireless slave device 130)
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of the wireless master device 110.

  The wireless master device 110 includes a control unit 111 and a storage unit 112. The control unit 111 controls each unit of the wireless master device 110 based on a program or data stored in the storage unit 112 described later. Moreover, the control part 111 may be provided with the time measuring part which has a function as a timepiece and a timer.

  The storage unit 112 stores various programs executed by the control unit 111, various data used and created when executing the various programs, various data input to the wireless master device 110, and the like. The storage unit includes, for example, a nonvolatile storage device such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), a flash memory, and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and a volatile storage device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) that constitutes a work area. Yes.

  Further, the storage unit 112 includes a local station side ID storage unit 1121 and an other station side ID storage unit 1122. The local station ID storage unit 1121 stores identification information assigned to the local station in advance. The other station-side ID storage unit 1122 stores identification information of the downstream terminal that is associated with the own station by the association process described later. Here, the identification information is information for identifying the own station from other stations, and includes, for example, information indicating numbers, characters, and / or codes.

  The wireless master device 110 further includes a wireless communication unit 113 and an antenna 114. The wireless communication unit 113 performs data communication with other stations.

  The wireless master device 110 further includes a center-side interface unit 115. The center side interface unit 115 is for exchanging information between the wireless master device 110 and the center side device.

  The wireless master device 110 further includes a display unit 116, an operation unit 117, and a power supply unit 118. The display unit 116 displays various types of information, and includes, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode). The operation unit 117 is used to input various types of information to the wireless master device 110 and includes, for example, a DIP (Dual in-line package) switch and other operation buttons. The power supply unit 118 supplies power to the wireless master device 110, and for example, a battery is used.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of the wireless slave device 130. The wireless slave device 130 includes a control unit 131, a storage unit 132, a wireless communication unit 133, an antenna 134, a display unit 136, an operation unit 137, and a power supply unit 138. Each of these configurations has the same function as the corresponding configuration of the wireless master device 110 described above, and a description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the other station side ID storage unit 1322 of the storage unit 132 stores the identification information of the upstream terminal associated with the own station.

  The wireless slave device 130 includes a meter side interface unit 135. The meter side interface unit 135 is for exchanging information between the wireless slave unit 130 and the meter 12.

  The repeater 120 of this embodiment has the same configuration as that of the wireless slave unit, and the description thereof is omitted. In the storage unit of the repeater 120, the identification information of the upstream terminal and the downstream terminal associated with the own station is stored as the identification number of the other station. Moreover, the relay machine 120 has a meter side interface, and when connected to the meter 12, can detect the detection information of the meter 12 to the upstream side terminal.

(Processing flow of wireless information collection system 100)
Next, a processing flow of the wireless information collection system 100 will be described. In the wireless information collection system 100, it is necessary to associate the wireless master device 110 and the relay device 120 or the wireless slave device 130 included in the wireless information collection system 100 before executing the data collection processing. First, the flow of the matching process of the wireless information collection system 100 will be described.

(Flow of marriage processing of wireless information collection system 100)
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of the matching process of the wireless information collection system 100. Below, the case where the radio | wireless subunit | mobile_unit 130 and the upstream terminal 1 are related is demonstrated. Further, it is assumed that the upstream terminal 2 is further present within the wireless communication range of the wireless slave device 130. Here, the upstream terminal 1 and the upstream terminal 2 may be the wireless master device 110 or the relay device 120. In the flowcharts described in FIG. 4 and the subsequent drawings, “step” is represented by “S”. In the sentence, “S” represents “step”.

  When performing the edge processing, first, it is necessary to start the edge mode, which is the preparation state of the edge, in each terminal that performs the edge setting. For example, the match mode may be started by operating the operation unit 117 and the operation unit 137 for each terminal. In addition, for example, when the terminal for starting the edge mode is far away, the edge mode may be started by remote operation from the center device 11 or an external setting device. In the following description, it is assumed that the operation of starting the edge mode is performed in the wireless slave device 130, the upstream terminal 1 and the upstream terminal 2 (S1a, S1b, S1c).

  The wireless slave device 130 broadcasts a message containing the identification information of the local station stored in the local station ID storage unit 1321 to the upstream terminal (S2a). The upstream terminal 1 and the upstream terminal 2 existing within the wireless communication range receive the message transmitted from the wireless slave device 130 (S2b, S2c).

