JP6292820B2 - Communications system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication system including a plurality of sensors and a controller that can communicate with each other.

  2. Description of the Related Art When an intrusion abnormality or a fire abnormality occurs in a monitoring area such as an office, a store, or a house, a security system that senses the abnormality and notifies the monitoring center is widely used. Such a security system includes a sensor installed in a monitoring area and a security device serving as a central controller. The security device can be set to any of a plurality of modes including, for example, a monitoring mode in which the inside of the monitoring area is monitored by a sensor and a release mode in which the inside of the monitoring area is not monitored.

  In the conventional security system, when the mode of the security device is switched to the monitoring mode, after confirming that all the sensors installed in the monitoring area are in the non-sensing state, the mode can be shifted to the monitoring mode. Yes. That is, the security device shifts to the monitoring mode after confirming that none of the sensors indicates an abnormality such as “door open” or “human residue”.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, detection information by a sensor that detects a change occurring in a monitoring area is accumulated in a detection history section, the accumulated detection information is transmitted to a user terminal, and the information is confirmed. A security device is described that sets the security state to the security set mode when a security set mode setting signal transmitted from the terminal of the user who received the command is received.

JP 2009-223708 A

  When checking the sensor status when switching to the monitoring mode, inquiring the status of each sensor, the time required to check the status increases as the number of sensors installed increases, which impairs user convenience. It is. Not only when shifting to the monitoring mode, but also when the security device is set to the monitoring mode, if you try to check the status of each sensor installed in the monitoring area, the time required to check the status increases as the number of sensors increases. Becomes longer. Moreover, not only in a security system that senses an abnormality and reports to the monitoring center, but also in a communication system that uses a controller to check the status of each sensor, such as the open / closed state of a door, the time required to check the status increases as the number of sensors increases. become longer. This tendency is particularly noticeable when a communication method with a large communication delay such as a specific low-power wireless method is used between the controller and the sensor.

  In order to shorten the time required for the state confirmation, as in Patent Document 1, the controller previously receives the sensor state change and stores it in the storage unit, and refers to the sensor state in the storage unit, It may be possible to omit the status inquiry to the sensor. However, if the state change is notified to the controller each time the state of the sensor changes, the sensor having a large number of state changes frequently communicates with the controller, resulting in increased power consumption and battery life. Becomes shorter. For this reason, it is difficult to achieve both improvement in convenience by shortening the time required for checking the state of the sensor and prolonging the battery life of the sensor.

  Further, if the variation in battery consumption of each sensor is large, it is necessary to take measures such as battery replacement every time the individual sensor runs out of battery, which increases the operating cost of the communication system. On the other hand, if the variation in the battery consumption of each sensor is reduced and the battery life of the plurality of sensors is made substantially the same, these batteries can be replaced at a time, so that the operation cost is reduced. For this reason, in the battery replacement business of sensors, there is an operation need to make the battery life of each sensor almost the same length.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a communication system that reduces the amount of power consumed by a sensor while leveling the remaining battery capacity of each sensor while shortening the time required to check the state of the sensor in the controller.

  As one form of this invention, the communication system containing the some sensor and controller which can communicate mutually is provided. In this communication system, each of the plurality of sensors is connected from the first state to the second state or the second state based on an instruction from the controller and a sensor communication unit that communicates with the controller. Any one of a continuous transmission system that notifies the controller of a state change via the sensor communication unit when the state changes to the first state, and a transmission suppression system that suppresses the notification of the state change even if there is a state change And a state notification unit for notifying the controller, and a state answering unit for notifying the controller of the current state of the sensor via the sensor communication unit in response to a state inquiry from the controller. The communication unit that communicates with multiple sensors, and for each of the multiple sensors, the sensor status received from the sensor and the current operation of the sensor The operation method of a plurality of sensors is determined so that the transmission suppression method is preferentially used as the sensor with a smaller estimated value of the remaining driveable time and the sensor is determined via the communication unit. An operation method determination unit that notifies the operation method that has been sent and a state inquiry to a sensor that is operating in the transmission suppression method among a plurality of sensors via the communication unit, and receives the current state of the sensor And a state inquiry unit that performs the processing.

  The first state is a non-sensing state of the sensor, the second state is a sensing state of the sensor, and the controller is set to any one of a plurality of modes including a monitoring mode in which a monitoring region is monitored by a plurality of sensors. It is possible, and when the mode change to the monitoring mode, if the state inquiry unit inquires about the state and all the sensors stored in the storage unit are in the first state, the mode change is allowed. It is preferable to further include a mode setting unit.

  The storage unit further stores history information of the operation method instructed to the plurality of sensors by the operation method determination unit, and the operation method determination unit increases the remaining drivable time as the sensor operates in the transmission suppression method. It is preferable to estimate small.

  It is preferable that the storage unit further stores the number of communication between the communication unit and the plurality of sensors for each sensor, and the operation method determination unit estimates the remaining driveable time as the sensor has a larger number of communication.

  The storage unit further stores history information of the operation method instructed by the operation method determination unit to the plurality of sensors, the number of communication between the communication unit and the plurality of sensors, and power consumption characteristics of the plurality of sensors, and the operation method determination unit. It is preferable to calculate the power consumption of the plurality of sensors from the history information of the operation method, the number of communications, and the power consumption characteristics, and to estimate the remaining driveable time as the sensor has a higher power consumption.

