JP7374143B2 - transceiver - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to radio equipment.

As a conventional radio device, for example, a radio terminal disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. When activated, this wireless terminal automatically determines networks that the wireless terminal can participate in based on the wireless device information of other terminals with which wireless communication is possible.

JP2020-72305A

By the way, in a network constructed by a plurality of wireless terminals, an existing wireless terminal may be replaced with a new wireless terminal due to battery life or the like. In this case, the existing wireless terminal is removed from the network, a new wireless terminal is activated, and an attempt is made to join the network.

For example, when replacing the wireless terminal of Patent Document 1 with an existing wireless terminal in a network as a new wireless terminal, the network situation may have changed from the situation when the existing wireless terminal entered the network. In this case, a new wireless terminal may join a network different from that of existing wireless terminals. In this case, since the wireless terminal leaves the network in which the existing wireless terminal has joined, it is necessary to rebuild the network, and there is a possibility that it will take time to recover the network after replacing the wireless terminal.

The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a radio device that can shorten the time required to replace the radio device.

A radio device according to a first aspect of the present invention is a radio device that configures a communication network for wireless communication together with other radio devices, and is replaceable with a new radio device using a communicable setting device, The control unit includes a storage unit that stores information, a transmitting/receiving unit that transmits and receives information, and a control unit, and the control unit operates in a first mode in which the radio device operates as a wireless device belonging to the communication network; a second mode in which the wireless device operates as a wireless device that enters the communication network in place of a wireless device that already belongs, and when in the first mode, the control section, based on a command from the setting device, Network information, which is information related to the communication network stored in the storage unit, is transmitted to the setting device by the transmitting/receiving unit, and the network information is also deleted from the storage unit, and when in the second mode, the setting device Based on a command from the setting device, the transmitting/receiving section receives the network information from the setting device and stores it in the storage section.

According to this configuration, the existing wireless device in the first mode passes network information of the communication network to which it belongs to the new wireless device in the second mode via the setting device. Therefore, even if the status of the communication network changes, a new radio device can enter the communication network to which the existing radio device belonged by using this network information to enter the communication network. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the time required to replace wireless devices without requiring time to rebuild the communication network.

Furthermore, by deleting the network information from the storage section of the existing radio, the existing radio and the new radio do not have the same network information. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the time required to exchange radio devices without the existing radio device interfering with the entry of a new radio device into the communication network.

In the wireless device according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the network information includes destination information for transmitting information to a business operator that uses the communication network, identification information of the communication network, It includes identification information of the wireless device in the communication network, and the frequency band and output of the wireless communication.

According to this configuration, the existing radio transmits not all of the stored information but a portion of the network information to the new radio via the setting device. Therefore, the time for communicating information can be kept short, and the time for exchanging radio equipment can be shortened.

In the radio device according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the control unit may control the frequency band of wireless communication with the other radio device based on the network information in the second mode. performs wireless communication with the setting device in a frequency band different from that of the setting device.

According to this configuration, the frequency band in which the new wireless device performs wireless communication with the setting device and the frequency band in which the wireless devices communicate wirelessly with each other are different from each other. Therefore, the setting device can easily specify a new radio device without requiring additional information for specifying the new radio device. Further, the setting device does not interfere with wireless communication between a new radio device and the setting device due to wireless communication by another radio device. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the time required to replace the wireless device.

In the wireless device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, in the wireless device, the control unit is configured to perform synchronization in wireless communication based on the network information in the second mode. Wireless communication is performed with the setting device by transmitting a synchronization signal at an interval shorter than the interval at which the signal is transmitted.

According to this configuration, the radio transmits and receives information along with the synchronization signal. By shortening the interval between these synchronization signals, it is possible to improve the efficiency of information transmission and reception and shorten the time required to exchange radio equipment.

In the wireless device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the network information includes the number of times the information is transmitted, and the control unit transmits the key information in the second mode. The information is received from the setting device, and is encrypted and transmitted using the key information and the number of transmissions in wireless communication with the other wireless device based on the network information in the first mode.

According to this configuration, information is encrypted using the number of transmissions from the existing wireless device and key information from the setting device. In this way, by obtaining the information used for encryption from different devices, it is possible to improve the security of the information.

In the radio device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the control unit performs wireless communication with the other radio device based on the network information in the second mode. If it is determined that the network information is not possible, the network information is deleted from the storage unit, information is received from another wireless device capable of wireless communication, information indicating a communication status with the other wireless device is detected, and information is received. the detected information and the detected information are acquired as radio equipment information of the other radio equipment, and based on the radio equipment information, determine whether the communication network to which the other radio equipment belongs is the communication network that can be entered. Make a judgment.

According to this configuration, even if entry into a communication network is not possible based on network information from an existing radio device, entry into the communication network is attempted based on information from another radio device. Thereby, it is possible to shorten the time required to replace the wireless device.

