JP6580292B2 - Sensor management device, sensor management method, and sensor management program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to virtual sensor management.

A number of sensors such as temperature / humidity sensors, illuminance sensors, and human sensors are installed in a space such as a building, and services using information obtained from these sensors are provided. For example, an air conditioning control service that provides comfort in a thermal environment using information from a sensor is provided. In addition, a lighting control service is provided that uses the information from the sensor to improve intellectual productivity. In addition, an information posting service is provided in accordance with the movement of the user using information from the sensor. These services can provide more detailed services by increasing the density of sensors. However, the number of sensors that can be installed in the space or the installation position of the sensors is limited due to restrictions on the installation location and installation cost.
On the other hand, on the service (application) provider side, there is a demand to improve the value of services by using sensor values at arbitrary points in the space. For example, when providing an air conditioning control service that realizes office comfort, it is necessary to measure (sense) the environment around the user. Generally, a sensor installed near the seat measures the environment around the user. However, since the user moves within the office, the sensor level measured by the sensor installed near the seat can lower the service level. There is sex. In such a case, it is desirable to move the sensor in real time, but in reality it is difficult to move the sensor in real time.
In some cases, it may be desirable to move a sensor once installed in response to a change in service specifications. However, in order to move the sensor, an operator needs to enter the space and move the sensor. For this reason, it is difficult for the service provider to freely move the sensor at an arbitrary timing.

From such a background, a sensor (hereinafter referred to as a virtual sensor) is virtually installed at an arbitrary point in the space, and the sensor value of a sensor (hereinafter referred to as an actual sensor) physically installed in the space is virtually A technique for estimating the sensor value of a sensor and using the sensor value of a virtual sensor has been proposed. For example, if the sensor management device provides a common API (Application Programming Interface) between the real sensor and the virtual sensor, the application uses the API so that the sensor value of the virtual sensor is the same as the sensor value of the real sensor. (Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).
In order to effectively use sensor values from an application, a method of storing attribute information by providing a sensor management DB (Database) is disclosed (Patent Document 3).

International Publication WO2015 / 182416 JP 2015-226102 A International Publication WO2013 / 24673

The virtual sensor is generated at an arbitrary timing at an arbitrary point according to a request from the application. For example, when providing a service focused on a user in a building, a virtual sensor is generated following the movement of the user. In such an application, the number of virtual sensors increases with time. As the number of virtual sensors increases, the search time for virtual sensors increases. Further, when the number of virtual sensors increases, the capacity of the memory that holds the virtual sensors becomes insufficient. As a result, degradation of service response time occurs.
Thus, in a service using virtual sensors, it is important to maintain an appropriate number of virtual sensors.

  The main object of the present invention is to maintain an appropriate number of virtual sensors.

The sensor management device according to the present invention includes:
A deletion target selection unit that selects a virtual sensor to be deleted from the plurality of virtual sensors based on the attributes of each of the plurality of generated virtual sensors;
A virtual sensor deletion unit that deletes the virtual sensor selected as the deletion target by the deletion target selection unit.

  According to the present invention, an unnecessary virtual sensor can be selected as a virtual sensor to be deleted based on the attribute of the virtual sensor, and an unnecessary virtual sensor can be deleted. For this reason, according to the present invention, an appropriate number of virtual sensors can be maintained.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of a sensor management device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of attribute information according to the first embodiment. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the sensor management apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of a sensor management device according to a second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the sensor management apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of a sensor management device according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 shows an example of an access model according to the third embodiment. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the sensor management apparatus according to the third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of a sensor management device according to a fourth embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the sensor management apparatus according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of a sensor management device according to a fifth embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the sensor management apparatus according to the fifth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of a sensor management device according to a sixth embodiment. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation example of a sensor management apparatus according to a sixth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a sensor management system according to a seventh embodiment. FIG. 20 shows an example of a screen for designating a virtual sensor to be deleted according to the seventh embodiment. FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of an interface for designating a virtual sensor to be deleted according to the seventh embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the sensor management device according to the first embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description of the embodiments and drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same or corresponding parts.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
*** Explanation of configuration ***
FIG. 1 shows a functional configuration example of a sensor management apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment.
In FIG. 1, the sensor management device 1 manages real sensors and virtual sensors 15.
The operation performed by the sensor management apparatus 1 corresponds to a sensor management method. A program for realizing the sensor management method corresponds to a sensor management program.

The actual sensor is physically installed in the space, and actually senses a physical quantity in the space.
The actual sensor is, for example, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, an illuminance sensor, a human sensor, or the like. An actual sensor is a device to which the name “sensor” is assigned.
In addition to these, actual sensors include barcode readers, video cameras, thermo cameras, smart devices with built-in sensors, and robots.

The virtual sensor 15 is a virtual sensor installed at an arbitrary point in the space. The sensor value of the virtual sensor 15 at an arbitrary point is obtained by interpolation or estimation from the sensor value of the actual sensor.
In the present embodiment, the sensor management device 1 manages the virtual sensor 15 a, the virtual sensor 15 b, and the virtual sensor 15 c as the virtual sensor 15.
The sensor management device 1 may manage the virtual sensor 15a, the virtual sensor 15b, and the virtual sensor 15c as object-oriented objects. In addition, when requested by an external module, the sensor management device 1 may obtain the sensor values of the virtual sensor 15a, the virtual sensor 15b, and the virtual sensor 15c by interpolation or estimation from the sensor value of the actual sensor.
Note that when it is not necessary to distinguish between the virtual sensor 15a, the virtual sensor 15b, and the virtual sensor 15c, the virtual sensor 15a, the virtual sensor 15b, and the virtual sensor 15c are collectively referred to as a virtual sensor 15.

  FIG. 18 shows a hardware configuration example of the sensor management apparatus 1. Before describing the functional configuration of the sensor management apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, the hardware configuration of the sensor management apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

The sensor management device 1 is a computer.
The sensor management device 1 includes a processor 101, a memory 102, a communication interface 103, and an auxiliary storage device 104 as hardware.
The auxiliary storage device 104 has the functions of the attribute information acquisition unit 12, the deletion target selection unit 13, the virtual sensor deletion unit 14, the virtual sensor generation unit 16, the actual sensor data acquisition unit 17, and the sensor data distribution unit 18 illustrated in FIG. A program to be realized is stored. These programs are loaded from the auxiliary storage device 104 into the memory 102. Then, the processor 101 reads these programs from the memory 102 and executes these programs. As a result, the processor 101 performs operations of an attribute information acquisition unit 12, a deletion target selection unit 13, a virtual sensor deletion unit 14, a virtual sensor generation unit 16, an actual sensor data acquisition unit 17, and a sensor data distribution unit 18, which will be described later.
In FIG. 18, the processor 101 implements a program for realizing the functions of the attribute information acquisition unit 12, the deletion target selection unit 13, the virtual sensor deletion unit 14, the virtual sensor generation unit 16, the actual sensor data acquisition unit 17, and the sensor data distribution unit 18. The execution state is schematically shown.
Further, the auxiliary storage device 104 implements the attribute information storage unit 11 shown in FIG. In addition, the auxiliary storage device 104 stores sensor values of actual sensors.
The communication interface 103 is used for the sensor management apparatus 1 to communicate with the outside. Specifically, the communication interface 103 is used for the sensor management apparatus 1 to communicate with an actual sensor.

