WO2020044463A1

WO2020044463A1 - Tool, communication device, management server, tool system, and communication method

Info

Publication number: WO2020044463A1
Application number: PCT/JP2018/031957
Authority: WO
Inventors: 譲二吉川
Original assignee: 京セラ株式会社
Priority date: 2018-08-29
Filing date: 2018-08-29
Publication date: 2020-03-05

Abstract

This tool comprises: a communication unit that transmits tool data related to the tool; and a control unit that at least controls the communication unit. The control unit assigns a sequence number to the tool data. The control unit applies redundancy processing to second data included in the tool data, without applying the redundancy processing to first data included in the tool data.

Description

Tool, communication device, management server, tool system, and communication method

The present invention relates to a tool, a communication device, a management server, a tool system, and a communication method.

In recent years, tools having a communication function have been proposed as tools for binding machines and the like. For example, the tool transmits data such as tool operation data to a management server or the like. The operation data is used for determining a tool abnormality (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2017-193051 A

The tool according to the first aspect includes a communication unit that transmits tool data related to the tool, and a control unit that controls at least the communication unit. The controller assigns a sequence number to the tool data. The controller applies the redundancy processing to the second data included in the tool data without applying the redundancy processing to the first data included in the tool data.

The management server according to the second feature communicates with the tool according to the first feature and receives the tool data.

The tool system according to the third aspect includes the tool according to the first aspect and a management server that communicates with the tool.

A communication method according to a fourth aspect, wherein a step of transmitting tool data relating to the tool, a step of assigning a sequence number to the tool data, and without applying redundancy processing to the first data included in the tool data, Applying the redundancy processing to the second data included in the tool data.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a tool system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a tool according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the second data according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the redundancy processing according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the communication method according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a tool according to a modification.

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

However, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and ratios of dimensions may be different from actual ones. Therefore, specific dimensions and the like should be determined in consideration of the following description. Further, it is needless to say that the drawings may include portions having different dimensional relationships or ratios.

[Overview of disclosure]
By the way, in the network used by the above-described tools, communication from the management server to the tool is restricted, and a usage scene in which one-way communication from the tool to the management server is mainly used is assumed. In such usage scenes, it is often impossible to request retransmission of data, and it is necessary to consider measures for data loss.

In the following disclosure, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and has a tool and a communication device that can reduce a problem caused by data loss while suppressing an increase in a data transmission amount. , Management server, tool system and communication method will be described.

[Embodiment]
(Tool system)
Hereinafter, an example of a tool system according to an embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the tool system 1 includes a tool 100, a communication network 200, and a management server 300. The tool 100 and the management server 300 are connected via the communication network 200.

The tool 100 is a tool used for various processing and construction. For example, the tool 100 may be a tool that uses electricity as power (for example, an electric drill, an electric screwdriver, an electric saw, a grinder or a grinder, or the like), or may be a tool that uses pneumatic power as power. A tool using hydraulic pressure as power may be used. The tool 100 may be a cordless type tool.

In one embodiment, a case where the tool 100 is a binding machine (for example, a reinforcing bar binding machine) will be described. For example, the tool 100 is driven by electric power supplied from the driving battery 110. The driving battery 110 is configured to be detachable from the tool 100. The driving battery 110 stores electric power for driving the tool 100. For example, the driving battery 110 may be a rechargeable secondary battery. As the secondary battery, a lithium ion battery can be used. The driving battery 110 may be charged by the charger while being removed from the tool 100.

Specifically, the tool 100 has a binding portion 11, a main body portion 12, and a grip portion 13. The binding unit 11 has an arm sandwiching the rebar, and winds a wire around the rebar sandwiched between the arms. The main body 12 accommodates a reel around which a wire is wound. The main body 12 incorporates the motor 150 shown in FIG. The main body 12 has a power switch 15 for turning on / off the power of the tool 100.

The grip 13 is a member that is gripped by the user, and extends downward from the main body 12. The upper end portion of the grip 13 has a trigger 14. When the trigger 14 is pressed, the binding operation of the binding unit 11 and the main unit 12 is performed. The grip part 13 may have a trigger lock 16 for locking (fixing) the trigger 14. When the trigger 14 is locked by the trigger lock 16, pressing of the trigger 14 is restricted. The lower end of the grip 13 has a latch mechanism for attaching and detaching the driving battery 110.

工具 In one embodiment, the tool 100 has a communication function. For example, the tool 100 has a wireless communication function using LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) technology. The tool 100 performs wireless communication with a base station 210 included in the communication network 200. The tool 100 may be configured to perform one-way communication only in the upward direction. The tool 100 transmits data to the management server 300 via the communication network 200.