The present invention has the above-described configuration and has the advantage of being able to provide a radio device that can shorten the time required to replace the radio device.

The above objects, other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a diagram schematically showing an automatic meter reading system including a collection radio according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram schematically showing the configurations of a master device and a slave device of the collecting radio device and a transmitting radio device in FIG. 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram schematically showing the configurations of a first collection radio, a second collection radio, and a setting device in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an exchange process between the first collection radio device and the second collection radio device in FIG. 3. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the exchange process of the 2nd collection radio|wireless device based on the modification 2 of this invention.

(Embodiment)
<Configuration of automatic meter reading system>
As shown in FIG. 1, the wireless device according to the embodiment is used, for example, in an automatic meter reading system 10. The automatic meter reading system 10 collects meter information, which is information such as meter reading data read by the meter 11 for the consumption of gas, water, electricity, etc., using a wireless device, and transmits the meter information from the wireless device to a remote business. This is a system for transmitting information to a center 12 of a person.

The radio includes one or more collecting radios 20 that collect meter information from the meters 11 and one transmitting radio 30 that transmits the collected meter information to the center 12. The transmitting radio device 30 constructs a transmitting communication network 14 for wireless communication with the center 12, and is provided, for example, in the meter 11 that measures usage.

The collection radio 20 is connected to the meter 11 by a conductive wire, and acquires meter information from the meter 11. Furthermore, the collecting radio 20 includes a base unit 20a which is one radio connected to the transmitting radio 30 by a conductor, and a slave unit 20a which is another radio not connected to the transmitting radio 30. 20b. Note that the collecting radio 20 may be able to communicate wirelessly with the meter 11, and the base unit 20a may be able to communicate wirelessly with the transmitting radio 30.

The master device 20a and the slave device 20b are interconnected by wireless communication, and transmit, receive, and relay information to each other, thereby constructing a collection communication network 13. In such a multi-hop collection communication network 13, the slave unit 20b acquires meter information from the meter 11 and sends the meter information to the base unit 20a through multi-stage relay. The master device 20a acquires meter information from the slave device 20b and sends it to the transmitting radio device 30. Then, in the transmission communication network 14, the transmission radio 30 transmits the meter information by wireless communication.

<Configuration of collection radio device>
As shown in FIG. 2, the collection radio device 20 constitutes a collection communication network 13 for wireless communication together with other collection radio devices 20, and as shown in FIG. This radio device can be replaced with a new collection radio device 20 at any time. As shown in FIG. 2, the collection radio 20 includes a collection storage unit 21 that stores information, a collection transceiver unit 22 that transmits and receives information, a collection control unit 23, a first collection interface 24, and a second collection interface 25.

The collection storage unit 21 is a memory that can be accessed by the collection control unit 23, and is composed of a RAM, a ROM, and the like. The ROM stores programs for executing various processes such as information collection processes and exchange processes, and information used in these programs, and the RAM temporarily stores information for executing various processes.

The collection control unit 23 is composed of, for example, a processor such as a CPU or a microcomputer, and executes various processes by executing programs stored in a ROM. The collection control unit 23 operates in a first mode in which it operates as an existing radio device that belongs to the collection communication network 13, and in a first mode in which it operates as an existing radio device that already belongs to the collection communication network 13 and enters the communication network in place of an existing radio device that already belongs to the collection communication network 13. It has a second mode in which it operates as a new radio. Details of the first mode and the second mode will be described later.

The first collection interface 24 is connected to the meter 11 (FIG. 1) by a conductor and receives meter information from the meter 11 via the conductor. In the base device 20a of the collection radio 20, the second collection interface 25 is connected to the transmission radio 30 by a conductive wire, and transmits meter information to the transmission radio 30 via the conductor. Note that when the collection radio device 20 wirelessly communicates with the meter 11, the first collection interface 24 may be a wireless communication transceiver. Further, when the collection radio device 20 wirelessly communicates with the transmission radio device 30, the second collection interface 25 may be a wireless communication transceiver.

The collection transmitter/receiver 22 includes a transmitter that transmits information via wireless communication via an antenna, and a receiver that receives information via wireless communication via the antenna. Note that the transmitter and receiver may be integrated or may be provided separately from each other.

<Transmission radio>
The transmitting radio device 30 includes a transmitting storage unit 31 that stores information, a transmitting and receiving unit 32 that transmits and receives information by wireless communication, a transmitting control unit 33, and a transmitting interface 34. The transmission storage section 31 is a memory that can be accessed by the transmission control section 33, and is composed of a RAM, a ROM, and the like. The ROM stores a program for executing various processes such as an information transmission process and information used in this program, and the RAM temporarily stores information for executing various processes.

The transmission interface 34 is connected to the second collection interface 25 through a conductor, and receives meter information from the second collection interface 25 of the base unit 20a through the conductor. Note that the transmission control section 33 is the same as the collection control section 23, and the transmission transmission and reception section 32 is the same as the collection transmission and reception section 22.

