JPH11122158A - Data collection method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data collection method by which an expensive stationary installation such as a telephone line is not required for each terminal equipment. SOLUTION: A master set 12 uses an inter-slave-set data communication function of a PHS (2nd generation cordless telephone system) to collect data sequentially from a plurality of slave sets 111 -11N. When data of all the slave sets 111 -11N are collected, the master set 12 sends the collected data to a data collection device 14 according to a data transmission control protocol between the master set of the PHS and a public network.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a data collection method for collecting data of a plurality of terminal devices arranged at a relatively short distance by using wireless communication.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventional data collection system. The data collection system, for example, incorporated into a vending machine, the terminal device 1 _1, 1 2 having a function of transmitting or product-specific sales information, the data of the remaining amount of the product, _..., 1 _N It has. These terminals ₁ 1 to 1 _N, respectively telephone lines _{2 1, 2} 2,
.., _2N are connected to the public telephone network 3. The public telephone network 3, further are connected to a data collection device 5 through the telephone line 4, by the data collection device 5, so as to collect the data held in each terminal apparatus 1 ₁ to 1 _N ing. In such a data collection system, for example, the data collection device 5 is activated at predetermined time intervals, and each terminal device 1 _i (where i = 1 to N) is transmitted from the data collection device 5 via the public telephone network 4. Are sequentially called and connected, and data of the called terminal device _1i is received according to a predetermined transmission control procedure.

[0003]

However, the conventional data collection system has the following problems. That is, since each terminal device 1 _i is connected to the public telephone network 3 using the dedicated telephone line 2 _i , the amount of data to be handled is small in spite of the large capital investment, resulting in an uneconomical system. Was. The present invention, the prior art to solve the problems that had, is to provide a data collection method which does not require expensive fixed installations telephone lines 2 _i like for each terminal device 1 _i.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a first invention of the present invention is arranged in a predetermined area and stores first data in accordance with a first transmission control procedure by wireless communication. And the first data transmitted from the plurality of first terminal devices disposed substantially in the center of the predetermined area and according to the first transmission control procedure. Receiving and transmitting second data in accordance with a second transmission control procedure by wireless communication.
In a data collection system comprising: a terminal device according to (1), and a data collection device receiving the second data transmitted from the second terminal device according to the second transmission control procedure, the following data collection The way is going. That is, the second terminal device transmits a transmission request of the first data to the plurality of first terminal devices in order according to the first transmission control procedure, and responds to the transmission request. A data receiving process of receiving the first data sequentially transmitted from the plurality of first terminal devices, and performing the data reception process based on the plurality of first data received from the plurality of first terminal devices. A data generation process of generating second data and a data transmission process of transmitting the second data to the data collection device according to the second transmission control procedure are repeatedly performed at predetermined time intervals. I have to.

In a second aspect of the present invention, the first to N-th (where the data is transmitted in accordance with a first transmission control procedure by wireless communication between adjacent terminal devices in order at an interval equal to or less than a predetermined distance) N is a plurality of first terminal devices,
An interval from the first first terminal device is arranged at a position equal to or less than the predetermined distance, and data from the first first terminal device is received according to the first transmission control procedure. A second terminal device that transmits data received from the first terminal device according to a second transmission control procedure by wireless communication, and data transmitted from the second terminal device according to the second transmission control procedure In a data collection system including a data collection device for receiving the second data, the following data collection method is repeatedly performed at predetermined time intervals.

First, a second terminal device performs a data collection start process for requesting the first first terminal device to transmit according to the first transmission control procedure. Next, when the i-th (where i is an integer from 1 to N-1) first terminal device receives the transmission request, the i-th first terminal device is sequentially sent to the (i + 1) -th first terminal device. A transmission request process for making the transmission request according to the transmission control procedure of the above, and, when the N-th first terminal device receives the transmission request, the data held by the N-th first terminal device is transmitted to the N-th first terminal device. A data transmission process for transmitting data to the first first terminal device is performed. Further, when the N-th (where j is an integer of 1 to N-2) first terminal apparatus receives the data from the (N-j + 1) -th first terminal apparatus, the data is received. A first data transfer process for adding the data held by the terminal device to the received data to the data and sequentially transmitting the data to the (N−j−1) th first terminal device; When the terminal device receives the data from the second first terminal device, the terminal device adds data held by the terminal device to the received data to the received data,
And a second data transfer process to be transmitted to the terminal device.
Then, when the second terminal device receives the data from the first first terminal device, the third terminal transmits the received data to the data collection device according to the second transmission control procedure. Perform data transfer processing.