  The upstream terminal 1 and the upstream terminal 2 that have received the message from the wireless slave device 130 transmit a reply message including the identification information of the local station stored in the local station ID storage unit 1121 to the wireless slave device 130 ( S3b, S3c). The wireless slave device 130 receives the reply message transmitted from the upstream terminal 1 and the upstream terminal 2 (S3a).

  The wireless slave device 130 stores the identification information included in the previously received message among the reply messages transmitted from the upstream terminal 1 and the upstream terminal 2 in the other station ID storage unit 1322, so that the upstream Matching processing is performed with the side terminal 1 (S4a). Here, the method of selecting one terminal that performs the matching process from the plurality of upstream terminals from which the wireless slave device 130 has received the reply message is not limited to this. For example, the wireless slave device 130 may detect the radio wave intensity related to the received reply message, and perform the matching process with the upstream terminal where the strongest radio wave intensity is detected. Further, for example, any upstream terminal may be selected by the worker. In this case, the wireless slave device 130 receives an operation from the worker and performs a matching process for the upstream terminal corresponding to the operation. Hereinafter, the description will be continued assuming that the wireless slave device 130 is connected to the upstream terminal 1. The upstream terminal 2 is installed within the wireless communication range of the wireless slave unit 130 and is in the edge mode to perform edge processing with other wireless slave units 130, for example.

  The wireless slave device 130 broadcasts an edge message including identification information of the edged terminal to the upstream terminal (S5a). The upstream side terminal 1 and the upstream side terminal 2 receive the matched message transmitted from the wireless slave unit 130 (S4b, S4c).

  The upstream terminal 1 compares the identification information included in the received message message with the identification information of its own station, and determines that the identification information matches (S5b). Then, the upstream side terminal 1 stores the identification information of the wireless slave device 130 in the other station ID storage unit 1122, thereby performing an association process with the wireless slave device 130 (S6b). Then, the upstream terminal 1 transmits a marriage reply message indicating that the marriage has been completed (S7b). Finally, the upstream terminal 1 displays the success of the match on the display unit 116 (S8b), and ends the match mode. Here, the match success display can be performed, for example, by turning on, blinking, or turning off the LED included in the display unit 116.

  On the other hand, the upstream terminal 2 compares the identification information included in the received message message with the identification information of the local station, and determines that the identification information does not match (S5c). Then, the upstream side terminal 2 displays the failure of the matching on the display unit 116 (S6c), and the upstream side terminal 2 ends the matching mode without performing the matching process with the wireless slave unit 130. Here, the marriage failure display can be performed, for example, by turning on, blinking, or turning off the LED included in the display unit 116.

  The wireless slave device 130 receives the marriage reply message from the upstream terminal 1 (S6a). Then, the wireless slave device 130 performs a match success display on the display unit 136 (S7a), and ends the match mode. Here, the successful match display can be performed, for example, by turning on, blinking, or turning off an LED included in the display unit 136.

  When the upstream terminal 1 is the relay device 120, the relay device 120 sends a message including the identification information of the parent device 110 to which it is associated in addition to its own identification number to the wireless slave device 130. You may send it. In this case, the wireless slave device 130 stores the identification information of the relay device 120 and the identification information of the wireless master device 110 in the other station ID storage unit 1322.

  In addition, when the upstream terminal 1 is the relay device 120, a message including identification information of the wireless slave device 130 for which the matching process has been completed may be transmitted to the wireless master device 110 that is connected.

(Flow of detection information collection by the wireless information collection system 100)
An example of a flow of collecting detection information in the wireless information collection system 100 that is associated as described above will be described.

  The center side device 11 requests the wireless master device 110 to collect the detection information of the meter 12. The requested wireless master device 110 transmits a telegram requesting collection of detection information of the meter 12 connected to the wireless slave device 130 to the downstream terminal. On the other hand, the wireless slave device 130 that has received the message transmits a message including detection information detected by the connected meter 12 to the upstream terminal. Then, the wireless master device 110 transmits the detection information transmitted from the downstream terminal to the center device 11. As described above, the center side device 11 can collect the detection information of the meter 12.

[Embodiment 2]
As a second embodiment of the present invention, a description will be given of a modified example of the edge failure display performed by the wireless slave unit 130 and the upstream terminal that has been edged. In addition, in this embodiment, it is the same as that of Embodiment 1 except the marriage failure display which an upstream terminal performs, and description is abbreviate | omitted except the case where it describes especially.