<Information collection processing>
In the collection radio device 20 in the first mode, the collection storage unit 21 stores network information that is information regarding a communication network. The network information includes a sender ID which is destination information for transmitting information to a business operator using a communication network, a network ID which is identification information of a communication network, a radio device ID which is identification information of a radio device in the communication network, It also includes first communication information.

The sender ID is information that identifies the transmitting radio 30 through which the collecting radio 20 transmits the information collected to the center 12 from other transmitting radios 30, and is The identification information of the transmitting radio device 30 connected to the master device 20a of the collecting communication network 13 to which the collecting communication network 20 belongs is used. The network ID is information for identifying the own collection communication network 13 from other collection communication networks 13 among the plurality of collection communication networks 13 provided in the automatic meter reading system 10 . The radio device ID in the communication network is information for identifying the own collecting radio device 20 from other collecting radio devices 20 in the collecting communication network 13.

The first communication information includes the frequency band and output of wireless communication in the collection communication network 13. The frequency band of this wireless communication is a frequency band (channel) of radio waves used when wirelessly communicating with other collection radios 20 in the collection communication network 13. The output of wireless communication is the strength of radio waves used when communicating wirelessly with other collection radios 20 in the collection communication network 13.

In the information collection process, the collection radio 20 sends a beacon (RIT Data Request), which is a synchronization signal including the sender ID, network ID, and radio ID stored in the collection storage unit 21, in the first mode. The information is transmitted along with the beacon while transmitting the beacon at a predetermined first period (for example, every 5 seconds). Then, the collecting radio 20 is able to receive information for a first predetermined period shorter than the first cycle after transmitting the beacon. In transmitting and receiving this information, the collection radio device 20 performs wireless communication using radio waves according to the first communication information stored in the collection storage unit 21. Note that the first predetermined time may be extended beyond the first period.

Here, when the collecting radio device 20 of the handset 20b acquires the meter information from the meter 11, it stores the meter information in the collecting storage section 21 and transmits the meter information. When another collection radio 20 belonging to the same collection communication network 13 as this collection radio 20 receives the meter information, it transmits this meter information to yet another collection radio 20 . Thereby, in the collection communication network 13, the meter information is relayed through the collection radio 20 and transmitted to the collection radio 20 of the base unit 20a.

<Information transmission process>
Through such information collection processing, the collection radio device 20 of the base device 20a receives meter information from the connected meter 11, and receives meter information from the collection radio device 20 of the slave device 20b. . In the information transmission process, the collecting radio 20 transmits the received meter information to the transmitting radio 30. Then, the transmitting radio device 30 transmits the received meter information to the center 12 via the transmitting communication network 14.

<Setting device>
As shown in FIG. 3, the setting device 40 includes a setting storage section 41 for storing information, a setting transmitting/receiving section 42 for transmitting and receiving information by wireless communication, and a setting control section 43 for controlling these. . The setting storage section 41 is a memory that can be accessed by the setting control section 43, and is composed of a RAM, a ROM, and the like. The ROM stores a program for executing various processes such as exchange processing and information used in this program, and the RAM temporarily stores information for executing various processes. Note that the setting control section 43 is the same as the collection control section 23, and the setting transmitting/receiving section 42 is the same as the collecting transmitting/receiving section 22.

<Exchange process>
In the first mode, the collection control section 23 transmits network information, which is information related to the communication network stored in the collection storage section 21, to the setting device using the collection transmission/reception section 22, based on a command from the setting device 40. 40, the network information is also deleted from the collection storage section 21, and in the second mode, the collection transmission/reception section 22 receives the network information from the setting device 40 based on the command from the setting device 40. and stored in the collection storage unit 21.

Specifically, for example, the first collecting radio 20f is replaced with the second collecting radio 20s using the setting device 40. This first collection radio 20f is an existing collection radio 20 that is in the first mode and already belongs to the collection communication network 13. This collection storage unit 21 stores network information, meter information, and the like. The first collecting radio device 20f transmits and receives information to and from the setting device 40 through wireless communication based on the first communication information of the network information while transmitting a beacon in the first cycle.

The second collection radio device 20s is a new collection radio device 20 that is in the second mode and newly enters the collection communication network 13 in place of the first collection radio device 20f. The collection storage unit 21 stores in advance the radio ID, which is the identification information of the second collection radio 20s, and the second communication information as initial information.

The second communication information includes the frequency band and output of wireless communication with the setting device 40. The frequency band of this wireless communication is a frequency band (channel) of radio waves used when communicating wirelessly with the setting device 40 in the exchange process, and is different from the frequency band of radio waves of the first communication information. The wireless communication output is the strength of radio waves used when wirelessly communicating with the setting device 40 in the exchange process.

