JP7245717B2 - COMMUNICATION METHOD, COMMUNICATION DEVICE, SERVER, AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to communication methods, communication equipment, servers, and communication systems.

Non-Patent Document 1 describes technical specifications of LwM2M (Lightweight Machine to Machine), which is one of communication protocols for device management for IoT (Internet of Things) devices. LwM2M is capable of exchanging data with a small amount of data for IoT devices. In addition, LwM2M adopts a client-server model, in which the server acquires the client's data in a pull type.

"Lightweight Machine to Machine Technical Specification", Open Mobile Alliance, Internet <URL: http://www. openmobile alliance. org/release/LightweightM2M/V1_0-20170208-A/OMA-TS-LightweightM2M-V1_0-20170208-A. pdf>

In order to efficiently transmit data from a communication device, which is a client, to a server, there is a need to transmit data from the communication device to the server at arbitrary timing.

However, LwM2M is based on the pull type in which the server acquires data from the communication device, and does not assume that the communication device will voluntarily send data to the server. data transmission is difficult.

Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a communication method, communication device, server, and communication system that enable efficient data transmission to a server under the premise that the server acquires data in a pull-type manner. aim.

A communication method according to a first aspect is a method using a server, a communication device that communicates with the server, and a subsequent device that is electrically connected to the communication device. In the communication method, the communication device holds first data to be notified to the server and second data used for requesting the server to read the first data; when the first data is notified from the communication device to the server, the communication device controls the communication device to change the second data; and when the second data changes, the communication device controls the notifying the server of the second data; and, when the server receives the second data from the communication device, regards the received second data as a request to read the first data, and and sending a read command to the communication device to read the .

A communication device according to a second aspect is used in a communication system including a server, a communication device that communicates with the server, and a subsequent device that is electrically connected to the communication device. The communication device includes a storage unit holding first data to be notified to the server and second data used for requesting the server to read the first data, and changing the second data. when receiving control from the succeeding device, the control unit notifying the server of the second data when the second data changes, and the server regarding the second data as a request to read the first data. and a communication unit that receives a read command for reading the first data.

A server according to a third aspect is used in a communication system including a server, a communication device that communicates with the server, and a subsequent device that is electrically connected to the communication device. The server transmits the second data to the communication device holding the first data to be notified to the server and the second data used for requesting the server to read the first data. A communication unit that transmits a notification instruction command that instructs the server to notify the second data when changed. Upon receiving the second data from the communication device, the communication unit regards the received second data as a read request for the first data, thereby transmitting a read command for reading the first data to the communication device. do.

A communication system according to a fourth aspect is a communication system including a server and a communication device that communicates with the server. The communication device includes a storage unit holding first data to be notified to the server and second data used for requesting the server to read the first data, and changing the second data. a control unit for notifying the server of the second data when the second data changes when receiving a control from a succeeding device electrically connected to the communication device; and a first communication unit that receives a read command for reading the. The server includes a second communication unit that transmits a notification instruction command that instructs the communication device to notify the server of the second data when the second data changes. When the second data is received from the communication device, the second communication unit regards the received second data as a read request for the first data, thereby issuing a read command for reading the first data to the communication device. Send to

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a communication method, a communication device, a server, and a communication system that enable efficient data transmission to a server on the premise that the server acquires data in a pull-type manner.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the communication system which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the communication equipment which concerns on one Embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of an LwM2M server according to one embodiment; 4 is a sequence diagram showing a communication method according to one embodiment; FIG.

Embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals.

(Configuration of communication system)
First, the configuration of a communication system according to one embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a communication system 1 according to one embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the communication system 1 has a communication device 100 , a subsequent device 200 , a communication network 300 and an LwM2M server 400 . LwM2M server 400 is an example of a server that obtains data from communication device 100 .

Communication device 100 corresponds to an LwM2M client. A communication device 100 is an IoT device having a wireless communication function. For example, the communication device 100 has various sensors and uploads data obtained by the sensors to the LwM2M server 400 .

The communication device 100 may perform LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) wireless communication with the communication network 300 . The LPWA system is a system that realizes long-distance wireless communication while suppressing power consumption. LPWA schemes are, for example, cellular LPWA, SIGFOX, or LoRaWAN. The cellular LPWA may be eMTC (enhanced Machine Type Communications) or NB-IoT (Narrow Band-Internet of Things) defined in the ^3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards.

Subsequent device 200 is a device electrically connected to communication device 100 . The subsequent device 200 is directly connected to the communication device 100 or indirectly connected to the communication device 100 via a cable. The downstream device 200 performs wired communication with the communication device 100 using, for example, a UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter) system or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) system.