The storage unit further stores the history information of the operation method instructed to the plurality of sensors by the operation method determination unit, the number of times of communication between the communication unit and the plurality of sensors, the power consumption characteristics and the battery capacity of the plurality of sensors, and the operation method determination section, the history information of the operation mode, the frequency of communication, calculates the power consumption characteristics and remaining battery capacity of a plurality of sensors from a battery capacity, remaining battery capacity is small to estimate the remaining drivable time as is a small sensor It is preferable.

  Preferably, the operation method determination unit limits the total number of sensors that are operated in the transmission suppression method so that the state inquiry unit can execute the state inquiry within a predetermined time.

  According to the communication system of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the power consumption of the sensor and level the remaining battery capacity of each sensor while shortening the time required for checking the state of the sensor in the controller.

It is a schematic block diagram of a security system. It is a schematic block diagram of a security device. It is a figure which shows the example of the various tables memorize | stored in the memory | storage part of a security apparatus. It is a functional block diagram of the control part of a security device. It is a schematic block diagram of a sensor. It is a functional block diagram of the control part of a sensor. It is the flowchart which showed the operation example of the operation method determination process of a security device. It is the flowchart which showed the operation example of the mode change determination process of a security device.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a communication system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The communication system includes a plurality of sensors and a controller that can communicate with each other. Based on an instruction from the controller, the sensor performs notification to the controller by a constant transmission method that notifies the controller of the state change when the state changes or a transmission suppression method that suppresses the notification of the state change. As a result, the sensor operating in the transmission suppression method can suppress the power consumption associated with the state notification more than the sensor operating in the constant transmission method. In addition, the controller determines the operation method of each sensor so that the transmission suppression method is preferentially the smaller the estimated value of the remaining driveable time is, and for the sensor operating in the transmission suppression method A status query is made to receive the current status of the sensor. In other words, the controller limits the number of sensors inquiring about the state to shorten the time required for the state inquiry and operates a sensor with a small remaining battery capacity by a transmission suppression method with a small amount of power consumption, thereby Level the battery capacity. Thereby, in this communication system, the convenience is improved, the battery of the sensor is extended, and the operation cost required for battery replacement is reduced.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a security system 1. The security system 1 is installed in an office, store, house, or the like serving as the monitoring area 2 and monitors whether there is an abnormality in the monitoring area 2. The security system 1 includes a security device 10 and at least one sensor 20. The security system 1 is an example of a communication system, and the security device 10 and the sensor 20 can wirelessly communicate with each other via a wireless network such as a specific low power wireless or wireless LAN. Alternatively, the security device 10 and the sensor 20 may be connected to each other via a wired network.

  The security device 10 is an example of a controller, and is installed on a wall surface in the monitoring area 2 or the like. The security device 10 is connected to a center device 41 in the monitoring center 40 via a communication network 50 such as the Internet. The security device 10 receives the sensing signal from the sensor 20 and transmits an abnormal signal to the remote center device 41 as necessary.

  The sensors 20 are installed at various locations in the monitoring area 2, and transmit a detection signal to the security device 10 when detecting an abnormality such as an intruder into the monitoring area 2. The sensor 20 includes, for example, a security sensor for detecting the presence of a person, a disaster prevention sensor such as a smoke sensor or a heat sensor, and an emergency button operated by a user. Among these sensors, for example, an infrared sensor that detects the presence of a person by infrared rays, an image sensor that detects the presence of a person from an input image, and a proximity that detects the opening of a window, door, door, or the like from a change in a magnetic field. Sensors etc. are included.

  The security device 10 can be set to any of a plurality of modes including, for example, a monitoring mode in which the inside of the monitoring area 2 is monitored by the sensor 20 and a release mode in which the inside of the monitoring area 2 is not monitored, according to the operation of the user. It is. When the monitoring device 10 is set to the monitoring mode, when the security device 10 receives a sensing signal indicating, for example, a window, a door, an opening of a door, or the presence of a person from the sensor 20 being monitored, an abnormality has occurred in the monitoring area 2. Determination is made and an abnormal signal is transmitted to the center device 41. On the other hand, when the release mode is set, the security device 10 ignores the detection signal from the sensor 20 even if the security sensor detects an event to be detected. However, when a detection signal from the disaster prevention sensor or the emergency button is input, the security device 10 transmits an abnormality signal to the center device 41 regardless of which mode is set.

  The monitoring center 40 is a facility provided with a center device 41 operated by a security company or the like, and a controller constantly monitors the monitoring area 2. The center device 41 is composed of one or a plurality of computers. In the monitoring center 40, based on the abnormality signal received by the center device 41 from the security device 10, information on the monitoring area 2 to be dealt with is displayed on the display unit 42, so that the confirmation process for the user or the guard to the monitoring area 2 is performed. Necessary measures such as coping instructions are taken.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the security device 10. The security device 10 includes a center communication unit 11, a sensor I / F 12, an operation unit 13, a notification unit 14, a storage unit 15, and a control unit 16.

  The center communication unit 11 is a communication interface connected to the communication line network 50, and performs security information communication with the center apparatus 41 via the communication line network 50. The security information is information that is collected and generated in order to perform abnormality monitoring in the monitoring area 2, such as the current mode of the security device 10 and the presence or absence of abnormality in the monitoring area 2. An ID (identification information) set in advance in the security device 10 is added to the communication with the center device 41 by the center communication unit 11.