The second collection radio 20s transmits information along with the beacon while transmitting a beacon containing its own radio ID at a predetermined second cycle (for example, at 2-second intervals) that is shorter than the first cycle. do. After transmitting the beacon, the second collecting radio 20s is able to receive information for a second predetermined period shorter than the second period. In transmitting and receiving such information, the second collection radio device 20s performs wireless communication using radio waves of the second communication information. Note that the second predetermined time may be extended beyond the second period.

In the setting device 40, the setting storage unit 41 stores the setting device ID, which is the identification information of the setting device 40, the sender ID, network ID, and radio device ID of the first collecting radio device 20f to be exchanged, and the second collecting radio device ID. The wireless device ID of the wireless device 20s is stored. Further, the setting storage unit 41 stores first communication information and second communication information.

Using such a setting device 40, an exchange process is performed between the first collection radio device 20f and the second collection radio device 20s as shown in an example of the flowchart of FIG. In this exchange process, when the setter 40 starts the exchange process in response to a user's instruction or the like, it receives a beacon from the first collection radio device 20f through wireless communication based on the first communication information (step S1). The setting device 40 determines whether the network ID and radio device ID included in the beacon match the network ID and radio device ID of the first collecting radio device 20f stored in the setting storage section 41. If these match, the setting device 40 determines that the radio that transmitted the beacon is the first collection radio 20f to be replaced, and transmits an authentication command (step S2).

On the other hand, upon receiving the authentication command, the first collection radio 20f transmits a command response (step S3). This establishes a link between the setting device 40 and the first collection radio device 20f. In this state, the setting device 40 transmits a network information request command (step S4). The first collection radio 20f extracts network information from the information stored in the collection storage unit 21 in response to the request command, and transmits the network information (step S5). Here, if the network information is large, the first collecting radio device 20f divides the network information into a plurality of pieces and transmits them.

When the setting device 40 receives the network information, it stores the network information in the setting storage section 41 and transmits a termination command (step S6). In this way, the setting device 40 selects the minimum amount of information stored in the collection storage unit 21 that is necessary for the collection communication network 13 to which the first collection radio device 20f belongs to maintain the configuration. Get network information. Therefore, the communication time between the setting device 40 and the first collection radio device 20f can be shortened.

When the first collection radio 20f receives the termination command, it transmits a termination response (step S7). Then, the first collection radio device 20f turns off the transmission and reception function of the collection transmission and reception unit 22 (step S8). As a result, the first collecting radio device 20f becomes unable to send and receive information using the collecting transmitting/receiving section 22. Further, the first collection radio device 20f erases the network information from the collection storage unit 21 (step S9). As a result, the first collecting radio device 20f becomes unable to perform wireless communication based on the network information. In this way, the first collecting radio 20f is put to rest. For this reason, entry into the collection communication network 13 of the second collection radio 20s is less likely to be inhibited by the first collection radio 20f.

Subsequently, upon receiving the end response from the first collection radio device 20f in step S7, the setting device 40 changes the wireless communication based on the first communication information to the wireless communication based on the second communication information ( Step S10). Thereby, the frequency band of the wireless communication between the setting device 40 and the second collecting radio device 20s is different from the frequency band of the wireless communication used for the wireless communication of the first collecting radio device 20f.

Therefore, the setting device 40 can easily identify the second collection radio device 20s by performing wireless communication based on the second communication information different from the first communication information. Moreover, the setting device 40 does not transmit and receive information to and from the first collection radio 20f through wireless communication based on the first communication information, but communicates with the second collection radio 20s through wireless communication based on the second communication information. Send and receive information. Therefore, the setting device 40 can quickly perform the exchange process with the second collection radio device 20s.

Further, the second collection radio device 20s is activated by a user's operation or the like (step S11), and transmits a beacon in a second period. In response, the setting device 40 receives the beacon from the second collection radio 20s (step S12), and receives the second collection radio whose ID included in the beacon is stored in the setting storage unit 41. If it matches the wireless device ID of the device 20s, an authentication command is transmitted (step S13).

On the other hand, upon receiving the authentication command, the second collection radio 20s transmits a command response (step S14). This establishes a link between the setting device 40 and the second collection radio device 20s. Then, upon receiving the command response, the setting device 40 transmits network information (step S15). On the other hand, the second collection radio device 20s receives the network information and stores it in the collection storage unit 21 (step S16). Here, if the network information is large, the setting device 40 divides the network information into a plurality of pieces and transmits them. When the second collecting radio 20s receives the network information, it transmits a reception response (step S17).

When the setting device 40 receives the reception response, it transmits a termination command (step S18). When the second collection radio 20s receives the termination command, it changes the mode from the second mode to the first mode, and changes the radio communication using the radio waves of the second communication information to the radio waves of the first communication information of the network information. Change to wireless communication using . Further, the second collection radio 20s changes the beacon cycle from the second cycle to the first cycle (step S19). Thereby, the second collection radio device 20s ends the exchange process and starts the information collection process. By using the network information, the second collection radio device 20s can belong to the collection communication network 13 instead of the first collection radio device 20f and execute information collection processing.