The downstream device 200 is a device such as a PC (Personal Computer), a sensor device, a meter device, or a vending machine. The later device 200 executes applications for IoT. The subsequent device 200 connected to the communication device 100 can communicate with the communication network 300 and the LwM2M server 400 via the communication device 100 even if it does not have a wireless communication function.

Communication network 300 includes networks provided by carriers. Communication network 300 may include the Internet. The communication network 300 has a base station 310 that wirelessly communicates with the communication device 100 . Although only one base station 310 included in communication network 300 is illustrated in FIG. 1 , communication network 300 includes a plurality of base stations 310 .

LwM2M server 400 manages communication device 100, which is an LwM2M client, via communication network 300 based on the LwM2M standard. LwM2M employs a client-server model, and the LwM2M server 400 acquires data from the communication device 100, which is an LwM2M client, in a pull fashion.

Commands transmitted from the LwM2M server 400 to the communication device 100 are mainly the following four.

1) Read:
A read command for acquiring data from the communication device 100 .

2) Write:
A write command for writing data and parameters to the communication device 100 .

3) Execute:
An execution command that causes the communication device 100 to execute processing such as restarting.

4) Observe:
A notification instruction command which is an extended version of the Read command and instructs the LwM2M server 400 to notify the LwM2M server 400 of the data specified by the LwM2M server 400 at the timing when the data changes and at specified time intervals.

In the communication system 1, both the LwM2M server 400 and the communication device 100 hold the lifetime (Lifetime) in consideration of the state in which the communication device 100 cannot communicate. A state in which the communication device 100 cannot communicate means, for example, a state in which the communication device 100 is out of service, a state in which the communication device 100 is in a sleep mode to reduce power consumption, or the like. The communication device 100 extends the life span by updating the registration with the LwM2M server 400 before the life span ends.

The following three messages are sent from the communication device 100 to the LwM2M server 400.

1) Register:
First time registration request message to LwM2M Server 400 .

2) Update:
Renewal request message for lifetime extension.

3) Notify:
A notification message that notifies data corresponding to an Observe command.

The communication device 100 adds some parameters to the Register message and the Update message and transmits them to the LwM2M server 400 . The parameters are, for example, the Lifetime mentioned above, the number of supporting objects, and the like.

Note that the communication device 100 manages data in the form of a resource model. The resource model has a tree structure of objects, object instances, and resources. Each element is assigned a number. For example, a resource representing a manufacturer of a device is expressed as /3/0/0, which means object #3, object instance #0, and resource #0. When the communication device 100 receives the Read command specifying /3/0/0 from the LwM2M server 400 , the communication device 100 returns the manufacturer data of the communication device 100 to the LwM2M server 400 .

(Configuration of communication equipment)
Next, the configuration of the communication device 100 according to one embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the communication device 100 according to one embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2 , communication device 100 includes antenna 110 , communication section 120 , control section 130 , storage section 140 , power management section 150 , and connection section 160 . The UIM/SIM 170 and the sensor 180 can be connected to the communication device 100 via an interface (not shown).

Antenna 110 is used for transmitting and receiving radio signals. The communication unit 120 performs wireless communication with the base station 310 under the control of the control unit 130 and also communicates with the LwM2M server 400 via the base station 310 . The communication unit 120 performs amplification processing, filtering processing, and the like on the radio signal received by the antenna 110 from the base station 310 , converts the radio signal into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the control unit 130 . Further, the communication unit 120 converts the baseband signal input from the control unit 130 into a radio signal, performs amplification processing and the like, and transmits the radio signal from the antenna 110 .

The communication unit 120 communicates with the LwM2M server 400 based on the LwM2M standard. For example, the communication unit 120 receives one of the Read command, Write command, Execute command, and Observe command from the LwM2M server 400 . Also, the communication unit 120 transmits one of a Register message, an Update message, and a Notify message to the LwM2M server 400 .

The control unit 130 performs various processes and controls in the communication device 100 . For example, the control unit 130 controls the communication unit 120 to perform wireless communication with the base station 310 using the LPWA scheme. Control unit 130 includes at least one processor. The processor may include a baseband processor and a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The baseband processor modulates/demodulates and encodes/decodes the baseband signal. The CPU executes programs stored in the storage unit 140 to perform various processes.

The control unit 130 performs processing based on the LwM2M standard. For example, when the communication unit 120 receives any one of a Read command, a Write command, an Execute command, and an Observe command, the control unit 130 performs processing according to the received command. Control unit 130 also generates one of a Register message, an Update message, and a Notify message, and outputs the generated message to communication unit 120 . In addition, the control unit 130 manages the lifetime (Lifetime) and extends the lifetime by updating the registration with the LwM2M server 400 before the lifetime expires.

Storage unit 140 includes a volatile memory and a nonvolatile memory, and stores programs executed by control unit 130 and information and data used for processing by control unit 130 .