  In the first embodiment, as an example of the marriage failure display performed by the upstream terminal, the case where the LED included in the display unit 116 of the upstream terminal is turned on, blinked, or turned off has been described. May include a display indicating an upstream terminal associated with the wireless slave device 130. Hereinafter, a specific example of display indicating the upstream terminal associated with the wireless slave device 130 will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a display showing an upstream terminal associated with the wireless slave device 130. In the present embodiment, the display unit 116 of the upstream terminal 110 that performs the marriage failure display includes the LEDs 1161 to 1164, and indicates the numbers 0 to 9 by turning on or off the LEDs 1161 to 1164. And the display which shows the identification number of the radio | wireless subunit | mobile_unit 130 can be performed by switching ON / OFF of LED1161-1164 every predetermined time.

  In FIG. 5, the LEDs 1161 to 1164 are arranged side by side in a horizontal row, the solid lines indicate that they are lit, and the broken lines indicate that they are off. In addition, the LED 1161-1164 is turned on / off in the order of (a) to (d) indicated by arrows in FIG. 5 to display a 4-digit identification number.

  In the state of (a), only the LED 1161 is turned on among the LEDs 1161 to 1164, and the others are turned off. In this case, the display unit 116 indicates the number “1”.

  In the state of (b), only the LED 1162 is turned on among the LEDs 1161 to 1164, and the others are turned off. In this case, the display unit 116 indicates the number “2”.

  In the state of (c), among the LEDs 1161 to 1164, the LED 1161 and the LED 1162 are turned on, and the others are turned off. In this case, the display unit 116 indicates the number “3”.

  In the state of (d), only the LED 1163 is turned on among the LEDs 1161 to 1164, and the others are turned off. In this case, the display unit 116 indicates the number “4”.

  That is, the lighting of the LED 1161 indicates the number “1”, the lighting of the LED 1162 indicates the number “2”, the lighting of the LED 1163 indicates the number “4”, and the lighting of the LED 1164 indicates the number “8”. The display unit 116 can indicate the numbers 0 to 9 by the sum of the numbers indicated by the LEDs 1161 to 1164 that are lit. When the display unit 116 indicates the number “0”, all of the LEDs 1161 to 1164 may be turned off. However, in order to make the display easier to understand, the LED 1164 and the LED 1162 are turned on and the others are turned off. May be performed by displaying “10”. FIG. 5 shows a case where the display unit 116 displays “1234” as the identification number of the upstream terminal associated with the wireless slave device 130 according to the rules described above.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the LEDs 1161 to 1164 are used as the display unit 116 has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. As the display unit 116, for example, a display device such as liquid crystal or organic EL (Electro Luminescence) may be used.

  Note that even when LEDs are used as the display unit 116, the number of LEDs to be used and display rules such as numbers, characters, and symbols can be selected as appropriate. For example, numbers of 0 to 9 can be indicated by fewer than four LEDs by making the LED turn on or off time longer or by making the LED color variable.

[Embodiment 3]
As a third embodiment of the present invention, a description will be given of a modified example of the flow of matching processing in the wireless information collection system 100. FIG. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the process is the same as that in the first embodiment except for the flow of the matching process in the wireless information collection system 100, and the description thereof is omitted unless specifically described.

  In the first embodiment, the case where the wireless slave unit 130 transmits a message including its own identification information to the upstream side terminal 1 and the upstream side terminal 2 has been described in the matching process. A message containing the identification number of the upstream terminal may be transmitted from the side terminal.

  In this case, for example, the worker uses the center side device 11 or an external setting device to give the upstream side terminal identification information to the upstream side terminal installed near the wireless slave unit 130 to be connected. A request can be sent to the wireless slave unit 130.

  Note that the flow of processing after receiving a message containing the identification number of the upstream terminal from the upstream terminal is the same as in the first embodiment.

[Embodiment 4]
As a fourth embodiment of the present invention, a modified example of detection information collected by the wireless information collection system 100 will be described. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the detection information other than the detection information collected by the wireless information collection system 100 is the same as that in the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted unless otherwise specified.

  In the above-described embodiment, as the detection information collected by the wireless information collection system 100, for example, information indicating the usage amount of gas, water, electricity, and the like detected by the meter 12 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

  The detection information collected by the wireless information collection system 100 may be information such as gas leakage, abnormal water supply, or electricity usage.

  The target of the detection information collected by the wireless information collection system 100 is not limited to gas, water, electricity, etc., but is intended for electric appliances such as home appliances, AV (Audio Video) and information devices. But you can. In this case, the detection information collected by the wireless information collection system 100 may be information related to the amount of electricity used in the electrical product, information indicating an abnormality that has occurred, information related to replacement of consumables contained in the electrical product, and the like.