In this way, in the exchange process, the existing first collecting radio 20f in the first mode transmits the network information of the collecting communication network 13 to which it belongs via the setting device 40 to the new second collecting radio in the second mode. Give it to the collection radio 20s. Therefore, even if the situation of the collection communication network 13 has changed from when the first collection radio device 20f entered the collection communication network 13, the second collection radio device 20s does not change to the first collection radio device 20f. Using the network information, the first collecting radio device 20f can enter the collecting communication network 13 to which it belonged as the same radio device. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the time required to replace the collection radio device 20 without requiring time to rebuild the collection communication network 13.

Further, after the first collection radio device 20f transmits the network information to the setting device 40, by deleting the network information from the collection storage unit 21, the first collection radio device 20f and the second collection radio device 20s does not have the same network information as . Therefore, the time required to replace the collecting radio 20 can be shortened without the first collecting radio 20f preventing the second collecting radio 20s from entering the collecting communication network 13.

<Modification 1>
In the collection control unit 23 according to the first modification, in the above embodiment, the network information includes the number of times the information is transmitted. The collection control unit 23 receives key information from the setting device 40 in the second mode, and encrypts information using the key information and the number of transmissions in wireless communication with another first radio device based on the network information in the first mode. and send it.

Specifically, the first collection radio device 20f stores the number of transmissions and key information in the collection storage unit 21. Then, each time the first collection radio device 20f transmits information from the collection transceiver 22 in the information collection process, the exchange process, and the information collection process, the first collection radio 20f adds 1 to the number of transmissions in the collection storage unit 21. The data is stored in the collection storage unit 21, and the number of transmissions is updated. The key information is a session key or the like, and is set to be impossible to transmit.

In the exchange process, in step S5 of FIG. 4, the first collection radio device 20f transmits the number of transmissions, the sender ID, the network ID, the radio device ID, and the first communication information to the setting device 40 as network information.

The setting device 40 acquires key information from the center 12 and stores it in the setting storage section 41 before the exchange process. In the exchange process, in step S15 of FIG. 4, the setter 40 transmits the key information from the center 12 along with the network information from the first collection radio 20f. In response to this, in step S16 of FIG. 4, the second collection radio device 20s receives the network information and key information and stores them in the collection storage unit 21. In step S19 of FIG. 4, the second collecting radio device 20s changes the mode, transmission information, and beacon cycle, and after completing the exchange process, the information stored in the collecting storage unit 21 in the information collecting process. The information is encrypted and transmitted using the network information transmission count and key information.

In this way, the key information stored in the collection storage unit 21 cannot be transmitted. Further, the key information is managed by the center 12, acquired from the center 12 by the setting device 40 before the exchange process, and transmitted to the second collection radio device 20s in the exchange process. Therefore, leakage of key information is prevented, and the security of information collection processing is improved.

Further, the second collection radio device 20s uses the number of transmissions acquired from the first collection exchange and the key information stored in the setting device 40 to encrypt information in the information collection process. In this way, by using two pieces of information obtained from different sources, the security of the information collection process can be improved.

<Modification 2>
In the collection radio device 20 according to Modification 2, in the above embodiment and Modification 1, the collection control unit 23 performs wireless communication with other collection radio devices 20 based on network information in the second mode. If it is determined that this is not possible, the network information is deleted from the collection storage unit 21, information is received from another collection radio 20 capable of wireless communication, and the communication status with the other collection radio 20 is indicated. The information is detected, the received information and the detected information are acquired as radio device information of the third collecting radio device 20t (FIG. 3), which is another collecting radio device 20, and the third collecting radio device 20t is determined to belong to the third collecting radio device 20t. Based on the wireless device information, it is determined whether the collection communication network 13 currently available is a communication network that can be entered.

Specifically, the collection storage unit 21 of the first collection radio 20f further stores a rank and a hop number table in addition to network information.

<Rank>
The rank is the smallest number of hops from the own collection radio 20 to the base unit 20a in the collection communication network 13, and is set as a rank, for example, from 0h to Fh. The rank is updated every time the hop number table is exchanged.

For example, the rank of the base device 20a is set to 0h. Furthermore, the rank of the collector radio device 20 that is one hop adjacent to the base device 20a is set to 1h. When the collection radio 20 belongs to the collection communication network 13 and is a slave unit 20b, and there are multiple communication routes to the base unit 20a, the smallest number of hops in each communication route is selected. Set as rank. Further, if the collection radio device 20 does not belong to the collection communication network 13, or if the base device 20a cannot be recognized in the collection communication network 13 due to a failure or the like, the rank is set to Fh.

<Hop count table>
The hop number table is information that associates the radio device ID of the collecting radio device 20 belonging to the collecting communication network 13 with the hop number of the collecting radio device 20. The hop number table holds not only information about the own collecting radio device 20 but also information about other neighboring collecting radio devices 20 that have already entered the collecting communication network 13. The number of hops is the number of collection radio devices 20 (slave devices 20b) that the collection radio device 20 (slave device 20b) passes through before reaching the master device 20a of the collection communication network 13.

