JP2015142190A - Wireless telemeter system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform abnormality diagnosis of a slave unit efficiently, even if a plurality of slave units are connected in mesh.SOLUTION: A master unit 15 transmits a wireless signal for diagnosis to a slave unit 16. Upon receiving the wireless signal from the master unit 15, the slave unit 16 transmits a response signal to the master unit 15 while adding the self-identification information. Upon receiving a response signal to the master unit from other slave unit 16, the slave unit 16 transmits the response signal to the master unit 15 while adding the self-identification information. Upon receiving the response signal, the master unit 15 determined that the slave unit 16 of added identification information is normal. When the identification information of the slave unit 16 is not included, the master unit 15 determined that the slave unit 16 is abnormal.

Description

  The present invention relates to a radio telemeter system in which a plurality of slave units are connected in a mesh shape.

  The wireless telemeter system includes a terminal-side network control device connected to the center-side network control device via a communication line such as a telephone line network, a parent device wired to the terminal-side network control device, and a parent device It consists of a plurality of slave units that are wirelessly connected. Terminal devices such as a microcomputer meter and a sensor are connected to the parent device and the child device.

  The parent device and the child device communicate with each other by a specific low power radio. The slave unit acquires terminal information such as a meter reading value of the meter, and transmits the terminal information to the master unit. The parent device transmits terminal information collected from each child device to the center device through a communication line.

  Here, when an abnormality such as a failure occurs in the slave unit, wireless communication cannot be performed between the slave unit and the master unit, and the master unit cannot collect terminal information. Therefore, in order to diagnose the abnormality of the slave unit, in Patent Document 1, when the master unit starts wireless communication with the slave unit, the slave unit ID is stored in the nonvolatile memory for the slave unit that has made a wireless response, If the number of non-responses is 4 for the slave units that have not responded, the fact is stored, and the center device is notified of information such as the ID of the slave unit that has responded and the ID of the slave unit that has not responded.

JP 2009-38660 A

  By the way, when a plurality of slave units are connected in a mesh shape, the communication path is not uniquely determined. For this reason, when no response is returned from the slave unit, it is not known whether the slave unit to be diagnosed is not responding or the slave unit in the middle of the communication path is not responding. Further, if an abnormality diagnosis is performed by performing wireless communication to all the child devices, the wireless signal reaches the child device to be diagnosed via a plurality of child devices, so that the communication time becomes longer. Therefore, it takes time for diagnosis, and the power consumption of the master unit increases.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a wireless telemeter system capable of efficiently and reliably performing abnormality diagnosis of a slave unit even when a plurality of slave units are connected in a mesh shape.

  The present invention includes a plurality of slave units to which terminal devices are connected, and a master unit that is wirelessly communicable with each slave unit and is connected to a center device via a communication line, so that the slave units can wirelessly communicate with each other. Each of the slave units is connected in a mesh shape, the slave unit adds its own identification information to the radio signal addressed to the master unit, and the master unit is added to the received radio signal. System abnormality diagnosis is performed based on the identification information of the slave unit.

  A normal slave unit adds its own identification information to a radio signal addressed to the master unit. An abnormal handset cannot wirelessly communicate and therefore cannot add identification information. The master unit determines a normal slave unit based on the added identification information.

  The master unit determines the slave unit having an abnormality by comparing the slave unit that has transmitted the radio signal addressed to the master unit with the registered slave units. The slave unit that has transmitted the radio signal addressed to the master unit adds its own identification information. Based on this child device and the registered child devices, the child device to which no identification information is added becomes clear. This slave is a slave that is abnormal and cannot perform wireless communication.

  An expiration date is set in the identification information received from the slave unit, and the master unit performs an abnormality diagnosis based on the identification information within the expiration date. There is a possibility that the slave unit of the identification information whose expiration date has passed is abnormal after wireless communication. Therefore, it is necessary for the master unit to perform wireless communication with the slave unit again to confirm that wireless communication can be normally performed.

