JP6309785B2 - Wireless telemeter system and wireless communication device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless telemeter system and a wireless communication device that transmit the usage amount of water, gas, and the like measured by a meter to a communication device on a center side using a wireless network.

  Conventionally, in a wireless telemeter system developed for meter reading of gas, water, etc., a wireless master unit is connected to a center side device equipped with a host computer and a center network control device via a wide area wireless network such as a PHS network and a FOMA network. Connected. In addition, a plurality of wireless slave devices are connected to the wireless master device, and a meter for meter reading is connected to each of the wireless slave devices. Data such as a meter reading value obtained from the meter is transmitted from the wireless slave unit to the wireless master unit, and further transmitted from the wireless master unit to the center side device.

  As a network configuration of a wireless telemeter system, for example, a mesh type network is known. In the mesh type network, when it is in a state where it can receive data transmitted from the outside, a beacon is periodically transmitted to search for a wireless master device and a wireless slave device having data to be transmitted. And when the radio | wireless main | base station and radio | wireless handset which have the data which should be transmitted receive a beacon, it is set as the structure which transmits data with respect to the transmission source of the beacon.

JP 2007-74564 A

  In the wireless telemeter system as described above, when there are a plurality of communication paths between the wireless master device and the wireless slave device, the wireless slave device having data to be transmitted considers, for example, the margin of traffic. And set the communication path. For this reason, the conventional wireless telemeter system has a problem that the number of times of communication of a specific wireless slave unit increases and there is a bias in power consumption among the wireless slave units.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and by avoiding an increase in the number of communications of a specific wireless slave device, it is possible to reduce bias in power consumption between the wireless slave devices. An object is to provide a wireless telemeter system and a wireless communication device.

  The wireless telemeter system of the present application is connected to a meter that measures the usage of a measurement object and outputs a measurement result, and includes a plurality of wireless slave devices that communicate with the wireless master device via a narrow-area wireless network, A wireless telemeter system including a wireless master unit connected to the wireless slave unit via a regional wireless network and connected to an external communication device via a wide-area wireless network and communicating with the wireless slave unit and the external communication device In each of the wireless slave devices, the identification information of a plurality of wireless slave devices installed on a plurality of communication paths from the own device to the wireless master device, and the number of hops from the own device to each of the plurality of wireless slave devices Hop number table that stores the hop number table in association with each other, acquisition means for acquiring a hop number table of a wireless slave device connected to the own device from the wireless slave device, and the wireless slave device based on the acquired hop number table Out of the radio A specifying unit that the number of other radio personal station connected to the machine to identify the smallest wireless handset, characterized in that it comprises a selection means for selecting a communication path that includes the identified wireless handset.

  In the wireless telemeter system of the present application, when the selecting unit specifies a plurality of wireless slave units by the specifying unit, the selecting unit selects a communication path with the smallest number of hops from the own unit to the wireless master unit. It is characterized by that.

  The wireless telemeter system of the present application includes each wireless slave unit including a means for counting the number of communications, and a means for transmitting the counted number of communications to another wireless slave unit connected to the own machine, wherein the selection unit includes: When a plurality of wireless slave devices are specified by the specifying means, a communication path including a wireless slave device having the smallest number of communication is selected.

In the wireless telemeter system of the present application, each wireless slave unit is connected to the own device with means for counting the success or failure of communication, means for calculating the reliability of communication based on the success or failure of the counted communication, and the calculated reliability. and means for transmitting to another radio personal station, when acquiring the information to be transmitted immediacy manner, the selecting means is to choose a communication path reliability include the highest radio handset It is characterized by that.

  The wireless communication device of the present application is a wireless communication device capable of communicating with a second wireless communication device via a plurality of first wireless communication devices connected to a wireless communication network. Hop number table for storing identification information of a plurality of first wireless communication devices installed on a plurality of communication paths leading to the device and the number of hops from the own device to each of the plurality of first wireless communication devices in association with each other And an acquisition means for acquiring from the first wireless communication device a hop number table possessed by the first wireless communication device connected to the own device, and based on the acquired hop number table, among the first wireless communication devices, Specifying means for specifying a first wireless communication apparatus having the smallest number of other first wireless communication apparatuses connected to the first wireless communication apparatus; and selecting means for selecting a communication path including the specified first wireless communication apparatus; With It is characterized in.

  According to the present application, by avoiding an increase in the number of communication times of a specific wireless slave device, it is possible to reduce the bias in power consumption between the wireless slave devices.

