JP6703418B2 - Measuring system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a measurement server system that centrally manages information of various sensors using a communication network, and relates to a power saving means suitable for a measurement element, particularly a battery-driven measurement element.

In recent years, various sensor technologies have been developed, and sensors for weather observation such as temperature sensors, wind meters, anemometers, rain gauges, seismometers, biological information sensors such as blood pressure monitors and heart rate monitors, radiation dose, PM2. .5 Information from environmental sensors such as measuring instruments, dust meters, and odor meters, as well as human sensors, monitoring cameras, and other sensors (measuring elements) is connected to the Internet for intensive observation. These sensors are installed not only indoors but also outdoors and use not only commercial power sources but also battery-powered sensors. In addition, the communication means is also shifting from wired to wireless due to the development of wireless technology, and the measuring element can be said to be a wireless communication terminal that sends sensor information (measurement data) to a server when viewed by itself. There is.

A typical example of a wireless communication terminal is a mobile phone or a tablet, and because it is battery-powered, it takes power-saving measures. When no one is operating, the power supply is stopped (almost stopped), When stationary, it is common to supply power only to the circuit that senses whether a person starts operation. As a technique for automatically saving power without human operation, a prior art document discloses a technique in which a camera module of a mobile phone recognizes a face and switches to a power saving mode depending on the presence or absence of a person. In addition, in terminals that perform internet communication, such as personal computers, mobile phones, and tablets, power consumption is reduced by inquiring mails to a receiving mail server at regular time intervals. However, if there is no received mail even if the received mail is inquired periodically, it results in useless inquiry, that is, useless power consumption.

Recently, it is said that the era is called the IoT (Internet of Things), where everything is connected to the Internet.In the IoT era, measuring elements and various sensors are located in the downtown area as seen in the example of surveillance cameras. It can be said that it is an era in which it is installed everywhere, and by centrally managing measurement data, it is possible to provide useful information to people in detail, and the number of measurement elements installed explosively increases. Further reduction of electric power not only contributes to prolonging the life of the battery used for the measuring element, but also becomes a social issue in terms of consumption of less energy.

JP-A-2014-27386

It is desirable to reduce the power consumption of the measuring element and prolong the battery life.

The measurement server instructs the timing of measurement by the measurement element and sends the measurement result to the measurement server. Therefore, at the time of communication between the measurement element and the measurement server, the measurement server indicates the next measurement and communication date and time. By this method, the power supply of the measuring element is always only to the clock section, and the power supply to the sensor section (measuring section) and the communication section is only at the time of measurement and communication, so that large power saving can be achieved. If the clock precision of the measuring element is low, the date and time will shift when the next measurement date and time is one month later, like an electric power meter. Therefore, the date and time information from the measurement server is based on the precision information of the clock owned by the measuring element. Use it to calibrate the clock. Further, in order to determine an abnormality (circuit failure, etc.) of the measuring element, the measuring element is provided with a self-diagnosis circuit, and the diagnostic result is transmitted and reported to the measuring server.

Power is supplied to the measuring element only by the clock section at all times, and the sensor section and the communication section are supplied with power only during measurement/communication.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a measurement system according to the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the measurement element of the measurement system by this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the measurement server of the measurement system by this invention. It is a figure which shows the content of the communication signal between the measurement element and the measurement server of the measurement system by this invention.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of the overall configuration of the present invention, in which a large number of measuring elements 1a, 1b, 1c (hereinafter individually described as reference numeral “1”) are connected to a wireless communication network 2. There is. A measurement server 3 that centrally manages management data for each measurement element 1 together with data measured by each measurement element 1 is connected to the wireless communication network 2. Although not shown, there may be a measuring element connected to the wired communication network as well as the wireless communication network, but the information of all the measuring elements is centrally managed by the measurement server 3. The wireless communication network may be a public wireless communication network such as 3G, 4G, PHS, or a privately-owned dedicated wireless communication network. Examples of a self-employed wireless communication network include a PHS self-employed mode and a wireless system using a 920 MHZ band called a sub giga wave.