  Next, the functional configuration of the sensor management apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

The attribute information storage unit 11 stores attribute information.
The attribute information is information indicating the attributes of the real sensor and the virtual sensor 15.
FIG. 2 shows an example of attribute information. Details of FIG. 2 will be described later.

The attribute information acquisition unit 12 acquires attribute information of the virtual sensor 15 from the attribute information storage unit 11.
The attribute information acquisition unit 12 may acquire the attribute information of the virtual sensor 15 at a constant cycle, or triggered by some event (for example, reception of a sensor data acquisition request or virtual sensor deletion request from the outside). The attribute information may be acquired.

The deletion target selection unit 13 selects the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted based on the attribute of each virtual sensor 15 indicated in the attribute information of the virtual sensor 15.
Here, the number of virtual sensors 15 selected by the deletion target selection unit 13 as a deletion target is not limited.
The process performed by the deletion target selection unit 13 corresponds to a deletion target selection process.

The virtual sensor deletion unit 14 deletes the virtual sensor 15 selected as the deletion target by the deletion target selection unit 13.
If the virtual sensor 15 is generated as an object, the virtual sensor deleting unit 14 deletes the virtual sensor 15 by deleting the corresponding object.
The virtual sensor deletion unit 14 may delete the virtual sensor 15 by adding a flag indicating that the virtual sensor 15 has been deleted to the record of the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted in the attribute information. Further, the virtual sensor deletion unit 14 may delete the virtual sensor 15 by setting “delete” in the life cycle column (described later) of the record of the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted in the attribute information.
The process performed by the virtual sensor deletion unit 14 corresponds to a virtual sensor deletion process.

The virtual sensor generation unit 16 generates a virtual sensor 15.
The virtual sensor generation unit 16 may generate the virtual sensor 15 at a constant cycle, or may generate the virtual sensor 15 triggered by some event (for example, reception of a sensor data acquisition request from the outside).
When generating the virtual sensor 15, the virtual sensor generation unit 16 stores the attribute information of the virtual sensor 15 in the attribute information storage unit 11.

The actual sensor data acquisition unit 17 acquires sensor data indicating a sensor value from the actual sensor.
The actual sensor data acquisition unit 17 may acquire sensor data from the actual sensor at regular intervals, or acquire sensor data from the actual sensor in response to some event (for example, reception of a sensor data acquisition request from the outside). May be.
The sensor data is stored in the auxiliary storage device 104 of the sensor management device 1. Alternatively, sensor data may be stored in a storage device external to the sensor management device 1.
Further, the sensor management apparatus 1 may process the memory 102 as temporary information without accumulating sensor data.

The sensor data distribution unit 18 transmits the sensor data to the external device using the communication module 103. The sensor data distribution unit 18 transmits sensor data indicating the sensor value of the actual sensor or sensor data indicating the sensor value of the virtual sensor to the external device.
The sensor data distribution unit 18 may open the interface to the outside, receive a request from an external device, and transmit the sensor data to the outside.
The sensor data distribution unit 18 may use HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) -based WEBAPI as an interface. The sensor data distribution unit 18 may use a publisher / subscriber model such as MQTT (Message Queue Telemetry Transport) or a communication protocol with other external devices.

  Next, attribute information will be described with reference to FIG.

In the example of FIG. 2, the attribute information includes ID, type, expiration date, coordinates, access frequency, access flag, last access time, error, number of users, number of reservations, and life cycle.
The attribute information may include all items shown in FIG. 2 or may include only some items shown in FIG.
In the ID column, an identifier of the virtual sensor 15 or the actual sensor is shown. The identifier is a number or symbol assigned to the virtual sensor 15 or the real sensor in order to uniquely identify the virtual sensor 15 or the real sensor.
The type column indicates whether the target sensor is a real sensor or a virtual sensor.
The expiration date column shows the time when the use of the virtual sensor ends.
In the coordinate column, the coordinate value of the installation position of the sensor is shown.
The access frequency column indicates the number of times the sensor has been accessed by the application. In FIG. 2, the access frequency is counted up every time access to the sensor occurs. The access frequency value is cleared at regular intervals.
The access flag column indicates whether or not there is a track record that the sensor has been accessed by the application during a certain period from now. When access to the sensor occurs, the access flag becomes valid, and the access flag is cleared when a certain time has elapsed since the occurrence of the access or when an event (for example, when an external sensor data acquisition request is received). .
The last access time column shows the time when the sensor was last accessed by the application.
In the error column, an error value estimated to be included in the sensor value of the virtual sensor is shown. In the error column, for example, a statistically estimated error value is shown.
The number of users using the sensor value is shown in the number of users column.
In the column for the number of reservations, the number of users who plan to use the sensor value is shown.
In the life cycle column, stages from generation to deletion of the virtual sensor are shown.

*** Explanation of operation ***
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the sensor management apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment.
More specifically, FIG. 3 shows an operation example of the sensor management apparatus 1 regarding the deletion of the virtual sensor 15.

The attribute information acquisition unit 12 acquires the attribute information of the virtual sensor 15 from the attribute information storage unit 11 in response to a certain period or some event (step ST101).
The attribute information acquisition unit 12 may acquire attribute information (a plurality of records) of a plurality of virtual sensors 15 at the same time, or may sequentially acquire attribute information (one record) of each virtual sensor 15. Good.
Here, an example in which the attribute information acquisition unit 12 sequentially acquires attribute information of each virtual sensor 15 will be described.
The attribute information acquisition unit 12 outputs the acquired attribute information of the virtual sensor 15 to the deletion target selection unit 13.

Next, the deletion target selection unit 13 compares the acquired attribute information with the deletion condition of the virtual sensor 15, and determines whether the deletion condition is satisfied (step ST102).
The deletion condition may be held in advance by the sensor management apparatus 1 or may be given from the outside.
An example of the deletion condition will be described later.

The deletion target selection unit 13 selects, as a deletion target, the virtual sensor 15 in which the attribute indicated by the attribute information satisfies the deletion condition (step ST103).
For example, the deletion target selection unit 13 assigns a flag indicating that selection has been made as a deletion target to the attribute information of the selected virtual sensor 15 to be deleted. Further, the deletion target selection unit 13 may simply hold the identifier of the selected virtual sensor 15 to be deleted.

  Hereinafter, an example of processing in which the deletion target selection unit 13 selects the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted will be described.