It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of a radio telemeter system. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a wireless master device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a wireless slave device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a connection example in Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of a hop number table. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a procedure of processing executed by the wireless slave device according to the first embodiment. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a connection example in Embodiment 2. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of processing executed by the wireless slave device according to the second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of processing executed by the wireless slave device according to the third embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of processing executed by a wireless slave device according to a fourth embodiment.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings showing embodiments thereof.
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the radio telemeter system. The wireless telemeter system according to the present embodiment includes a host computer 11 and a center-side network control device 12 as a configuration on the center side, and a wireless master device 21, wireless slave devices 22, 22,. 22 and meters 23, 23,... The meter 23 is a measuring instrument that is installed in, for example, individual homes, companies, and various facilities, measures the amount of gas, water, electricity, etc., and outputs a measurement result (meter reading value). The wireless telemeter system according to the present embodiment uses wireless communication for various data output from the terminal side, such as data indicating the meter reading value of the meter 23, data indicating the operating state of the wireless master device 21 and the wireless slave device 22, and so on. One of the features is that various data including commands for controlling operations of the wireless master device 21 and the wireless slave device 22 are transmitted from the center side to the terminal side.

  The center-side network control device 12 and the terminal-side wireless master device 21 are connected to a wide-area wireless network N1 such as a PHS network or a FOMA network, and perform wireless communication via the wide-area wireless network N1. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the number of the wireless master devices 21 connected to the wide area wireless network N <b> 1 is one, but it goes without saying that a plurality of wireless master devices 21 may be connected. .

  The center-side network control device 12 is provided, for example, in a base station of a communication carrier and has a function of controlling communication with the terminal side via the wide area wireless network N1. When data to be transmitted from the host computer 11 to the terminal side is input from the host computer 11, the center side network control device 12 transmits the data to the terminal side by a communication method compliant with the communication standard of the wide area wireless network N1. In addition, when the data transmitted from the terminal side is received via the wide area wireless network N1, the received data is transmitted to the host computer 11.

  The wireless master device 21 is connected to the center side via the wide-area wireless network N1 and forms a mesh-type narrow-area wireless network N2 with a plurality of wireless slave devices 22, 22,. To do. The wireless master device 21 performs wireless communication with the host computer 11 on the center side via the wide area wireless network N1 and wireless communication with the wireless slave devices 22, 22,..., 22 via the narrow area wireless network N2. It is configured.

  When the wireless slave device 22 acquires the meter reading value from the meter 23 connected to the wireless slave device 22, the wireless slave device 22 transmits data indicating the meter reading value to the wireless master device 21 via the narrow area wireless network N <b> 2. Further, when the wireless master device 21 receives data transmitted from the wireless slave device 22 and when an event to be notified to the host computer 11 occurs in its own device, the wireless master device 21 communicates with the host computer 11 via the wide area wireless network N1. Perform wireless communication.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the wireless master device 21 according to the first embodiment. The wireless master device 21 includes a control unit 210, a storage unit 211, a wide area wireless communication unit 212, a narrow area wireless communication unit 213, a display unit 214, an operation unit 215, and the like. Each component of the hardware provided in the wireless master device 21 is configured to operate with electric power supplied from the battery 219.

  The control unit 210 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, reads a control program stored in advance in the ROM into the RAM, and the CPU executes the control program, whereby the entire device is a wireless master device according to the present invention. It functions as a (second wireless communication device).

  The storage unit 211 is configured by a non-volatile memory such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), for example, and stores setting information related to the operation of the own device, information related to the wireless slave device 22, and the like.

  The wide area wireless communication unit 212 performs wireless communication via the wide area wireless network N1 by transmitting or receiving radio waves through the antenna 212a. For example, when the wireless master device 21 acquires the meter reading value of the meter 23 through the wireless slave device 22 assembled with the own device, the wireless master device 21 transmits data indicating the meter reading value to the host computer 11 on the center side. When the wide-area wireless communication unit 212 acquires data to be transmitted through the control unit 210, the wide-area wireless communication unit 212 transmits the data in a format compliant with the communication standard of the wide-area wireless network N1 by driving the antenna 212a to transmit radio waves. Process.

  In addition, when the radio wave is received by the antenna 212a, the wide area wireless communication unit 212 detects the radio wave intensity of the radio wave and decodes the received radio wave to acquire data in a predetermined format. The received radio wave received by the antenna 212a includes various control commands such as an activation command from the host computer 11, for example. The wide area wireless communication unit 212 outputs the detection result of the radio wave intensity and the data obtained by decoding to the control unit 210. When the control unit 210 acquires the data output from the wide area wireless communication unit 212, the control unit 210 performs various controls based on the data.