For example, the hop number table is exchanged by wireless communication between the collecting radio device 20 and other collecting radio devices 20 capable of wireless communication when the collecting radio device 20 enters the collecting communication network 13 and at predetermined intervals. Ru. The collecting radio device 20 updates the hop number table of its own collecting radio device 20 according to the hop number table received from the other collecting radio device 20. For example, the collection radio device 20 adds 1 h to the hop count of another collection radio device 20 with which wireless communication is possible, and determines the hop count of its own collection radio device 20 . Therefore, in accordance with the entry and exit of a collection radio device 20 in the collection communication network 13, the hop number table is updated in order from the other collection radio devices 20 that wirelessly communicate with the collection radio device 20. Note that the collection radio device 20 initializes the hop number table of its own terminal before entering the collection communication network 13, and then receives the hop number table from another terminal.

<Exchange process>
In the exchange process, steps S1 to S19 in FIG. 4 are executed. However, in this step S19, the second collecting radio device 20s changes the communication information and the beacon cycle, but continues the exchange process without changing the second mode. By using the network information of the first collecting radio 20f, the second collecting radio 20s replaces the first collecting radio 20f with the collecting communication network 13 to which the first collecting radio 20f belonged. should be able to participate. However, for some reason, there is a possibility that it will not be possible to participate in this collection communication network 13.

Therefore, the second collection radio device 20s executes the process of step S20 in FIG. 5, and determines whether it is possible to enter the collection communication network 13 to which the first collection radio device 20f belonged. . Therefore, the second collecting radio 20s transmits a beacon including the network ID and the radio ID of the network information in the first period by wireless communication based on the first communication information, and issues an update command along with the beacon. Send.

When the other collection radios 20 in the collection communication network 13 to which the first collection radio 20f belonged receive the update command, if the network ID included in the beacon matches its own network ID, the radio Send an update command along with the machine ID. As a result, the update command and the radio device ID of the second collection radio device 20s are relayed and transmitted to the base device 20a. In response to the update command, the base device 20a issues a new radio device ID in the collection communication network 13, updates it in the collection storage section 21, and sends a second radio device ID via another collection radio device 20. It is transmitted to the collection radio 20s.

When the second collecting radio 20s receives the new radio ID issued by the base unit 20a, it determines that wireless communication with other collecting radios 20 is possible (step S20: YES). As a result, the second collecting radio 20s updates the radio ID from the radio ID of the first collecting radio 20f to a new radio ID, changes the mode from the second mode to the first mode, End the exchange process and start the information collection process.

On the other hand, if the second collecting radio 20s does not receive a new radio ID from the base unit 20a, it determines that wireless communication with other collecting radios 20 is not possible (step S20: NO). In this case, the second collection radio device 20s deletes the network information excluding the first communication information from the collection storage unit 21 (step S21), and prevents entry into the collection communication network 13 using the network information. give up.

Then, the second collection radio device 20s executes the processes from step S22 onward in FIG. 5 to perform automatic entry processing into the collection communication network 13. Note that the collection communication network 13 to which an attempt is made to enter may be the same communication network as the collection communication network 13 to which the first collection radio 20f belonged, or may be a different communication network.

For this reason, the second collection radio device 20s stores the radio device ID of the initial information and the first communication information of the network information in the collection storage unit 21. Thereby, the second collecting radio 20s transmits a beacon including the radio ID in the first cycle by wireless communication based on the first communication information, and transmits information along with the beacon.

Further, the second collection radio device 20s stores the business ID and rank Fh in the collection storage unit 21 in advance. This company ID is information that identifies the communication network including the plurality of collection communication networks 13 used in the automatic meter reading system 10 from other communication networks, and is, for example, a gas supply company, etc. Information that identifies the business operator being used is used.

In the automatic entry process, the second collecting radio device 20s executes communication (RIT scan processing) to check for collecting radio devices 20 that have already entered the surrounding collecting communication network 13 (step S22). . Through this RIT scan process, the second collecting radio 20s receives the beacon emitted by the third collecting radio 20t, which is another collecting radio 20, and receives the information associated therewith. The third collecting radio 20t may be one or more. The information from the third collecting radio 20t includes a network ID, a radio ID, and a rank.

When the second collection radio 20s receives beacons from a plurality of third collection radios 20t, it compares the network IDs included in these beacons, and if the network IDs are the same, it determines the ranks included in these beacons. are compared, and the information included in the beacon with the lowest rank is set as the received information.

Further, when the second collecting radio 20s receives a beacon from the third collecting radio 20t, it acquires information indicating the communication status with the third collecting radio 20t. The information indicating the communication status is information indicating the stability of communication with the third collecting radio 20t, and is the field strength measurement value with the third collecting radio 20t, for example, a beacon. This is the signal strength (RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator)) when the signal is received. Then, the second collection radio 20s associates the received information with information indicating the communication status, acquires it as radio equipment information, and stores it in the collection storage unit 21 (step S23).