For example, the deletion target selection unit 13 can select a virtual sensor 15 included in a certain range from a specific reference point as a deletion target.
Moreover, the deletion target selection unit 13 is given an identifier of the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted from the external device, and can select the virtual sensor 15 corresponding to the given identifier as a deletion target.
In addition, the deletion target selection unit 13 may select the corresponding virtual sensor 15 as a deletion target in accordance with the deletion condition indicating the identifier of the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted.
Furthermore, the deletion target selection unit 13 may select the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted according to the following conditions.

For example, the deletion target selection unit 13 may select the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted based on the position of the virtual sensor 15 that is one of the attributes of the virtual sensor 15. More specifically, the deletion target selection unit 13 calculates the distance between the virtual sensors 15 from the coordinates of the attribute information (FIG. 2). In this case, a threshold value for the distance between the virtual sensors is described in the deletion condition. Then, the deletion target selection unit 13 selects the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted by comparing the calculated distance between the virtual sensors 15 and the distance threshold indicated in the deletion condition.
The threshold value indicated in the deletion condition may be a fixed value or may be dynamically determined according to the number of virtual sensors 15 installed in the space.
By doing so, the deletion target selection unit 13 converts a plurality of virtual sensors 15 (virtual sensor 15a, virtual sensor 15b, and virtual sensor 15c) within a certain distance into one virtual sensor (for example, virtual sensor 15a). Collectively, and select other virtual sensors (for example, virtual sensor 15b and virtual sensor 15c) as deletion targets.

Further, as another example of selection of the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted based on the position of the virtual sensor 15, the deletion target selection unit 13 is configured to delete the virtual sensor to be deleted based on the distance between the real sensor and the virtual sensor 15. 15 may be selected.
More specifically, the deletion target selection unit 13 calculates the distance between the real sensor and the virtual sensor 15 from the coordinates of the attribute information (FIG. 2). In this case, the deletion condition describes a threshold of the distance between the real sensor and the virtual sensor. Then, the deletion target selection unit 13 selects the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted by comparing the calculated distance between the real sensor and the virtual sensor with the threshold of the distance indicated in the deletion condition.
The threshold value indicated in the deletion condition may be a fixed value or may be dynamically determined according to the number of virtual sensors 15 installed in the space.
In this way, the deletion target selection unit 13 selects a virtual sensor 15 within a certain distance from the actual sensor as a deletion target.

Further, the deletion target selection unit 13 may select the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted based on the access status to the virtual sensor 15 that is one of the attributes of the virtual sensor 15.
More specifically, the deletion target selection unit 13 acquires the access frequency value of the attribute information (FIG. 2). In this case, an access frequency threshold is described in the deletion condition. Then, the deletion target selecting unit 13 selects the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted by comparing the acquired access frequency value with the threshold value indicated in the deletion condition.
The threshold value indicated in the deletion condition may be a fixed value or may be dynamically determined according to the number of virtual sensors 15 installed in the space.
By doing so, the deletion target selection unit 13 selects the virtual sensor 15 with a low access frequency as a deletion target.

As another example of selecting the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted based on the access status to the virtual sensor 15, the deletion target selecting unit 13 may select the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted based on the access flag. .
More specifically, the deletion target selection unit 13 acquires the value of the access flag of the attribute information (FIG. 2). In this case, the deletion condition describes that the access flag is cleared. Then, the deletion target selection unit 13 compares the acquired access flag value with the deletion condition, and selects the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted.
In this way, the deletion target selection unit 13 selects a virtual sensor 15 that has not been accessed recently as a deletion target.

As another example of selecting the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted based on the access status to the virtual sensor 15, the deletion target selecting unit 13 may select the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted based on the last access time. Good.
More specifically, the deletion target selection unit 13 acquires the value of the last access time of the attribute information (FIG. 2). Then, the deletion target selection unit 13 calculates an elapsed time from the last access time. In this case, the deletion condition describes a threshold of elapsed time from the last access time. Then, the deletion target selection unit 13 selects the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted by comparing the calculated elapsed time with the threshold value of the deletion condition.
The threshold value indicated in the deletion condition may be a fixed value or may be dynamically determined according to the number of virtual sensors 15 installed in the space.
In this way, the deletion target selection unit 13 selects, as a deletion target, the virtual sensor 15 that has not been accessed even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the last access time.

The deletion target selection unit 13 may select the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted based on the time validity of the virtual sensor 15 that is one of the attributes of the virtual sensor 15.
More specifically, the deletion target selection unit 13 acquires the value of the expiration date of the attribute information (FIG. 2). In this case, the deletion condition describes that the expiration date has passed. Then, the deletion target selection unit 13 compares the value of the expiration date with the deletion condition and selects the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted.
In this way, the deletion target selection unit 13 selects a virtual sensor 15 whose expiration date has passed as a deletion target.

As another example of selection of the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted based on the time validity of the virtual sensor 15, the deletion target selection unit 13 may select the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted based on the life cycle. .
More specifically, the deletion target selection unit 13 acquires the life cycle value of the attribute information (FIG. 2). In this case, the deletion condition describes that the life cycle is “use end”. Then, the deletion target selection unit 13 compares the life cycle value with the deletion condition, and selects the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted.
In this way, the deletion target selection unit 13 selects the virtual sensor 15 whose life cycle is “use end” as the deletion target.

Further, the deletion target selection unit 13 may select the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted based on the quality of the sensor value of the virtual sensor 15 that is one of the attributes of the virtual sensor 15. More specifically, the deletion target selection unit 13 acquires the error value of the attribute information (FIG. 2). In this case, an error threshold is described in the deletion condition. Then, the deletion target selection unit 13 compares the error value with the threshold value of the deletion condition, and selects the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted.
The threshold value indicated in the deletion condition may be a fixed value or may be dynamically determined according to the number of virtual sensors 15 installed in the space.
In this way, the deletion target selection unit 13 selects a virtual sensor 15 having an error of a certain range or more as a deletion target.

As another example of selection of the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted based on the quality of the sensor value, the deletion target selection unit 13 may select the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted based on the reliability of the sensor value. .
For example, consider adding the reliability of the sensor value as an attribute of the virtual sensor 15 to the attribute information. The reliability is an index indicating how reliable the sensor value of the virtual sensor 15 is. The reliability can be calculated by the following equation, for example.
Reliability = ((number of actual sensors referred to last time × number of actual sensors referred to this time) / square of the number of actual sensors referred to this time) × 100
The deletion target selection unit 13 acquires a reliability value from the attribute information. In this case, a reliability threshold value is described in the deletion information. Then, the deletion target selection unit 13 selects the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted by comparing the reliability value with the threshold value of the deletion condition.
The threshold value indicated in the deletion condition may be a fixed value or may be dynamically determined according to the number of virtual sensors 15 installed in the space.
In this way, the deletion target selection unit 13 selects a virtual sensor 15 whose sensor value reliability is a certain level or less as a deletion target.

