JPWO2020170780A1 - Gateway device, communication method and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

The first communication unit 40 communicates with the first device according to the first communication protocol. The second communication unit 42 communicates with the second device according to the second communication protocol. The access control unit 32 sets the routing table 50 when the request to the second device transmitted from the first device and the request according to the first communication protocol is received by the first communication unit 40. Refer to it to identify the second communication protocol as the communication protocol used by the second device. The access control unit 32 delegates the process of transmitting the above request to the second device to the second communication unit 42 corresponding to the second communication protocol.

Description

The present disclosure relates to communication technology, in particular to gateway devices, communication control methods and computer programs.

At present, connections to networks such as air conditioners, lighting, and photovoltaic power generation devices, so-called "IoT (Internet of Things) of equipment," are becoming widespread in houses.

Patent No. 4745337

The interface (in other words, the communication path) of a plurality of devices installed in a house or the like may not be one, and the communication protocol used by each device may be different. Under such circumstances, it is required to efficiently link a plurality of devices installed in a house or the like.

The present disclosure has been made in view of these circumstances, and one object is to suitably realize the cooperation of a plurality of devices connected to different interfaces and operating with different protocols.

In order to solve the above problems, the gateway device of one aspect of the present invention has a plurality of communication units corresponding to a plurality of different types of communication protocols and a communication protocol used by each of the plurality of devices connected to the device. It includes a storage unit for storing and a control unit. The plurality of communication units communicate with a first communication unit that communicates with the first device according to the first communication protocol, and a second communication unit that communicates with the second device according to a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol. Including the communication unit. When the request to the second device transmitted from the first device and the request according to the first communication protocol is received by the first communication unit, the control unit refers to the storage unit and refers to the storage unit. A process of identifying the second communication protocol as the communication protocol used by the second device and transmitting a request to the second device to the second communication unit corresponding to the second communication protocol among the plurality of communication units. Delegate.

Another aspect of the present invention is a communication method. This method is executed by the gateway device, and the gateway device uses a plurality of communication units corresponding to a plurality of different types of communication protocols and a communication protocol used by each of a plurality of devices connected to the device. It is provided with a storage unit for storing. The plurality of communication units communicate with a first communication unit that communicates with the first device according to the first communication protocol, and a second communication unit that communicates with the second device according to a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol. Including the communication unit. When the request to the second device transmitted from the first device and the request according to the first communication protocol is received by the first communication unit, the second device is referred to with reference to the storage unit. Identifyes the second communication protocol as the communication protocol used by the user, and delegates the process of transmitting a request to the second device to the second communication unit corresponding to the second communication protocol among the plurality of communication units.

It should be noted that any combination of the above components and the expression of the present disclosure converted between a system, a computer program, a recording medium on which a computer program is recorded, and the like are also effective as aspects of the present disclosure.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to suitably realize the cooperation of a plurality of devices connected to different interfaces and operating with different protocols.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the communication system of an Example. It is a block diagram which shows the functional block of the gateway of FIG. It is a figure which shows the function implemented in each communication part. It is a figure which shows the example of the routing table. It is a sequence diagram which shows the operation of a communication system.

The subject of the device or method in the present disclosure comprises a computer. By executing the program by this computer, the function of the subject of the device or method in the present disclosure is realized. A computer has a processor that operates according to a program as a main hardware configuration. The type of processor does not matter as long as the function can be realized by executing the program. A processor is composed of one or more electronic circuits including a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) or an LSI (large scale integration). Although they are called ICs and LSIs here, they may be called system LSIs, VLSIs (very large scale integrations) or USLIs (ultra large scale integrations), depending on the degree of integration. A field programmable gate array (FPGA) programmed after the LSI is manufactured, or a reconfigurable logic device that can reconfigure the junction relationships inside the LSI or set up the circuit partitions inside the LSI may also be used for the same purpose. Can be done. A plurality of electronic circuits may be integrated on one chip or may be provided on a plurality of chips. A plurality of chips may be integrated into one device, or may be provided in a plurality of devices. The program is recorded on a non-temporary recording medium such as a computer-readable ROM, optical disc, or hard disk drive. The program may be stored in a recording medium in advance, or may be supplied to the recording medium via a wide area communication network including the Internet or the like.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the communication system 10 of the embodiment. The communication system 10 is constructed in a building such as a house, and includes a plurality of interfaces (in other words, communication paths) and a plurality of devices. The plurality of devices are so-called IoT devices connected to a network, and include, for example, home appliances such as air conditioners and lighting, information devices such as smartphones, and housing equipment such as photovoltaic power generation devices and power storage devices.