A third invention is arranged in a predetermined area,
A plurality of terminal devices that transmit data according to a transmission control procedure by wireless communication, and are mounted on a vehicle that patrols the predetermined area, and perform a data transmission request to the plurality of terminal devices according to the transmission control procedure. A data collection system comprising: a data collection device that receives the data transmitted from the plurality of terminal devices;
The following data collection method is sequentially repeated every time the vehicle travels. That is, the data collection device includes: a transmission request process for sequentially performing the transmission request to the plurality of terminal devices based on an order table that defines an order of collecting data from the plurality of terminal devices; After performing the monitoring process for monitoring the response from the terminal device that was the target of the transmission request for a certain period of time, and in the monitoring process, the data was received from the terminal device during the certain period of time. Sometimes, the data receiving process of deleting the terminal device from the sequence table is sequentially and repeatedly performed.

In a fourth aspect, the transmission control procedure and the first transmission control procedure include a procedure for communication between slave units based on a standard STD-28 for a second generation cordless telephone system defined by the Radio System Development Center. As the second transmission control procedure, a procedure for communication between the public network and the master unit according to the standard STD-28 is used. According to the first and fourth aspects of the present invention, since the data collection method is configured as described above, the following operation is performed. When a predetermined time comes, the first terminal device sequentially transmits the first terminal device to the plurality of first terminal devices according to the first transmission control procedure.
Is transmitted. The first data is transmitted from the plurality of first terminal devices in response to the transmission request, and received by the second terminal device. Second data is generated based on the plurality of first data received by the second terminal device, and is transmitted from the second terminal device to the data collection device according to a second transmission control procedure. According to the second and fourth aspects, the following operation is performed.

At a predetermined time, a transmission request is made from the second terminal device to the first first terminal device in accordance with the first transmission control procedure. When the i-th first terminal device receives the transmission request, the next (i + 1) -th first terminal device
Are sequentially transmitted to the terminal devices. When the Nth first terminal device receives the transmission request, the data held by the Nth first terminal device is the (N-1) th first terminal device.
To the terminal device. Further, when the N-j-th first terminal device receives data from the N-j + 1-th first terminal device, the data held by the terminal device is added to the received data, and N-j- It is transmitted to the first first terminal device. Then, when the first first terminal device receives data from the second first terminal device,
The data held by the terminal device is added to the received data and transmitted to the second terminal device. When the second terminal device receives the data from the first first terminal device, the received data is transmitted to the data collection device according to a second transmission control procedure.

According to the third and fourth aspects, the following operation is performed. Each time a vehicle patrols a predetermined area, a data collection device mounted on the vehicle makes a transmission request to a plurality of terminal devices in order based on a sequence table. After the transmission request, the response from the terminal device that is the target of the transmission request is monitored for a certain period of time, and when data is received from the terminal device during the certain period of time, the terminal device is deleted from the sequence table. Is done. By sequentially repeating such data reception processing, data from all terminal devices located in the area is collected.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a data collection system showing a first embodiment of the present invention. This data collection system includes first terminal devices (for example, slave devices) 11 ₁ , 11 ₂ ,..., 11 _N incorporated in each of unmanned devices such as vending machines arranged in a plurality of predetermined areas. It has. Each slave device 11 _i (where i = 1 to N) is a Research & Development Center for Radio
System, hereinafter referred to as “RCR”) has a data transmission function in accordance with the standard STD-28 data transmission control procedure between slave units for a second generation cordless telephone system (hereinafter, referred to as “PHS”). . These slave units 11 _{1 to} 11 _N have “1”, “2”,..., As slave unit identification numbers (hereinafter referred to as “ID”), respectively.
“N” is set. When specified by the ID, sales information for each product and data such as the remaining amount of the product held by an unmanned device such as a vending machine in which the slave device _11i is incorporated are transmitted by wireless communication. It has a function of transmitting by using.