The deletion target selection unit 13 may select the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted based on the number of users of the virtual sensor 15 that is one of the attributes of the virtual sensor 15. More specifically, the deletion target selection unit 13 acquires the value of the number of users in the attribute information (FIG. 2). In this case, a threshold value for the number of users is described in the deletion condition. Then, the deletion target selection unit 13 compares the value of the number of users with the threshold value of the deletion condition, and selects the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted.
The threshold value indicated in the deletion condition may be a fixed value or may be dynamically determined according to the number of virtual sensors 15 installed in the space.
In this way, the deletion target selection unit 13 selects, as deletion targets, virtual sensors 15 having a certain number of users or less.

Further, the deletion target selection unit 13 may select the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted based on the number of reservations of the virtual sensor 15 that is one of the attributes of the virtual sensor 15. More specifically, the deletion target selection unit 13 acquires the value of the number of reservations in the attribute information (FIG. 2). In this case, a threshold value for the number of reservations is described in the deletion condition. Then, the deletion target selection unit 13 compares the value of the number of reservations with the threshold value of the deletion condition, and selects the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted.
The threshold value indicated in the deletion condition may be a fixed value or may be dynamically determined according to the number of virtual sensors 15 installed in the space.
In this way, the deletion target selection unit 13 selects, as deletion targets, virtual sensors 15 whose number of reservations is equal to or less than a certain number.

In addition to the above, the deletion target selection unit 13 selects the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted using the attribute information in which the contract number is described and the deletion condition in which the contract number for which the contract is canceled is described. May be.
By doing in this way, when the contract is canceled, the deletion target selection unit 13 selects the virtual sensor 15 used in the contract as the deletion target.

Further, the deletion target selection unit 13 may select the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted using the attribute information describing the model of the virtual sensor 15 and the deletion condition regarding the model. The model is a type of virtual sensor such as a temperature sensor virtual sensor or a humidity sensor virtual sensor.
By doing in this way, the deletion target selection unit 13 collectively deletes the virtual sensors 15 of a specific model when the virtual sensors 15 of the specific model are not used due to a service menu change or the like. Select as.

Further, the deletion target selection unit 13 may select the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted using the attribute information describing the usage fee of the virtual sensor 15 and the deletion condition describing the threshold of the usage fee. .
In this way, the deletion target selection unit 13 selects a virtual sensor 15 whose usage fee is less than a certain level as a deletion target.
When the deleted virtual sensor is used again, there is a possibility that overhead occurs in response time. However, the virtual sensor 15 whose usage fee is equal to or higher than a certain level can maintain a good response time.

Further, the deletion target selection unit 13 may select the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted using the attribute information describing the purpose of use of the virtual sensor 15 and the deletion condition regarding the purpose of use.
In this way, the deletion target selection unit 13 deletes the virtual sensor 15 for other purposes without selecting the virtual sensor 15 used for important purposes such as billing work and emergency guidance as a deletion target. Select as target.

When the sensor management apparatus 1 manages the attribute information of the virtual sensor 15 in a tree structure, the parent ID (P-ID) is included in the attribute information.
At this time, the deletion target selection unit 13 can select a virtual sensor 15 having a specific parent ID (for example, a room, an area, etc.) as a deletion target.
By doing in this way, the deletion object selection part 13 can select collectively the virtual sensor 15 installed in the specific room, or the virtual sensor 15 installed in the specific building as a deletion object.
Similarly, when the sensor management apparatus 1 manages the attribute information of the virtual sensor 15 in a tree structure, the group (G-ID) is included in the attribute information.
At this time, the deletion target selection unit 13 can select a virtual sensor 15 having a specific group ID (for example, a room or an area) as a deletion target.
By doing in this way, the deletion object selection part 13 can select collectively the virtual sensor 15 installed in the specific room, or the virtual sensor 15 installed in the specific building as a deletion object.

  Further, the deletion target selection unit 13 may select a virtual sensor to be deleted using an attribute of the virtual sensor 15 different from the attribute described above.

Next, returning to the flow of FIG. 3, the deletion target selection unit 13 determines whether or not the attribute information of all the virtual sensors 15 has been confirmed (step ST104).
If the virtual sensor 15 whose attribute information has not been confirmed remains, the process returns to step ST101.
Here, since an example in which the attribute information acquisition unit 12 sequentially acquires the attribute information of each virtual sensor 15 is described, the determination in step ST104 is necessary. However, the attribute information acquisition unit 12 If the sensor attribute information is acquired all at once, the process of step ST104 is unnecessary.

When the deletion target selection unit 13 has confirmed the attribute information of all the virtual sensors 15 (YES in step ST104), the virtual sensor deletion unit 14 has been selected by the deletion target selection unit 13 as a deletion target. Is deleted (step ST105).
When the virtual sensor 15 is generated as an object, the virtual sensor deleting unit 14 deletes the virtual sensor 15 by deleting the corresponding object.
The virtual sensor deletion unit 14 may delete the virtual sensor 15 by adding a flag indicating that the virtual sensor 15 has been deleted to the record of the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted in the attribute information.
Further, the virtual sensor deleting unit 14 may delete the virtual sensor 15 by setting “delete” in the life cycle column of the record of the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted in the attribute information.

*** Explanation of the effect of the embodiment ***
As described above, the sensor management device 1 according to the present embodiment selects the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted based on the attribute of the virtual sensor 15.
For this reason, according to this Embodiment, an unnecessary virtual sensor can be selected as a virtual sensor of a deletion target based on the attribute of a virtual sensor, and an unnecessary virtual sensor can be deleted. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, an appropriate number of virtual sensors can be maintained.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the present embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.
Note that matters not described below are the same as those in the first embodiment.

*** Explanation of configuration ***
FIG. 4 shows a functional configuration example of the sensor management apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the virtual sensor deleting unit 14 calculates the density of the virtual sensor 15 in addition to deleting the virtual sensor 15, and requests the virtual sensor generating unit 16 to generate a virtual sensor according to the density.
The density of the virtual sensor 15 is the density of the virtual sensor 15 in the space where the virtual sensor 15 is installed. For example, the virtual sensor deleting unit 14 obtains the density of the virtual sensors 15 by dividing the number of virtual sensors 15 by the volume of the space.
More specifically, the virtual sensor deletion unit 14 calculates the density of the virtual sensor 15 after the deletion of the virtual sensor 15 in the space where the virtual sensor 15 is installed. Then, the virtual sensor deleting unit 14 determines whether or not a new virtual sensor 15 needs to be generated based on the calculated density. When it is determined that a new virtual sensor 15 needs to be generated, the virtual sensor deletion unit 14 requests the virtual sensor generation unit 16 to generate the virtual sensor 15.
The virtual sensor generation unit 16 generates a virtual sensor 15 based on a request from the virtual sensor deletion unit 14.
The method for generating the virtual sensor 15 by the virtual sensor generation unit 16 is not limited. The virtual sensor generation unit 16 can generate the virtual sensor 15 using a known method.
A hardware configuration example of the sensor management apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is also as illustrated in FIG.