There are various types of measuring elements, such as thermometers, wind gauges, rain gauges, seismographs for weather observation, blood pressure meters, heart rate meters, thermometers for biological information management, environmental management, etc. Radiation meter, PM2.5 meter, dust meter, odor meter, etc., mechanical strain meter for building deterioration management, water meter, gas meter, electricity meter for usage fee management, etc. In addition, there are motion sensors, surveillance cameras, etc. for security measures.

The measurement server 3 may be that of the measurement business operator itself, or may be in the form of a measurement server center outsourced by a plurality of measurement business operators. The water meter may be managed by the water company itself, and the biometric information management is managed by the medical company itself, or multiple medical companies outsource the measurement to the measurement server center and receive the measurement result information. There may be a service form in which each medical business operator analyzes the result information and provides the information to the customer. Although various forms are possible, the form is not limited in the present invention.

The measuring element 1 has a different measuring frequency (measurement time interval) depending on the measuring purpose, and may be once a month, three times a day, once an hour, or once a minute. In addition, comparing the measured values with the data in normal times, if you feel that something is wrong, increase the frequency of measurement or use other information such as weather forecast to make the approach of the typhoon more detailed. When observing, the measurement frequency is changed and controlled at any time according to the situation, such as increasing the measurement frequency. The power source of the measuring element may be a commercial power source or a battery, but the present invention relates to power saving of the measuring element, and is more suitable for a battery-driven measuring element.

As shown in Table 1, the measurement server 3 collects and manages management data for each measuring element. The meaning of the management data shown in Table 1 will be described later.

FIG. 2 shows the internal configuration of the battery-driven measuring element 1.

The measuring device 1 includes a clock unit 13 to which power is constantly supplied, a sensor unit 11 (a sensor unit can be called a measuring unit) that is energized only when an operation is required by a power supply control unit 18, an element communication unit 12, and a battery residual quantity. It comprises an amount detection unit 20, a self-diagnosis control circuit 21 for performing self-diagnosis, a bias circuit 22, and a comparison/determination circuit 23. In the clock unit 13, in addition to the clock 17, there are a server date/time management M (memory) 15, the next communication date/time management M (memory) 16, and a self-diagnosis date/time management M (memory) 14, which will be described later.

These date and time information starts from the Christian era and includes seconds up to 14:46:45 on March 11, 2011. The next communication date and time shown in Table 1 is abbreviated as V, B, C (V hour B minute C second) due to space limitations, but it is actually 14:46:45 on March 11, 2011. It is like this.

The element communication unit 12 communicates with the measurement server 3 via the wireless communication network 2. However, in the present invention, the call for communication is made only from the measurement element 1, and the measurement server 3 transmits to the measurement element 1. No call is made and the measurement element 1 does not need to be prepared for an incoming call from the measurement server 3.

Regarding the operation of the measuring element 1, when the next communication date/time management M16 arrives at the date/time for performing measurement and communication, the power source control unit 18 is instructed to perform the measurement on the sensor unit 11, and the measurement result data is transmitted to the element communication unit 12. Then, the element communication unit 12 transmits the data to the measurement server 3. The time for supplying power to the sensor unit depends on the measurement time required by the sensor.

It takes about 1 minute to measure the body temperature, but the temperature may be about 2 seconds. The power supply time to the element communication unit 12 is a time required for communication, and is on the order of several seconds or less, depending on the transmission speed, and even if power is supplied at the same time as the sensor unit while considering the measurement time of the sensor unit. When the power supply time of the sensor unit is long, such as one minute, power supply may be divided in time.

The format of the transmission data of the measurement result is shown in FIG.

The transmission data includes, in addition to the "element ID" and "telephone number" or IP address or other information necessary for communication, which corresponds to each element, "measurement information", "battery level", "current date", " Send "Installation Area" signal. The battery remaining amount is data necessary for the measuring server 3 to confirm the status of each measuring element, and the current date and time is clock information of the measuring element 1.

There are three types of "measurement information": "measurement data", "no data" to be described later, and "self-diagnosis result". As shown in FIG. It is composed of two parts, a part representing "information type" and a part representing "data". When the information type is “no data”, the subsequent “data” is omitted.

When these measurement information (measurement data, self-diagnosis result, time calibration signal described later) cannot be received by the measurement server 3 at the date and time specified by the measurement server 3, the measurement element 1 is suspected of failure or theft, and measurement is performed. Contact the business separately by e-mail or telephone.