  The sensor I / F 12 is connected to the sensor 20 installed in the monitoring area 2, is a communication interface for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the sensor 20, and functions as a communication unit that performs communication with the sensor. . The sensor I / F 12 is a wireless communication unit that performs communication in accordance with, for example, a specific low power wireless communication standard. However, the communication standard is not limited to the specific low-power radio, and may be a wireless communication standard such as a so-called wireless LAN or Bluetooth (registered trademark) based on any of the IEEE 802.11 standards. Each sensor 20 is given a unique sensor ID (identification information), and a signal transmitted and received between the sensor I / F 12 and the sensor 20 includes this sensor ID.

  For example, the operation unit 13 is a switch for the user to set the mode of the security device 10 to a monitoring mode or a release mode. The operation unit 13 may include a button for confirming the state of each sensor 20 installed in the monitoring area 2, for example. When these switches or buttons are selected by the user, the operation unit 13 inputs a corresponding signal to the control unit 16.

  The alerting | reporting part 14 is comprised by a liquid crystal display, a speaker, etc., for example, and outputs the information of the security system 1 to a user with a character or a voice | voice. The notification unit 14 may be integrated with the operation unit 13 by a liquid crystal touch panel display, for example.

  For example, when the operation unit 13 is operated and a mode change to the monitoring mode is instructed, the notification unit 14 notifies the user of whether or not the mode can be changed. At this time, if there is a sensor 20 that senses an abnormality, the notification unit 14 notifies the user that the mode change is impossible together with the installation location of the target sensor. On the other hand, when there is no sensor 20 that senses an abnormality, the notification unit 14 notifies the user that the mode can be changed. Further, the notification unit 14 notifies the user of the state of each sensor 20 when the operation unit 13 is operated and the state confirmation of each sensor 20 is instructed.

  The storage unit 15 is configured by a ROM, a RAM, or an HDD, and stores various data and various programs for operating the security device 10. For example, the storage unit 15 stores the ID of the security device 10, the current mode of the security device 10, a sensor information table, a power consumption characteristic table, a power history information table, and the like.

  FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C are diagrams illustrating examples of various tables stored in the storage unit 15 of the security device 10.

  FIG. 3A shows an example of a sensor information table. The sensor information table is table information in which, for each sensor 20 registered in the security device 10, for example, a sensor ID, a sensor type, a sensor installation location, a sensor operation method, and a sensor state are associated with each other. . There are three types of sensors, for example, security sensors, disaster prevention sensors, and emergency buttons. The sensor operation method includes a constant transmission method for notifying the security device 10 of a change in the state of the sensor 20 and a transmission suppression method for suppressing the notification of the state change even if the sensor 20 changes the state. is there.

  The sensor states include, for example, a “non-sensing state” (an example of a first state) and a “sensing state” (an example of a second state). For example, for a security sensor, the non-sensing state and the sensing state correspond to a state in which a door or the like is opened or a presence of a person is not sensed and a sensed state, respectively. Regarding the disaster prevention sensor, the non-sensing state and the sensing state correspond to a state where smoke or heat is not sensed and a state where it is sensed, respectively. For the emergency button, the non-sensing state and the sensing state correspond to a state where the button is not pressed and a state where the button is pressed, respectively. The sensor state is not limited to the non-sensing state and the sensing state, and may include, for example, “apparatus abnormality”, “attention required” (intermediate state between the sensing state and the non-sensing state), and the like.

  FIG. 3B shows an example of the power consumption characteristic table. For each sensor 20 included in the sensor information table, the power consumption characteristic table includes, for example, a sensor ID, power consumption in one communication, power consumption per unit time in the constant transmission method, and unit in the transmission suppression method. This is table information in which power consumption per hour is associated. These pieces of information are referred to when the security device 10 determines the operation method of each sensor 20.

  FIG. 3C shows an example of the power history information table. For each sensor 20 included in the sensor information table, the power history information table includes, for example, the sensor ID, the remaining battery capacity, the accumulated operation time in the constant transmission method, the accumulated operation time in the transmission suppression method, and the security device 10. This is table information in which the number of communications is associated. These pieces of information are referred to by the control unit 16 when the operation method of each sensor 20 is determined and updated as needed. Note that the accumulated operation time in the constant transmission method and the accumulated operation time in the transmission suppression method are examples of history information of the operation method.

  The control unit 16 includes a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like and peripheral circuits thereof, and controls the above-described units to operate the security device 10.

  FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the control unit 16 of the security device 10. The control unit 16 is a state inquiry unit 161, a mode setting unit 162, an abnormality determination unit 163, a reporting unit 164, as functional modules realized by the microcomputer and the computer program executed on the microcomputer. And an operation method determination unit 165.

  When the operation unit 13 is operated and the mode change to the monitoring mode or the state confirmation of each sensor 20 is instructed, the state inquiry unit 161 includes a transmission suppression method in the sensor information table of the storage unit 15 among the sensors 20. A status inquiry is made to the stored sensor via the sensor I / F 12. Then, the state inquiry unit 161 receives the current state of the sensor, and updates the information in the sensor information table when the state of the sensor stored in the sensor information table is different from the current state. As will be described later, when each sensor 20 is operating in the transmission suppression method, even if there is a state change, the sensor 20 suppresses notification of the state change to the security device 10. Therefore, with respect to the sensor 20 in which the transmission suppression method is stored in the sensor information table, the state of the sensor stored in the sensor information table continues and the state of the sensor 20 changes thereafter. However, there are two possibilities, that is, when notification of the state change is suppressed. For this reason, the state inquiry unit 161 makes a state inquiry to the sensor 20 operating in the transmission suppression method, and confirms the current state of the sensor.