*** Explanation of operation ***
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the sensor management apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment.
The operation in FIG. 5 is performed after the processing in step ST104 in FIG. 3 described in the first embodiment.

First, the virtual sensor deletion unit 14 calculates the density of the virtual sensor 15 before deletion (step ST201).
The virtual sensor deletion unit 14 can obtain the density of the virtual sensors 15 from the number of virtual sensors 15 in the space, using the coordinates of each virtual sensor 15 indicated in the attribute information.
The virtual sensor deleting unit 14 may calculate one density for the entire space, or may divide the space into areas and calculate the density for each area.
Based on the current number of virtual sensors 15, that is, the number of virtual sensors 15 before the deletion-target virtual sensor 15 selected in step ST103 in FIG. Find the density of.

Next, the virtual sensor deletion unit 14 calculates the density of the virtual sensor 15 after deletion (step ST202).
That is, the virtual sensor deletion unit 14 obtains the density of the virtual sensors 15 based on the number of virtual sensors 15 after the deletion-target virtual sensor 15 selected in step ST103 in FIG. 3 is deleted.
The density calculation method is the same as the calculation of the density of the virtual sensor 15 before deletion.

Next, the virtual sensor deletion unit 14 determines whether or not the density of the deleted virtual sensor 15 is insufficient (step ST203). That is, the virtual sensor deletion unit 14 determines whether or not the density of the virtual sensor 15 after the deletion is less than a threshold value.
The threshold value of density may be defined in advance or may be dynamically determined according to the number of real sensors and virtual sensors 15.

If the density of the virtual sensor 15 after deletion is insufficient, that is, if the density of the virtual sensor 15 after deletion is less than the threshold (YES in step ST203), the sensor management device 1 In order to generate the sensor 15, the attribute value of the virtual sensor 15 is defined (step ST204). That is, the virtual sensor deletion unit 14 generates attribute information of the newly generated virtual sensor 15.
This attribute information includes information (for example, coordinates) necessary for calculating the density of the virtual sensor 15.
The virtual sensor deleting unit 14 generates attribute information of the virtual sensor 15 based on parameters such as a distance from the actual sensor.
The virtual sensor deletion unit 14 may collectively define attribute information of the plurality of virtual sensors 15.
In the example of FIG. 5, the virtual sensor deletion unit 14 repeats the processing from step ST202 to step ST204 until the density of the virtual sensor 15 after deletion becomes equal to or higher than the threshold.

When the virtual sensor deletion unit 14 determines that the density of the virtual sensors 15 after the deletion is equal to or higher than the threshold (YES in step ST203), the virtual sensor deletion unit 14 requests the virtual sensor generation unit 16 to generate the virtual sensors 15, and the virtual sensor generation unit 16 generates the virtual sensor 15 according to the attribute information (step ST205).
As described above, the generation method of the virtual sensor 15 by the virtual sensor generation unit 16 does not matter.

Next, the virtual sensor deletion unit 14 deletes the virtual sensor 15 selected as the deletion target in step ST103 of FIG. 3 (step ST206).
The process of deleting the virtual sensor 15 is the same as the process shown in the first embodiment.

*** Explanation of the effect of the embodiment ***
As described above, according to the present embodiment, even when a virtual sensor is deleted, the density of virtual sensors in the space can be maintained at a certain level or higher. Thereby, it is possible to delete the virtual sensor while suppressing the influence on the service.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
In the present embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.
Note that matters not described below are the same as those in the first embodiment.

*** Explanation of configuration ***
FIG. 6 shows a functional configuration example of the sensor management apparatus 1 according to the third embodiment.
Compared to FIG. 1, in FIG. 6, an access probability estimation unit 19 and an access model storage unit 20 are added.
A hardware configuration example of the sensor management apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is also as illustrated in FIG.

The access probability estimation unit 19 estimates the access probability using the access model acquired from the access model storage unit 20.
The access probability is an attribute of the virtual sensor 15. The access probability is the probability of occurrence of access to the virtual sensor 15.

The access model storage unit 20 stores an access model.
The access model refers to an access tendency or pattern that can be derived from the past access history or access history of the virtual sensor 15.
An example of the access model will be described later.

In the present embodiment, the deletion target selection unit 13 selects the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted using the attribute information acquired from the attribute information acquisition unit 12 and the access probability acquired from the access probability estimation unit 19.
The determination based on the attribute information is the same as in the first embodiment.
The deletion target selection unit 13 defines a threshold for the access probability.
The deletion target selection unit 13 may define a fixed value according to the type of the virtual sensor 15 as the threshold for the access probability, or dynamically determine the threshold depending on the number of virtual sensors 15 or the number of actual sensors. May be.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of an access model according to the present embodiment.

In the ID column, an identifier of the virtual sensor 15 is shown. The identifier is a number or symbol assigned to the virtual sensor 15 in order to uniquely identify the virtual sensor 15. In the access model, the same identifier as that described in the attribute information is described.
The access time column shows the time of occurrence of access to the virtual sensor 15.
In the access user column, an application or a user who has accessed the virtual sensor 15 is shown.
In the example of FIG. 7, one row of access model records is added each time an access occurs.
The access model may be managed by dividing it into unit periods such as one year or one month.
If the unit period is one year, an access model showing seasonal characteristics can be generated. Further, if the unit period is one month, an access model showing the most recent usage status of the virtual sensor 15 can be generated.

*** Explanation of operation ***
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the sensor management apparatus 1 according to the third embodiment.
The operation of FIG. 8 is performed instead of the operation of FIG. 3 described in the first embodiment.

  Since step ST301 is the same as step ST101 in FIG. 3, the description of step ST301 is omitted.

  Next, the access probability estimation unit 19 acquires an access model from the access model storage unit 20 in accordance with the process of selecting the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted (ST302).

Next, the access probability estimation unit 19 estimates an access probability using the acquired access model (ST303).
If the shape of the probability model is known in advance, the access probability estimation unit 19 may estimate the access probability by deriving a probability model by a parametric method.
If the shape of the probability model is not known in advance, the access probability estimation unit 19 may estimate the access probability by deriving a probability model by a nonparametric method.

Next, the deletion target selection unit 13 determines whether the virtual sensor 15 satisfies the deletion condition using the attribute information acquired in step ST301 and the access probability estimated by the access probability estimation unit 19 in step ST303 ( Step ST304).
Step ST305 to step ST307 are the same as step ST103 to step ST105 in FIG. 3, and thus description of step ST305 to step ST307 is omitted.

  In the example of FIG. 8, the deletion target selection unit 13 selects the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted using the attribute information and the access probability. Instead, the deletion target selection unit 13 may select the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted using only the access probability.

*** Explanation of the effect of the embodiment ***
As described above, in the present embodiment, the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted is selected using the access probability. For this reason, according to the present embodiment, the number of virtual sensors 15 can be maintained more appropriately than in the case where the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted is selected using only attribute information.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
In the present embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.
Note that matters not described below are the same as those in the first embodiment.

