JP2008078874A - Sensor system - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to make it possible to use the present system without specialized knowledge about a network or the like.
In a sensor system in which information detected by a sensor device is transmitted via the Internet, specialized knowledge about a network or the like is required for setting. However, the user only has to inform the center of information that does not require such specialized knowledge (for example, information on whether or not to send an e-mail notification when an event occurs). Configures network settings. Therefore, the user can use this system without specialized knowledge about the network or the like.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

    The present invention relates to a sensor system that transmits information detected by a sensor device via the Internet.

    In recent years, sensor systems that transmit information detected by sensor devices via the Internet have been used for various purposes.

    For example, an intruder detection sensor (for example, a human sensor that detects the presence or absence of a person with infrared rays and transmits a detection signal to a general house or workplace, a door sensor that transmits a detection signal in response to opening or closing of a door, If a window sensor that sends a detection signal in response to opening / closing or destruction of a window is provided and an intruder is detected, a specific telephone (such as a resident or administrator's mobile phone) is connected via a network. A system has been proposed that makes a telephone call or sends an e-mail to a preset address (see, for example, Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3).

    Furthermore, such a sensor system can be used not only for intruder detection but also for other purposes such as temperature detection, humidity detection, brightness detection, and water leak detection.

To operate such a sensor system,
・ E-mail destination address, phone number, and condition settings for determining whether an event has occurred when an event occurrence (sensor measurement value exceeds a predetermined threshold) Whether it should be determined that an event has occurred when the temperature exceeds ℃, how much brightness should be reported, etc.)
-Network settings (for example, TCP / IP address, fixed IP address, port number settings, mail server settings such as POP, SMTP, authentication method)
It was necessary to do etc.
JP-A-2005-208878 JP 2005-228330 A JP 2004-135197 A

    By the way, among the setting items as described above, the destination address, etc. can be set easily even without special knowledge, but a certain degree of expertise is required for the setting related to the network, and a visitor service etc. In some cases, there was a problem in terms of labor and cost.

    An object of the present invention is to provide a sensor system that can be easily set even by a user who does not have specialized knowledge about a network or the like.

The invention according to claim 1 is illustrated in FIG. 1, and in the sensor system (1) configured to transmit information detected by the sensor device (2) via the Internet (3),
A sensor device (2) for detecting predetermined information;
A sensor controller (4) for controlling the sensor device (2) and connected to the Internet (3);
A server device (5) connected to the sensor controller (4) via the Internet (3);
With
The server device (5) includes a setting information storage unit (50) for storing setting information for each sensor device (2), and setting information stored in the setting information storage unit (50). An information transmitting / receiving unit (51) that transmits to the sensor controller (4) and receives information from the sensor controller (4), and primary information that is information obtained from the user and does not require knowledge about the network. A primary information storage unit (52) for storing, and a setting information input unit (53) for inputting setting information including the primary information to the setting information storage unit (50).

The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the primary information is:
Setting for whether or not to send an e-mail notification when the sensor device (2) detects the occurrence of an event. Setting for whether or not to take a picture with a web camera (7) installed on the user side. Settings for whether or not to attach the captured video to an e-mail ・ Selection of whether the video attached to the e-mail is a moving image or a still image ・ E-mail destination address when an event occurrence is detected The sensor device (2) is turned on. The sensor device (2) is turned off. The information is at least one piece of information.

    The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the setting information includes information that requires knowledge about the primary information and a network.

    The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a mail transmission unit (54) for notifying that an event has occurred by e-mail. .

    The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the setting information input unit (53) includes at least one of a keyboard and a mouse.

    The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the information transmission / reception unit (51) is configured such that the sensor controller (4) is activated and / or a certain period of time. The setting information is transmitted in response to the communication from the sensor controller (4) every time.

    The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the sensor device (2) and / or the sensor controller (4) includes a CPU and a memory and the information transmitting / receiving unit. The setting information transmitted from (51) is temporarily stored.

    The numbers in parentheses are for the sake of convenience indicating the corresponding elements in the drawings, and therefore the present description is not limited to the descriptions on the drawings.