  When the base unit is performing abnormality diagnosis by transmitting a radio signal to a subordinate subordinate unit, the base unit ends the abnormality diagnosis when it is confirmed whether or not there are any abnormalities with respect to all the sub units. Abnormal diagnosis can be terminated without transmitting a radio signal to each slave unit, the communication time is shortened, and the time required for diagnosis can be shortened.

  The master unit determines a slave unit that transmits a radio signal based on a communication path between the slave units so that abnormality determination of all the slave units can be performed with the minimum number of communication times. Diagnosis of all slave units can be completed with a small number of communications, and the time required for diagnosis can be shortened.

  According to the present invention, abnormality diagnosis of a plurality of slave units can be performed at a time, and the time required for diagnosis is shortened by shortening the communication time. Thereby, the power consumption of the battery that drives the parent device can be reduced, and the life of the battery can be extended.

The figure which shows schematic structure of the radio telemeter system of this invention Block diagram of main unit and sub unit Diagram showing the communication sequence when there is an error in the slave unit The figure which shows the communication sequence when diagnosing all the cordless handsets in order The figure which shows the communication sequence when diagnosing the cordless handset using normal wireless communication The figure which shows the communication sequence when diagnosing all cordless handsets with the minimum communication frequency

(First embodiment)
A wireless telemeter system according to the first embodiment is shown in FIG. The wireless telemeter system includes a center device composed of a host computer 11 and a center side network control device (center NCU) 12, and a terminal side network control device (T-NCU) 14 connected to the center NCU 12 via a communication line 13. The base unit 15 is wired to the T-NCU 14 and a plurality of handset units 16 are wirelessly connected to the base unit 15. A terminal device 17 such as a gas meter, a water meter or other microcomputer meter, or a sensor is connected to the parent device 15 and the child device 16, respectively.

  The base unit 15, the handset 16, and the handset 16 can be wirelessly communicated with each other by a specific low power radio. A plurality of slave units 16 are connected in a mesh form under the master unit 15. Thereby, a mesh-type communication path is formed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the base unit 15 includes an antenna 20, a wireless communication unit 21, a CPU 22, a ROM 23, a RAM 24, a nonvolatile memory 25, a terminal network control unit (T-NCU) interface 26, and a battery 27. The wireless communication unit 21 performs communication by specific low power wireless. The T-NCU 14 is connected to the terminal network controller interface 26. The battery 27 supplies power to the CPU 22 and the like.

  A control unit is configured by the CPU 22, the ROM 23, and the RAM 24, and the control unit communicates with the slave unit 16 through the wireless communication unit 21 and communicates with the center device through the T-NCU interface 26. The control unit collects terminal information such as a meter reading value from the handset 16 and stores it in the memory 25. And a control part outputs terminal information to a center apparatus.

  The handset 16 includes an antenna 30, a wireless communication unit 31, a CPU 32, a ROM 33, a RAM 34, a nonvolatile memory 35, a meter / sensor interface 36, and a battery 37. The wireless communication unit 31 performs communication by specific low power wireless. A terminal device 17 such as a meter is connected to the meter / sensor interface 36. The battery supplies power to the CPU and the like.

  The CPU 32, the ROM 33, and the RAM 34 constitute a control unit. The control unit communicates with the parent device 15 and other child devices 16 through the wireless communication unit 31 and communicates with the terminal device 17 through the meter / sensor interface 36. The control unit acquires terminal information such as a meter reading value from the terminal device 17 and stores it in the memory 35. Then, the control unit outputs terminal information to base unit 15.

  In wireless communication, a transmission source or a transmission destination device is specified by identification information. Identification information is included in the radio signal. Identification information for identifying itself is set in the master unit 15. The identification information is unique information such as an ID and a MAC address, and is stored in the memory 25. Similarly, identification information is set in the slave unit 16 and the identification information is stored in the memory 35. The base unit 15 stores the identification information of all the slave units 16 under its control in the memory 25.