  On the other hand, for the sensors 20 whose transmission method is always stored in the sensor information table, the state change is notified each time there is a change in state, so the state inquiry unit 161 makes a state inquiry to these sensors 20. Absent. In this way, by limiting the number of sensors inquiring about the state, the state inquiry unit 161 shortens the time required for the state inquiry.

  The mode setting unit 162 switches and sets the mode of the security device 10 to the monitoring mode or the release mode when the operation unit 13 is operated and the mode change of the security device 10 is instructed, and the new mode is stored in the storage unit 15. Remember. Thereby, the security device 10 operates according to the set new mode.

  However, when the mode setting unit 162 changes the mode to the monitoring mode, the state inquiry unit 161 makes a state inquiry to the sensor 20 whose transmission suppression method is stored in the sensor information table of the storage unit 15. The mode change is allowed only when all the sensors stored in the information table are in a non-sensing state. At this time, the mode setting unit 162 controls the notification unit 14 to notify the user that the mode can be changed. On the other hand, if there is a sensor whose state is the sensing state among the sensors 20 stored in the sensor information table, the mode setting unit 162 does not allow the mode change, and controls the notification unit 14, Along with the installation location of the target sensor, the user is notified that the mode cannot be changed. The mode setting unit 162 allows the mode change when changing to a mode other than the monitoring mode, such as the release mode, regardless of the state of each sensor 20.

  When the abnormality determination unit 163 receives the sensing signal from the sensor 20, the abnormality determination unit 163 refers to the sensor information table and identifies the type of sensor associated with the sensor ID included in the received sensing signal. In addition, the abnormality determination unit 163 refers to the current mode of the security device 10 held in the storage unit 15. And the abnormality determination part 163 determines with it being abnormal, if the security device 10 is set to the monitoring mode, if a sensing signal is received from any one of a security sensor, a disaster prevention sensor, or an emergency button. Moreover, the abnormality determination part 163 will determine with it being abnormal, if the security device 10 is set to cancellation | release mode, if a sensing signal is received from a disaster prevention sensor or an emergency button. In addition, when the security device 10 is set in the release mode, the abnormality determination unit 163 determines that there is no abnormality when receiving a detection signal from the security sensor (that is, ignores the detection signal).

  The reporting unit 164 transmits an abnormality signal to the center device 41 via the center communication unit 11 when the abnormality determination unit 163 determines that there is an abnormality. The abnormal signal includes, for example, information such as the ID of the security device 10 stored in the storage unit 15, the sensor ID of the sensor that has detected the abnormality, and the type and location of the sensor identified from the sensor information table. .

  For example, when the operation unit 13 is operated and the mode change of the security device 10 is instructed, the operation method determination unit 165 determines the operation method of each sensor 20 and notifies the sensor 20 of the operation method. (Referred to as “operation method determination process”). When a change to a mode other than the monitoring mode is instructed, the operation method determination unit 165 preferentially selects the transmission suppression method as the sensor having a smaller estimated value of the remaining driveable time in the constant transmission method or the transmission suppression method. Thus, the operation method of the plurality of sensors 20 is determined. On the other hand, when the change to the monitoring mode is instructed, the operation method determination unit 165 determines, for example, the operation method of all the sensors 20 as the constant transmission method. Then, the operation method determination unit 165 stores the determined operation method of each sensor 20 in the sensor information table and notifies each sensor 20 through the sensor I / F 12.

  Note that the operation method determination unit 165 may execute the operation method determination processing periodically, for example, once a day regardless of the mode change. Further, even when the change to the monitoring mode is instructed, the operation method determination unit 165 is a sensor with a small estimated value of the remaining driveable time, as in the case of changing to a mode other than the monitoring mode. The operation method of the plurality of sensors 20 may be determined so that the transmission suppression method is more preferentially used.

The operation method determination unit 165 refers to, for example, the power consumption characteristic table and the power history information table in the storage unit 15 in order to estimate the remaining driveable time of each sensor 20, and the operation method history information for each sensor 20. , number of communications from the power consumption characteristics and battery capacity, and calculates the remaining battery capacity by the following equation (1).
B = B ₀ −P = B ₀ − (C _t × A _t + M ₁ × P _t1 + M ₂ × P _t2 ) (1)
Then, the operation mode determining unit 165 stores the calculated value of the remaining battery capacity to the power history information table, and updates the information.

In equation (1), B is the current remaining battery capacity, B ₀ is the initial value of the battery capacity, and P is the power consumption from the start of sensor operation to the present. Also, C _t is the number of times of communication between the security device 10, A _t is the power consumption of a single communication, the first term in the bracket correspond to the power consumption by communicating with the security device 10. M ₁ is the power consumption per unit time in the constant transmission method, P _t1 is the cumulative operation time in the constant transmission method, and the second term in parentheses is the power consumption during the operation in the constant transmission method. Equivalent to. M ₂ is the power consumption per unit time in the transmission suppression method, P _t2 is the cumulative operation time in the transmission suppression method, and the third term in parentheses is the power consumption during operation in the transmission suppression method. Equivalent to. In equation (1), the power consumption by the sensing operation of the sensor 20 is also included in the power consumption in the constant transmission method or the power consumption in the transmission suppression method.

The estimated value of the remaining driveable time in the constant transmission method or the transmission suppression method is B / M ₁ or B / M ₂ . Since the estimated value of the remaining driveable time is considered to be smaller as the remaining battery capacity is smaller, the operation method determining unit 165 may select a plurality of sensors so that the transmission suppression method is preferentially performed as the remaining battery capacity is smaller. Determine the operation method.