At a position substantially at the center of the area where the slave units 11 _{1 to} 11 _N are arranged, communication between the slave units 11 _{1 to} 11 _N by the PHS is possible (that is, at a position where the slave units 11 _{1 to} 11 _N can communicate with each other). A second terminal device (for example, a parent device) 12 is arranged in the radio wave reach range). The master device 12 is provided with the RC
In addition to supporting the data transmission control procedure between PHSs in the R standard STD-28, the standard STD-2
8 has a function of supporting a data transmission control procedure between the PHS master unit and the public network. Further, the data collection system is connected to the parent device 12 via a public telephone network 13.
Data collection device 1 that receives data transmitted from
4 is provided. The data collection device 14 controls the master device 1 according to a data transmission control procedure between the master device of the PHS and the public network.
2 has a function of receiving data from the PC.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the parent device 12 in FIG. Hereinafter, a data collection method in the data collection system of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. By starting the operation of the system, the parent device 12 starts the initial setting process in step S11 of FIG. By the initial setting process, the IDs of the slave devices 11 _{1 to} 11 _N to be collected (that is, IDs)
_{1 to} ID _N ) are registered, and a data collection time (for example, every morning at 8:00) is set. After step S11,
Proceed to step S12 to wait until the data collection time.
When the data collection time comes, the process proceeds to step S13. In step S13, as the initial value of the ID, j =
1 is set, and the process proceeds to step S14. Step S14
In respect handset device 11 _j of the ID _j, according to the data transmission control procedure between PHS slave unit, it transmits the data transmission request. Data transmission request transmitted from the base unit 12 in step S14 is received by the child devices device ₁₁ 1 to 11 _N. Among the handset device ₁₁ 1 to 11 _N, handset device 11 _j specified by the ID _j transmits data in which the handset device 11 _j holds the integrated unattended device. Data transmitted from the handset unit 11 _j in step S15, is received by the base unit 12. Upon receiving the data of the child device _11j , the master device 12 proceeds to step S16, records the received data, and proceeds to step S16.
Proceed to 17.

In step S17, the next child device 1
In order to designate 1 _{j + 1} , 1 is added to the value of j, and the process proceeds to step S18. In step S18, it determines whether the data transmission request and a data reception for all handset device 11 ₁ to 11 _N which are registered has been completed. If left handset device 11 _j has not received the data, returns to step S14, if it was all handset device ₁₁ 1 to 11 _N of the data collection is completed, the process proceeds to step S19. In step S19, the slave unit apparatus are recorded 11 ₁
Summary data from to 11 _N, according to the data transmission control procedure of the master unit and between public networks of PHS, is transmitted via the public telephone network 13 to the data collection device 14. After step S19, the process returns to step S14 and waits until the next data collection time. As described above, in the data collection method according to the first embodiment, the master device 12 collects data from the plurality of slave devices 11 _{1 to} 11 _N using the inter-slave device data communication function of the PHS. The collected data is collectively transmitted to the data collection device 14 via the public telephone network 13. Therefore, necessary to connect the child devices device 11 ₁ to 11 _N to the public telephone network 13 without, telephone line equipment fixing is not required. Furthermore, no communication charge is required for the communication between the slave units, so that the communication charge can be reduced. Second Embodiment FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a data collection system according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which components common to those in FIG. 1 are denoted by common reference numerals.