The communication network 200 includes a base station 210 that performs wireless communication with the tool 100. The communication network 200 includes at least one of a local area communication network (LAN: Local Area Network), a high area communication network (WAN: Wide Area Network), and the Internet.

The management server 300 is a server that manages the tool 100. The management server 300 receives data from the tool 100 via the communication network 200. The management server 300 may determine the error of the tool 100 based on the data received from the tool 100, or may determine the theft of the tool 100.

(tool)
Hereinafter, an example of a tool according to an embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, the tool 100 includes a battery connection unit 120, a tool control unit 130, a motor drive unit 140, a temperature sensor 141, a motor 150, a communication unit 160, a communication battery 170, A data acquisition unit 180.

The battery connection section 120 is a connector that is electrically connected to the driving battery 110. When the driving battery 110 is attached to the tool 100, the battery connection unit 120 transmits the power supplied from the driving battery 110 to the tool control unit 130.

The tool control unit 130 controls the operation of the tool 100. The tool control unit 130 includes a power control unit 131 and a drive control unit 132. Each of the power control unit 131 and the drive control unit 132 includes at least one processor and at least one memory. The tool control unit 130 may include at least one processor and at least one memory, and the functions of the power control unit 131 and the drive control unit 132 may be executed by the at least one processor and at least one memory.

The power control unit 131 converts the voltage of the power supplied from the driving battery 110 via the battery connection unit 120, and supplies the power having the converted voltage to the drive control unit 132 and the motor drive unit 140. The power control unit 131 supplies power to the motor driving unit 140 when the driving battery 110 is attached to the tool 100 and the power switch 15 is on. The power control unit 131 does not supply power to the motor drive unit 140 when the power switch 15 is in the off state. The power control unit 131 may always supply power to the drive control unit 132 while the drive battery 110 is attached to the tool 100 (sleep state). The power control unit 131 may charge the communication battery 170 with electric power supplied from the driving battery 110 in a state where the driving battery 110 is attached to the tool 100. The power control unit 131 may manage the remaining battery level of the driving battery 110.

The drive control unit 132 controls the drive of the motor 150. The drive control unit 132 controls the motor drive unit 140 to drive the motor 150 in response to the depression of the trigger 14. Thereby, a binding operation is performed. The drive control unit 132 may manage the number of times the binding operation is performed, or may manage whether or not the tool 100 has an error. The drive control unit 132 may manage the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 141.

The motor drive unit 140 drives the motor 150 by supplying drive power to the motor 150 under the control of the drive control unit 132.

The temperature sensor 141 may be a sensor that detects the temperature of the tool 100 (for example, the temperature of the motor driving unit 140 or the motor 150).

(4) The motor 150 generates a driving force for supplying the wire to the binding unit 11 and winding the wire around the reinforcing bar.

The communication unit 160 transmits data relating to the tool 100 to the management server 300. The communication unit 160 includes a communication control unit 161 and a wireless communication unit 162. The communication control unit 161 includes at least one processor and at least one memory. At least one processor and at least one memory included in the communication control unit 161 may share part or all of at least one processor and at least one memory included in the tool control unit 130.

The communication control unit 161 controls the wireless communication unit 162. For example, the communication control unit 161 receives data from the tool control unit 130 periodically. The communication control unit 161 may manage the remaining battery level of the communication battery 170. The communication control unit 161 may periodically receive data from a position data acquisition unit 180 described below.

The wireless communication unit 162 communicates with the base station 200 provided in the network 200. For example, the wireless communication unit 162 performs wireless communication using the LPWA technology.

(4) The communication battery 170 stores power for driving the communication unit 160. For example, the communication battery 170 may be a rechargeable secondary battery. As the secondary battery, a lithium ion battery can be used.

The position data acquisition unit 180 acquires position data indicating the geographical position of the tool 100. The position data acquisition unit 180 includes a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Network System) receiver. For example, a GNSS receiver is a GPS receiver. The position data acquisition unit 180 outputs the acquired position data to the communication control unit 161 under the control of the communication control unit 161. The position data acquisition unit 180 includes, for example, GLONASS (Global Navigation Satellite System), IRNSS (Indian Regional Navigational Satellite Satellite System), COMPASS, Galileo, or quasi-Zelite Satellite system as a GNSS receiver. May be included. Further, the position data acquisition unit 180 may be configured by a plurality of GNSS receivers.

(Tool data)
Hereinafter, an example of the tool data according to the position embodiment will be described. For example, the tool data transmitted from the tool 100 to the management server 300 includes first data to which the redundancy processing is not applied and second data to which the redundancy processing is applied.

The first data may be data having continuity in data. That is, assuming that the tool data is transmitted periodically, the first data may be data that the management server 300 can easily interpolate by guessing.

