JP2020195122A - Communication apparatus and control method for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently update firmware by wireless communication while suppressing an increase in power consumption. A communication device 100 switches a communication unit 140 that performs wireless communication to an activated state when the communication unit 140 starts data communication with a server, and communicates when the data communication is completed. A control unit 120 for switching the unit 140 to a hibernation state is provided. The communication unit 140 confirms whether or not the firmware of the communication unit 140 has been updated during data communication, and notifies the control unit 120 of the firmware update if there is a firmware update. When the communication unit 140 notifies that there is a firmware update, the control unit 120 maintains the communication unit 140 in the activated state even when the data communication is completed. [Selection diagram] Fig. 2

Description

The present invention relates to a communication device and a control method thereof.

Non-Patent Document 1 describes the technical specifications of LwM2M (Lightweight Machine to Machine), which is one of the communication protocols for device management for IoT (Internet of Things) devices.

LwM2M is used, for example, for the purpose of performing firmware update (FOTA: Firmware updates Over-The-Air) for a LwM2M client by wireless communication under control from a LwM2M server.

Further, the IoT device is generally started only during data communication in order to reduce power consumption, and is switched to a hibernation state (power off state or sleep state) when the data communication is completed.

"Lightweight Machine to Machine Technical Specification", Open Mobile Alliance, Internet <URL: http: // www. open mobile alliance. org / release / LightweightM2M / V1_0-20170208-A / OMA-TS-LightweightM2M-V1_0-20170208-A. pdf>

LwM2M assumes that the LwM2M client is always running, but even if the LwM2M server sends a FOTA start request to the IoT device, the FOTA start request is sent to the IoT device while the IoT device is in hibernation. Cannot be received.

In particular, the amount of data transmitted and received by the IoT device is as small as several bytes, and the time in the activated state can be several seconds, so it is difficult for the LwM2M server to cause the IoT device to start FOTA within this time.

On the other hand, if the IoT device (LwM2M client) is always in the activated state, the power consumption of the IoT device increases and the remaining battery level runs out early, so that it is not possible to meet the demand for long-time driving of the IoT device. ..

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a communication device and a control method thereof for efficiently updating firmware by wireless communication while suppressing an increase in power consumption.

The communication device according to the first aspect switches the communication unit to the activated state when starting data communication between the communication unit that performs wireless communication and the server via the communication unit, and when the data communication is completed. The control unit including a control unit that switches the communication unit to the hibernation state maintains the communication unit in the activated state even when the data communication is completed when there is a firmware update.

The control method according to the second aspect is when the communication unit that performs wireless communication and the communication unit are switched to the activated state when starting data communication with the server via the communication unit, and the data communication is completed. This is a method of controlling a communication device including a control unit that switches the communication unit to a hibernation state. The control method is that the communication unit confirms the presence or absence of a firmware update during the data communication, and if there is a firmware update, the control unit activates the communication unit even if the data communication is completed. Includes maintaining in.

The communication system according to the third aspect includes a server and a communication device, and the communication device performs wireless communication and switches to an activated state when starting data communication with the server, and the data communication is completed. In the communication system that switches to the hibernation state when the data communication is performed, the communication device maintains the communication unit in the activated state even if the data communication is completed when there is a firmware update during the data communication.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a communication device and a control method thereof for efficiently updating firmware by wireless communication while suppressing an increase in power consumption.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the communication system which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the communication device which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the operation of a general communication device. It is a figure which shows the operation of the communication device improved so that the FOTA which concerns on one Embodiment is performed efficiently (the 1). It is a figure which shows the operation of the communication device improved so that FOTA which concerns on one Embodiment is performed efficiently (the 2).

An embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are designated by the same or similar reference numerals.

(Communication system configuration)
First, the configuration of the communication system according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a communication system 1 according to an embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system 1 includes a communication device 100, a communication network 200, a server 300, an LwM2M server 400, and a FOTA server 500.

The communication device 100 is an IoT device having a wireless communication function. The communication device 100 is driven by a battery provided in the own device. Hereinafter, an example in which the communication device 100 is a device that orders a specific product from the server 300 in response to a button press will be mainly described. However, the communication device 100 may be a device that has various sensors and uploads sensor data to the server 300 at a predetermined event or a predetermined cycle. The amount of data sent and received by the communication device 100 to and from the server 300 may be about several bytes.