  The narrow-area wireless communication unit 213 communicates with a plurality of pre-assembled wireless slave units 22, 22,..., 22 by a predetermined wireless communication method by transmitting or receiving radio waves through the antenna 213a. As the wireless communication method, for example, a specific low power wireless method is adopted. The narrow area wireless communication unit 213 of the wireless master device 21 intermittently transmits a beacon as a search signal for searching for the wireless slave device 22 having data to be transmitted. In addition, the narrow area wireless communication unit 213 receives the beacon transmitted from the wireless slave unit 22 and transmits the data to the transmission source of the beacon when the own apparatus has data to be transmitted.

  The display unit 214 includes an LED lamp, a liquid crystal display panel, and the like, and displays information to be notified to a worker or the like who performs maintenance work based on a control signal output from the control unit 210.

  The operation unit 215 includes various switches such as dip switches and buttons, and accepts various setting operations by, for example, a worker performing maintenance work. The control unit 210 performs various controls based on the setting content input from the operation unit 215 and stores the setting content in the storage unit 211 as necessary.

  In the present embodiment, the wireless master device 21 has been described as having an NCU function. However, a network control device having an NCU function is prepared as an individual device, and the wireless master device 21 is connected to the network control device. It may be configured to. In this case, the wireless master device 21 may be configured to include a connection interface for connecting the network control device and to communicate with the center side via the network control device connected to the connection interface.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the wireless slave device 22 according to the first embodiment. The wireless slave device 22 includes a control unit 220, a storage unit 221, a narrow-area wireless communication unit 222, a meter IF 223, a display unit 224, an operation unit 225, and the like. Each part of the hardware included in the wireless slave device 22 is configured to operate with electric power supplied from the battery 229.

  The control unit 220 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, reads a control program stored in advance in the ROM into the RAM, and the CPU executes the control program, whereby the entire device is connected to the wireless slave device according to the present invention. It functions as a (first wireless communication device).

  The storage unit 221 includes, for example, a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM, and stores setting information related to the operation of the own device, information related to the association with the wireless master device 21, and a hop number table described later.

  The narrow-area wireless communication unit 222 communicates with the wireless base unit 21 and other wireless slave units 22 that are preliminarily assembled in a predetermined wireless communication method by transmitting or receiving radio waves through the antenna 222a. As the wireless communication method, for example, a specific low power wireless method is adopted. The narrow area wireless communication unit 222 of the wireless slave device 22 intermittently transmits a beacon as a search signal for searching for the wireless master device 21 or other wireless slave device 22 having data to be transmitted. In addition, the narrow-area wireless communication unit 222 receives a beacon transmitted from the wireless master device 21 or another wireless slave device 22, and when the own device has data to be transmitted, Send to the sender.

  The meter IF 223 is connected to the meter 23 for measuring the usage amount of gas, water and the like. When the meter IF 223 acquires a meter reading value from the connected meter 23, the meter IF 223 sends data indicating the meter reading value to the control unit 220.

  The display unit 224 includes an LED lamp, a liquid crystal display panel, and the like, and displays information to be notified to a worker or the like performing maintenance work based on a control signal output from the control unit 220.

  The operation unit 225 includes various switches such as dip switches and buttons, and accepts various setting operations by, for example, a worker performing maintenance work. The control unit 220 performs various controls based on the setting content input from the operation unit 225 and stores the setting content in the storage unit 221 as necessary.

Hereinafter, the operation of the wireless slave device 22 according to the first embodiment will be described.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a connection example in the first embodiment. The example of FIG. 4 schematically shows a wireless telemeter system including one wireless master device 21 and five wireless slave devices 22. It is assumed that identifiers A to E are assigned to each of the wireless slave devices 22, and an identifier Z is assigned to the wireless master device 21. There are two communication paths from the wireless slave device 22 with the identifier A to the wireless master device 21, the communication route via the wireless slave device 22 with the identifier B, and the communication route via the wireless slave devices 22 and 22 with the identifiers C and E. A communication path exists.

  In the present embodiment, when the wireless slave device 22 with the identifier A transmits data, the hop count table is acquired from the wireless slave devices 22 connected to the own device (that is, wireless slave devices with the identifiers B and C), A process for selecting a communication path is performed with reference to the acquired hop count table. Specifically, among the wireless slave devices 22 having the identifiers B and C connected to the own device, the wireless slave device 22 having the smallest number of connections to other communication devices is specified, and the specified wireless slave device 22 is included. Select a communication path.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the hop number table. The hop number table associates identification information of other wireless slave devices 22 installed on a communication path from a certain wireless slave device 22 to the wireless master device 21 with the number of hops until the wireless slave device 22 is reached. It is a stored table. FIG. 5A shows an example of a hop number table provided in the wireless slave device 22 with the identifier A. There are two communication paths from the wireless slave device 22 with the identifier A to the wireless master device 21, the communication route via the wireless slave device 22 with the identifier B, and the communication route via the wireless slave devices 22 and 22 with the identifiers C and E. A communication path exists. The wireless slave device 22 with the identifier A is its own device, and the hop count is zero. Further, since the wireless slave devices 22 with the identifiers B and C are connected to the wireless slave device 22 with the identifier A, the number of hops is 1. Further, since the wireless slave device 22 with the identifier E passes through the wireless slave device 22 with the identifier C, the number of hops is two. For the wireless master device 21 with the identifier Z, the number of hops differs depending on the communication route, and thus two hop numbers are stored.