  Each of the wireless devices of the parent device 15 and the child device 16 performs a broadcast to search for a wireless device capable of wireless communication. That is, the wireless device measures the radio field intensity during wireless communication with surrounding wireless devices. A communication path is formed with a radio device having high radio field strength. The communication path created in this way is stored in the memories 25 and 35 of each wireless device. The parent device 15 collects route information from each child device 16, creates an entire communication route, and stores it in the memory 25. The state of wireless connection between the slave units 16 can be recognized by this communication path. The subunit | mobile_unit 16 can recognize the subunit | mobile_unit 16 which can communicate wirelessly with the memorize | stored communication path | route.

  In order to enable normal wireless communication, the parent device 15 performs an abnormality diagnosis mode for checking whether there is an abnormality in the child device 16. In the abnormality diagnosis mode, wireless communication is performed with respect to all the slave units 16 under the control.

  Base unit 15 transmits a radio signal for diagnosis to each handset 16 and determines whether there is an abnormality based on whether there is a response. For the slave unit a and the slave unit b that can directly communicate with the base unit 15, the communication result of the wireless communication becomes the diagnosis result. However, with respect to the slave unit c, the slave unit d, and the slave unit e, wireless communication is performed via the other slave units 16. When communication was disabled, it was not known in which handset 16 communication was disabled.

Therefore, the slave unit 16 adds its own identification information to the radio signal addressed to the master unit 15 and transmits the radio signal. The base unit 15 performs an abnormality diagnosis based on the identification information of the handset 16 added to the received radio signal. The identification information added by the slave unit 16 is information indicating that the slave unit 16 is normal. When the handset 16 is abnormal, identification information cannot be added.
When the wireless communication is normal, the slave unit 16 adds its own identification information to the radio signal when receiving the radio signal addressed to the master unit 15 from the transfer destination slave unit 16. Then, the slave unit 16 transmits this wireless signal to the master unit 15. Base unit 15 receives a radio signal including identification information of slave unit 16 transmitted to base unit 15.

  On the other hand, if the slave unit 16 that has received the radio signal from the master unit 15 transmits a radio signal to the destination slave unit 16, but there is no response from the slave unit 16, communication is disabled. In this case, the slave unit 16 creates a response signal addressed to the master unit 15, adds its own identification information to the response signal, and transmits the response signal to the master unit 15.

  As shown in FIG. 3, for example, when wireless communication to the child device c fails from the parent device 15 via the child device a, the child device a adds its own identification information. And return a response. The parent device 15 determines that the wireless communication is normal for the child device 16 having the added identification information.

  The base unit 15 periodically executes the abnormality diagnosis mode. As shown in FIG. 4, the parent device 15 performs diagnosis in order from the child device a to the child device e. First, base unit 15 transmits a radio signal addressed to handset a. When receiving the wireless signal from the parent device 15, the child device a creates a response signal with its own identification information added and transmits it to the parent device 15. When receiving the response signal, base unit 15 checks the added identification information. When the parent device 15 confirms the identification information of the child device a, the parent device 15 determines that the communication with the child device a is normal, and stores the registration information of the child device a in the memory 25.

  When the slave unit b returns a response signal of the slave unit b to the radio signal from the master unit 15, the master unit 15 has normal wireless communication with the slave unit b based on the identification information of the slave unit b. And the registration information of the slave unit b is stored in the memory 25.

  In the slave unit c, the master unit 15 transmits a radio signal to the slave unit c. The radio signal is first transmitted to the child device a and transferred from the child device a to the child device c. However, since the slave unit c is abnormal due to a failure or the like, the slave unit c does not respond. When there is no response from the child device c even after a predetermined time has elapsed, the child device a creates a response signal with its own identification information added and transmits it to the parent device 15. The parent device 15 checks the identification information added to the response signal, and confirms the identification information of the child device a. Base unit 15 determines that there is an abnormality in wireless communication with handset c.

  In the slave unit d, the radio signal from the master unit 15 is sent to the slave unit d via the slave unit b. The subunit | mobile_unit d transmits the response signal which added self identification information to the subunit | mobile_unit b. When receiving the response signal, the slave unit b adds its own identification information to the response signal and transmits it to the master unit 15. The master unit 15 checks the identification information added to the response signal and confirms the identification information of the slave unit b and the slave unit d. Master device 15 determines that wireless communication with slave device b and slave device d is normal, and stores registration information of slave device b and slave device d in memory 25.