*** Explanation of configuration ***
FIG. 9 shows a functional configuration example of the sensor management apparatus 1 according to the fourth embodiment.
Compared to FIG. 1, an actual sensor detection unit 21 is added in FIG. 9.

The actual sensor detection unit 21 detects a change in the arrangement of the actual sensor in the space where the virtual sensor 15 is installed. That is, the actual sensor detection unit 21 detects the addition of the actual sensor and the change of the installation position.
The actual sensor detection unit 21 can detect a change in the arrangement of the actual sensor by a method of searching for the actual sensor at a constant period. Moreover, the real sensor detection part 21 may detect the change of arrangement | positioning of a real sensor by the event-driven method which receives the notification from a real sensor.

  In the present embodiment, the deletion target selection unit 13 selects the virtual sensor 15 to be deleted based on the positional relationship between each virtual sensor 15 and the actual sensor after the change of the arrangement of the actual sensors.

*** Explanation of operation ***
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the sensor management device 1 according to the fourth embodiment.
The operation of FIG. 10 is performed instead of the operation of FIG. 3 described in the first embodiment.

First, the actual sensor detection unit 21 detects a change in the arrangement of the actual sensor from the state of the actual sensor (ST401).
The actual sensor detection unit 21 can detect a change in the arrangement of the actual sensor by a method of searching for the actual sensor at a constant period. Moreover, the real sensor detection part 21 may detect the change of arrangement | positioning of a real sensor by the event-driven method which receives the notification from a real sensor.

  When detecting a change in the arrangement of the actual sensor, the actual sensor detection unit 21 determines whether the change is due to the addition of the actual sensor or the change in the installation position of any of the actual sensors (step ST402).

When the change in the arrangement of the actual sensor is an addition of the actual sensor or a change in the installation position of the actual sensor (YES in step ST402), the deletion target selection unit 13 transmits the attribute of the virtual sensor 15 via the attribute information acquisition unit 12. Information is acquired from the attribute information storage unit 11 (step ST403).
Then, the deletion target selection unit 13 determines whether or not the attribute of each virtual sensor 15 satisfies the deletion condition (step ST404). In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the distance threshold from the actual sensor is described in the deletion condition. The deletion target selection unit 13 selects, as a deletion target, the virtual sensor 15 whose distance from the actual sensor is less than the threshold value by adding the actual sensor or changing the installation position of the actual sensor.
Since step ST406 and step ST407 are the same as step ST104 and step ST105 of FIG. 3, the description of step ST406 and step ST407 is omitted.
On the other hand, in step ST402, when the change in the arrangement of the actual sensor is the deletion of the actual sensor, the process ends.

*** Explanation of the effect of the embodiment ***
As described above, according to the present embodiment, unnecessary virtual sensors 15 can be deleted in accordance with the addition of actual sensors or the change of the installation position. Thereby, according to this Embodiment, the number of the virtual sensors 15 can be maintained appropriately, without impairing the sensing density.

Embodiment 5 FIG.
In the present embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.
Note that matters not described below are the same as those in the first embodiment.

*** Explanation of configuration ***
FIG. 11 shows a functional configuration example of the sensor management apparatus 1 according to the fifth embodiment.
Compared to FIG. 1, a failure sensor detection unit 22 is added in FIG. 11.
A hardware configuration example of the sensor management apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is also as illustrated in FIG.

The failure sensor detection unit 22 confirms the state of the actual sensor installed in the space where the virtual sensor 15 is installed, and detects a failure of the actual sensor.
The failure sensor detection unit 22 can detect a failure of the actual sensor by a method of searching for the actual sensor at a constant period. Further, the failure sensor detection unit 22 may detect a failure of the actual sensor by an event-driven method that receives a notification from the actual sensor.
In the following, the actual sensor that has failed and detected by the failure sensor detection unit 22 is also referred to as a failure sensor.

  In the present embodiment, the virtual sensor generation unit 16 generates a virtual sensor 15 that replaces the failure sensor.

*** Explanation of operation ***
FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the sensor management apparatus 1 according to the fifth embodiment.
The operation of FIG. 12 is performed independently of the operation of FIG. 3, the operation of FIG. 5, the operation of FIG. 8, and the operation of FIG.

First, the failure sensor detection unit 22 detects a change in the state of the actual sensor (step ST501).
The failure sensor detection unit 22 can detect a change in the state of the actual sensor by a method of searching for the actual sensor at a constant period. Further, the failure sensor detection unit 22 may detect a change in the state of the actual sensor by an event-driven method that receives a notification from the actual sensor.

Next, the failure sensor detection unit 22 determines whether or not the change in the state of the actual sensor detected in step ST501 is due to the failure of the actual sensor (step ST502).
For example, it is assumed that pattern information indicating a pattern of a change in state that occurs when an actual sensor fails is stored in the auxiliary storage device 104. The failure sensor detection unit 22 reads the pattern information from the auxiliary storage device 104 and collates the change in the state detected in step ST501 with the pattern information, so that the change in the state of the actual sensor detected in step ST501 is the actual sensor. Determine if it is due to a failure.

When the failure sensor detection unit 22 determines that the actual sensor has failed (YES in step ST502), the virtual sensor generation unit 16 defines the attribute value of the virtual sensor 15 to generate the virtual sensor 15 ( Step ST503). That is, the virtual sensor generation unit 16 generates attribute information of the newly generated virtual sensor 15.
More specifically, the virtual sensor generation unit 16 acquires the attribute information of the fault sensor, and based on the acquired attribute information of the fault sensor, sets the attribute information in which the same model as the fault sensor and the same coordinates as the fault sensor are defined. Generate (ST503 to ST504).
Based on the attribute information, the virtual sensor generation unit 16 generates a virtual sensor 15 of the same model as the failure sensor at the same coordinates as the failure sensor.

*** Explanation of the effect of the embodiment ***
As described above, according to the present embodiment, a new virtual sensor 15 can be added in accordance with a failure of an actual sensor. Thereby, according to this Embodiment, even if it is a case where a real sensor fails, the number of the virtual sensors 15 can be maintained appropriately, without impairing the sensing density.

Embodiment 6 FIG.
In the present embodiment, differences from the fifth embodiment will be mainly described.
Note that items not described below are the same as those in the fifth embodiment.

*** Explanation of configuration ***
FIG. 13 shows a functional configuration example of the sensor management apparatus 1 according to the sixth embodiment.
Compared to FIG. 11, a virtual sensor reconfiguration unit 23 is added in FIG. 13.

  The virtual sensor reconfiguration unit 23 extracts a virtual sensor that depends on the failure sensor as a failure-dependent virtual sensor. Then, the virtual sensor reconfiguration unit 23 changes the attribute of the failure dependent virtual sensor so that the failure dependent virtual sensor depends on an actual sensor other than the failure sensor.

  In this embodiment, for each virtual sensor 15, the attribute information indicates the identifier of the actual sensor on which the virtual sensor 15 depends (referring to the sensor value).