  Similarly, FIG. 5B shows an example of the hop number table provided in the wireless slave device 22 with identifier B, and FIG. 5C shows an example of the hop number table provided in the wireless slave device 22 with identifier C. Although not shown in the figure, it is assumed that the wireless slave devices 22 having the identifiers D and E include a hop number table of the own device.

  Such a hop number table is created by exchanging the hop number table between the adjacent wireless slave units 22 and 22 and updating the hop number table of the own unit. For this reason, in the hop number table of the wireless slave device 22 with the identifier A, information of the wireless slave device 22 with the identifier D that does not exist on the communication path to the wireless master device 21 may be stored. In addition, when a new wireless slave device 22 is installed in the narrow-area wireless network N2, or when an existing wireless slave device 22 is deleted from the narrow-area wireless network N2, the adjacent wireless slave devices 22 are hopped. By exchanging the number tables, the own hop number table can be updated.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a procedure of processing executed by the wireless slave device 22 according to the first embodiment. The control unit 220 of the wireless slave device 22 determines whether there is data to be transmitted by the own device (step S11). When the meter reading value is acquired from the meter 23 connected to the own device, when data transmitted from another wireless slave device 22 is received, when an event to be notified to the host computer 11 occurs in the own device, etc. It is determined that there is data to be transmitted. If there is no data to be transmitted (S11: NO), the process waits until data to be transmitted is generated.

  When it is determined that there is data to be transmitted (S11: YES), the wireless slave device 22 acquires a hop number table from another adjacent wireless slave device 22 (step S12). Specifically, the control unit 220 transmits a transmission request for the hop number table to another adjacent wireless slave unit 22 through the narrow-area wireless communication unit 222, and is returned as a response from the other wireless slave unit 22. The hop count table is received through the narrow area wireless communication unit 222.

  Next, the control unit 220 refers to the hop count table acquired from the other adjacent wireless slave units 22, and selects the wireless slave unit 22 having the smallest number of connections to other communication devices among the adjacent wireless slave units 22. Specify (step S13). In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, when the data transmission source is the wireless slave device 22 with the identifier A, the wireless slave devices 22 adjacent to the wireless slave device 22 are the wireless slave devices 22 with the identifiers B and C. Since the wireless slave device 22 with the identifier B and the wireless slave device 21 with the identifier Z are connected to the wireless slave device 22 with the identifier B, the number of connections is two. On the other hand, since the wireless slave device 22 with identifiers A, D, and E is connected to the wireless slave device 22 with identifier C, the number of connections is three. Therefore, the wireless slave device 22 with the identifier A specifies the wireless slave device 22 with the smallest number of connections as the transmission destination.

  The transmission source wireless slave device 22 selects a communication path including the wireless slave device 22 identified in step S13 (step S14), and transmits data through the communication route (step S15).

  As described above, in the first embodiment, data can be transmitted by selecting a communication path that passes through the wireless slave device 22 having the smallest number of connections, so that the number of adjacent other wireless slave devices 22 is large. It is possible to avoid going through the wireless slave unit 22 that may have a large number of communications. As a result, it is possible to avoid an increase in the number of times of communication of a specific wireless slave device 22, and to suppress a bias in power consumption.

(Embodiment 2)
In the first embodiment, the wireless slave device 22 having the smallest number of connections to the other wireless slave devices 22 is identified and the communication path via the identified wireless slave device 22 is selected. When there are a plurality of small wireless slave devices 22, a communication path may be selected in consideration of the number of hops to the wireless master device 21.
In the second embodiment, a configuration will be described in which when there are a plurality of wireless slave devices 22 with the smallest number of connections to other wireless slave devices 22, a communication path with the smallest number of hops to the wireless master device 21 is selected. The system configuration of the wireless telemeter system and the internal configurations of the wireless master device 21 and the wireless slave device 22 are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a connection example in the second embodiment. The example of FIG. 7 schematically shows a wireless telemeter system including one wireless master device 21 and six wireless slave devices 22. It is assumed that identifiers A to F are assigned to the wireless slave devices 22 and identifier Z is assigned to the wireless slave device 21. There are two communication paths from the wireless slave device 22 with the identifier A to the wireless master device 21, the communication route via the wireless slave device 22 with the identifier B, and the communication route via the wireless slave devices 22 and 22 with the identifiers C and E. A communication path exists.