For example, the first data includes data indicating at least one of the position of the tool 100, the number of operations of the tool 100, and the remaining battery power of the tool 100. Data indicating the position of the tool 100 can be obtained by the position data obtaining unit 180. Data indicating the number of operations of the tool 100 can be acquired by the tool control unit 130 or the motor drive unit 140. Data indicating the remaining battery level of the tool 100 can be acquired by the battery connection unit 120 or the tool control unit 130.

The second data may be data having no data continuity. That is, on the assumption that the tool data is transmitted periodically, the second data may be data that is difficult for the management server 300 to interpolate by guessing.

{For example, the second data is the data shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, codes and contents are associated with each other. The code is any identification information assigned to the content. The content is the content of the second data. The switch state is the state of the power switch 15 of the tool 100 (ON state / OFF state). Low battery is an error that the voltage of the driving battery 110 is lower than a threshold. Overcurrent protection is an error that the current supplied to motor 150 is greater than a threshold. Overheating protection is an error that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 141 is higher than a threshold. The information acquisition failure is an error that acquisition of necessary information from the tool 100 fails. In FIG. 3, the second data to which D001 to D004 are assigned is an example of error data relating to the tool 100.

Here, the tool 100 transmits the tool data to the management server 300 in the data format shown in FIG. FIG. 4 illustrates a case where the tool 100 periodically transmits tool data. As shown in FIG. 4, the tool data includes first data and second data, and is assigned a sequence number.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the n-th (n is a positive integer) transmission, a sequence number (n) is assigned to the tool data. The tool data includes the n-th first data (n), the second data (n-2) transmitted at the (n-2) th time, and the second data (n-1) transmitted at the (n-1) th time. , N-th second data (n). If any one or more of the first data (n), the second data (n-2), the second data (n-1) and the second data (n) does not exist, the tool data is Non-existent data may not be included.

Similarly, in the (n + 1) -th transmission, a sequence number (n + 1) is assigned to the tool data. The tool data includes (n + 1) -th first data (n + 1), n-1-th transmitted second data (n-1), n-th transmitted second data (n), and n + 1-th transmitted And second data (n + 1). In the (n + 2) -th transmission, a sequence number (n + 2) is assigned to the tool data. The tool data includes the (n + 2) -th first data (n + 2), the n-th transmitted second data (n), the (n + 1) -th transmitted second data (n + 1), and the (n + 2) -th second data ( n + 2).

As described above, the first data is not subjected to redundancy processing in the sense that the same data is not transmitted over a plurality of transmissions. On the other hand, for the second data, the redundancy processing is applied in the sense that the same data is transmitted over a plurality of transmissions. For example, in FIG. 4, for the second data (n), the same data is transmitted over the n-th, (n + 1) -th and (n + 2) -th transmissions. The number of times the same data is transmitted is not limited to three times, but may be two or more times.

That is, the communication control unit 161 of the tool 100 assigns a sequence number to the tool data. The communication control unit 161 of the tool 100 does not apply the redundancy processing to the first data, but applies the redundancy processing to the second data included in the tool data. The communication control unit 161 of the tool 100 performs, as a redundancy process, a process of including at least the second data included in the n-th transmitted tool data in the (n + 1) -th transmitted tool data.

In the embodiment, the communication control unit 161 of the tool 100 may repeatedly transmit the tool data having the same number as the sequence number. In such a case, in the communication protocol stack, a communication layer for repeatedly transmitting tool data may be provided at a lower level than a communication layer (for example, an application layer) for assigning a sequence number.

(Communication method)
Hereinafter, an example of a communication method according to an embodiment will be described. Here, a case where the tool data having the same number as the sequence number is repeatedly transmitted will be exemplified.

工具 As shown in FIG. 5, in step S11, the tool 100 transmits the tool data to the management server 300. For example, the tool 100 transmits the tool data including at least the second data (n) after adding the n-th sequence number to the tool data. The tool data may include first data (n). As described above, the tool 100 may repeatedly transmit the tool data with the n-th sequence number.

In step S12, the tool 100 transmits the tool data to the management server 300. For example, the tool 100 transmits the tool data including at least the second data (n) after adding the (n + 1) th sequence number to the tool data. The tool data may include first data (n + 1) and may include second data (n + 1). As described above, the tool 100 may repeatedly transmit the tool data to which the (n + 1) th sequence number is assigned.

FIG. 5 illustrates the n-th transmission and the (n + 1) -th transmission, but in the following, the (n + 2) -th transmission may be performed.