Interface 1 is an IP network, and the communication protocol is Echonet Lite (“Echonet” is a registered trademark). The device 11, the device 12, the controller 20, and the router 22 are connected to the interface 1. The controller 20 is a device that controls the operation of each device in the communication system 10. For example, the controller 20 is a HEMS (Home Energy Management System) controller. The router 22 is connected to the server 24 on the cloud.

The communication protocol of the interface 2 is BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy, "Bluetooth" is a registered trademark). The device 13 and the device 14 are connected to the interface 2. The communication protocol of the interface 3 is serial communication. The device 15 is connected to the interface 3. The communication protocol of the interface 4 is a specific low power radio (920 MHz band radio or the like). The device 16 and the device 17 are connected to the interface 4.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the communication system 10, the interface to which a plurality of devices are connected is not one type, and the communication protocol used by each device is not one type. In order to link devices of different communication protocols on different interfaces, the communication system 10 includes a gateway 26. The gateway 26 is a communication device that absorbs differences in interfaces and communication protocols between a plurality of devices and relays data transmitted and received between the plurality of devices.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional block of the gateway 26 of FIG. Each block shown in the block diagram of the present disclosure can be realized by an element such as a CPU / memory of a computer or a mechanical device in terms of hardware, and can be realized by a computer program or the like in terms of software. , It depicts a functional block realized by their cooperation. It is understood by those skilled in the art that these functional blocks can be realized in various forms by combining hardware and software.

The gateway 26 includes a communication unit 30, an access control unit 32, and an object database 34. A computer program including a plurality of modules in which the functions of the plurality of functional blocks shown in FIG. 2 are implemented may be stored in a recording medium and installed in the storage of the gateway 26 via the recording medium. Alternatively, the above computer program may be installed in the storage of the gateway 26 via a communication network. The CPU of the gateway 26 may exert the function of each functional block by reading the above computer program into the main memory and executing the program.

The communication unit 30 communicates with the external device and transmits / receives data to / from the external device. The communication unit 30 includes a first communication unit 40, a second communication unit 42, a third communication unit 44, and a fourth communication unit 46 corresponding to a plurality of different types of communication protocols. When the first communication unit 40, the second communication unit 42, the third communication unit 44, and the fourth communication unit 46 are collectively referred to, they are simply referred to as a communication unit.

The first communication unit 40 is connected to the interface 1 and communicates with the controller 20, the router 22, the device 11, and the device 12 according to the Echonet Lite protocol. The second communication unit 42 is connected to the interface 2 and communicates with the device 13 and the device 14 according to the BLE protocol. The third communication unit 44 is connected to the interface 3 and communicates with the device 15 according to the serial communication protocol. The fourth communication unit 46 is connected to the interface 4 and communicates with the device 16 and the device 17 according to the protocol of the extra small radio.

Each of the first communication unit 40, the second communication unit 42, the third communication unit 44, and the fourth communication unit 46 has a plurality of functions (API (Application)) in which processing corresponding to a specific interface and a specific communication protocol is implemented. It can be said to be a Programming Interface). FIG. 3 shows a function implemented in each communication unit. Among the functions shown in FIG. 3, "init", "get", and "set" are functions called from an external device, and "tx" and "rx" are functions called from the access control unit 32.

Returning to FIG. 2, the object database 34 holds a plurality of virtual objects corresponding to the plurality of devices connected to the gateway 26 in the memory. For example, the object database 34 stores a virtual object corresponding to the device 11, a virtual object corresponding to the device 13, and a virtual object corresponding to the device 15. The virtual object of the embodiment includes identification information of the corresponding device (for example, a class ID and an object ID described later) and information indicating the state of the corresponding device.

The access control unit 32 executes a process for relaying data between a plurality of devices. The access control unit 32 includes a routing table 50, a notification unit 51, a search unit 52, a specific unit 54, a transfer unit 56, and an update unit 58.

The routing table 50 stores information about the communication protocol used by each device for communication for each of the plurality of devices connected to the gateway 26. In other words, the routing table 50 stores the correspondence between the plurality of devices, the interface to which each device is connected, and the communication protocol used by each device. As a modification, the routing table 50 may store the correspondence between a plurality of devices and communication units (first communication unit 40, second communication unit 42, etc.) connected to each device.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a routing table. The routing table in the figure shows the routing table for the device 13. Data related to the actual device 13 is stored in the real object column of the routing table. The type of communication protocol used by the device 13 is recorded in the interface / protocol type of the real object string. In the embodiment, the interface / protocol type is previously associated with any of the plurality of communication units. Therefore, the interface / protocol type is information that can identify the communication unit connected to the interface to which the device 13 is connected. For example, when the interface / protocol type is BLE, the second communication unit 42 is specified.