The “installation area” is to use the information of the base station obtained when the location where the measuring element is installed is communicated by using wireless communication as it is. If the measuring element 1 is additionally equipped with a GPS sensor, the GPS information is used as the "installation area" information.

When the measurement service area is narrow and all the measurement elements are installed in one antenna area (base station area), the installation area information is not shown, but corresponds to distance information from the antenna. As a substitute for the electric field strength information, the "reception level" information of the received radio wave is used.

That is, there are three types of installation area information: base station information, GPS information, and reception level information.

The measurement server 3 checks the installation area information each time it communicates, and if it is different from the original installation area information managed in Table 1, it is determined that the measurement element 1 has been stolen.

In the management data shown in Table 1, the data of “clock accuracy”, “battery level”, “abnormal state”, and “next communication date/time” are updated each time communication is performed, and “measurement cycle”, “self-diagnosis cycle” Is changed by communication if necessary based on the result information. Other data is updated from the data input unit 40 (see FIG. 3) when the installation location is changed or when it is necessary to change.

The clock accuracy in Table 1 compares the current date and time of the measuring element sent from the measuring element 1 with the current date and time of the measuring server 3, and the measuring server 3 has produced one day based on the last communication date and time. The error is calculated and updated. By managing the timepiece precision, it is not necessary to require high precision for the crystal unit, which is a timepiece component of the measuring element 1, and the cost of the measuring element can be reduced. It is ideal to use a radio-controlled watch as the measuring element, but it is necessary to decide on the use by keeping in mind that the radio-controlled watch always consumes electric power and that it is difficult to receive radio waves indoors depending on the installation location. is there.

Each time communication is performed, the next communication date and time and the server-date and time arrive from the measurement server 3 to the measurement element 1 as shown in FIG. 4B. In the measurement element 1, based on the information of the server date management M15, Calibrate the clock 17 to the server date and time. Further, the next communication date/time is written in the next communication date/time management M16 to prepare for the next communication, and when the communication date/time comes, the above-described operation is performed.

The measuring element 1 has a self-diagnosis function for failure diagnosis. The self-diagnosis cycle is determined by the measurement element itself in consideration of the failure rate of the measurement element and the measurement cycle, but the cycle information is separately managed by the measurement server 3 as shown in Table 1, Then, it waits for the diagnostic result to be sent at the time when self-diagnosis should be performed.

In order for the measuring element 1 to perform self-diagnosis, the self-diagnosis date/time management M14 instructs the power supply control unit 18 to drive the self-diagnosis control circuit 21 when the diagnosis date/time arrives in accordance with the measurement cycle. The self-diagnosis control circuit 21 outputs the bias value to the sensor unit 11 from the bias circuit 22 so that the minimum value, the maximum value, and the intermediate value output by the sensor unit 11 are output during the diagnosis, and the sensor for the set bias value is output. The comparison/determination circuit 23 determines whether or not it is an output. In the bias circuit 22, the operation parameter of the sensor unit 11 is changed, but as another method, the input signal level to the sensor unit 11 may be artificially changed. In any method, if the output of the sensor unit 11 changes according to the change, the operation is determined to be normal. The comparison is made by the comparison and determination circuit 23. As the output of the comparison/determination circuit 23, in addition to OK and NG, information such as “it can be used for the time being but needs repair in the near future” is also output. These pieces of information are diagnostic result information, in the measurement information of FIG. 4A, “information type” is a self-diagnosis result, “data” is OK, NG, and other information (the above “for the time being, it can be used for the time being). Will be sent in the near future as a separate piece of associated data).

The self-diagnosis cycle can be changed while observing the diagnosis result. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4B, there is a field called "next request data" as a signal sent from the measurement server 3 to the measurement element 1. As the "next request data", from the main purpose of the present invention, it is measurement data in a steady state, but as described above, a request to "change the self-diagnosis cycle", and as will be described later, "date and time calibration" Is required. Communication codes corresponding to these three types of requests are separately assigned to the "next request data" field. When a request is made to change the self-diagnosis cycle, it is necessary to send the "cycle information" to be changed, and the data is sent using the "self-diagnosis cycle" data field as shown in FIG. 4(b).