  In the slave unit e, the radio signal from the master unit 25 is sent to the slave unit e via the slave units b and d. The subunit | mobile_unit e transmits the response signal which added self identification information to the subunit | mobile_unit d. The subunit | mobile_unit d adds self identification information to the received response signal, and transmits to the subunit | mobile_unit b. The slave device b adds its own identification information to the received response signal and transmits it to the master device 15. The master unit 15 checks the identification information added to the response signal and confirms the identification information of the slave unit b, the slave unit d, and the slave unit e. Master device 15 determines that wireless communication with slave device b, slave device d, and slave device e is normal, and stores registration information of slave device b, slave device d, and slave device e in memory 25.

  When the base unit 15 finishes wireless communication with all the slave units 16 under its control, the base unit 15 compares the slave unit 16 that has transmitted the radio signal addressed to the base unit 15 with the registered sub unit 16 to determine whether there is an abnormality. A certain handset 16 is determined. That is, the slave unit 16 that has transmitted a radio signal addressed to the master unit 15 to the registered slave units a to e is the slave unit a, the slave unit b, the slave unit d, and the slave unit having registration information. e. Since there is no registration information of the child device c, the parent device 15 determines that the child device c is abnormal.

  In this way, it is possible to determine that a plurality of slave units 16 on the communication path from the master unit 15 to the communication partner slave unit 16 are normal by one wireless communication. Thereby, the frequency | count of the radio | wireless communication at the time of abnormality diagnosis can be reduced, the time which a diagnosis requires can be shortened, and the power consumption of the battery 27 of the main | base station 15 can be reduced.

(Second Embodiment)
In the wireless telemeter system of the second embodiment, abnormality diagnosis is performed during normal wireless communication. For example, when the parent device 15 performs periodic meter reading, the child device 16 adds its own identification information to the response signal and transmits the response signal to the parent device 15. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the parent device 15 transmits a radio signal for meter reading to the child device e. The radio signal is sent to the slave unit e via the slave unit b and the slave unit d. When receiving the meter reading request from the parent device 15, the child device e creates a response signal including the terminal information acquired from the terminal device 17, adds its own identification information, and transmits it to the parent device 15. The response signal is sent to the base unit 15 via the handset d and handset b. Each slave unit 16 adds its own identification information when transferring a response signal.

  Identification information of each of the slave devices b, d, and e is added to the response signal received by the master device 15. Master device 15 determines that wireless communication with slave device b, slave device d, and slave device e is normal, and stores registration information of slave device b, slave device d, and slave device e in memory 25.

  Thereafter, when the base unit 15 executes the abnormality diagnosis mode, the base unit 15 confirms the registration information. By confirming the registration information, it is understood that the slave unit b, the slave unit d, and the slave unit e are normal. Therefore, the base unit 15 performs failure diagnosis on the remaining slave units among the slave units under its control, that is, the slave units a and c.

  The master unit 15 transmits a diagnostic radio signal to the slave unit a. The subunit | mobile_unit a transmits the response signal which added self identification information to the main | base station 15. FIG. The master unit 15 receives the response signal from the slave unit a, determines that wireless communication with the slave unit a is normal, and stores registration information of the slave unit a in the memory 25.

  Next, the base unit 15 transmits a radio signal to the handset c. The radio signal is sent to the slave unit c via the slave unit a. However, the slave unit c cannot transmit a response signal to the slave unit a due to an abnormality of the slave unit c. The subunit | mobile_unit a transmits the response signal which added the identification information of self to the main | base station. The master unit receives the response signal from the slave unit a, determines that the wireless communication with the slave unit a is normal, but the wireless communication with the slave unit c is abnormal, and the registration information of the slave unit a Is stored in the memory 25.

  In this way, by performing abnormality diagnosis during normal wireless communication and storing the result in the memory 25, the number of slave units to be subjected to the abnormality diagnosis mode is reduced. Accordingly, the communication time is reduced and the time required for diagnosis can be shortened.