In the address length and address of the real object string, the address of the device 13 and its length at the interface to which the device 13 is connected (that is, the interface 2) are recorded. The class ID and object ID of the real object sequence include data for uniquely identifying the device 13 in the communication system 10 (in the Echonet Lite system in the embodiment), in other words, a unique ID indicating the device 13. Recorded.

In the virtual object column of the routing table, data related to the virtual object corresponding to the device 13 (virtual object in Echonet Lite in the embodiment) is stored. Echonet Lite is recorded in the interface / protocol type of the virtual object column. In the address length and address of the virtual object string, the address of the device 13 in the calling interface (interface 1 in the embodiment) and its length are recorded. The class ID and object ID of the virtual object string include data for uniquely identifying the device 13 in the communication system 10 (in the Echonet Lite system in the embodiment), in other words, a unique ID indicating the device 13. Recorded.

Returning to the description of FIG. Hereinafter, a device using the first communication protocol is referred to as a first device, and a device using a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol is referred to as a second device. For example, the first communication protocol may be Echonet Lite, and the first device may be the controller 20. Further, the second communication protocol may be BLE, and the second device may be the device 13 and the device 14.

When the predetermined notification condition is satisfied, the notification unit 51 uses the device information including the information of the second device as the information of the device capable of communicating using the first communication protocol as the first device. Notify to. The notification condition may be that the first device has started, or that the first device has notified that the first device has started. Further, the notification unit 51 may notify each device connected to the gateway 26 of the latest device information on the occasion that a predetermined time has elapsed from the previous notification, that is, periodically. The device information may include information on a virtual object corresponding to the second device, and may include, for example, a set of a class ID and an object ID for each of one or more second devices.

When the request to the second device transmitted from the first device and the request according to the first communication protocol is received, the search unit 52 searches the object database 34 and sets the request destination. Check if the second device is connected. In other words, the search unit 52 confirms whether or not the virtual object corresponding to the second device exists in the object database 34.

When the second device to be requested is connected, the specifying unit 54 refers to the routing table 50 and specifies the interface to which the second device is connected and the communication protocol used by the second device. do. For example, the specifying unit 54 refers to the routing table 50 for the second device to identify the interface / protocol type of the real object string. As mentioned above, the specific unit 54 maintains the correspondence between the interface / protocol type and the communication unit. The specific unit 54 further specifies a communication unit (that is, any one of the first communication unit 40 to the fourth communication unit 46) corresponding to the interface to which the second device is connected and the communication protocol used by the second device. do.

The transfer unit 56 delegates the process of transmitting the request to the communication unit corresponding to the interface and communication protocol of the second device to be the request destination specified by the specific unit 54.

When the response to the request is received from the second device, the update unit 58 is a virtual object corresponding to the second device among the virtual objects stored in the object database 34 based on the content of the response. To update.

The operation of the communication system 10 with the above configuration will be described.
FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the communication system 10. FIG. 5 shows an operation when data is written from the controller 20 using Echonet Lite as a communication protocol to the device 13 using BLE as a communication protocol. For example, when the device 13 is a lighting device, the following write request may be data instructing lighting.

Although not shown in FIG. 5, the notification unit 51 of the gateway 26 determines a device capable of communicating using the communication protocol of the interface 1 when a predetermined condition is satisfied, such as when the activation of the controller 20 is detected. The indicated device information is notified to the controller 20 via the first communication unit 40. The device information includes, for example, information on the device 13, the device 14, the device 15, and the like as a device capable of communicating by Echonet Lite. As a result, the controller 20 can be made to recognize that the device 13, the device 14, the device 15, and the like can be accessed by the echo net light (in other words, the communication protocol used by the controller 20).

The controller 20 is a write request to the device 13 and transmits a write request according to Echonet Lite to the interface 1 (S10). A write request conforming to Echonet Lite is a write request conforming to the format and procedure defined by Echonet Lite. For example, it is a write request in which the class ID and the object ID of the device 13 notified in advance are specified as the object of ECHONET Lite. Further, the write request calls "set" in the function (FIG. 3) disclosed by the first communication unit 40 of the gateway 26, and specifies the device 13 (class ID and object ID) of the write destination and the write contents as parameters. It may be something to do.