  In the present embodiment, when the wireless slave device 22 with the identifier A transmits data, the hop count table is acquired from the wireless slave devices 22 connected to the own device (that is, wireless slave devices with the identifiers B and C), A process for selecting a communication path is performed with reference to the acquired hop count table. Specifically, among the wireless slave devices 22 having the identifiers B and C connected to the own device, the one having the smallest number of other communication devices connected to these wireless slave devices 22 is identified, and the identified wireless slave device A communication path including 22 is selected.

  In the example shown in FIG. 7, the number of communication devices connected to the identifiers B and C is both 3, and a communication path cannot be uniquely determined. Therefore, in the third embodiment, when there are a plurality of wireless slave devices 22 with the smallest number of connections, the wireless slave device 22 with the smallest number of hops to the wireless master device 21 is specified, and the specified wireless slave device 22 is passed through. Select the communication route to be used.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining a procedure of processing executed by the wireless slave device 22 according to the second embodiment. The control unit 220 of the wireless slave device 22 determines whether there is data to be transmitted by the own device (step S21). When the meter reading value is acquired from the meter 23 connected to the own device, when data transmitted from another wireless slave device 22 is received, when an event to be notified to the host computer 11 occurs in the own device, etc. It is determined that there is data to be transmitted. If there is no data to be transmitted (S21: NO), the process waits until data to be transmitted is generated.

  When it is determined that there is data to be transmitted (S21: YES), the wireless slave device 22 acquires a hop number table from another adjacent wireless slave device 22 (step S22). Specifically, the control unit 220 transmits a transmission request for the hop number table to another adjacent wireless slave unit 22 through the narrow-area wireless communication unit 222, and is returned as a response from the other wireless slave unit 22. The hop count table is received through the narrow area wireless communication unit 222.

  Next, the control unit 220 refers to the hop count table acquired from the other adjacent wireless slave units 22, and selects the wireless slave unit 22 having the smallest number of connections to other communication devices among the adjacent wireless slave units 22. Specify (step S23).

  Next, it is determined whether or not there are a plurality of wireless slave devices 22 having the smallest number of connections to other communication devices (step S24). If it is determined that there are a plurality of wireless slave devices 22 with the smallest number of connections to other communication devices (S24: YES), the control unit 220 refers to the hop number table acquired in step S22 and continues to the wireless master device 21. The wireless slave device 22 having the smallest number of hops is identified (step S25).

  When it is determined that there is only one wireless slave device 22 identified in step S23 (S24: NO), the wireless slave device 22 as the transmission source has the smallest number of hops to the wireless master device 21 in step S25. When the device 22 is specified, a communication path including the specified wireless slave device 22 is selected (step S26), and data is transmitted through the communication path (step S27).

  As described above, in the second embodiment, even when there are a plurality of wireless slave devices 22 having the smallest number of connections, a communication path is selected in consideration of the number of hops to the wireless master device 21, and data is stored. Since transmission is possible, it is avoided that the number of other adjacent wireless slave devices 22 is large and the wireless slave device 22 that may have a large number of communication is routed. As a result, it is possible to avoid an increase in the number of times of communication of a specific wireless slave device 22, and to suppress a bias in power consumption.

(Embodiment 3)
In the first embodiment, the wireless slave device 22 having the smallest number of connections to the other wireless slave devices 22 is identified and the communication path via the identified wireless slave device 22 is selected. When there are a plurality of small wireless slave units 22, a configuration may be adopted in which a communication path is selected in consideration of the number of communications in each wireless slave unit 22.
In the third embodiment, when there are a plurality of wireless slave devices 22 with the smallest number of connections to other wireless slave devices 22, the wireless slave devices 22 that pass through the smallest number of communication among the adjacent wireless slave devices 22 are routed. A configuration for selecting a communication path will be described. The system configuration of the wireless telemeter system and the internal configurations of the wireless master device 21 and the wireless slave device 22 are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the wireless slave device 22 with the identifier A is the transmission source, the number of communication devices connected to the identifiers B and C is both 3, and a communication path cannot be uniquely determined. Therefore, the control unit 220 of each wireless slave device 22 according to the third embodiment counts the number of times of communication through the narrow area wireless communication unit 222 and stores the counting result in the storage unit 221. The transmission-source wireless slave device 22 acquires the communication count counted by the adjacent wireless slave devices 22, and selects a communication path including the wireless slave device 22 with the smallest communication count.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining a procedure of processing executed by the wireless slave device 22 according to the third embodiment. The control unit 220 of the wireless slave device 22 determines whether there is data to be transmitted by the own device (step S31). When the meter reading value is acquired from the meter 23 connected to the own device, when data transmitted from another wireless slave device 22 is received, when an event to be notified to the host computer 11 occurs in the own device, etc. It is determined that there is data to be transmitted. If there is no data to be transmitted (S31: NO), the process waits until data to be transmitted is generated.