Alternatively, the operation mode determining unit 165, instead of the equation (1) may calculate the remaining battery capacity according to the following equation (2).
B _n = B _n−1 −P = B _n−1 − (C _t × A _t + M × P _t ) (2)
Here, _Bn is the current remaining battery capacity, _Bn-1 is the remaining battery capacity calculated last time, and P is the power consumption from the time _Bn-1 is calculated to the present. However, the initial B _n is the initial value B ₀ of the battery capacity. Further, M is the power consumption per unit time in the current operation method, and P _t is the elapsed time from the previous calculation of the remaining battery capacity. When the expression (2) is used, the power history information table of the storage unit 15 includes the sensor ID, the current remaining battery capacity, the previously calculated remaining battery capacity, the number of communication with the security device 10, and the previous remaining battery. The capacity update time may be stored.

  For example, a lithium battery has a long battery life and a voltage that is maintained almost constant over a long period of time. However, when the remaining battery capacity is reduced, the voltage rapidly decreases. For this reason, when a lithium battery is used as the battery of the sensor 20, the operation method determination unit 165 calculates the remaining battery capacity of each sensor 20 by, for example, the above equation (1) or (2). However, a battery whose voltage gradually decreases as the remaining battery capacity decreases, such as an alkaline battery, can estimate the current remaining battery capacity from the voltage value. For this reason, when such a battery is used for the sensor 20, the operation method determination unit 165 does not perform calculation as in the above formula (1) or (2), but based on the current voltage value. The estimated remaining battery capacity may be obtained directly from each sensor 20.

  In addition, the operation method determination unit 165 limits the total number of sensors that are operated in the transmission suppression method so that the state inquiry unit 161 can execute the state inquiry within a predetermined time. In order to prolong the battery life of the sensor, it is sufficient to use many sensors 20 with a transmission suppression method with low power consumption. However, it is also necessary to shorten the time required for the state check performed when shifting to the monitoring mode. Therefore, there is a limit to the number of sensors that can be used in the transmission suppression method. In view of the convenience of the user, the security device 10 preliminarily sets an upper limit value for the state inquiry time by the state inquiry unit 161 so that the state check is performed within 3 seconds, for example, when shifting to the monitoring mode. Is set in advance. Then, the operation method determination unit 165 sets an upper limit value for the total number of sensors 20 to be operated in the transmission suppression method in accordance with the upper limit value of the state inquiry time, and the total number of sensors 20 that become the transmission suppression method is The operation method of each sensor 20 is determined so as not to exceed the upper limit value. For example, the operation method determination unit 165 selects the number of sensors 20 equal to or less than the upper limit value in order of the calculated remaining battery capacity, and sets it as the transmission suppression method, and sets the remaining sensors 20 as the constant transmission method. As a result, the time required for the state confirmation can be reduced to the upper limit value or less, and the power consumption of each sensor 20 can be suppressed as a whole.

In addition, the operation method determination unit 165 calculates the power consumption P up to the present time in the equation (1) or (2) without calculating the remaining battery capacity of each sensor 20, and from each value, the sensor 20 The remaining driveable time may be estimated. In this case, the estimated value of the remaining driveable time in the constant transmission method or the transmission suppression method is expressed as B ₀ -P / M ₁ or B ₀ -P / M ₂ using, for example, the symbol (1). . Since it is considered that the estimated value of the remaining driveable time is smaller as the power consumption P is larger, the operation method determination unit 165 has a plurality of power consumption amounts so that the more the power consumption amount, the higher the power consumption amount P. The operation method of the sensor may be determined. In this case, the operation method determination unit 165 may select the number of sensors 20 equal to or less than the upper limit value in the descending order of the calculated power consumption amount to be the transmission suppression method, and the remaining sensors 20 may be the constant transmission method.

  Alternatively, the operation method determination unit 165 may determine the operation method of the plurality of sensors so that the sensor that operates in the transmission suppression method has a shorter period and becomes the transmission suppression method preferentially. It is considered that the estimated value of the remaining drivable time is smaller as the sensor operated in the transmission suppression method has a shorter period because the period of operation in the constant transmission method that consumes more power is longer. For this reason, the operation method determination unit 165 refers to the power history information table of the storage unit 15 and selects the number of sensors 20 equal to or less than the upper limit value in the order of short accumulated operation time in the transmission suppression method. The remaining sensors 20 may be always transmitted. In this case, the operation method determination unit 165 may not calculate the remaining battery capacity or the power consumption.

  Alternatively, the operation method determination unit 165 may determine the operation method of the plurality of sensors so that the sensor having a higher communication count with the security device 10 becomes the transmission suppression method preferentially. It is considered that the estimated value of the remaining drivable time is smaller as the sensor has a larger number of communications with the security device 10 and consumes more power for the communication. For this reason, the operation method determination unit 165 refers to the power history information table in the storage unit 15 and selects the number of sensors 20 equal to or less than the upper limit value in the descending order of the number of communication with the security device 10 as the transmission suppression method. The remaining sensors 20 may be always transmitted. Also in this case, the operation method determination unit 165 does not have to calculate the remaining battery capacity or the power consumption.

  In addition, when estimating the remaining driveable time from the accumulated operation time in the transmission suppression method, if there are a plurality of sensors 20 having the same accumulated operation time, the operation method determining unit 165 is connected to the security device 10. A sensor having a large number of communications may be preferentially used as a transmission suppression method.