The first communication unit 40 of the gateway 26 receives the write request transmitted from the controller 20 via the interface 1 (S12). The first communication unit 40 transmits a write request to the virtual object corresponding to the device 13 to the access control unit 32 based on the received write request (S14).

When the search unit 52 of the access control unit 32 receives a write request to the virtual object corresponding to the device 13, it confirms whether or not the virtual object corresponding to the device 13 is stored in the object database 34 (S16). If the virtual object including the set of the class ID and the object ID specified in the write request is stored in the object database 34, the search unit 52 determines that the virtual object corresponding to the device to be written is stored. In other words, it is determined that the device to be written is connected.

If the virtual object corresponding to the device 13 is stored in the object database 34, the access control unit 32 continues the process of transmitting the write request to the device 13. On the other hand, if the virtual object corresponding to the device 13 is not stored in the object database 34, the access control unit 32 stops the process of transmitting the write request to the device 13.

Here, it is assumed that the virtual object corresponding to the device 13 is stored in the object database 34. The identification unit 54 of the access control unit 32 identifies the actual interface and communication protocol of the device 13 with reference to the routing table 50, and the communication module corresponding to the interface and communication protocol (in this example, the second communication unit 42). ) Is specified (S18).

Specifically, the specifying unit 54 refers to the routing table 50 and identifies the data of the real object having the combination of the class ID and the object ID specified in the write request to the virtual object corresponding to the device 13. You may specify "BLE" which is an interface / protocol type set in the data of the real object. Then, the specifying unit 54 may specify the second communication unit 42, which is a communication module previously associated with the BLE.

The transfer unit 56 of the access control unit 32 delegates the process of transmitting a write request to the device 13 to the second communication unit 42 specified by the specific unit 54 (S20). Specifically, the transfer unit 56 calls "tx" in the function (FIG. 3) disclosed by the second communication unit 42, and the address of the device 13 to be written (the real address of the device 13 set in the routing table). ) And the content to be written may be specified as parameters (for example, arguments).

The tx function of the second communication unit 42 is implemented so as to transmit data according to the BLE protocol (format, procedure, etc.). The second communication unit 42 executes the tx function and transmits a write request to the device 13 via the interface 2 according to the BLE protocol (S22). The device 13 updates the data of its own device in response to the write request (S24). For example, when the device 13 is a lighting device, the lighting is turned on. The device 13 transmits a BLE response message indicating that writing is completed to the interface 2 (S26).

The second communication unit 42 of the gateway 26 receives the BLE response message transmitted from the device 13 via the interface 2 (S28). Based on the received response message, the second communication unit 42 transmits an update request for the virtual object corresponding to the device 13 (here, a request for writing the response content) to the access control unit 32 (S30). The update unit 58 of the access control unit 32 updates the data of the virtual object corresponding to the device 13 stored in the object database 34 based on the response content from the device 13. For example, when the response content from the device 13 indicates the latest state of the device 13 (for example, during lighting), the update unit 58 writes the latest state to the virtual object.

According to the gateway 26 of the embodiment, it is possible to absorb the interface difference and the communication protocol difference between the plurality of devices and facilitate the cooperation of the plurality of devices. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, even when there are a plurality of devices operating with a plurality of types of protocols, the plurality of devices may be used by using the protocol (for example, Echonet Lite) used on the main interface. Becomes controllable. This makes it possible to promote automatic control of equipment installed in a residential building, management of equipment status, and visualization of equipment information.

The present disclosure has been described above based on the examples. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that this embodiment is exemplary and that various modifications are possible for each component or combination of processing processes, and that such modifications are also within the scope of the present disclosure.

The first modification will be described. Although not mentioned in the above embodiment, the data of the virtual object stored in the object database 34 of the gateway 26 may be set manually or automatically. When set automatically, the gateway 26 may further include an object setting unit. When the device information (attribute information including interface / protocol type and address) transmitted from the external device is received, the object setting unit receives the data of the virtual object corresponding to the external device based on the device information. May be set and stored in the object database 34. At that time, the object setting unit may assign a unique class ID and object ID to the external device.

Similarly, the data in the routing table stored in the routing table 50 of the gateway 26 may be set manually or automatically. When set automatically, the gateway 26 may further include a routing table setting unit. When the device information (attribute information including interface / protocol type and address) transmitted from the external device is received, the routing table setting unit sets the routing table data related to the external device based on the device information. Then, it may be stored in the routing table 50.