The power management unit 150 includes a battery and its peripheral circuits. The power management unit 150 supplies driving power for the communication device 100 . When the communication device 100 is connected to the succeeding device 200 by USB, the driving power may be supplied from the succeeding device 200 by USB power supply.

The connection unit 160 is an interface for electrically connecting with the downstream device 200 . In a state in which the succeeding device 200 is electrically connected to the connection unit 160 , the control unit 130 performs transfer processing of data transmitted and received by the succeeding device 200 to and from the communication network 300 .

UIM/SIM 170 stores subscriber information and the like necessary for communicating with communication network 300 .

The sensor 180 includes a plurality of types of sensors, measures temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, illuminance, acceleration, geomagnetism, etc., and outputs data consisting of measured values. Data output from the sensor 180 is stored in the storage unit 140 via the control unit 130 . Control unit 130 manages data stored in storage unit 140 .

(LwM2M server configuration)
Next, the configuration of the LwM2M server 400 according to one embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the LwM2M server 400. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, the LwM2M server 400 has a communication unit 410, a control unit 420, and a storage unit 430.

The communication unit 410 is connected to the communication network 300 by wire or wirelessly. The communication unit 410 communicates with the LwM2M server 400 via the communication network 300 under the control of the control unit 420 .

The communication unit 410 performs communication with the communication device 100 based on the LwM2M standard. For example, the communication unit 410 transmits one of the Read command, Write command, Execute command, and Observe command to the communication device 100 . Also, the communication unit 410 receives one of a Register message, an Update message, and a Notify message from the communication device 100 .

The control unit 420 performs various processes and controls in the LwM2M server 400 . Control unit 420 includes at least one processor. The processor executes programs stored in the storage unit 430 to perform various processes.

The control unit 420 performs processing based on the LwM2M standard. For example, when the communication unit 410 receives any one of a Register message, an Update message, and a Notify message, the control unit 420 performs processing according to the received message. Also, the control unit 420 generates one of a Read command, a Write command, an Execute command, and an Observe command, and outputs the generated message to the communication unit 410 .

Storage unit 430 includes a volatile memory and a nonvolatile memory, and stores programs executed by control unit 420 and information and data used for processing by control unit 420 .

(Operation of communication system)
Next, operation of the communication system 1 according to one embodiment will be described.

The communication system 1 is based on the pull type in which the LwM2M server 400 acquires data from the communication device 100, and it is difficult to transmit desired data from the communication device 100 to the LwM2M server 400 at arbitrary timing.

In particular, even when the succeeding device 200 wants to notify the LwM2M server 400 of desired data from the communication device 100, if the LwM2M server 400 does not issue a Read command for the desired data, the desired data is communicated. The device 100 cannot notify the LwM2M server 400.

Therefore, the Notify message is used to prompt the LwM2M server 400 to issue a Read command. In the following, such communication methods are described.

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating a communication method according to one embodiment. A communication method according to one embodiment uses an LwM2M server 400 , a communication device 100 that communicates with the LwM2M server 400 , and a subsequent device 200 that is electrically connected to the communication device 100 .

Prior to the sequence shown in FIG. 4, the storage unit 140 of the communication device 100 stores the first data to be notified to the LwM2M server 400 and the second data used to request the LwM2M server 400 to read the first data. hold.

FIG. 4 shows an example in which the first data is resource A data and the second data is resource Z data. It is assumed that the succeeding device 200 and the LwM2M server 400 grasp and hold in advance the correspondence relationship between the first data (resource A) and the second data (resource Z).

Step S1:
In the LwM2M server 400, the control unit 420 generates an Observe command instructing the LwM2M server 400 to notify the second data (resource Z) when the second data (resource Z) changes. This Observe command includes the identifier of the second data (resource Z). The communication unit 410 transmits the Observe command generated by the control unit 420 to the communication device 100 .

In communication device 100 , communication unit 120 receives an Observe command from LwM2M server 400 . The control unit 130 starts monitoring the second data (resource Z) based on the Observe command received by the communication unit 120 .

Step S2:
When the communication device 100 notifies the LwM2M server 400 of the first data (resource A), the succeeding device 200 controls the communication device 100 to change the second data (resource Z). For example, the downstream device 200 generates an AT Command for changing the second data (resource Z) and outputs the generated AT Command to the communication device 100 .

Step S3:
In communication device 100, control section 130 changes the first data (resource A) based on the AT Command upon receiving an AT Command from succeeding device 200 via connection section 160. FIG.

Step S4:
In the communication device 100, the Observe command is issued for the first data (resource A). It determines that notification is necessary, and generates a Notify message including the first data (resource A) after the change. This Notify message includes the second data (resource Z) and its identifier. The communication unit 120 transmits the Notify message generated by the control unit 130 to the LwM2M server 400 .