When the second collection radio device 20s acquires a plurality of radio device information, it arranges the radio device information whose rank is not Fh among them in order from the one with the lowest rank. Furthermore, when the ranks of a plurality of pieces of radio equipment information are the same, the second collecting radio equipment 20s arranges these pieces of radio equipment information in descending order of RSSI. Then, the second collecting radio 20s collects a predetermined number (for example, three) of radio equipment information in this order, starting from the one with the smallest rank and, in the radio equipment information of the same rank, starting from the one with the largest RSSI. Select (step S24). As a result, the collection radio device 20 that has already entered the collection communication network 13 in the automatic meter reading system 10 of a predetermined business operator, has a stable communication situation, and is as close as possible to the base device 20a is selected. .

Subsequently, the second collection radio device 20s executes a number acquisition process and transmits a number request together with the operator ID to the third collection radio device 20t selected in step S24 (step S25). In response, if the received carrier ID matches the carrier ID stored in itself, the third collecting radio device 20t selects the radio device in the hop number table stored in the collecting storage unit 21. Based on the list of IDs, the number of all collection radio devices 20 belonging to the own collection communication network 13 is extracted and transmitted. Thereby, the second collection radio 20s receives the number of collection radios 20 in the collection communication network 13 to which the third collection radio 20t belongs, and stores it in the collection storage unit 21 (step S26 ).

Subsequently, the second collection radio device 20s executes a determination process and determines whether the collection communication network 13 to which the third collection radio device 20t belongs is a candidate for the collection communication network 13 that can be entered. Make decisions based on information. In the determination process, the second collection radio device 20s determines whether or not the determination process is the first time (step S27). Here, if the determination process is being executed for the first time after erasing the network information in step S21, the second collection radio 20s determines that this is the first determination process (step S7: YES), It is determined whether the number of vehicles is less than or equal to a first threshold (for example, 30 vehicles) (step S28).

In the determination process of step S28, if the number is equal to or less than the first threshold (step S28: YES), the second collection radio device 20s determines that number of collection communication networks 13 as candidates. On the other hand, if the number is larger than the first threshold, the second collection radio device 20s determines that the collection communication network 13 of that number cannot be entered, and excludes it from the candidates. The second collection radio device 20s performs this determination for all collection communication networks 13 for which the number of collection radio devices has been acquired. As a result, if there is no candidate for the collection communication network 13 (step S28: NO), the second collection radio device 20s returns to the process of step S22 and executes the subsequent processes.

On the other hand, if this is not the first determination process (step S27: NO), the second collection radio device 20s determines whether there is a collection communication network 13 whose number is equal to or less than the second threshold (step S29). This second threshold value is larger than the first threshold value, and is set based on the storage capacity of the collection storage unit 21, such as the maximum number of collection radios 20 that can be stored in the collection storage unit 21, for example, 50 It is a stand.

If the number is less than or equal to the second threshold, the second collection radio device 20s determines the collection communication network 13 as a candidate (step S29: YES). On the other hand, if the number is larger than the second threshold, it is determined that the second collection radio device 20s cannot enter the collection communication network 13, and the collection communication network 13 is excluded from the candidates. This determination is performed for all collection communication networks 13 for which the number of devices has been acquired, and if all the numbers are greater than the second threshold, it is determined that there are no candidates (step S29: NO). Then, the second collection radio device 20s returns to the process of step S22 and executes the subsequent processes.

In this way, by first determining the number based on the first threshold value that is smaller than the second threshold value, it is possible to equalize the number of collection radio devices 20 that belong to each of the plurality of collection communication networks 13. . As a result, the number of terminals in any one of the plurality of collection communication networks 13 increases excessively, and in this collection communication network 13, the amount of information such as the hop number table and communication charges increase. increases, and it is possible to suppress the battery of the collecting radio device 20 belonging to this collecting communication network 13 from being exhausted.

As a result of such a determination process, if there is a candidate for the collection communication network 13 (step S28: YES, step S29: YES), the second collection radio 20s executes a radio equipment ID request process. In the request process, the second collection radio 20s stores the candidate network ID, its minimum rank in the collection communication network 13, its radio ID, and the RSSI of the third collection radio 20t in the collection storage unit 21. Remember. Then, the second collection radio device 20s sets a higher priority of the collection communication network 13 among the candidates as the rank is smaller. Here, when the ranks of the candidates are the same, the higher the RSSI of the third collecting radio 20t, the higher the priority. Then, the second collecting radio 20s executes a radio equipment ID request process for the candidates determined according to this priority order.