[0015] The data acquisition system, as in the first embodiment of FIG. 1, a plurality of handset devices 11 ₁ to 11 _N with a data communication function between the PHS handset, between handset data communication function and A master device 12 having both a public network and a data communication function between master devices is provided. And these handset devices ₁₁ 1 to 11 _N and the master unit 12, is, for example,
The parent device 12, child device 11 ₁ , child device 11 ₂ ,...
The order of the handset device 11 _N, as between each adjacent apparatus, it is possible to data communication by inter-handset communication function,
They are arranged at intervals equal to or less than a certain distance, which is the reach of radio waves. Here, for convenience of explanation, the parent device 12 is
The handset device 11 _N is defined as a downstream side. Further, this data collection system, like the data collection system of FIG.
A data collection device 14 is provided for receiving data transmitted from the parent device 12 via the public telephone network 13.
FIG. 5 is a time chart showing a procedure of data collection in the data collection system of FIG. Hereinafter, a data collection method in the data collection system of FIG. 4 will be described with reference to FIG.

The predetermined prescribed time (e.g., every morning 8:00, etc.) becomes a master unit 12 is activated, the child device 11 ₁ which is adjacent to the base unit 12, PHS slave unit A data transmission request is issued according to the inter-data transmission control procedure. Handset device 11 ₁ receives the data transmission request from the base unit 12, relative to the handset device 11 ₂ adjacent to the downstream side, according to the data transmission control procedure between PHS slave units, transmitting a data transmission request I do. Slave device 11
₂ receives the data transmission request from the handset device 11 ₁ on the upstream side, further, to the slave device 11 ₃ adjacent to the downstream side, transmits the data transmission request. In this way, the data transmission requests are sequentially transferred to the downstream slave devices 11 _i (where i = 1 to N).

[0017] Then, the last slave unit apparatus 11 _N receives the data transmission request, the handset device 11 _N the data D _N for the handset device 11 _N holds the integrated unattended apparatus, adjacent The data is transmitted to the child device 11 _N-1 on the upstream side according to the PHS data transmission control procedure. Handset device 11 _N-1 receives the transmitted data D _N from the handset device 11 _N on the downstream side, the handset device 11
Data D held by the unmanned device incorporating _N-1
N-1 is connected to the received data _DN and transmitted to the child device _11N-2 adjacent on the further upstream side. Thus, in the child machine apparatus 11 _i, for data transmitted from the downstream side, the data D _i held unmanned devices that handset device 11 _i is incorporated in the received data The data is connected and transmitted to the child device 11 _i-1 adjacent further upstream. As a result, the parent device 12 includes all of the child device 11 ₁ from the child device 11 _1.
-11 data _D 1 of the _{N, D 2, ..., D} N are transmitted are connected. Base unit device 12, all received from the handset device 11 ₁ handset device ₁₁ 1 to 11 _N data _D 1 of the,
D _2, ..., a D _N, according to the data transmission control procedure of the master unit and between public networks of PHS, is transmitted via the public telephone network 13 to the data collection device 14.

[0018] As described above, this second embodiment of the data collection method, by using the data communication function between PHS slave unit, the data transmission request from the base unit 12 a plurality of handset devices 11 ₁ sequentially transferred in to 11 _N, further, the child mobile 1
1 ₁ to 11 the master unit device data sequentially linked to the from _N 12
Transfer to Then, the data collected by the base unit 12 is put together, and the data collected by the data collection device 14 via the public telephone network 13.
To send to. Therefore, in addition to the same advantages as those of the first embodiment, there is an advantage that it is possible to collect data relatively widely distributed and arranged handset device 11 ₁ to 11 _N.