  When it is determined that there is data to be transmitted (S31: YES), the wireless slave device 22 acquires a hop number table from another adjacent wireless slave device 22 (step S32). Specifically, the control unit 220 transmits a transmission request for the hop number table to another adjacent wireless slave unit 22 through the narrow-area wireless communication unit 222, and is returned as a response from the other wireless slave unit 22. The hop count table is received through the narrow area wireless communication unit 222.

  Next, the control unit 220 refers to the hop count table acquired from the other adjacent wireless slave units 22, and selects the wireless slave unit 22 having the smallest number of connections to other communication devices among the adjacent wireless slave units 22. Specify (step S33).

  Next, it is determined whether or not there are a plurality of wireless slave devices 22 with the smallest number of connections to other communication devices (step S34). When it is determined that there are a plurality of wireless slave devices 22 with the smallest number of connections to other communication devices (S34: YES), the control unit 220 acquires the number of communications from the plurality of wireless slave devices 22 identified in step S33. (Step S35). Specifically, the control unit 220 transmits a transmission request for the number of communications to the wireless slave unit 22 through the narrow-area wireless communication unit 222, and sets the number of communications returned from the wireless slave unit 22 as a response. A process of receiving through the wireless communication unit 222 is performed.

  Next, the control unit 220 refers to the acquired communication frequency of each wireless slave device 22, and identifies the wireless slave device 22 with the smallest communication frequency (step S36).

  When the source wireless slave device 22 determines that there is only one wireless slave device 22 identified at step S33 (S34: NO), or when the wireless slave device 22 with the smallest number of communications is identified at step S36 Then, a communication path including the specified wireless slave device 22 is selected (step S37), and data is transmitted through the communication path (step S38).

  As described above, in the third embodiment, even when there are a plurality of wireless slave devices 22 having the smallest number of connections, it is possible to select a communication path in consideration of the number of communication and transmit data. It is avoided that the number of other adjacent wireless slave units 22 is large and the number of communication times is large, and the wireless slave units 22 may be routed. As a result, it is possible to avoid an increase in the number of times of communication of a specific wireless slave device 22, and to suppress a bias in power consumption.

(Embodiment 4)
In the fourth embodiment, the reliability of communication is calculated in each wireless slave unit 22, and when an important communication that has immediacy occurs in each wireless slave unit 22, adjacent wireless slave units 22 A configuration for selecting a communication path through the wireless slave device 22 having the highest reliability among the 22 is described.
The system configuration of the wireless telemeter system and the internal configurations of the wireless master device 21 and the wireless slave device 22 are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  In the fourth embodiment, it is determined whether or not the data to be transmitted has immediacy. If the data to be transmitted has immediacy, the communication path passing through the wireless slave device 22 having high communication reliability is selected and data is transmitted. Send. For this reason, when each wireless slave device 22 performs communication through the narrow-area wireless communication unit 222, the wireless slave device 22 determines the success or failure of communication, and accumulates the number of communication and the number of successful communication (number of failures) in the storage unit 221. When a request is received from another wireless slave device 22, the communication reliability of the own device (for example, the number of successful communication times / the total number of communication times) is calculated, and the calculated communication reliability is transmitted to the request source.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a procedure of processing executed by the wireless slave device 22 according to the fourth embodiment. The control unit 220 of the wireless slave device 22 determines whether there is data to be transmitted by the own device (step S41). When the meter reading value is acquired from the meter 23 connected to the own device, when data transmitted from another wireless slave device 22 is received, when an event to be notified to the host computer 11 occurs in the own device, etc. It is determined that there is data to be transmitted. If there is no data to be transmitted (S41: NO), the process waits until data to be transmitted is generated.

  When it is determined that there is data to be transmitted (S41: YES), the control unit 220 determines whether the data has immediacy (step S42). In the present embodiment, the presence or absence of immediacy can be determined in advance for each transmission content. For example, the meter reading value of the meter 23 acquired from the wireless slave unit 22, an alarm such as a gas leak, and a response to a request from the center side need to be immediately transmitted to the host computer 11, and a battery voltage drop call, It is not necessary to immediately transmit the monitoring status of each wireless slave unit 22. Information regarding the presence or absence of immediacy for each transmission content is stored in the storage unit 211 in advance. The control unit 210 determines whether there is immediacy in the transmission process based on the information stored in the storage unit 211.