(Third embodiment)
In the wireless telemeter system of the third embodiment, an expiration date is set in the identification information received from the slave unit 16, and the master unit 15 performs an abnormality diagnosis based on the identification information within the expiration date. Other configurations are the same as those in the first and second embodiments.

  An expiration date, for example, 24 hours is set in the registration information created by the master unit 15. If it is within the expiration date, the registration information is valid, and the parent device 15 recognizes that the wireless communication with the corresponding child device 16 is normal using the registration information. When the expiration date of the registration information has passed, the registration information is invalidated. The master unit 15 performs wireless communication for abnormality diagnosis again with the corresponding slave unit 16.

  After the base unit 15 performs wireless communication and confirms that the handset 16 is normal, if an abnormality occurs in the handset 16, it is normal even though the handset 16 cannot perform wireless communication. It is erroneously determined that wireless communication is possible. By setting an expiration date in the registration information, such a situation can be avoided and the reliability of the diagnosis result can be improved.

(Fourth embodiment)
In the wireless telemeter system of the fourth embodiment, the time for abnormality diagnosis is shortened by reducing the number of slave units 16 that perform wireless communication during abnormality diagnosis. That is, the master unit 15 transmits a radio signal based on the communication path between the slave units 16 so that the fault determination of all the slave units 16 can be performed with the minimum number of communications when the abnormality diagnosis mode is executed. Decide. Other configurations are the same as those of the first to third embodiments.

  The base unit 15 refers to the created communication path and searches for the handset 16 that can receive a radio signal via the most handset 16. In the case of a communication path as shown in FIG. 1, a radio signal addressed to the slave unit e reaches the slave unit e via the two slave units b and d. The master unit 15 determines the transmission destination of the radio signal to the slave unit e. Then, the base unit 15 searches for the remaining handset 16 in the same manner. The subunit | mobile_unit c receives the radio signal which passed through the subunit | mobile_unit a. The base unit 15 determines the transmission destination of the radio signal as the slave unit c.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the parent device 15 transmits a diagnostic radio signal to the child device e. The radio signal is sent to the slave unit e via the slave unit b and the slave unit d. Thereby, the identification information of each of the slave devices b, d, and e is added to the response signal from the slave device e.

  Next, base unit 15 transmits a radio signal for diagnosis to slave unit c. The radio signal is sent to the slave unit c via the slave unit a. The identification information of each of the slave devices a and c is added to the response signal from the slave device c. However, if there is an abnormality in the slave unit c, the slave unit c does not transmit a response signal. At this time, the slave device “a” adds its own identification information and transmits a response signal to the master device 15. When the master unit 15 has obtained the diagnosis results of all the slave units 16, it ends the abnormality diagnosis mode.

  In this way, it is possible to perform abnormality diagnosis of all the slave units 16 under the minimum number of communications. Therefore, the time required for diagnosis can be shortened, and the situation where other wireless communication is canceled by wireless communication at the time of diagnosis can be reduced. Moreover, since the communication time at the time of diagnosis is shortened, it is possible to reduce the battery consumption of the master unit.

(Fifth embodiment)
In the wireless telemeter system according to the fifth embodiment, the center device manages information obtained from the response signal from the handset 16. Other configurations are the same as those of the first to fourth embodiments.

Based on the identification information added to the response signal from slave unit 16, master unit 15 creates registration information regarding normal slave unit 16. Then, base unit 15 transmits the registration information to the center device. The center device stores and manages registration information. If it is found that there is an abnormality in the slave unit 16, the center device instructs the slave unit 16 to perform replacement or repair. The slave unit 16 having the abnormality becomes normal, and wireless communication with the master unit 15 and other slave units 16 can be performed.
As described above, the wireless telemeter system according to the present invention includes a plurality of slave units 16 to which the terminal device 17 is connected and a master unit that is wirelessly communicable with each slave unit 16 and is connected to the center apparatus via the communication line 13. The slave unit 16 can be wirelessly communicated with each other. Each slave unit 16 is connected in a mesh shape. The slave unit 16 adds its own identification information to the radio signal addressed to the master unit 15, and the master unit 15 includes the slave unit 16 added to the received radio signal. System abnormality diagnosis is performed based on the identification information.