Step S5:
In the LwM2M server 400 , the communication unit 410 receives the Notify message from the communication device 100 . When the communication unit 410 receives a Notify message containing the second data (resource Z) and its identifier, the control unit 420 regards this Notify message as a request to read the first data (resource A), and reads the first data (resource A). Generate a Read command to read resource A). This Read command includes the identifier of the first data (resource A). The communication unit 410 then transmits the Read command generated by the control unit 420 to the communication device 100 .

In communication device 100 , communication unit 120 receives a Read command from LwM2M server 400 .

Step S6:
When the communication unit 120 receives a Read command for the first data (resource A), the control unit 130 acquires the first data (resource A) from the storage unit 140 . The communication unit 120 transmits this first data (resource A) to the LwM2M server 400 .

In this way, according to this communication method, while complying with the LwM2M standard based on the pull type LwM2M server 400 reading data from the communication device 100, desired data can be read at any timing starting from the subsequent device 200. It can be transmitted from the communication device 100 to the LwM2M server 400 . Therefore, it is possible to efficiently transmit data to the LwM2M server 400 .

(Other embodiments)
In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the communication device 100 communicates with the LwM2M server 400 through wireless communication has been described, but the communication device 100 may communicate with the LwM2M server 400 through wired communication.

Also, in the above-described embodiment, the communication system 1 based on the LwM2M standard has been described. However, any standard or protocol based on a Pull type server acquiring data from a communication device may be used, and is not limited to the LwM2M standard.

A program that causes a computer to execute each process performed by the communication device 100 or the LwM2M server 400 may be provided. The program may be recorded on a computer readable medium. A computer readable medium allows the installation of the program on the computer. Here, the computer-readable medium on which the program is recorded may be a non-transitory recording medium. The non-transitory recording medium is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a recording medium such as CD-ROM or DVD-ROM. Also, functional units (circuits) that execute each process performed by the communication device 100 may be integrated to configure the communication device 100 as a semiconductor integrated circuit (chipset, SoC).

Although the embodiments have been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to the above, and various design changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1: Communication system 100: Communication equipment 110: Antenna 120: Communication unit 130: Control unit 140: Storage unit 150: Power management unit 160: Connection unit 180: Sensor 200: Subordinate device 300: Communication network 310: Base station 400: LwM2M server 410: Communication unit 420: Control unit 430: Storage unit

Claims (7)

A communication method using a server, a communication device that communicates with the server, and a subsequent device that is electrically connected to the communication device,
the communication device holding first data to be notified to the server and second data used to request the server to read the first data;
controlling the communication device to change the second data when the succeeding device causes the communication device to notify the server of the first data;
the communication device notifying the server of the second data when the second data changes;
When the server receives the second data from the communication device, the server regards the received second data as a read request for the first data, and transmits a read command for reading the first data to the communication device. and, including communication methods. further comprising the server transmitting a notification instruction command to the communication device to instruct the server to notify the second data when the second data changes;
The communication method according to claim 1, wherein the communication device notifies the server of the second data when the second data changes based on the notification instruction command. The communication method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the read command is a Read command defined by the LwM2M standard. The communication method according to claim 2, wherein the notification instruction command is an Observe command defined by the LwM2M standard. The communication device used in a communication system including a server, a communication device that communicates with the server, and a subsequent device that is electrically connected to the communication device,
a storage unit holding first data to be notified to the server and second data used to request the server to read the first data;
a control unit that notifies the server of the second data when the second data changes when receiving control to change the second data from the succeeding device;
a communication unit that receives a read command for reading the first data from the server that regards the second data as a read request for the first data. The server used in a communication system including a server, a communication device that communicates with the server, and a subsequent device that is electrically connected to the communication device,
For the communication device holding first data to be notified to the server and second data used for requesting the server to read the first data, when the second data changes, the 2 a communication unit that transmits a notification instruction command that instructs the server to notify the data,
Upon receiving the second data from the communication device, the communication unit regards the received second data as a read request for the first data, thereby transmitting a read command for reading the first data to the communication device. server. A communication system including a server and a communication device that communicates with the server,
The communication device is
a storage unit holding first data to be notified to the server and second data used to request the server to read the first data;
a control unit that notifies the server of the second data when the second data changes when a control to change the second data is received from a succeeding device electrically connected to the communication device;
a first communication unit that receives a read command for reading the first data from the server;
The server is
a second communication unit configured to transmit a notification instruction command instructing the communication device to notify the server of the second data when the second data changes;
When the second data is received from the communication device, the second communication unit regards the received second data as a read request for the first data, thereby issuing a read command for reading the first data to the communication device. communication system.

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