  If it is determined that the data to be transmitted has immediacy (S42: YES), the communication reliability is acquired from the other connected wireless slave units (step S43). Specifically, the control unit 220 transmits a transmission request for communication reliability to another adjacent wireless slave unit 22 through the narrow-area wireless communication unit 222, and returns a response from the other wireless slave unit 22 as a response. The narrow area wireless communication unit 222 receives the communication reliability.

  Then, the control unit 220 refers to the communication reliability acquired from the other adjacent wireless slave devices 22 and identifies the wireless slave device 22 having the highest communication reliability among the adjacent wireless slave devices 22 ( Step S44).

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the data to be transmitted does not have immediacy (S42: NO), the wireless slave device 22 acquires a hop number table from another adjacent wireless slave device 22 (step S45). Specifically, the control unit 220 transmits a transmission request for the hop number table to another adjacent wireless slave unit 22 through the narrow-area wireless communication unit 222, and is returned as a response from the other wireless slave unit 22. The hop count table is received through the narrow area wireless communication unit 222.

  Then, the control unit 220 refers to the hop count table acquired from the other adjacent wireless slave units 22, and selects the wireless slave unit 22 having the smallest number of connections with other communication devices among the adjacent wireless slave units 22. Specify (step S46).

  The data transmission source wireless slave device 22 selects a communication path including the wireless slave device 22 identified in step S44 or S46 (step S47), and transmits data through the communication route (step S48).

  As described above, in the fourth embodiment, when the data to be transmitted has immediacy, the communication path with the highest communication reliability can be selected even if the route is somewhat far away. The possibility of failure can be reduced, and important data can be reliably transmitted to the wireless master device 21.

  The embodiment disclosed this time is to be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the meanings described above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  Regarding the above embodiment, the following additional notes are disclosed.

  The wireless telemeter system of the present application is connected to a meter that measures the amount of measurement object used and outputs a measurement result, and communicates with the wireless master unit (21) via the narrow-area wireless network (N2). The slave unit (22) is connected to the wireless slave unit (22) via the narrow-area wireless network (N2) and connected to the external communication device (11) via the wide-area wireless network (N1). In a wireless telemeter system including the wireless slave device (22) and a wireless master device that communicates with the external communication device (11), each wireless slave device performs a plurality of communications from its own device to the wireless master device (21). A hop number table for storing identification information of a plurality of wireless slave devices (22) installed on the route and the number of hops from the own device to each of the plurality of wireless slave devices, and connected to the own device The hop number table that the wireless handset (22) has Based on the acquisition means (S12) acquired from the wireless slave device and the acquired hop number table, the wireless slave device having the smallest number of other wireless slave devices connected to the wireless slave device among the wireless slave devices And a selecting unit (S14) for selecting a communication path including the specified wireless slave unit.

  In the present application, among the plurality of wireless slave devices connected to the transmission-source wireless slave device, the wireless slave device having the smallest number of connections to other wireless slave devices is specified, and the communication path via the wireless slave device is determined. Select to send data. For this reason, in this application, it is avoided that the number of other adjacent wireless slave devices is large and the wireless slave device that may have a large number of communications is avoided, so the number of communications of a specific wireless slave device is large. Can be avoided, and bias in power consumption can be suppressed.

  In the wireless telemeter system of the present application, when the selecting unit (S14) specifies a plurality of wireless slave units (22) in the specifying unit (S13), the number of hops from the own unit to the wireless master unit (21) The method is characterized in that the communication path with the smallest number is selected.

  In this application, even when there are multiple wireless slave devices with the smallest number of connections to other wireless slave devices, the communication path is selected in consideration of the number of hops to the wireless master device, and data is transmitted. Therefore, it is possible to avoid passing through a wireless slave device that has a large number of other wireless slave devices adjacent to each other and may have a large number of communications. As a result, it is possible to avoid an increase in the number of communication times of a specific wireless slave device, and to suppress bias in power consumption.

  In the wireless telemeter system of the present application, each wireless slave unit (22) counts the number of communications (220), and transmits the counted number of communications to another wireless slave unit connected to itself (222). The selecting means (S14) selects a communication path including the wireless slave device (22) with the smallest number of communication when the specifying means (S13) specifies a plurality of wireless slave devices (22). It is made to do so.

  In the present application, even when there are a plurality of wireless slave devices with the smallest number of connections, it is possible to select a communication path in consideration of the number of communication and transmit data. It is possible to avoid going through a wireless slave unit that has a large number and may have a large number of communications. As a result, it is possible to avoid an increase in the number of communication times of a specific wireless slave device, and to suppress bias in power consumption.