The routing table setting unit may set the value of the real object column of the routing table based on the interface / protocol type, the address, etc. indicated by the device information transmitted from the external device. At that time, the routing table setting unit may assign a unique class ID and object ID to the external device and set them in the routing table. Further, the routing table setting unit may set the information of the virtual object according to the communication protocol (for example, Echonet Lite) of the request source for the external device in the virtual object column of the routing table. The automatic setting of the virtual object and the automatic setting of the routing table may be executed as a series of processes.

The second modification will be described. In the above embodiment, an example of controlling a device connected to other than interface 1 from the controller 20 on interface 1 (Echonet Lite) is shown, but the server 24 connected to interface 1 is connected to other than interface 1. When controlling the device to be interfaced (for example, acquisition or setting of data), the processing sequence is the same as that of the embodiment. Further, when controlling the device on the interface N (N ≠ M) from the device on the interface M (M is other than 1), the former device is used as the first device and the latter device is used as the second device. The processing sequence is the same as that of the embodiment.

Any combination of the examples and modifications described above is also useful as an embodiment of the present disclosure. The new embodiments resulting from the combination have the effects of each of the combined examples and variants. It is also understood by those skilled in the art that the functions to be fulfilled by each of the constituent elements described in the claims are realized by a single component or a cooperation thereof shown in the examples and modifications.

The techniques described in the examples and modifications may be specified by the following items.
[Item 1]
A plurality of communication units (30) corresponding to a plurality of different types of communication protocols, and
A storage unit (50) that stores the communication protocol used by each of the plurality of devices connected to this device, and
With a control unit (32)
The plurality of communication units (30) are
The first communication unit (40) that communicates with the first device according to the first communication protocol,
Includes a second communication unit (42) that communicates with the second device according to a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol.
The control unit (32) is a request to the second device transmitted from the first device, and the request according to the first communication protocol is received by the first communication unit (40). If so, the second communication protocol is identified as the communication protocol used by the second device with reference to the storage unit (50), and the second of the plurality of communication units (30). The process of transmitting the request to the second device is delegated to the second communication unit (42) corresponding to the communication protocol.
Gateway device (26).
According to this gateway device, it is possible to absorb the difference in the communication protocol between the first device and the second device, and to link the first device and the second device. Further, in this gateway device, each communication unit corresponding to each communication protocol executes a process of actually communicating with an external device. This eliminates the need to implement processing according to each communication protocol in the control unit, and can reduce the implementation cost of the control unit.
[Item 2]
When the storage unit (50) is referred to as a first storage unit (50),
Further, a second storage unit (34) for storing a plurality of objects corresponding to a plurality of devices connected to the present device is provided.
When the first communication unit (40) receives the request to the second device transmitted from the first device, the first communication unit (40) makes a request to the object corresponding to the second device to the control unit (the control unit (40). 32) Send to
When the object corresponding to the second device exists, the control unit (32) continues the process for transmitting the request to the second device.
The gateway device (26) according to item 1.
According to this gateway device, the interface between the communication unit and the control unit can be unified, and it is possible to prevent the request from being transmitted to the unconnected device.
[Item 3]
The second communication unit (42) receives a response to the request from the second device, and transmits a request to update the object corresponding to the second device to the control unit (32).
The control unit (32) updates the object corresponding to the second device based on the content of the response.
Item 2 is the gateway device (26).
According to this gateway device, for example, the state of the second device after the request processing can be reflected in the object corresponding to the second device, and the relay processing according to the state of the second device after the request processing is executed. be able to.
[Item 4]
As information on a device capable of communicating using the first communication protocol, a notification unit (51) for notifying the first device of device information including the information on the second device is further provided.
The gateway device (26) according to any one of items 1 to 3.
According to this gateway device, it is possible to make the first device recognize that the second device is a device capable of communicating using the first communication protocol.
[Item 5]
The first communication protocol is Echonet Lite.
The second communication protocol is different from Echonet Lite.
The gateway device (26) according to any one of items 1 to 4.
According to this gateway device, the ECHONET Lite used on the main interface can be used to control a device that uses a communication protocol different from that of ECHONET Lite.
[Item 6]
This is the method executed by the gateway device (26).
The gateway device (26) is
A plurality of communication units (30) corresponding to a plurality of different types of communication protocols, and
A storage unit (50) for storing a communication protocol used by each of a plurality of devices connected to the present device is provided.
The plurality of communication units (30) are
The first communication unit (40) that communicates with the first device according to the first communication protocol,
Includes a second communication unit (42) that communicates with the second device according to a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol.
When the request to the second device transmitted from the first device and the request according to the first communication protocol is received by the first communication unit (40), the storage unit ( With reference to 50), the second communication protocol is identified as the communication protocol used by the second device, and the second communication corresponding to the second communication protocol among the plurality of communication units (30). The process of transmitting the request to the second device is delegated to the unit (42).
Communication method.
According to this communication method, the same effect as that of item 1 is obtained.
[Item 7]
A computer program executed by the gateway device (26) including a storage unit (50) for storing a communication protocol used by each of a plurality of devices connected to the gateway device (26).
A plurality of communication modules (30) corresponding to a plurality of different types of communication protocols, and
With a control module (32)
The plurality of communication modules (30) are
The first communication module (40) that communicates with the first device according to the first communication protocol, and
Includes a second communication module (42) that communicates with a second device according to a second communication protocol that is different from the first communication protocol.
The control module (32) is a request sent from the first device to the second device, and the request according to the first communication protocol is received by the first communication module (40). If so, the second communication protocol is identified as the communication protocol used by the second device with reference to the storage unit (50), and the second of the plurality of communication modules (30). The process of transmitting the request to the second device is delegated to the second communication module (42) corresponding to the communication protocol.
Computer program.
According to this computer program, the same effect as that of item 1 is obtained.