In the request process, the second collection radio 20s sends an issuance command to the third collection radio 20t in the candidate collection communication network 13 to request the issuance of a radio ID in the collection communication network 13. It is transmitted together with the ID (step S30). When the third collection radio 20t is the base unit 20a, if the received carrier ID matches the carrier ID stored in itself, the third collection radio 20t transmits the radio according to the issuing command. The device ID is issued and transmitted together with the key information, and the wireless device ID is stored in the collection storage unit 21 as information about the handset 20b. On the other hand, when the third collection radio 20t is the slave unit 20b, if the received carrier ID matches the carrier ID stored in itself, the third collection radio 20t relays the issue command. is transmitted to the base unit 20a. The base device 20a issues a radio device ID in response to the issuing command and transmits it together with the key information, and also stores the radio device ID in the collection storage unit 21 as information of the child device 20b.

The second collecting radio 20s acquires the radio ID and key information (step S31: YES), and stores them (step S32). In addition to this information, the second collecting radio 20s sends the network ID of the collecting communication network 13 to which it belongs and the sender ID for transmitting information to the base unit 20a or the third collecting radio. 20t, and set these as communication information in the information collection process. Thereby, the second collection radio device 20s can be included in the collection communication network 13, and periodically emits a beacon by wireless communication based on the communication information.

On the other hand, in the process of step S31, if the second collecting radio 20s cannot acquire the radio ID from the third collecting radio 20t in the candidate collecting communication network 13 (step S31: NO), If there are candidates remaining (step S33: NO), an issuance command is transmitted to the third collection radio device 20t in the collection communication network 13 of the next candidate according to the priority order (step S30).

On the other hand, if the second collection radio device 20s cannot receive radio device IDs from all candidates (step S31: NO, S33: YES), it transmits an issuance command to all candidates a predetermined number of times. (Steps S30 to S34: NO). Even if this issuance request is retransmitted a predetermined number of times to all candidates (step S34: YES), if the second collection radio 20s cannot receive the radio ID (step S31: NO), entry is possible. Assume that there is no collection communication network 13. Then, when a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the issuing command (step S35: YES), the second collection radio 20s returns to the process of step S22 and executes the subsequent processes.

As a result, the automatic entry process to the collection communication network 13 is automatically and periodically repeated, so that the user does not have to repeat the work to enter the collection communication network 13, resulting in excellent workability. There is. Further, when a new collection communication network 13 that can be entered is newly constructed nearby, the second collection radio device 20s can automatically join the collection communication network 13.

From the above description, many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above description is to be construed as illustrative only, and is provided for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode of carrying out the invention. Substantial changes may be made in the structural and/or functional details thereof without departing from the spirit of the invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION The radio|wireless device of this invention is useful as a radio|wireless device etc. which can aim at shortening the exchange time of a radio|wireless device.

11: Meter 13: Collection communication network 20a: Base unit 20b: Child unit 20f: First collection radio 20s: Second collection radio 21: Collection storage unit 22: Collection transmission/reception unit 23: Collection control Section 40: Setting device

Claims (6)

A radio device that configures a wireless communication network together with other radio devices and can be replaced with a new radio device using a communicable setting device,
a storage unit that stores information;
a transmitter/receiver unit that transmits and receives information;
comprising a control unit;
The control unit operates in a first mode in which it operates as a radio device that belongs to the communication network, and in a second mode in which it operates as a radio device that enters the communication network instead of a radio device that already belongs to the communication network. , has
The control unit includes:
In the first mode, based on a command from the setting device, the transmitting/receiving section transmits network information, which is information regarding the communication network stored in the storage section, to the setting device, and the storage section Delete the network information from
When in the second mode, the wireless device receives the network information from the setting device by the transmitting/receiving section and stores it in the storage section based on a command from the setting device. The network information includes destination information for transmitting information to a business operator that uses the communication network, identification information of the communication network, identification information of the wireless device in the communication network, and the frequency band and frequency band of the wireless communication. 2. The radio of claim 1, further comprising an output. 3. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein in the second mode, the control unit performs wireless communication with the setting device in a frequency band different from a frequency band of wireless communication with the other wireless device based on the network information. Radio as described. The control unit performs wireless communication with the setting device in the second mode by transmitting a synchronization signal at an interval shorter than an interval at which the synchronization signal is transmitted in wireless communication based on the network information. The wireless device according to any one of 1 to 3. The network information includes the number of times the information has been transmitted,
The control unit receives the key information from the setting device in the second mode, and in the first mode, the control unit receives the key information from the setting device based on the key information and the number of transmissions in wireless communication with the other wireless device based on the network information. The wireless device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which encrypts and transmits information. The control unit includes:
In the second mode, if it is determined that wireless communication with the other wireless device is not possible based on the network information, the network information is erased from the storage unit and information is transferred from another wireless device capable of wireless communication. is received, detects information indicating the communication status with the other radio, acquires the received information and the detected information as radio information of the another radio, and determines to which the other radio belongs. The wireless device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein it is determined based on the wireless device information whether the communication network that is being accessed is an allowable communication network.

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