[Embodiment 5]
As a fifth embodiment of the present invention, a wireless information collection system 100a will be described as a modified example employing a network topology different from the wireless information collection system 100 of the above-described embodiment. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the network topology other than the network topology adopted by the wireless information collection system 100a is the same as that in the first embodiment, and the description is omitted unless otherwise described.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining the outline of the wireless information collection system 100a and the like. The wireless information collection system 100a employs a so-called mesh network topology.

  In the wireless information collection system 100a, in addition to the wireless master device 110 and the wireless slave device 130, the wireless slave devices 130 are also connected so as to be able to perform data communication wirelessly. The wireless master device 110 is connected to the wireless slave device 130 directly or via another wireless slave device 130 so that data communication can be performed wirelessly.

Further, in the wireless information collection system 100a, prior to executing the data collection process, the wireless device 110 and the wireless slave device 130 included in the wireless information collection system 100 and the wireless device that performs communication are used. The machines 130 are respectively connected in the manner described above.
[Summary]
As described above, the wireless information collection system includes a wireless master device connected to the center side device, and a wireless device that is connected to the detection device and transmits detection information detected by the detection device to the associated terminal. In the wireless information collecting system comprising the mobile device, the wireless slave device receives a message including identification information of the counterpart terminal from a plurality of counterpart terminals, and identifies one terminal that performs matching among the plurality of counterpart terminals Information is broadcast to a plurality of counterpart terminals.

  By configuring the wireless information collection system in this way, the counterpart terminal in the preparation state for the wireless slave unit compares the received identification information with its own identification information, thereby You can know the success or failure of the match. And when the other party terminal fails in the edge pair with the wireless slave unit, for example, the other party terminal can end the ready state of the edge pair and can quickly move to another process. That is, it is possible to smoothly perform the edge processing between the wireless slave unit and the counterpart terminal.

  In addition, when receiving a message from the wireless slave unit, the counterpart terminal may perform a match failure display indicating that the match has failed when the received identification information and the self-identification information do not match.

  By configuring the wireless information collecting system in this way, an operator operating the counterpart terminal can know that the connection with the wireless slave has failed, and can immediately start another work. it can.

  The marriage failure display may include a display indicating the partner terminal for which the marriage has been completed.

  By configuring the wireless information collecting system in this way, an operator who is operating the counterpart terminal can confirm that the matching has been completed between the radio slave unit and the other counterpart terminal.

  The marriage failure display may be performed by turning on, blinking, or turning off an LED or the like.

  By configuring the wireless information collecting system in this way, it is possible to perform a marriage failure display with a simple configuration.

  The wireless information collection system may further include a relay device that relays communication between the wireless master device and the wireless slave device, and the wireless slave device may be associated with the wireless master device or the relay device.

  Thus, the wireless information collection system can employ a so-called tree-type network topology.

  The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative and non-restrictive in every respect. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above description but by the claims.

  The wireless information collection system according to the present invention can be widely used in a wireless information collection system that collects detection information such as gas, water, or electricity usage.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Radio | wireless information collection system 110 Radio | wireless main | base station 111 Control part 112 Storage part 1121 Self-station side ID storage part 1122 Other station side ID storage part 113 Wireless communication part 114 Antenna 115 Center side interface part 116 Display part 117 Operation part 118 Power supply part 120 Relay unit 130 Wireless slave unit 131 Control unit 132 Storage unit 1321 Own station side ID storage unit 1322 Other station side ID storage unit 133 Wireless communication unit 134 Antenna 135 Meter side interface unit 136 Display unit 137 Operation unit 138 Power supply unit 11 Center side device 12 meters 13 lines

Claims (3)

In a wireless information collection system comprising a wireless master device connected to a center side device, and a wireless slave device connected to a detection device and transmitting detection information detected by the detection device to an associated terminal,
The radio personal station receives a message including identification information of the partner-side terminal from a plurality of mating terminals, the adoption message including identification information of one terminal for adoption of the plurality of mating terminals, the Broadcast to multiple other terminals,
The mating terminal, when receiving the adoption message from said radio personal station, and received identification information, when the own identification information do not coincide, the radio information collecting performing adoption failure indication that adoption has failed system. The wireless information collection system according to claim 1 , wherein the marriage failure display includes a display indicating the counterpart terminal for which the marriage has been completed. The wireless information collection system further includes a relay device that relays communication between the wireless master device and the wireless slave device,
The wireless information collection system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless slave device is associated with the wireless master device or the relay device.