For example, the communication device 100 performs LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) wireless communication with the communication network 200. The LPWA method is a method that realizes long-distance wireless communication while suppressing power consumption. The LPWA method is, for example, cellular LPWA, SIGFOX, or LoRaWAN. Cellular LPWA ^may be 3GPP (3 rd Generation Partnership Project) eMTC specified in Standard (enhanced Machine Type Communications) or NB-IoT (Narrow Band-Internet of Things).

The communication device 100 is basically in a hibernate state (power off state or sleep state) in which wireless communication is not performed, and switches from the hibernate state to the activated state only when performing wireless communication with the base station 210 to perform wireless communication. Do. In the hibernation state, the power supply to the communication unit 140 (see FIG. 2) that performs wireless communication can be stopped, so that the battery drive time of the communication device 100 can be extended.

The communication network 200 includes a network provided by a telecommunications carrier. The communication network 200 may include the Internet. The communication network 200 has a base station 210 that performs wireless communication with the communication device 100. In FIG. 1, only one base station 210 included in the communication network 200 is illustrated, but the communication network 200 includes a plurality of base stations 210.

The server 300 is a device that provides a service to the communication device 100 via the communication network 200. The server 300 receives the order data for ordering a specific product from the communication device 100 via the communication network 200, and performs a process of delivering the ordered product to the user of the communication device 100. Alternatively, the server 300 may receive the sensor data from the communication device 100 via the communication network 200 and manage the received sensor data.

The LwM2M server 400 is a device that manages the communication device 100, which is an LwM2M client, based on the LwM2M standard via the communication network 200. The LwM2M server 400 manages firmware update (FOTA) for the communication device 100.

The FOTA server 500 is a device that distributes firmware to the communication device 100 via the communication network 200. The FOTA server 500 is an example of a firmware distribution server.

(Communication equipment configuration)
Next, the configuration of the communication device 100 according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the communication device 100.

As shown in FIG. 2, the communication device 100 includes an operation button 110, a control unit 120, a power management unit 130, a battery 131, a communication unit 140, and an antenna 150.

The operation button 110 is an example of an operation unit that accepts user operations. When the operation button 110 receives the pressing operation, the operation button 110 outputs a signal indicating the pressing operation to the control unit 120.

The control unit 120 controls the communication unit 140. The control unit 120 is composed of a microcomputer (so-called microcomputer) having a processor and a memory electrically connected to the processor. The control unit 120 is activated in response to a signal output from the operation button 110 to activate the communication unit 140, and the power management unit 130 supplies electric power to the communication unit 140.

Specifically, the control unit 120 switches the communication unit 140 to the activated state when the communication unit 140 starts data communication with the server 300, and switches the communication unit 140 to the hibernate state when the data communication is completed. .. The hibernation state is a state in which power supply to the communication unit 140 is stopped. The hibernation state corresponds to the power-off state of the communication unit 140. The hibernation state may be a sleep state in a PSM (Power Saving Mode).

The power management unit 130 manages the supply of electric power from the battery 131 to the control unit 120 and the communication unit 140. The power management unit 130 may always supply power to the control unit 120. The power management unit 130 manages the start and stop of power supply to the communication unit 140 under the control of the control unit 120.

The battery 131 is a primary battery or a secondary battery that stores electric power. The battery 131 outputs electric power to the power management unit 130.

The communication unit 140 is activated by the control of the control unit 120, and performs LPWA wireless communication via the antenna 150. The antenna 150 is used for transmitting and receiving radio signals.

The communication unit 140 includes a wireless transmission / reception unit 141, an application processing unit 142, an LwM2M function unit 143, a FOTA processing unit 144, and a firmware storage unit 145. The wireless transmission / reception unit 141 is composed of a wireless communication circuit, a baseband processor, and the like. The application processing unit 142, the LwM2M function unit 143, and the FOTA processing unit 144 are composed of at least one processor. The firmware storage unit 145 is composed of a non-volatile memory.