FIG. 3 shows the internal configuration of the measurement server 3.

The measurement server 3 includes a server communication unit 30, a next communication date/time management unit 31, a measurement frequency management unit 32, a clock accuracy management unit 33, an abnormal state detection management unit 34, a measurement database 35, a next reception management unit 36, and a measurement data management unit. 37, a frequency information addition unit 38, an external information exchange unit 39, a data input unit 40, and a self-diagnosis result information management unit 41. Although not shown, it has a highly accurate timepiece, and the timepiece information is supplied to necessary parts.

The measurement database 35 stores and manages management information (information shown in Table 1) of all the measurement elements under the management of the measurement server 3.

The measurement history of the measurement result data for each measurement element is separately managed by the measurement data management unit 37.

The server communication unit 30 communicates with the measurement element 1 via the wireless communication network 2.

The next reception management unit 36 may receive the next time based on the next communication date/time data of the measurement database 35 (there is a possibility of reception within the error range of 3 seconds set as the reception date/time error). The reception date and time from the measuring element and the ID signal are loaded. When the ID signal is restored from the data received on that date and time, the management data relating to the ID is loaded from the measurement database 35 to the measurement frequency management unit 32 and the clock accuracy management unit 33.

The clock precision management unit 33 is loaded with the clock precision data of the measurement element from the measurement database 35.

The measurement frequency management unit 32 determines whether it is necessary to change the measurement cycle. From the measurement result of the measurement data management unit 37, it is determined whether or not the measurement result is steady, and when abnormality is felt, the measurement cycle is shortened, and since the frequency information addition unit 38 is approaching the typhoon, It is confirmed whether the measuring elements in a certain area are making a request such as shortening the measuring cycle, and for a while, the measuring cycle managed by the measurement database 35 is changed to determine how many hours and minutes. A measurement cycle such as every one is determined, and the next communication date/time management unit 31 is notified.

If the cause of changing the measurement cycle is removed, the management data regarding the measurement cycle in the measurement database 35 is restored. In any case, the measurement cycle is not fixed and may be changed depending on the situation.

The next communication date/time management unit 31 calculates the next communication date/time based on these pieces of information, and at that time, based on the information of the clock accuracy management unit 33, the clock error of the measuring element which may occur before the next communication date/time is calculated. If it is less than a certain threshold value such as 3 seconds, the calculated date and time is transmitted as the next communication date and time. If it is equal to or more than the threshold value, it is necessary to adjust the clock by the next measurement date and time, so the date and time when the error of the clock is within the threshold value is sent as the next communication date and time data.

That is, when it is calculated using the time accuracy information that "the time of the measuring element at the next communication date and time exceeds the time error that can be received and managed by the measuring server", the next communication is performed by the clock 17 of the measuring element 1. It is necessary to do it for date and time calibration. For example, it is assumed that the clock accuracy of a certain measuring element deviates by 1 second per day. If the next measurement is 7 days later, it will be 7 seconds after 7 days, so the next communication date and time is set to 4 days (7-3) three days before and within 3 seconds of the time error that can manage reception. At this time, in order to inform that the measurement data of the measurement element is not required at the next transmission, a signal meaning "date/time calibration" is sent to the "next request data" field of FIG. 4B.

The measuring element 1 which has received the “date and time calibration” signal as the next request data sends “no data” as the information type to the measurement information section of FIG. 4A at the next transmission. In this case, the transmission signal from the measuring element 1 can be said to be a time calibration signal.

The self-diagnosis result information management unit 41 stores and manages the self-diagnosis result information, and when the self-diagnosis result cannot be said to be normal, judges it as “normal” by comparing it with past diagnosis result information. Or, it is used to judge "Let's change the self-diagnosis cycle to see the situation a little more". In particular, when the self-diagnosis result indicates that "it is usable for the time being, but needs repair in the near future", the past self-diagnosis result information will be referred to and the self-diagnosis cycle may be shortened.

The abnormal state detection management unit 34 confirms that the remaining battery level is as low as 20% from the received signal (FIG. 4(a)) from the measurement element 1 and that the self-diagnosis result information is not OK. The installation area information is compared with the installation area information managed in the measurement database, and if the area information is different, it is determined that the measuring element is stolen.