Third Embodiment FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a data collection system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Elements common to those in FIG. 1 are denoted by common reference numerals. . This data collection system
Similar to the first embodiment of FIG. 1, they are arranged in a predetermined area, and a plurality of handset devices 11 ₁ to 11 _N with a data communication function between the PHS handset. The data collection system includes a data collection device 21 mounted on a vehicle 20 that patrols the area and having a data communication function between handset units of the PHS. Data acquisition device 21, handset device ₁₁ 1 to 11 _N of the ID to be data collection _(i.e., ID 1 _{~ID N)} is registered during patrol vehicle 20, each slave device ₁₁ 1 to 11 against _N, in accordance with data communication function between PHS slave unit, in which sequentially transmits the data transmission request, receives and collects data sent from the child machine device 11 ₁ to 11 _N.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the data collection device 21 in FIG. Hereinafter, a data collection method in the data collection system of FIG. 6 will be described with reference to FIG. Plural slave units 11 ₁ to 1
When the vehicle 20 patrols the area where _1N is located, the power of the data collection device 21 mounted on the vehicle 20 is turned on. Thereby, step S2 of FIG.
1 is executed, and the child device 11 to be subjected to data collection is executed.
Terminal list of _{1 ~11 N} is created, the process proceeds to step S22. In step S22, the slave device 11 _i (where i = 1 to N) to be subjected to data collection from the terminal list
Are read out one by one, and the process proceeds to step S23. In step S23, with respect to the slave unit apparatus 11 _i read in step S22, according to the data transmission control procedure between PHS slave unit, the data transmission request is originated. Step S
After 23, the process proceeds to step S24, a certain period of time, the presence or absence of a response from the handset device 11 _i is monitored. If there is no response within a certain period of time, the process returns to step S22, and the next slave device (eg, the slave device 11 _{i + 1} ) to be collected from the terminal list is read.

[0021] Data from the handset device 11 _i within a predetermined time me sent, the process proceeds to step S25, the data collection process is performed. After the data collection processing in step S25, the process proceeds to step S26. In step S26,
Handset device 11 _i which data collection is completed, is removed from the terminal list. After step S26, the process proceeds to step S27, whether the data collection from all the handset devices ₁₁ 1 to 11 _N has been completed is determined. If there is slave unit apparatus 11 _i not performed yet data collection step S
Returning to 22, all of the handset devices 11 ₁ to 11 _N of the data collection if completed, the data collection process ends. As described above, in the data collection method of the third embodiment, a plurality of data collection devices 21 mounted on the vehicle 20 use the data collection device 21 mounted on the vehicle 20 to traverse a predetermined area while using a plurality of communication devices. and so as to collect data from the handset device ₁₁ 1 to 11 _N. Therefore, in addition to the same advantages as those of the first embodiment, there is an advantage that it is possible to collect data relatively widely distributed and arranged handset device 11 ₁ to 11 _N.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. For example, there are the following modifications (a) to (c). (A) The data transmission control procedure of each of the slave units 11 _{1 to} 11 _N , the master unit 12 and the data collection units 14 and 21 is not limited to the standard STD-28 of the RCR. Any procedure that can be performed is applicable. (B) The master device 12 of FIG. 4 may be incorporated into an unmanned device such as a vending machine, and the data held in the unattended device of the master device 12 may be added and transmitted to the data collection device 14. good. (C) A data collection device 21 mounted on a vehicle 20 as shown in FIG. 6 may be added to the data collection system of the second embodiment in FIG. Thus, when the data collection by circulation of the vehicle 20 is not performed, to collect data from the child devices device 11 ₁ to 11 _N by the master unit device 12 in FIG. 4, to be transmitted to data collection device 14 it can.

[0023]

As described above in detail, according to the first invention, data of a plurality of first terminal devices is once collected by a second terminal device, and then transmitted to the data collection device collectively. Like that. Thus, it is not necessary to provide a communication line with the data collection device for each of the plurality of first terminal devices, and an economical data collection system can be configured. According to the second invention, data is sequentially transferred between the plurality of first terminal devices and collected in the second terminal device. Thereby, in addition to the same effect as the first invention, there is an effect that an area where a plurality of first terminal devices can be arranged is widened. According to the third invention, data of a plurality of terminal devices is collected by the data collection device mounted on the vehicle. Thereby, there is an effect that the restriction on the arrangement of the terminal device can be further eased as compared with the second invention. According to the fourth invention, a PHS data transmission control procedure is used as a transmission control procedure by wireless communication. For this reason, PHS is used as a transmitting / receiving device.
The terminal device can be used, and the data collection system can be easily configured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a data collection system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of a conventional data collection system.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in a parent device 12 in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a data collection system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a time chart showing a procedure of data collection in the data collection system of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a data collection system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the data collection device 21 in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 _{1 to} 11 _N slave device 12 Master device 13 Public telephone network 14, 21 Data collection device 20 Vehicle