    According to the first to sixth aspects of the invention, necessary setting information (that is, information including primary information that does not require knowledge about the network and information that requires knowledge about the network or the like) is the setting information. The system can be used by being input to the setting information storage unit by the input unit. Of these pieces of information, the user needs to provide only the former (primary information that does not require knowledge of the network), and the latter (information that requires knowledge of the network etc.) is the server. It is input only with the knowledge of an expert (operator) on the device side. Therefore, even a user who has no specialized knowledge about the network or the like can use this system.

    According to the seventh aspect of the invention, the setting information transmitted from the information transmitting / receiving unit is configured to be temporarily stored by the sensor device and / or the sensor controller. Even if there is a mistake in acquiring new setting information from the server device, the system can be operated using the already acquired setting information.

    Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Here, FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of the sensor system according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the sensor device and sensor controller used in the sensor system. is there.

The sensor system according to the present invention is exemplified by reference numeral 1 in FIG. 1, and is a system that transmits information detected by the sensor device 2 via the Internet 3. Specifically, the sensor system 1 according to the present invention includes:
A sensor device 2 for detecting predetermined information;
A sensor controller 4 for controlling the sensor device 2 and connected to the Internet 3;
A server device 5 connected to the sensor controller 4 via the Internet 3;
It has. The above-described sensor device 2 and sensor controller 4 are respectively arranged at the home or company of the user of the sensor system, and the server device 5 is provided so as to centrally manage each sensor device 2 and sensor controller 4. .

Here, the server device 5
A setting information storage unit 50 for storing setting information for each of the sensor devices (primary information obtained from a user that does not require knowledge about the network, etc., and information that requires knowledge about the network, etc.); ,
An information transmission / reception unit 51 that transmits the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 50 to each sensor controller 4 and receives information from the sensor controller 4;
A primary information storage unit 52 that stores primary information obtained from a user (as described above, information that does not require knowledge about a network or the like);
A setting information input unit 53 for inputting setting information including the primary information to the setting information storage unit 50 (saving of setting information, editing of already saved setting information, etc.);
At least. If necessary,
A mail transmission unit 54 for notifying a user or the like by e-mail that an event has occurred (a measured value of a sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold);
・ A report unit (not shown) that calls the user's mobile phone or landline phone and informs that an event has occurred by voice,
Etc. may be provided.

In addition, as primary information (that is, information that is obtained from a user and does not require specialized knowledge about a network or the like), for example,
・ Setting for whether or not to send e-mail notification when the sensor device detects an event ・ Setting for whether or not to shoot video with a web camera (see reference numeral 7 in FIG. 1) installed on the user side Select whether to set the video to be attached to e-mail (setting)
-Select whether the video attached to the e-mail should be a moving image or a still image-Select the content to be periodically sent to the user who is out (referred to as a periodic operation) (for example, e-mail) Select whether the content to be sent is temperature data or rain data)
・ Select the interval for sending the periodic action mail (for example, every hour)
・ ON / OFF setting of the periodic operation (that is, mail transmission at the time of the periodic operation) ・ Setting of time zone for executing the periodic operation (setting of start time and end time)
・ Video shooting ON / OFF setting ・ Selection of whether or not to attach the shot video to the periodic operation mail ・ Selection of ON / OFF of the buzzer provided on the sensor device side (the sensor device enters the home away from home) If it is for the detection of a person, the buzzer (see reference numeral 207 in FIG. 2) is sounded to select whether to threaten)
-E-mail address (e-mail destination when event occurrence is detected)
・ Instruction to turn on the sensor device 2 and / or sensor controller 4 and instruction to turn off the sensor device 2 and / or sensor controller 4. ・ Setting of acceleration detection direction and selection of detection sensitivity when using an acceleration sensor. This refers to settings for the detection mode of the sensor device (details will be described in the next paragraph).

    The primary information may be configured to be input by the user using a terminal (PC, PDA, mobile phone, PHS, etc., see symbol 8) that can be connected to the Internet 3. Further, the user may transmit the primary information to the server device side (operator) using a telephone, a fax, or the like. For example, a certain amount of expertise is required for the above-described setting for the periodic operation (setting of e-mail transmission interval, etc.) and the setting for the acceleration sensor (setting for the detection direction and detection sensitivity). Users without expertise will call a call center. In that case, the operator wants to set what the user wants (for example, if he wants to get the information if the door moves even a little, or if he wants to get the information only when the door is opened / closed) And the optimum setting condition according to the user is appropriately determined and input to the primary information storage unit 52. Thus, when a call is made to the operator, the user can set the sensor system without special knowledge.