The output of the abnormal state detection management unit 34 reaches the external information exchange unit 39, and measures such as notifying the measurement operator of the state are taken. The contents to be told include "Replace or recharge because the battery level is low", "Please check if it is stolen", "Replace because it is out of order", etc.

The external information exchange unit 39 exchanges information with the outside through a telephone, an electronic mail, or the like, which is not shown. As the contents of the information exchange, as described above, as the information to be transmitted to the frequency information adding unit 38, the weather information and the crime information (improvement of the measurement frequency of the surveillance camera for finding the escaped criminal, etc.), and the abnormal state detection management unit 34 are measured. There is contact when an abnormality of the element (malfunction, battery exhaustion, theft, etc.) is detected, contact to the measuring element operator, and information to be set in the data input unit 40 of each measuring element is obtained.

In the data input unit 40, the element ID, telephone number, power supply, installation area, measurement cycle, self-diagnosis interval, and clock precision of the management data shown in Table 1 are input as initial data before the operation starts. The clock accuracy uses the information of the measuring element manufacturer at the time of initial input, but when the operation is started, the date and time information exchanged each time communication is updated to practical data at any time. When there is a change in the other management data, the measurement data is contacted by the measurement business operator, and the change data reaches the data input unit 40 from the external information exchange unit 39 and is updated.

The measurement system according to the present invention is a measurement system in which one sensor such as an anemometer is installed in many places and manages the wind speed in each place to provide information, or a large number of various types of sensors are installed, and the measurement system according to the characteristics of the sensor is used. It can be a large measurement system for providing a large number of information services, and can meet various demands of many measurement businesses and demands of business models.

Since the power consumption of the measuring element is reduced, the battery life is extended, and the requirement for the clock accuracy of the measuring element is relaxed, an inexpensive measuring element is realized and the economical efficiency of the measuring element is improved. This will accelerate the spread of IoT devices, and at the same time, it will be possible to create various business models in the measurement service business.

1 (1a, 1b, 1c) Measuring element 2 Wireless communication network 3 Measuring server 11 Sensor section 12 Element communication section 13 Clock section 14 Self-diagnosis date/time management M (memory)
15 Server date management M (memory)
16 Next communication date and time management M (memory)
17 clock 18 power supply control unit 19 battery 20 battery remaining amount detection unit 21 self-diagnosis control circuit 22 bias circuit 23 comparison judgment circuit 30 server communication unit 31 next communication date and time management unit 32 measurement frequency management unit 33 clock accuracy management unit 34 abnormal condition detection Management unit 35 Measurement database 36 Next reception management unit 37 Measurement data management unit 38 Frequency information addition unit 39 External information exchange unit 40 Data input unit
41 Self-diagnosis result information management section

Claims (2)

In a measurement system in which a plurality of measurement elements having a sensor section, a communication section, a clock, a next communication date/time management memory, a power supply section, and a power supply control section are connected to a measurement server via a communication network, the measurement information of the measurement elements is cycled. Is sent to the measuring server, the measuring server sends the next communication date and time and the type of requested data to the measuring element each time communication is performed, and the next communication date and time is the next communication date and time management memory of the measuring element. Each time the measuring element and the measuring server communicate, the clock information of the measuring element and the clock information of the measuring server are exchanged, and the clock of the measuring element receives the clock information of the measuring server. While being written, the measurement server calculates the clock accuracy of the measurement element based on the received clock information of the measurement element, and at the next communication date and time of the measurement element managed by the measurement server, the measurement element When it is determined that the time of the clock exceeds the time error allowable by the measurement server, the measurement server requests the measurement element to transmit a date and time calibration signal with the next communication date and time within the time not exceeded, and the power supply The control system controls power supply from the power supply unit to the sensor unit and the communication unit when the date and time when the timepiece is stored in the communication date and time management memory is reached . For self-diagnosis of the measuring element, the measuring element determines whether a sensor output corresponding to a change in the operating parameter of the sensor unit is obtained, and transmits the determination result to the measuring server, and the measuring server The measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the measurement signal is transmitted to the measurement element according to a determination result .

Images