*** Explanation of operation ***
FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the sensor management device 1 according to the sixth embodiment.
The operation in FIG. 14 is performed instead of the operation in FIG. 12, for example. Further, the operation of FIG. 14 may be performed together with the operation of FIG. When the operation of FIG. 14 is performed together with the operation of FIG. 12, step ST601 and step ST602 of FIG. 14 are omitted.

  Since step ST601 and step ST602 are the same as step ST501 and step ST502 of FIG. 12, description of step ST601 and step ST602 is omitted.

When the failure sensor detection unit 22 determines that the actual sensor has failed (YES in step ST502), the virtual sensor reconfiguration unit 23 acquires the attribute information of the virtual sensor 15 from the attribute information storage unit 11 (step ST603). ).
In the example of FIG. 14, the virtual sensor reconstruction unit 23 sequentially acquires the attribute information of each virtual sensor 15, but the virtual sensor reconstruction unit 23 acquires the attribute information of a plurality of virtual sensors 15 in parallel. May be.

The virtual sensor reconfiguration unit 23 determines whether the attribute of the virtual sensor 15 satisfies the reconfiguration condition for each virtual sensor 15 using the acquired attribute information (step ST604).
The reconstruction condition describes a condition that the virtual sensor 15 depends on the failure sensor (refers to the sensor value of the failure sensor).
For each virtual sensor 15, the virtual sensor reconstruction unit 23 uses the attribute information to investigate the dependence-destination real sensor, and extracts the virtual sensor 15 that depends on the failure sensor as a failure-dependent virtual sensor.

The virtual sensor reconfiguration unit 23 reconfigures the failure-dependent virtual sensor when there is a virtual sensor 15 that satisfies the reconstruction condition (YES in step ST604), that is, when a failure-dependent virtual sensor exists (step ST605). ).
Reconfiguration is to change a real sensor on which a fault-dependent virtual sensor depends (referring to a sensor value) from a fault sensor to another real sensor.
That is, the virtual sensor reconfiguration unit 23 deletes the dependency relationship of the failure-dependent virtual sensor to the failure sensor on the attribute information of the failure-dependent virtual sensor, and adds the dependency relationship to the actual sensor other than the failure sensor.

  The virtual sensor reconfiguration unit 23 ends the process when the processes from step ST603 to step ST605 have been performed on all the virtual sensors 15 (step ST606).

*** Explanation of the effect of the embodiment ***
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the virtual sensor 15 can be reconfigured in accordance with the failure of the actual sensor. As a result, according to the present embodiment, even if the actual sensor has failed, the accuracy degradation of the virtual sensor 15 can be suppressed to a certain level, and as a result, the virtual sensor 15 is not impaired without losing the sensing density. The number of 15 can be kept appropriate.

Embodiment 7 FIG.
In the present embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.
Note that matters not described below are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 15 shows a configuration example of a sensor management system according to the seventh embodiment.

The sensor management system according to the present embodiment includes a sensor management device 1, a Web server device 4, and a terminal device 5.
The sensor management device 1 is the sensor management device 1 shown in the first to sixth embodiments, and manages the real sensor 2 and the virtual sensor 3.
In the present embodiment, the sensor management device 1 plays a role of providing an interface between the Web server device 4, the real sensor 2, and the virtual sensor 3.

The actual sensor 2 is the actual sensor described in the first to sixth embodiments.
The virtual sensor 3 is the virtual sensor 15 described in the first to sixth embodiments. The virtual sensor 3 is generated and deleted by the sensor management device 1.

The web server device 4 provides a service using sensor data.
An application executed on the Web server device 4 obtains sensor data using the interface of the sensor management device 1 and provides a service.
In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the service is realized as a Web service.

The terminal device 5 is used for the end user to receive a service from the Web server device 4.
The terminal device 5 is, for example, a personal computer or a smart device (tablet terminal, smartphone, smart watch).
The end user uses a service using sensor data by the Web server device 4 using the terminal device 5.

FIG. 16 shows an example of a screen displayed on the terminal device 5 when the end user designates the virtual sensor 3 to be deleted.
The user designates the virtual sensor 3 to be deleted using the screen of FIG.
In the example of FIG. 16, the user can specify the virtual sensor 3 to be deleted by coordinates of vertical (X), horizontal (Y), and height (Z). The user can also specify the virtual sensor 3 to be deleted within the coordinate range. Furthermore, the user can specify the virtual sensor 3 to be deleted using the sensor ID.
When the user clicks the delete button, the virtual sensor is deleted.
The user can also specify the virtual sensor 3 to be deleted using other attribute values of the virtual sensor 3.
For example, when the terminal device 5 accesses the sensor management device 1, the screen illustrated in FIG. 16 is transmitted from the sensor management device 1 to the terminal device 5, and the screen illustrated in FIG. 16 is displayed on the display of the terminal device 5. .
In the sensor management apparatus 1, the deletion target selection unit 13 deletes the virtual sensor 3 designated by the end user through the screen shown in FIG.

  FIG. 17 shows an example of an interface provided by the sensor management apparatus 1 in order to delete the virtual sensor 15 from the outside of the sensor management apparatus 1.

The sensor management device 1 provides an interface to the outside. An external application can delete the virtual sensor 3 by the interface provided by the sensor management apparatus 1.
URL1 is an example of an interface for designating a virtual sensor 3 to be deleted by a sensor ID and deleting the designated virtual sensor 3.
URL2 is an example of an interface for designating the virtual sensor 3 to be deleted by coordinates and deleting the designated virtual sensor 3.
URL 3 is an example of an interface for designating the virtual sensor 3 to be deleted in a hierarchical structure and deleting the designated virtual sensor 3.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, an end user can use a service using real sensors and virtual sensors. Further, according to the present embodiment, the number of virtual sensors can be appropriately maintained so as not to affect the service.

As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, you may implement in combination of 2 or more among these embodiment.
Alternatively, one of these embodiments may be partially implemented.
Alternatively, two or more of these embodiments may be partially combined.
In addition, this invention is not limited to these embodiment, A various change is possible as needed.

*** Explanation of hardware configuration ***
Finally, a supplementary description of the hardware configuration of the sensor management apparatus 1 will be given.
A processor 101 illustrated in FIG. 18 is an IC (Integrated Circuit) that performs processing.
The processor 101 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), or the like.
The memory 102 shown in FIG. 18 is a RAM (Random Access Memory).
The auxiliary storage device 104 illustrated in FIG. 18 is a ROM (Read Only Memory), a flash memory, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), or the like.
A communication interface 103 illustrated in FIG. 18 is an electronic circuit that executes communication processing.
The communication interface 103 is, for example, a communication chip or a NIC (Network Interface Card).