The radio transmission / reception unit 141 performs amplification processing, filtering processing, etc. on the radio signal received from the base station 210 by the antenna 150, converts the radio signal into reception data which is a baseband signal, and demodulates and decodes the reception data. To do. Further, the wireless transmission / reception unit 141 encodes and modulates the transmission data, converts it into a wireless signal, performs amplification processing or the like on the wireless signal, and transmits it from the antenna 150.

The application processing unit 142 transmits / receives data to / from the server 300 by communicating with the server 300 via the wireless transmission / reception unit 141. For example, when the control unit 120 notifies the information indicating that the operation button 110 has been pressed, the application processing unit 142 generates order data for ordering a specific product, and the server 300 via the wireless transmission / reception unit 141. Send the order data to.

The LwM2M function unit 143 communicates with the LwM2M server 400 via the wireless transmission / reception unit 141 based on the LwM2M standard. For example, the LwM2M function unit 143 communicates with the LwM2M server 400 to update the firmware.

The FOTA processing unit 144 downloads the firmware from the FOTA server 500 by communicating with the FOTA server 500 via the wireless transmission / reception unit 141. The FOTA processing unit 144 updates the firmware stored in the firmware storage unit 145 with the downloaded firmware.

The firmware storage unit 145 stores the firmware which is the control program of the communication unit 140. The firmware is a program that controls at least one of the wireless transmission / reception unit 141, the application processing unit 142, the LwM2M function unit 143, and the FOTA processing unit 144. The firmware may include a program that controls the control unit 120.

(Operation of communication equipment)
Next, the operation of the communication device 100 according to the embodiment will be described.

(1) Operation of General Communication Equipment 100 FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the operation of general communication equipment 100. This operation does not consider FOTA.

As shown in FIG. 3, in step S1, the control unit 120 detects a pressing operation on the operation button 110.

In step S2, the control unit 120 activates the communication unit 140 and causes the power management unit 130 to start supplying power to the communication unit 140 in response to the detection of the pressing operation. As a result, the communication unit 140 switches from the hibernation state (power off state) to the start state.

In step S3, the control unit 120 notifies the application processing unit 142 of the button pressing information indicating the pressing operation.

In step S4, when the button pressing information is notified from the control unit 120, the application processing unit 142 generates data for ordering a specific product and transmits this data to the server 300.

In step S5, the application processing unit 142 receives the delivery confirmation information (ACK) indicating that the server 300 has correctly received the data from the server 300.

In step S6, the application processing unit 142 notifies the control unit 120 that the data communication with the server 300 is completed.

In step S7, the control unit 120 notifies the application processing unit 142 of the power off instruction, and stops the power supply to the communication unit 140 to the power management unit 130.

In step S8, the communication unit 140 switches to the hibernation state (power off state).

Here, the communication device 100 (communication unit 140) is in the activated state during the time from step S2 to step S8.

LwM2M assumes that the LwM2M client is always running. Even if the FOTA start request is transmitted from the LwM2M server 400 to the communication device 100, the communication device 100 cannot receive the FOTA start request while the communication device 100 is in the hibernation state. Since the amount of data transmitted and received by the communication device 100 is as small as several bytes and the activated state can be several seconds, it is difficult for the LwM2M server 400 to cause the communication device 100 to start FOTA within this time.

(2) Operation of the improved communication device 100 FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrams showing the operation of the communication device 100 improved so as to efficiently perform FOTA.

As shown in FIG. 4, in step S100, the control unit 120 detects a pressing operation on the operation button 110.

In step S101, the control unit 120 activates the communication unit 140 and causes the power management unit 130 to start supplying power to the communication unit 140 in response to the detection of the pressing operation. As a result, the communication unit 140 switches from the hibernation state (power off state) to the start state. Here, in the communication unit 140, the application processing unit 142 is activated, but the LwM2M function unit 143 is not activated.

In step S102, the control unit 120 notifies the application processing unit 142 of the button pressing information indicating the pressing operation.

In step S103, when the button pressing information is notified from the control unit 120, the application processing unit 142 generates data for ordering a specific product and transmits this data to the server 300. The application processing unit 142 transmits version information (version number) indicating the firmware version of the communication unit 140 to the server 300 during data communication. It is assumed that the version information is stored in the firmware storage unit 145 together with the firmware.