Claims (4)

[Claims] A plurality of first terminal devices that are arranged in a predetermined area and transmit first data in accordance with a first transmission control procedure by wireless communication; and are arranged at substantially a center of the predetermined area, Receiving a first data transmitted from the plurality of first terminal devices according to the first transmission control procedure, and transmitting second data according to a second transmission control procedure by wireless communication; And a data collection device for receiving the second data transmitted from the second terminal device in accordance with the second transmission control procedure. The apparatus includes: a transmission request process for sequentially requesting the plurality of first terminal devices to transmit the first data in accordance with the first transmission control procedure; and transmitting the plurality of first terminals in response to the transmission request. A data reception process of receiving the first data sequentially transmitted from one terminal device; and a plurality of first data received from the plurality of first terminal devices.
A data generation process of generating the second data based on the data of (a), and a data transmission process of transmitting the second data to the data collection device according to the second transmission control procedure, for a predetermined time. A data collection method characterized in that the data collection is performed repeatedly every time. 2. It is arranged sequentially at an interval of a certain distance or less,
A first to an N-th (where N is a plurality) first terminal devices transmitting data in accordance with a first transmission control procedure by wireless communication with an adjacent terminal device, and the first first device The first terminal device receives data from the first terminal device in accordance with the first transmission control procedure, and is arranged at a position having a distance from the terminal device equal to or less than the predetermined distance. A second terminal device for transmitting data received from the second terminal device in accordance with a second transmission control procedure by wireless communication, and receiving the second data transmitted from the second terminal device in accordance with the second transmission control procedure A data collection system, comprising: a data collection apparatus that transmits a transmission request from the second terminal device to the first first terminal device in accordance with the first transmission control procedure. And when the i-th (where i is an integer from 1 to N-1) first terminal device receives the transmission request, the i-th first terminal device sequentially transmits the first to the (i + 1) -th first terminal device. A transmission request process for making the transmission request in accordance with the transmission control procedure of the above, and, when the Nth first terminal device receives the transmission request, the data held by the Nth first terminal device is transmitted to the N-th first terminal device. A data transmission process for transmitting to the first first terminal device; and the N-j (where j is an integer of 1 to N-2) first
When the terminal device receives the data from the (N-j + 1) -th first terminal device, the terminal device adds the data held by the terminal device to the received data to the received data, and successively adds the N-j -A first data transfer process for transmitting to the first first terminal device; and receiving the data from the second first terminal device when the first first terminal device receives the data from the second first terminal device. A second data transfer process of adding data held by the terminal device to the received data to the received data and transmitting the data to the second terminal device; and When the data is received from the terminal device, a third data transfer process of transmitting the received data to the data collection device according to the second transmission control procedure is repeatedly performed at predetermined time intervals. Specially Data collection methods to be. 3. A plurality of terminal devices that are arranged in a predetermined area and transmit data according to a transmission control procedure by wireless communication, and are mounted on a vehicle that patrols the predetermined area, and the plurality of terminal devices are mounted on a vehicle that patrols the predetermined area. A data collection device that sends a request for transmission of the data to a terminal device and receives the data transmitted from the plurality of terminal devices, the data collection device comprising: A transmission request process for sequentially performing the transmission request to the plurality of terminal devices based on a sequence table that determines the order of data collection from the terminal devices, and after performing the transmission request, the transmission request target A monitoring process of monitoring a response from the terminal device for a certain period of time; and in the monitoring process, the data from the terminal device during the certain period of time. And a data reception process of deleting the terminal device from the sequence table when the data is received. 4. The transmission control procedure and the first transmission control procedure are procedures for communication between slave units in a standard STD-28 concerning a second generation cordless telephone system defined by a radio wave system development center. 4. The data collection method according to claim 1, wherein the second transmission control procedure is a procedure for communication between the public network and the master unit in the standard STD-28.