The auxiliary storage device 104 also stores an OS (Operating System).
At least a part of the OS is executed by the processor 101.
The processor 101 executes at least a part of the OS, while the attribute information acquisition unit 12, the deletion target selection unit 13, the virtual sensor deletion unit 14, the virtual sensor generation unit 16, the actual sensor data acquisition unit 17, the sensor data distribution unit 18, The program which implement | achieves the function of the access probability estimation part 19, the real sensor detection part 21, the failure sensor detection part 22, and the virtual sensor reconstruction part 23 is performed.
When the processor 101 executes the OS, task management, memory management, file management, communication control, and the like are performed.
Also, the attribute information acquisition unit 12, the deletion target selection unit 13, the virtual sensor deletion unit 14, the virtual sensor generation unit 16, the actual sensor data acquisition unit 17, the sensor data distribution unit 18, the access probability estimation unit 19, and the actual sensor detection unit 21. , At least one of information, data, signal value, and variable value indicating processing results of the failure sensor detection unit 22 and the virtual sensor reconfiguration unit 23 is stored in the memory 102, the auxiliary storage device 104, the register in the processor 101, and the cache memory. Is stored in at least one of the following.
Also, the attribute information acquisition unit 12, the deletion target selection unit 13, the virtual sensor deletion unit 14, the virtual sensor generation unit 16, the actual sensor data acquisition unit 17, the sensor data distribution unit 18, the access probability estimation unit 19, and the actual sensor detection unit 21. The programs for realizing the functions of the failure sensor detection unit 22 and the virtual sensor reconstruction unit 23 are stored in a portable storage medium such as a magnetic disk, a flexible disk, an optical disk, a compact disk, a Blu-ray (registered trademark) disk, or a DVD. Also good.

Also, the attribute information acquisition unit 12, the deletion target selection unit 13, the virtual sensor deletion unit 14, the virtual sensor generation unit 16, the actual sensor data acquisition unit 17, the sensor data distribution unit 18, the access probability estimation unit 19, and the actual sensor detection unit 21. The “unit” of the failure sensor detection unit 22 and the virtual sensor reconstruction unit 23 may be read as “circuit”, “process”, “procedure”, or “processing”.
Further, the sensor management device 1 may be realized by a processing circuit. The processing circuit is, for example, a logic IC (Integrated Circuit), a GA (Gate Array), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array).
In this case, the attribute information acquisition unit 12, the deletion target selection unit 13, the virtual sensor deletion unit 14, the virtual sensor generation unit 16, the actual sensor data acquisition unit 17, the sensor data distribution unit 18, the access probability estimation unit 19, and the actual sensor detection The unit 21, the failure sensor detection unit 22, and the virtual sensor reconstruction unit 23 are each realized as part of the processing circuit.
In this specification, the superordinate concept of the processor, the memory, the combination of the processor and the memory, and the processing circuit is referred to as “processing circuitry”.
That is, the processor, the memory, the combination of the processor and the memory, and the processing circuit are specific examples of “processing circuitries”.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sensor management apparatus, 2 Real sensor, 3 Virtual sensor, 4 Web server apparatus, 5 Terminal device, 11 Attribute information storage part, 12 Attribute information acquisition part, 13 Deletion target selection part, 14 Virtual sensor deletion part, 15 Virtual sensor, 16 virtual sensor generation unit, 17 real sensor data acquisition unit, 18 sensor data distribution unit, 19 access probability estimation unit, 20 access model storage unit, 21 real sensor detection unit, 22 fault sensor detection unit, 23 virtual sensor reconfiguration unit, 101 processor, 102 memory, 103 communication interface, 104 auxiliary storage device.

Claims (9)

The position of each of the plurality of generated virtual sensors, the access status to each of the plurality of virtual sensors, the quality of the sensor values of each of the plurality of virtual sensors, and the occurrence of access to each of the plurality of virtual sensors A deletion target selection unit that selects a virtual sensor to be deleted from the plurality of virtual sensors based on any of the probabilities ;
A sensor management apparatus comprising: a virtual sensor deletion unit that deletes a virtual sensor selected as a deletion target by the deletion target selection unit. A deletion target selection unit that selects a virtual sensor to be deleted from the plurality of virtual sensors based on the attributes of each of the plurality of generated virtual sensors;
Delete the virtual sensor selected as the deletion target by the deletion target selection unit , calculate the density of the virtual sensor after the virtual sensor deletion in the space where the plurality of virtual sensors were installed, based on the calculated density, A virtual sensor deletion unit that determines whether or not a new virtual sensor needs to be generated ;
Wherein if the generation of a new virtual sensor is determined to be necessary by the virtual sensor deletion unit, the sensor managing device and a virtual sensor generating unit that generates a new virtual sensor. An actual sensor detection unit for detecting a change in the arrangement of the actual sensor in a space where a plurality of generated virtual sensors are installed;
Based on the positional relationship between the actual sensor in the space of each of the plurality of virtual sensors, a deletion target selection unit for selecting a virtual sensor to be deleted from among the plurality of virtual sensors,
A sensor management apparatus comprising: a virtual sensor deletion unit that deletes a virtual sensor selected as a deletion target by the deletion target selection unit. A deletion target selection unit that selects a virtual sensor to be deleted from the plurality of virtual sensors based on the attributes of each of the plurality of generated virtual sensors;
A virtual sensor deletion unit that deletes a virtual sensor selected as a deletion target by the deletion target selection unit ;
A fault sensor detection unit that detects a fault sensor that is a faulty real sensor installed in a space in which the plurality of virtual sensors are installed;
A virtual sensor that depends on the fault sensor is extracted as a fault-dependent virtual sensor from the plurality of virtual sensors, and the fault is dependent on an actual sensor other than the fault sensor installed in the space. A sensor management device having a virtual sensor reconfiguration unit that changes an attribute of a dependent virtual sensor . The deletion target selection unit
The sensor management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a virtual sensor to be deleted is selected based on time validity of each virtual sensor that is an attribute of each virtual sensor. The sensor management device further includes:
A fault sensor detection unit that detects a fault sensor that is a faulty real sensor installed in a space in which the plurality of virtual sensors are installed;
The sensor management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a virtual sensor generation unit that generates a virtual sensor that substitutes for the failure sensor. The virtual sensor deletion unit
The sensor management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a virtual sensor designated by a user is deleted. A computer that generates a position of each of the plurality of generated virtual sensors, an access status to each of the plurality of virtual sensors, a quality of a sensor value of each of the plurality of virtual sensors, and a position to each of the plurality of virtual sensors; Based on one of the occurrence probability of access, a virtual sensor to be deleted is selected from the plurality of virtual sensors,
A sensor management method in which the computer deletes a virtual sensor selected as a deletion target. The position of each of the plurality of generated virtual sensors, the access status to each of the plurality of virtual sensors, the quality of the sensor values of each of the plurality of virtual sensors, and the occurrence of access to each of the plurality of virtual sensors A deletion target selection process for selecting a virtual sensor to be deleted from the plurality of virtual sensors based on any of the probabilities ;
A sensor management program for causing a computer to execute virtual sensor deletion processing for deleting a virtual sensor selected as a deletion target by the deletion target selection processing.

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