In step S104, the application processing unit 142 receives the delivery confirmation information (ACK) indicating that the server 300 has correctly received the data from the server 300. Further, the server 300 confirms the version information from the communication device 100, and transmits the information on the presence or absence of FOTA to the communication device 100 together with the delivery confirmation information (ACK) of the data communication. For example, when the version indicated by the version information from the communication device 100 is older than the latest version, the server 300 transmits the information indicating the presence of FOTA to the communication device 100 together with the delivery confirmation information (ACK). The application processing unit 142 confirms whether or not the firmware has been updated based on the information on the presence or absence of FOTA from the server 300. In the following, the description will proceed on the assumption that the server 300 has notified that "FOTA is present".

In step S105, the application processing unit 142 sets the LwM2M valid flag (that is, sets “1”). The LwM2M valid flag is a flag indicating that the LwM2M functional unit 143 needs to be activated after the communication unit 140 is reset.

In step S106, the application processing unit 142 notifies the control unit 120 that there is a firmware update (FOTA).

In step S107, when the communication unit 140 notifies that there is a firmware update, the control unit 120 maintains the communication unit 140 in the activated state (power-on state) even when the data communication with the server 300 is completed. That is, the control unit 120 prevents the power off instruction.

In step S108, the application processing unit 142 resets (initializes) its own state. As a result, the communication unit 140 is reset (step S109). When the communication unit 140 is reset, the LwM2M function unit 143 is activated according to the setting of the LwM2M valid flag.

In step S110, the LwM2M functional unit 143 communicates with the LwM2M server 400 and authenticates with the LwM2M server 400. When the authentication is completed, the LwM2M server 400 determines that FOTA is necessary, and notifies the LwM2M functional unit 143 of the "Package URI" used for accessing the FOTA server 500. The LwM2M functional unit 143 notifies the FOTA processing unit 144 of this "Package URI" (step S112).

As shown in FIG. 5, in step S113, the FOTA processing unit 144 performs a connection process to the FOTA server 500 based on the "Package URI". Further, the FOTA processing unit 144 notifies the LwM2M function unit 143 of the start of firmware download (step S114).

In step S115, the FOTA processing unit 144 downloads the firmware difference package from the FOTA server 500, for example, using HTTPS communication. The difference package is the firmware corresponding to the difference between the old firmware and the latest firmware.

In step S116, the FOTA processing unit 144 notifies the LwM2M function unit 143 that the firmware download is complete.

In step S117, the FOTA processing unit 144 updates the firmware stored in the firmware storage unit 145 with the downloaded firmware.

In steps S118 and S119, the FOTA processing unit 144 notifies the LwM2M function unit 143 and the application processing unit 142 of the completion of the firmware update.

In step S120, the application processing unit 142 turns off the LwM2M enable flag (that is, sets zero) in response to the notification of the completion of the firmware update.

In step S121, the application processing unit 142 notifies the control unit 120 that the firmware update (FOTA) has been completed.

In step S122, the control unit 120 notifies the application processing unit 142 of the power off instruction and stops the power supply to the communication unit 140 to the power management unit 130 in response to the notification that the firmware update is completed. As a result, in step S123, the communication unit 140 is switched to the hibernation state (power off state).

(Summary of Embodiment)
As described above, in the communication device 100 according to the embodiment, the communication unit 140 confirms the presence or absence of the firmware update during the data communication, and notifies the control unit 120 of the firmware update if there is a firmware update. When the communication unit 140 notifies that there is a firmware update, the control unit 120 maintains the communication unit 140 in the activated state even when the data communication is completed.

As a result, even if the communication unit 140 is configured to start only during data communication in order to reduce power consumption, if it is confirmed that there is a firmware update at startup, the boot state can be maintained for firmware update. , Firmware update can be performed efficiently.

In one embodiment, the communication unit 140 transmits version information indicating the firmware version of the communication unit 140 to the server 300 during data communication. The communication unit 140 confirms the presence / absence of the firmware update by receiving the information indicating the presence / absence of the firmware update from the server 300. As a result, it is possible to confirm whether or not the firmware has been updated in the operation of the general communication device 100, so that the firmware can be updated efficiently.