    By the way, the setting information input unit 53 includes at least one of a keyboard and a mouse. An expert (operator) on the server device 5 side acquires primary information from the primary information storage unit 52 and operates the setting information input unit 53 to input setting information to the setting information storage unit 50. It will be. For users who have knowledge about the network or the like, it is preferable that the terminal 8 connected to the Internet 3 can directly access the setting information storage unit 50 of the server device 5 and input / edit its own setting information. good. In addition, the timing at which the information transmitting / receiving unit 51 transmits the setting information to each sensor controller 4 is the timing at which the sensor controller 4 or the like is activated and / or at regular intervals. Specifically, the information transmission / reception unit 51 transmits setting information in response to communication from the sensor controller 4 at the timing when the sensor controller 4 is activated and / or at regular intervals. The sensor controller 4 performs operation setting and setting change based on the acquired setting information.

By the way, the detection mode in the sensor device is exemplified as follows.
(1) In the case of a temperature sensor • A mode that determines that an event has occurred at a temperature above a predetermined temperature (eg, 28 ° C or higher) • A mode that determines that an event has occurred at a temperature below a predetermined temperature (eg, 10 ° C or lower) temperature)
・ Mode without temperature sensor detection
(2) In the case of an illuminance sensor • A mode in which an event occurs when the light intensity exceeds a predetermined level (for example, 25000 Lx or higher) • A mode in which an event occurs when a light intensity falls below a predetermined level (for example, 100 Lx or lower) • Detection by the illuminance sensor is performed No mode
(3) In the case of a magnetic sensor (Note: Whether an event is turned off or turned on depends on the installation state of the sensor, so the following mode must be selected.)
・ Mode that sets when the event occurs when the sensor switches from ON to OFF ・ Conversely, mode that sets when the event occurs when the sensor switches from OFF to ON ・ Detection by the magnetic sensor No mode
(4) In the case of raindrop sensor ・ Mode to notify when DRY changes to WET ・ Mode to notify when WET changes to DRY ・ Mode not to detect by raindrop sensor

The one sensor device 2 and the sensor controller 4 are installed on the user side in order to detect some information (for example, information on opening / closing of a door, temperature, humidity, rainfall, etc.). As the sensor device 2,
・ Magnetic sensor ・ Acceleration sensor ・ Temperature sensor ・ Humidity sensor ・ Illuminance sensor (Brightness detection sensor)
・ Various known sensors such as raindrop sensors and water leak sensors can be listed.

    According to the present invention, necessary setting information (that is, information including primary information that does not require knowledge about the network and information that requires knowledge about the network or the like) is set by the setting information input unit 53. The system can be used by being input to the information storage unit 50. Of these pieces of information, the user needs to provide only the former (primary information that does not require knowledge of the network), and the latter (information that requires knowledge of the network etc.) is the server. It is input only with the knowledge of an expert (operator) on the device side. Therefore, even a user who has no specialized knowledge about the network or the like can use this system.

    As shown in FIG. 2, the sensor device used in the present invention includes a sensor base station 21 connected to the sensor controller 4 and a wireless sensor unit 20 that exchanges data between the sensor base station 21 wirelessly. It is good to comprise by these. The wireless sensor unit 20 and the sensor base station 21 are each provided with a CPU and a memory (see reference numerals 203 and 213), and temporarily store the setting information transmitted from the information transmitting / receiving unit 51. It is good to do so. In such a configuration, even if the acquisition of new setting information from the server device 5 is missed for some reason, detection based on the already acquired setting information can be performed. A setting value (default value) may be stored at the time of manufacture, and the default value may be used until setting information is first acquired from the server device 5. Further, the sensor controller 4 may be provided with a CPU and a memory, and the setting information may be temporarily saved and the default value may be saved.

    By the way, for communication from the user side (the sensor controller 4 side) to the server device 5, a communication port used for WWW access may be used. As a result, it is not necessary to set communication security on the user side, and this system can be used even by a user who does not have specialized knowledge about security.