In step S21, the management server 300 may determine the state of the tool 100 based on the second data. The state of the tool 100 is a state in which the tool 100 cannot detect itself, may be a state of improper use of the tool 100, or may be a state such as aging of the tool 100. When the loss of the first data is detected, the management server 300 may interpolate the loss of the first data based on the first data received before and after the loss.

(Action and effect)
In the embodiment, the tool 100 does not apply the redundancy processing to the first data, but applies the redundancy processing to the second data included in the tool data. According to such a configuration, an increase in the amount of data transmission is suppressed by not applying redundancy processing to the first data, but the possibility of data loss is reduced by applying redundancy processing to the second data. can do. That is, by appropriately determining whether or not to apply the redundancy processing to the data included in the tool data, it is possible to take appropriate measures against data loss.

[Example of change]
Hereinafter, a modification of the embodiment will be described. Hereinafter, differences from the above-described embodiment will be described.

Specifically, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the communication unit 160 and the communication battery 170 are built in the tool 100 has been described. On the other hand, in the modified example, as shown in FIG. 6, the communication device 400 including the communication unit 160 and the communication battery 170 is configured to be detachable from the tool 100.

As shown in FIG. 6, the communication device 400 has a connection portion 191 for electrically connecting to the tool 100 driven by power supplied from the detachable drive battery 110. On the other hand, the tool 100 has a connecting portion 192 for electrically connecting to the connecting portion 191 of the communication device 400.

The communication device 400 has at least the communication unit 160 described above. The communication device 400 may include the communication battery 170 described above. Since the communication unit 160 and the communication battery 170 have the same configuration and function as those of the above-described embodiment, the details are omitted. In such a case, the communication device 400 may acquire, from the tool 100, data necessary for transmitting the first data and the second data.

As described above, since the communication device 400 including the communication unit 160 and the communication battery 170 is configured to be detachable from the tool 100, the communication function is provided to the tool 100 as necessary after the user purchases the tool 100. Can be added. Further, even when the communication unit 160 or the communication battery 170 has failed or deteriorated over time, the communication device 400 can be easily replaced.

In FIG. 6, the power control unit 131 is provided in the tool 100, but a part or all of the functions of the power control unit 131 may be realized by the communication device 400. In other words, the communication device 400 may execute the function of the power control unit 131 by itself, or may execute the function of the power control unit 131 in cooperation with the tool control unit 130 of the tool 100.

[Other Embodiments]
Although the present invention has been described with reference to the above-described embodiments, it should not be understood that the description and drawings forming part of this disclosure limit the present invention. From this disclosure, various alternative embodiments, examples, and operation techniques will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the destination of the data transmitted from the tool 100 (hereinafter, the destination device) is the management server 300 provided on the communication network 200 has been illustrated. However, embodiments are not limited to this. When the destination device has a wireless communication function, data may be directly transmitted from the tool 100 to the destination device without passing through the communication network 200.

プログラム A program that causes a computer to execute each process performed by the tool 100 or the communication device 400 may be provided. The program may be recorded on a computer-readable medium. With a computer-readable medium, it is possible to install a program on a computer. Here, the computer-readable medium on which the program is recorded may be a non-transitory recording medium. The non-transitory recording medium is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM.

In the above-described embodiment, the tool 100 including the communication battery 170 different from the drive battery 110 is illustrated. However, the tool 100 may include the communication battery 170 having the function of the drive battery 110. The tool 100 may not include the communication battery 170, and may control the communication unit 160 using power supplied from the driving battery 110.

Claims

A tool,
A communication unit for transmitting tool data relating to the tool,
A control unit that controls at least the communication unit,
The control unit includes:
Assigning a sequence number to the tool data,
A tool that applies the redundancy processing to second data included in the tool data without applying redundancy processing to the first data included in the tool data.
The control unit performs, as the redundancy process, a process of including at least the second data included in the n-th (n is a positive integer) transmitted tool data in the n + 1-th transmitted tool data. The tool according to claim 1.
The tool according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the second data is error data relating to the tool.
4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first data includes data indicating at least one of a position of the tool, a number of operations of the tool, and a remaining battery power of the tool. 5. tool.
The tool according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the communication unit repeatedly transmits the tool data having the same number as the sequence number.
A communication device connected to the tool,
A communication unit that transmits tool data related to the tool to a management server,
A control unit that controls at least the communication unit,
The control unit includes:
Assigning a sequence number to the tool data,
A communication device that applies the redundancy processing to second data included in the tool data without applying redundancy processing to the first data included in the tool data.
A management server that communicates with the tool according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and receives the tool data.
A tool according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
And a management server that communicates with the tool.
Transmitting tool data for the tool;
Assigning a sequence number to the tool data;
Applying the redundancy processing to the second data included in the tool data without applying the redundancy processing to the first data included in the tool data.