  Thus, as an estimated value of the remaining driveable time of each sensor 20, the remaining battery capacity, the power consumption, the accumulated operation time in the transmission suppression method, or the number of times of communication with the security device 10 is used to determine the operation method determination unit. Reference numeral 165 determines the operation method of each sensor 20. Thereby, the security device 10 operates a sensor with a small estimated value of the remaining driveable time by a transmission suppression method with a small amount of power consumption, and leveles the battery life of each sensor 20. When the remaining battery capacity is used as an estimated value of the remaining driveable time of each sensor 20, even if the initial battery capacity of each sensor 20 is different, the battery life of each sensor 20 is leveled more strictly. be able to.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of the sensor 20. The sensor 20 includes a sensing unit 21, a wireless communication unit 22, a storage unit 23, and a control unit 24.

  The sensing unit 21 senses an event targeted by the sensor based on a physical quantity input from the monitoring direction of the sensor 20. If the sensor 20 is a security sensor, the sensing unit 21 includes, for example, a heat ray sensor that senses the presence of a person with infrared rays, a sensor that senses the presence of a person with ultrasound, an image sensor that senses the presence of a person from an input image, And a known sensor that senses the presence of a person or the destruction of a building, such as a proximity sensor that senses a change in a magnetic field and senses the opening of a door. Moreover, if the sensor 20 is a disaster prevention sensor, the sensing part 21 is comprised by the well-known sensing means which senses smoke or heat, for example. Moreover, if the sensor 20 is an emergency button, the sensing part 21 is comprised with a switch.

  The radio communication unit 22 includes an antenna for transmitting and receiving radio signals to and from the security device 10 and a communication control unit connected to the antenna. The wireless communication unit 22 communicates with the security device 10 according to a communication standard such as specific low power wireless. The wireless signal transmitted from the wireless communication unit 22 to the security device 10 includes at least its own sensor ID and communication address stored in the storage unit 23. The wireless communication unit 22 functions as a sensor communication unit that performs communication with the controller.

  The wireless communication unit 22 receives a signal transmitted from the security device 10 by intermittent reception in order to suppress the power consumption of the sensor 20. For example, the wireless communication unit 22 alternately repeats a reception state of about several tens of milliseconds determined according to a communication rate and a disconnection state of about several seconds, and receives a signal from the security device 10 when in the reception state. To do.

  The storage unit 23 is configured by a ROM, a RAM, or an HDD, and stores various data and various programs for operating the sensor 20. For example, the storage unit 23 stores the state of the sensor 20, the sensor ID, the communication address, the intermittent reception interval, and the like. In addition, the storage unit 23 stores an operation method (a constant transmission method or a transmission suppression method) notified from the security device 10.

  The control unit 24 includes a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like and peripheral circuits thereof, and controls the above-described units to operate the sensor 20.

  FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of the control unit 24 of the sensor 20. The control unit 24 includes a status notification unit 241, a transmission suppression unit 242, and a status answering unit 243 as functional modules realized by the microcomputer and the computer program executed on the microcomputer.

  When the sensing unit 21 senses a target event and changes from a non-sensing state to a sensing state, the state notification unit 241 notifies the security device 10 of the state change via the wireless communication unit 22. That is, the state notification unit 241 causes the security device 10 to transmit a sensing signal indicating that the sensor 20 has entered the sensing state. Further, the state notification unit 241 notifies the security device 10 of the state change via the wireless communication unit 22 when the sensing unit 21 no longer senses the target event and changes from the sensing state to the non-sensing state. That is, the state notification unit 241 causes the security device 10 to transmit a non-sensing signal indicating that the sensor 20 has entered a non-sensing state. Based on an instruction from the security device 10, the state notification unit 241 notifies the security device 10 by a constant transmission method or a transmission suppression method.

  The transmission suppression unit 242 refers to the operation method stored in the storage unit 23, and suppresses notification of a state change to the security device 10 by the state notification unit 241 when the operation method of the sensor 20 is the transmission suppression method. To do. In other words, when the sensor 20 is instructed by the security device 10 to transmit the transmission, the transmission suppression unit 242 prevents the state notification unit 241 from notifying the change of the state all the time.

  Alternatively, the transmission suppression unit 242 notifies the security device 10 of a state change when the operation method of the sensor 20 is a transmission suppression method and the mode of the security device 10 is other than the monitoring mode. It may be suppressed. That is, even when the sensor 20 is instructed to transmit, when the mode of the security device 10 is the monitoring mode, the transmission suppression unit immediately notifies the security device 10 of the sensing target event. 242 does not need to suppress the notification by the state notification unit 241. In this case, the security device 10 notifies each sensor 20 of a new mode every time the mode setting unit 162 changes the mode of the security device 10. And in the sensor 20, the mode of the security device 10 is memorize | stored in the memory | storage part 23 with the operation system, the transmission suppression part 242 refers to the operation system and the mode of the security device 10 memorize | stored in the memory | storage part 23, What is necessary is just to determine whether the notification by the state notification part 241 is suppressed.

  Alternatively, when the operation method of the sensor 20 is the transmission suppression method, the transmission suppression unit 242 changes the state of the sensor 20 from the non-sensing state to the sensing state regardless of the mode of the security device 10. Notification of a new state change by the notification unit 241 may be suppressed for a certain period. In this case, for example, the transmission inhibiting unit 242 changes the state notification unit 241 until the sensor 20 changes to the non-sensing state and the non-sensing state continues for a predetermined period after the sensor 20 changes to the sensing state. Suppresses notification of new state changes due to. In response to this, the state notification unit 241 notifies the state change from the sensing state to the non-sensing state when the suppression by the transmission suppression unit 242 is completed.