    In this example, a sensor system 1 having the configuration shown in FIG. 1 was constructed. That is, a personal computer (corresponding to the above-mentioned sensor controller; hereinafter referred to as a “user-side personal computer”) 4 is placed in a state where it is connected to the Internet 3 at the user's residence or company. A wireless sensor (sensor device) 2 and a web camera 7 are connected to the personal computer 4.

In this embodiment, a magnetic sensor is used as the wireless sensor 2 so that opening / closing of doors and windows can be detected (intruders can be detected). Of course, it is not limited to this,
・ Even if humidity is detected by a humidity sensor,
・ Even if the illuminance sensor detects the illuminance,
・ Even if the acceleration sensor detects the opening and closing of doors,
・ Even if it detects rain with the raindrop detection sensor,
good.

By the way, in this embodiment, the wireless sensor 2 is
A sensor base station 21 connected to the user-side personal computer 4 via the USB cable 6;
A sensor unit 20 that wirelessly exchanges data with the sensor base station 21;
Consists of.

    The sensor unit 20 includes an antenna 201, a wireless transmission / reception unit 202, a CPU and memory 203, a button switch 204, a sensor 206, a buzzer 207, an LED 208, and a battery 205, as shown in detail in FIG. 2. Control software is built in the CPU 203 so that the wireless transmission / reception unit 202 is controlled and the sensor 206 is processed.

    The other sensor base station 21 is composed of an antenna 211, a wireless transmission / reception unit 212, a CPU 213, and a host I / F 214. The antenna 211 and the wireless transmission / reception unit 212 can transmit and receive data between the sensor unit 20 and the sensor base station 21. The host I / F 214 of the sensor base station 21 was connected to the user personal computer 4. The CPU 213 incorporates control software, and the wireless transmission / reception unit 212 and the host I / F 214 are controlled by the software.

    Since the user has a device configuration as described above, when the sensor 206 detects an event occurrence state (for example, someone intrudes), the signal is sent to the CPU 203, and the wireless transceiver 202 transmits the sensor base station. 21 to the user-side personal computer 4. The user-side personal computer 4 is installed with the control software for the web camera 7 described above. When the event generation signal is received from the sensor 206, the web camera 7 receives the setting information (the interval at which a still image is taken, The camera shoots a still image or a movie based on the time taken for shooting the image. The video is stored in a hard disk inside the personal computer, and is transmitted to the server device 5 via the Internet 3 together with data (measured values) from the sensor 206 (details will be described later).

    Here, when the setting is made to sound the buzzer 207 or blink the LED 208 when an event occurs, the output signal (digital signal) of the sensor (magnetic sensor) 206 is input to the CPU 203 and the digital I A signal is output from / O, whereby the buzzer 207 is sounded and the LED 208 is blinked. When the sensor 206 is a raindrop detection sensor, a digital signal is output, so that the buzzer 207 and the like are driven by the same method. On the other hand, when the sensor is a temperature sensor, an acceleration sensor, or an illuminance sensor, an analog signal is output. Therefore, the buzzer 207, the LED 208, etc. are converted into a digital signal by an A / D conversion unit built in the CPU 203. It is better to drive

Incidentally, as indicated by reference numeral 5 in FIG. 3, another personal computer (OS is a Windows (registered trademark) server of Microsoft Corporation) is connected to the Internet 3 to construct a server device. In this example,
(1) a data recording unit 55;
(2) a data management unit (setting information storage unit) 50;
(3) a WWW server (primary information storage unit) 52;
(4) the terminal unit 53;
(5) a communication unit (information transmission / reception unit) 51;
(6) a mail server (mail transmission unit) 54;
(7) the event processing unit 57;
(8) the user management unit 56;
(9) Control software storage unit 58;
The server apparatus 5 was configured by Each will be described below.

    The data recording unit 55 is a database that stores measurement data from the wireless sensor 2, video data from the web camera 7, necessary software, and the like.

    The data management unit 50 is a database that manages and stores access management information, setting information for each sensor device, event information, video data, and the like.

The WWW server 52 is restricted in access so that users who are permitted to connect can access it from the outside, and primary information (such as network information) input using the terminal 8 is provided. Information that does not require specialized knowledge) is stored. From this WWW server 52,
・ Already set information,
・ Data sent from the wireless sensor 2 in the past,
-The video sent from the web camera 7 can be acquired. Furthermore, a user having specialized knowledge about a network or the like can input and edit his / her setting information.