  In the wireless telemeter system of the present application, each wireless slave unit (22) calculates a means (220) for counting the success or failure of communication and a means (220) for calculating the reliability of communication based on the success or failure of the counted communication. Means (222) for transmitting the reliability to another wireless slave device connected to the own device, and the selecting means (S14) selects a plurality of wireless slave devices (22) by the specifying means (S13). In this case, when information to be transmitted immediately is acquired, a communication path including the wireless slave device (22) having the highest reliability is selected.

  In the present application, when there is immediacy in the data to be transmitted, the communication path with the highest reliability of communication can be selected even if the route is somewhat far away, so the possibility of communication failure is reduced, Important data can be reliably transmitted to the wireless master unit.

  The wireless communication device of the present application is capable of communicating with a second wireless communication device (21) via a plurality of first wireless communication devices (22) connected to a wireless communication network (N2). 22), identification information of a plurality of first wireless communication devices (22) installed on a plurality of communication paths from the own device to the second wireless communication device (21), and the plurality of first wireless communication devices (22) from the own device. The first wireless communication device (22) includes a hop number table that stores the number of hops up to each wireless communication device (22) in association with each other, and a hop number table that the first wireless communication device (22) connected to the wireless communication device (22) has. 22) and the other first radio connected to the first radio communication device (22) out of the first radio communication devices (22) on the basis of the acquisition means (S12) acquired from 22) and the acquired hop count table. The smallest number of communication devices (22) And have identification means for identifying the first wireless communication device (22) (S13), characterized in that it comprises a selection means for selecting a communication path that includes a first wireless communication device (22) identified (S14).

  In the present application, among the plurality of wireless slave devices connected to the transmission-source wireless slave device, the wireless slave device having the smallest number of connections to other wireless slave devices is specified, and the communication path via the wireless slave device is determined. Select to send data. For this reason, in this application, it is avoided that the number of other adjacent wireless slave devices is large and the wireless slave device that may have a large number of communications is avoided, so the number of communications of a specific wireless slave device is large. Can be avoided, and bias in power consumption can be suppressed.

11 Host computer 12 Center side network controller 21 Wireless master unit 22 Wireless slave unit 23 Meter 210, 220 Control unit 211, 221 Storage unit 212 Wide area wireless communication unit 213, 222 Narrow region wireless communication unit 214, 224 Display unit 215, 225 Operation unit 219, 229 Battery 223 Meter IF

Claims (5)

Connected to a meter that measures the amount of measurement object used and outputs the measurement results, and a plurality of wireless slave devices that communicate with the wireless master device via a narrow-area wireless network, and the above-mentioned via the narrow-area wireless network In a wireless telemeter system that is connected to a wireless slave unit and connected to an external communication device via a wide area wireless network, and comprising a wireless master device that communicates with the wireless slave device and the external communication device,
Each wireless handset
Hops for storing identification information of a plurality of wireless slave devices installed on a plurality of communication paths from the own device to the wireless master device and the number of hops from the own device to each of the plurality of wireless slave devices in association with each other A number table,
An acquisition means for acquiring from the wireless slave device a hop number table possessed by the wireless slave device connected to the own device;
Based on the acquired hop number table, the specifying means for specifying the wireless slave device having the smallest number of other wireless slave devices connected to the wireless slave device among the wireless slave devices,
And a selecting means for selecting a communication path including the specified wireless slave device.   The selection means is configured to select a communication path with the smallest number of hops from its own device to the wireless master device when a plurality of wireless slave devices are specified by the specifying device. The radio telemeter system according to 1. Each wireless handset
Means for counting the number of communications;
Means for transmitting the counted number of communication times to another wireless slave device connected to the device,
The said selecting means, when a plurality of wireless slaves are specified by the specifying means, selects a communication path including a wireless slave having the smallest number of communications. The radio telemeter system according to 2. Each wireless handset
Means for counting success or failure of communication;
Means for calculating communication reliability based on the success or failure of the counted communication;
Means for transmitting the calculated reliability to other wireless slave devices connected to the device ,
When acquiring the information to be transmitted immediacy manner, the selection means, the radio telemeter according to claim 1, characterized in that you have to select a communication path reliability include the highest radio handset system. In a wireless communication device capable of communicating with a second wireless communication device via a plurality of first wireless communication devices connected to a wireless communication network,
Identification information of a plurality of first wireless communication devices installed on a plurality of communication paths from the own device to the second wireless communication device, and the number of hops from the own device to each of the plurality of first wireless communication devices. A hop count table to be stored in association with each other;
Acquisition means for acquiring from the first wireless communication device a hop number table possessed by the first wireless communication device connected to the own device;
Identifying means for identifying a first wireless communication device having the smallest number of other first wireless communication devices connected to the first wireless communication device among the first wireless communication devices based on the acquired hop number table; ,
And a selecting means for selecting a communication path including the identified first wireless communication apparatus.

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