  The transmission suppression unit 242 suppresses notification of a new state change by the state notification unit 241 for a predetermined period after the sensor changes to the sensing state when the operation method of the sensor 20 is the transmission suppression method. Then, the state notification unit 241 may notify the state change from the sensing state to the non-sensing state when the suppression by the transmission suppression unit 242 is completed. In this case, the transmission suppression unit 242 counts the frequency of state changes per unit time for the sensor 20, and sets the suppression period of the predetermined length to a longer period as the frequency increases. Also good.

  The status answering unit 243 notifies the security device 10 of the current status of the sensor 20 via the wireless communication unit 22 in response to a status inquiry from the security device 10. When the operation method of the sensor 20 is the transmission suppression method, the transmission suppression unit 242 suppresses the notification of the state change by the state notification unit 241, so that the security device 10 knows the current state of the sensor 20, the sensor 20 A state inquiry may be received from the security device 10. Regardless of the operation method of the sensor 20, the state answering unit 243 notifies the security device 10 of the current state of the sensor 20 in response to this state inquiry.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the operation method determination process of the security device 10. The flow shown in FIG. 7 is executed by the control unit 16 in accordance with a program stored in advance in the storage unit 15 when the operation unit 13 of the security device 10 is operated and a mode change of the security device 10 is instructed.

  When the mode change of the security device 10 is instructed, the mode setting unit 162 first determines whether or not the mode change is a change to the monitoring mode (step S11). When it is a change to the monitoring mode (Yes in step S11), the operation method determination unit 165 determines the operation method as the constant transmission method for all the sensors 20, for example, and sets the new operation method in the sensor information table. The information is stored and the new operation method is notified to each sensor 20 (step S12). Thereby, the operation method determination process ends.

  On the other hand, when the mode is changed to a mode other than the monitoring mode (No in step S11), the operation method determination unit 165 selects one of the sensors 20 stored in the sensor information table (step S13). ). Next, the operation method determination unit 165 calculates the power consumption for the sensor by referring to the power consumption characteristic table and the power history information table, for example, using the above formula (1) or (2). (Step S14) and the remaining battery capacity is calculated (Step S15). At this time, the operation method determination unit 165 stores the calculated remaining battery capacity value in the power history information table.

  If there is a sensor 20 for which the operation method determination unit 165 has not yet calculated the remaining battery capacity (Yes in step S16), the operation flow returns to step S13. In this case, the operation method determination unit 165 performs the operations of the above steps S13 to S16 for the other sensors 20.

  On the other hand, when the remaining battery capacities are calculated for all the sensors 20 (No in step S16), the operation method determination unit 165 refers to the power history information table again and assigns each sensor 20 in ascending order of the remaining battery capacity. Priorities are assigned (step S17).

  Next, the operation method determination unit 165 selects one of the sensors 20 stored in the sensor information table (step S18), and the priority assigned to the sensor is the number of sensors to be the transmission suppression method. It is determined whether it is below the upper limit value (step S19). When the priority order of the sensor is equal to or lower than the upper limit value (Yes in step S19), the operation method determination unit 165 determines the operation method of the sensor as a transmission suppression method (step S20). On the other hand, when the priority order of the sensor is larger than the upper limit value (No in step S19), the operation method determination unit 165 determines that the operation method of the sensor is a constant transmission method (step S21).

  Next, when the operation method of the target sensor is changed in step S20 or S21 (Yes in step S22), the operation method determination unit 165 stores the new operation method of the sensor in the sensor information table. At the same time, the sensor is notified (step S23). On the other hand, when the operation method of the target sensor is not changed in step S20 or S21 (No in step S22), step S23 is not executed and the operation flow proceeds to the next.

  If there is a sensor 20 whose operation method determining unit 165 has not yet determined the operation method (Yes in step S24), the operation flow returns to step S18. In this case, the operation method determination unit 165 performs the operations of the above steps S18 to S23 for the other sensors 20. On the other hand, when the operation method determination unit 165 determines the operation method for all the sensors 20 (No in step S24), the operation method determination process ends.

  Note that the operation method determination unit 165 may execute the operation method determination processing periodically, for example, once a day regardless of the mode change. In this case, the operations in steps S11 and S12 are not executed. Further, when the operation method determination unit 165 determines the operation method from the accumulated operation time in the transmission suppression method or the number of times of communication with the security device 10, it is not necessary to calculate the remaining battery capacity. S16 can be omitted.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of processing (mode change determination processing) in which the security device 10 determines whether or not the mode change to the monitoring mode is possible. The flow shown in FIG. 8 is executed by the control unit 16 according to a program stored in advance in the storage unit 15 when the operation unit 13 of the security device 10 is operated and a mode change to the monitoring mode is instructed.

  When the mode change to the monitoring mode is instructed, first, the mode setting unit 162 confirms the operation method of one of the sensors 20 stored in the sensor information table of the storage unit 15 (step S31). ). If the operation method of the sensor 20 confirmed in step S31 is the transmission suppression method (Yes in step S32), the state inquiry unit 161 makes a state inquiry to the sensor 20 via the sensor I / F 12 (step S33). . As a result, the state inquiry unit 161 receives the current state of the sensor 20 and stores the received state in the sensor information table of the storage unit 15. On the other hand, if the operation method of the sensor 20 confirmed in step S31 is a constant transmission method (No in step S32), the state inquiry unit 161 does not make a state inquiry, and the operation flow proceeds to step S34.