    The terminal unit 53 is a keyboard, a mouse, or the like, and is used by an operator to input setting information (primary information, settings for a network, etc.).

The communication unit 51 is for exchanging information via the Internet 3, and specifically,
-Sending the setting information stored in the data management unit 50 to the user personal computer 4,
・ Receive information from the personal computer 4
-Exchange information with the terminal 8 connected to the Internet 3,
can do.

    The mail server 54 notifies the user by e-mail that an event has occurred.

    The event processing unit 57 processes event information and video data sent from the user-side personal computer 4. Specifically, the received data is stored in the data management unit 50, and the set notification process is performed. When e-mail transmission is set, an e-mail text describing event information is created. If attachment of video or the like is specified, the e-mail is attached to the e-mail and sent to the specified e-mail address via the e-mail server 54.

    The user management unit 56 determines whether or not the connection from the user-side personal computer 4 is valid and whether or not the connection from the terminal 8 is valid, and blocks the invalid connection.

    The control software storage unit 58 stores a control software program that controls the operation of the entire server.

    The WWW server 52 and the mail server 54 described above can be realized by IIS operating on the OS, and the database server can be realized by SQL Server.

    By the way, the communication protocol between the user-side personal computer 4 and the server device 5 uses a Web service based on the same HTTP protocol as the WWW access. As a result, if the WWW access is possible, the communication started from the user personal computer 4 with respect to the server address of the server device 5 preset in the control software changes the settings of the broadband router and communication security software. Even without it.

    The setting information stored in the data management unit 50 described above is used via the Internet 3 in response to communication from the user-side personal computer 4 when the control software is started or at regular intervals (for example, every minute). Sent to the personal computer 4 and stored in the personal computer. The setting information can be confirmed on the display of the user-side personal computer 4 and can be changed as appropriate using a keyboard or the like. Then, the sensor base station 21 reads the setting information from the user-side personal computer 4 when the sensor base station 21 is activated by the control software built in the CPU 213 or at regular intervals (for example, every minute). . With this communication, the setting information on the sensor device side is updated. If the setting information is changed on the server device side, the changed setting information is used in the sensor device. The acquired setting information is temporarily stored in the built-in memory of the CPU 203.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a sensor system according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a sensor device and a sensor controller used in the sensor system. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the server apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1 Sensor system 2 Sensor device (wireless sensor)
3 Internet 4 Sensor controller (user side PC)
5 Server device 7 Web camera 50 Setting information storage unit (data management unit)
51 Information transmission / reception unit (communication unit)
52 Primary information storage (WWW server)
53 Setting information input part (terminal part)
54 Mail sending part (mail server)

Claims (7)

In a sensor system that transmits information detected by a sensor device via the Internet,
A sensor device for detecting predetermined information;
A sensor controller for controlling the sensor device and connected to the Internet;
A server device connected to the sensor controller via the Internet;
With
The server device includes a setting information storage unit that stores setting information for each sensor device, and transmits the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit to each sensor controller or information from the sensor controller. An information transmission / reception unit that receives information, a primary information storage unit that stores information obtained from a user and does not require knowledge of the network, and setting information including the primary information is set as the setting information. A setting information input unit to be input to the storage unit,
A sensor system characterized by that. The primary information is
・ Settings for whether or not to send an email notification when the sensor device detects an event occurrence ・ Settings for whether or not to shoot video with a web camera installed on the user side ・ Email the shot video・ Setting whether to attach to e-mail ・ Selecting whether video attached to the e-mail is a moving image or a still image ・ E-mail destination address when an event occurrence is detected ・ ON of the sensor device -At least one piece of information in the OFF instruction of the sensor device.
The sensor system according to claim 1. The setting information includes the primary information and information that requires knowledge about the network, etc.
The sensor system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein An email sending unit that notifies you that an event has occurred by email,
The sensor system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: The setting information input unit includes at least one of a keyboard and a mouse.
The sensor system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The information transmission / reception unit transmits setting information in response to communication from the sensor controller at a timing when the sensor controller is activated and / or at regular intervals.
The sensor system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: The sensor device and / or the sensor controller has a CPU and a memory and temporarily stores setting information transmitted from the information transmitting / receiving unit.
The sensor system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein:

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