The present disclosure can be applied to communication gateway devices.

10 communication system, 26 gateway, 30 communication unit, 32 access control unit, 40 first communication unit, 42 second communication unit, 51 notification unit, 52 search unit, 54 specific unit, 56 transfer unit, 58 update unit.

Claims (7)

With multiple communication units that support different types of communication protocols,
A storage unit that stores the communication protocol used by each of the multiple devices connected to this device,
With a control unit,
The plurality of communication units are
The first communication unit that communicates with the first device according to the first communication protocol,
Includes a second communication unit that communicates with the second device according to a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol.
The control unit is a request to the second device transmitted from the first device, and when the request according to the first communication protocol is received by the first communication unit, the storage unit. With reference to the unit, the second communication protocol is identified as the communication protocol used by the second device, and the second communication unit corresponding to the second communication protocol among the plurality of communication units is described. Delegate the process of transmitting the request to the second device,
Gateway device. When the storage unit is referred to as a first storage unit,
It also has a second storage unit that stores multiple objects corresponding to multiple devices connected to this device.
When the first communication unit receives the request to the second device transmitted from the first device, the first communication unit transmits the request to the object corresponding to the second device to the control unit.
When the object corresponding to the second device exists, the control unit continues the process for transmitting the request to the second device.
The gateway device according to claim 1. The second communication unit receives a response to the request from the second device, and sends a request to update the object corresponding to the second device to the control unit.
The control unit updates the object corresponding to the second device based on the content of the response.
The gateway device according to claim 2. As information on a device capable of communicating using the first communication protocol, a notification unit for notifying the first device of device information including the information on the second device is further provided.
The gateway device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The first communication protocol is Echonet Lite.
The second communication protocol is different from Echonet Lite.
The gateway device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The method that the gateway device performs,
The gateway device is
With multiple communication units that support different types of communication protocols,
It is equipped with a storage unit that stores the communication protocol used by each of the multiple devices connected to this device.
The plurality of communication units are
The first communication unit that communicates with the first device according to the first communication protocol,
Includes a second communication unit that communicates with the second device according to a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol.
When the request to the second device transmitted from the first device and the request according to the first communication protocol is received by the first communication unit, refer to the storage unit. The second communication protocol is identified as the communication protocol used by the second device, and the second communication unit corresponding to the second communication protocol among the plurality of communication units is assigned to the second device. Delegate the process of sending the request,
Communication method. A computer program executed by the gateway device including a storage unit for storing a communication protocol used by each of a plurality of devices connected to the gateway device.
Multiple communication modules that support different types of communication protocols,
Equipped with a control module,
The plurality of communication modules are
A first communication module that communicates with the first device according to the first communication protocol,
Includes a second communication module that communicates with the second device according to a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol.
The control module is a request to the second device transmitted from the first device, and when the request according to the first communication protocol is received by the first communication module, the storage With reference to the unit, the second communication protocol is identified as the communication protocol used by the second device, and the second communication module corresponding to the second communication protocol among the plurality of communication modules is referred to. Delegate the process of transmitting the request to the second device,
Computer program.

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