  And the mode setting part 162 determines whether there exists the sensor 20 which has not confirmed the operation system yet (step S34). If there is a sensor 20 whose operation method has not yet been confirmed (Yes in step S34), the operation flow returns to step S31, and the mode setting unit 162 performs the operations of the above steps for the other sensors. On the other hand, when the operation method is confirmed for all the sensors 20 stored in the storage unit 15 (No in step S34), the mode setting unit 162 refers to the sensor information table in the storage unit 15 again, and detects the sensing state. It is confirmed whether there is a sensor 20 in which is stored (step S35).

  When there is a sensor 20 in which the sensing state is stored (Yes in step S35), the mode setting unit 162 does not allow the mode change to the monitoring mode and notifies the user that the mode change is impossible. (Step S36). At this time, the mode setting unit 162 also notifies the user of the sensor 20 in which the sensing state is stored and the installation location specified from the sensor information table. On the other hand, when there is no sensor 20 in which the sensing state is stored (No in step S35), the mode setting unit 162 allows the mode change to the monitoring mode and indicates that the mode change is possible. (Step S37). Thereby, the mode setting unit 162 ends the operation.

  As described above, the security device 10 determines the operation method of each sensor so that the sensor with the smaller estimated value of the remaining driveable time becomes the transmission suppression method preferentially. The security device 10 is notified by a constant transmission method or a transmission suppression method based on an instruction from the terminal. Further, the security device 10 makes a status inquiry to a sensor operating in the transmission suppression method, and receives the current status of the sensor. Thereby, in the security system 1, it is possible to shorten the time required for the state inquiry, extend the battery life of the sensor, and level the remaining battery capacity of each sensor to reduce the operation cost required for battery replacement. become.

  In the above description, the security system 1 has been described as an example of the communication system. However, the communication system is not limited to the security system that senses an abnormality and notifies the monitoring center. May be confirmed by a controller.

1 Security System 10 Security Device 12 Sensor I / F
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Memory | storage part 16 Control part 161 State inquiry part 162 Mode setting part 163 Abnormality determination part 164 Reporting part 165 Operation method determination part 20 Sensor 21 Sensing part 22 Wireless communication part 23 Storage part 24 Control part 241 Status notification part 242 Transmission suppression part 243 Status answer department

Claims (7)

A communication system including a plurality of sensors and a controller capable of communicating with each other,
Each of the plurality of sensors is
A sensor communication unit that communicates with the controller;
Based on an instruction from the controller, when the sensor changes from the first state to the second state or from the second state to the first state, the controller changes the state via the sensor communication unit. A state notification unit that performs notification to the controller in any one of the operation method of the continuous transmission method that notifies the state change and the transmission suppression method that suppresses the notification of the state change even if there is the state change;
In response to a status inquiry from the controller, a status answering unit for notifying the controller of the current status of the sensor via the sensor communication unit,
Have
The controller is
A communication unit for communicating with the plurality of sensors;
For each of the plurality of sensors, a storage unit that stores the state of the sensor received from the sensor and the current operation method of the sensor;
The operation method of the plurality of sensors is determined so as to preferentially become the transmission suppression method as the estimated value of the remaining driveable time is smaller, and the operation method determined for each sensor via the communication unit An operation method determination unit for notifying
Among the plurality of sensors, the state inquiry is not made to the sensor operating in the constant transmission method, and the state inquiry is made to the sensor operating in the transmission suppression method via the communication unit. And a status inquiry unit that receives the current status of the sensor,
A communication system comprising: The first state is a non-sensing state of the sensor, and the second state is a sensing state of the sensor,
The controller is
It can be set to any of a plurality of modes including a monitoring mode for monitoring a monitoring area by the plurality of sensors,
At the time of changing the mode to the monitoring mode, if the state inquiry unit makes a state inquiry, and if all the sensors stored in the storage unit are in the first state, the mode change is allowed. The communication system according to claim 1, further comprising a mode setting unit. The storage unit further stores history information of an operation method instructed by the operation method determination unit to the plurality of sensors,
The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the operation method determination unit estimates the remaining driveable time to be smaller as the sensor operates in the transmission suppression method. The storage unit further stores the number of communication between the communication unit and the plurality of sensors for each sensor,
The communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the operation method determination unit estimates the remaining drivable time to be smaller as the sensor has a higher communication count. The storage unit further stores history information of the operation method instructed to the plurality of sensors by the operation method determination unit, the number of communication between the communication unit and the plurality of sensors, and power consumption characteristics of the plurality of sensors. And
The operation method determination unit calculates the power consumption of the plurality of sensors from the history information of the operation method, the number of communication times, and the power consumption characteristics, and the remaining driveable time is calculated as the sensor has a higher power consumption. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the communication system is estimated to be small. The storage unit includes history information on an operation method instructed to the plurality of sensors by the operation method determination unit, the number of times of communication between the communication unit and the plurality of sensors, and power consumption characteristics and battery capacity of the plurality of sensors. Remember more,
The operating method determination unit, history information of the operation system, the communication count, the power consumption characteristics and calculates the remaining battery capacity of the plurality of sensors from the battery capacity, the more in the remaining battery capacity is small sensor The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the remaining driveable time is estimated to be small.   The operation method determination unit restricts the total number of sensors that are operated in the transmission suppression method so that the state inquiry unit can execute the state inquiry within a predetermined time. The communication system according to any one of the above.

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