In one embodiment, when the communication unit 140 notifies the control unit 120 that there is a firmware update, it activates the LwM2M function (LwM2M function unit 143) for updating the firmware, and uses the LwM2M function to connect with the LwM2M server 400. connect. As a result, since it is only necessary to start the LwM2M function unit 143 when updating the firmware, the power consumption can be reduced as compared with the case where the LwM2M function unit 143 is always started.

In one embodiment, the communication unit 140 downloads the firmware from the FOTA server 500 by communicating with the FOTA server 500 based on the communication with the LwM2M server 400. This allows the firmware to be properly downloaded in FOTA.

In one embodiment, when the firmware update is completed, the communication unit 140 notifies the control unit 120 that the firmware update is completed. When the communication unit 140 notifies that the firmware update is completed, the control unit 120 switches the communication unit 140 from the activated state to the hibernate state. As a result, the communication unit 140 can be switched to the hibernation state after waiting for the completion of the firmware update, so that FOTA can be efficiently performed while suppressing an increase in power consumption.

(Other embodiments)
In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the communication system 1 has three servers of the server 300, the LwM2M server 400, and the FOTA server 500 has been described, but these servers may be further subdivided, or two or more. The servers may be integrated into one.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the communication device 100 is a device for ordering a specific product from the server 300 in response to a button press has been mainly described, but the communication device 100 is a sensor device having various sensors. You may.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example of uploading data from the communication device 100 to the server 300 has been described, but the communication device 100 may download data from the server 300.

A program may be provided that causes the computer to execute each process performed by the communication device 100. The program may be recorded on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media can be used to install programs on a computer. Here, the computer-readable medium on which the program is recorded may be a non-transient recording medium. The non-transient recording medium is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM. Further, the communication device 100 may be configured as a semiconductor integrated circuit (chipset, SoC) by integrating the functional units (circuits) that execute each process performed by the communication device 100.

Although the embodiments have been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to the above, and various design changes and the like can be made without departing from the gist.

1: Communication system 100: Communication device 110: Operation button 120: Control unit 130: Power supply management unit 131: Battery 140: Communication unit 141: Wireless transmission / reception unit 142: Application processing unit 143: LwM2M function unit 144: FOTA processing unit 145: Firmware storage 150: Antenna 200: Communication network 210: Base station 300: Server 400: LwM2M server 500: FOTA server

Claims (7)

With the communication unit that performs wireless communication
The communication unit includes a control unit that switches the communication unit to the activated state when starting data communication with the server, and switches the communication unit to the hibernate state when the data communication is completed.
During the data communication, the control unit is a communication device that maintains the communication unit in the activated state even when the data communication is completed when there is a firmware update. The communication unit
Version information indicating the firmware version is transmitted to the server during the data communication.
The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the presence or absence of the firmware update is confirmed by receiving information indicating the presence or absence of the firmware update from the server. According to claim 1 or 2, when the communication unit notifies the control unit that the firmware is updated, it activates the LwM2M function for updating the firmware and communicates with the LwM2M server using the LwM2M function. Communication equipment. The communication device according to claim 3, wherein the communication unit downloads firmware from the firmware distribution server by communicating with the firmware distribution server based on communication with the LwM2M server. When the firmware update is completed, the communication unit notifies the control unit that the firmware update is completed.
The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein when the communication unit notifies that the firmware update is completed, the control unit switches the communication unit from the startup state to the hibernation state. .. With the communication unit that performs wireless communication
Controls a communication device including a control unit that switches the communication unit to an activated state when starting data communication with a server by the communication unit, and switches the communication unit to a hibernate state when the data communication is completed. It ’s a control method,
The communication unit confirms the presence or absence of the firmware update during the data communication, and
A control method including, when there is a firmware update during the data communication, the control unit maintains the communication unit in the activated state even when the data communication is completed. It has a server and communication equipment,
In a communication system in which the communication device performs wireless communication, switches to an activated state when starting data communication with the server, and switches to a hibernate state when the data communication is completed.
The communication device is a communication system that maintains the communication unit in the activated state even when the data communication is completed when there is a firmware update during the data communication.

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