  Since information indicating that the slave unit 16 is normal is added to the radio signal addressed to the master unit 15, the master unit 15 confirms the normal slave unit 16 by receiving the radio signal from the slave unit 16. be able to. When the radio signal from the child device 16 does not include the identification information of the child device 16, the parent device 15 determines that the child device 16 is abnormal.

  The master unit 15 determines the slave unit 16 having an abnormality by comparing the slave unit 16 that has transmitted the radio signal addressed to the master unit 15 with the registered slave units 16. By this comparison, an abnormal handset 16 can be found.

  An expiration date is set in the identification information received from the child device 16, and the parent device 15 performs an abnormality diagnosis based on the identification information within the expiration date. An abnormality may occur in the slave unit 16 after the normality of the slave unit 16 is confirmed by the added identification information. When the expiration date has passed, the abnormality diagnosis of the child device 16 is performed again, thereby making it possible to eliminate an erroneous determination that the child device 16 having an abnormality is normal.

  When the base unit 15 transmits a radio signal to the subordinate slave units 16 and performs an abnormality diagnosis, the base unit 15 ends the abnormality diagnosis at the time of confirming whether or not there are any abnormalities with respect to all the slave units 16. It is not necessary to transmit diagnostic radio signals to all the slave units 16, and the communication time can be shortened.

  Based on the communication path between the slave units 16, the master unit 15 determines the slave units 16 that transmit radio signals so that the abnormality determination of all the slave units 16 can be performed with the minimum number of communications. The time required for diagnosis can be shortened and energy can be saved.

  The case where the handset 16 adds the identification information is when a radio signal is sent to itself. That is, handset 16 adds its own identification information to a response signal when responding in response to a request from base unit 15. In addition, it is a time when a radio signal addressed to the base unit 15 is transferred. That is, the slave unit 16 adds its own identification information to the radio signal addressed to the master unit 15 received from the other slave units 16. Further, when there is no response to the radio signal transmitted to the other child device 16, the child device 16 adds its own identification information to the created response signal addressed to the parent device 15.

  The base unit 15 performs abnormality diagnosis at the time of periodic meter reading. When the handset 16 makes a terminal call, the handset 16 voluntarily adds its own identification information. The slave unit 16 that transfers the radio signal transmitted from the slave unit 16 also adds its own identification information when transferring. Thereby, the time required for abnormality diagnosis can be saved.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, Of course, many corrections and changes can be added to the said embodiment within the scope of the present invention. The wireless communication between the parent device 15 and the child device 16 and between the child devices 16 may be short-range wireless communication such as ZigBee (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (registered trademark).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Parent machine 16 Slave machine 17 Terminal device 21 Wireless communication part 25 Non-volatile memory 27 Battery 31 Wireless communication part 35 Non-volatile memory

Claims (5)

A wireless communication system including a plurality of slave units to which terminal devices are connected and a master unit that is wirelessly communicable with each slave unit and connected to a center device via a communication line, and the slave units are capable of wireless communication with each other. In this telemeter system, each slave unit is connected in a mesh shape, the slave unit adds its own identification information to a radio signal addressed to the master unit, and the master unit is a slave unit added to the received radio signal A radio telemeter system characterized in that a system abnormality diagnosis is performed based on the identification information. 2. The radio telemeter system according to claim 1, wherein the master unit determines a slave unit having an abnormality by comparing a slave unit that has transmitted a radio signal addressed to the master unit with a registered slave unit. . 3. The radio telemeter system according to claim 1, wherein an expiration date is set in the identification information received from the slave unit, and the master unit performs an abnormality diagnosis based on the identification information within the expiration date. 2. The base unit, when transmitting a radio signal to a subordinate slave unit and performing an abnormality diagnosis, ends the abnormality diagnosis at the time of confirming the presence / absence of abnormality of all the slave units. The radio telemeter system according to any one of? The master unit determines a slave unit that transmits a radio signal based on a communication path between the slave units so that abnormality determination of all the slave units can be performed with a minimum number of communication times. The radio telemeter system according to any one of the above.

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