JP6750444B2 - Wireless communication network system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention is capable of wirelessly communicating directly with another wireless terminal or indirectly via another wireless terminal to another wireless terminal, and data measured by a sensor connected to the wireless terminal is a gateway (Gateway). The present invention relates to a wireless communication network system used for supervisory control that is integrated in a center device via a network.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional multi-hop wireless communication network. The plurality of wireless terminals X1 to X6 forming the wireless communication network have a communication path indicated by a solid line connecting the wireless terminals, indicating that they can send and receive data to and from each other.

The wireless terminals X1 to X6 send and receive data in packets, and each wireless terminal has the minimum number of communications until the packet to be transmitted reaches the destination wireless terminal and the above-mentioned number of communications. And configuration information that enables selection of a communication path.

As a terminal forming a conventional multi-hop wireless communication network, an intermittent operation wireless terminal as shown in FIG. 8 is usually used, and a wireless terminal to be intervened up to the destination of transmission data to be communicated It becomes possible to communicate with the wireless terminal directly or indirectly via the other wireless terminal.

By configuring such a multi-hop wireless communication network, it is possible to directly or indirectly send and receive communication data to and from all wireless terminals in the wireless communication network.

Also, when configuring a sensor network with a multi-hop wireless communication network, various sensors are connected to the intermittent operation wireless terminal, and the information detected by the sensor can be shared by all wireless terminals in the network. It

For wireless access by the intermittent operation wireless terminal, the RIT (Receiver Initiated Transmission) method, which is defined in IEEE802.15.4e, is often adopted. The RIT is provided as an access method for battery-powered wireless terminals in sensor networks and the like, and enables low power consumption communication to be realized.

Assuming that all the wireless terminals shown in FIG. 8 wirelessly access by the RIT method, all the wireless terminals broadcast the beacon at a specific cycle. The beacon stores an ID (identification number) for identifying the transmitted wireless terminal, and it is possible to identify which wireless terminal (reception terminal) has transmitted the beacon.

After the beacon is transmitted, it waits for reception of the transmission data for a short time. In order to reduce power consumption, each wireless terminal realizes an intermittent operation by stopping (sleeping) the transmission/reception function of the wireless terminal during the time other than the beacon transmission and the waiting state of the transmission data reception.

By the way, the wireless communication network shown in FIG. 8 does not describe a wireless terminal having a function of connecting to a center device connected to another network, but a specific wireless terminal has a gateway (Gateway: hereinafter, referred to as “GW”). Function is added and the measurement data detected by the sensor connected to the wireless terminal is aggregated in the center device to realize the monitoring control device or the wireless communication network system including the wireless communication network shown in FIG. It will be possible.

When a new wireless terminal is attempted to enter the wireless communication network shown in FIG. 8, according to the conventional method, after the installer installs the wireless terminal, the center apparatus is called to confirm whether or not the setting was correctly made. Then, the wireless terminal polls the wireless terminal and the wireless terminal returns a response to the center apparatus to confirm that the wireless terminal has been properly installed.

Furthermore, since configuration information (hop count table) is prepared for each wireless terminal, when a new wireless terminal enters, the existing wireless terminal must update the hop count table. It took a long time to update the table. I will come back to this later.

In the meanwhile, in Patent Document 1 below, the second relay base station 8 sets the number of transit stages “−1” and “0” with the first and second relay base stations 6 and 7 other than itself. The number of stages "0", which is one stage higher than the minimum number "-1" of transit stages among them, is retained as the number of transit stages of its own in the routing table RT-8 together with its own identification code, and this routing table RT-8 Discloses an automatic meter-reading system that enables you to set the shortest route even when a relay base station is added by selecting the communication route with the minimum number of transit stages using Has been done.

Further, in Patent Document 2 below, each wireless terminal is configured by a plurality of wireless terminals that perform wireless data communication, and each wireless terminal stores and refers to system configuration information. In a wireless communication network system that can communicate with all other wireless terminals by relaying to a terminal, a wireless communication network system that enables communication even in a wireless terminal not included in the configuration information if communication is possible Is disclosed.

JP, 2003-030772, A JP, 2010-028175, A

In a wireless communication network system provided with a wireless communication network such as a so-called multi-hop network and a center device that aggregates data measured by a sensor attached to a terminal of the wireless communication network, the wireless communication network is newly added to the wireless communication network. When a wireless terminal attempts to enter, a mechanism for assigning a network ID (identification number) to a newly entered wireless terminal entered by a management terminal equipped with a number issuing function in an existing wireless communication network is required. ..

Further, in order to collect the measurement data of the sensor attached to the new wireless terminal with respect to the newly entered wireless terminal, the center device needs to confirm the combination of the newly entered wireless terminal and the sensor operating accompanying it. ..

In order to implement these, in the past, after the installer installed the wireless terminal, he called the center device whether the setting was correct, polled the wireless device from the center device, and the wireless terminal responded to the center device. I had to make sure that the wireless terminal was installed correctly by returning it.

In order to avoid using the above method, the wireless terminal newly joining somehow accesses the management terminal having the number issuing function in the existing wireless communication network to acquire the network number (ID). That the center device confirms in some way the combination of the newly joining wireless terminal that has acquired the ID and the accompanying sensor, and that each existing wireless communication network terminal is provided for the newly joining wireless terminal A method for updating information in some way to make the existing wireless communication network aware of the existence of a new wireless terminal has been considered, but has not been realized.

For example, a technique for a new wireless terminal to access an existing wireless communication network can be realized by following the method disclosed in Patent Document 2 above.
However, in the method disclosed in Patent Document 2, the management terminal having the number issuing function in the network assigns the network number, and the center device combines the newly entered wireless terminal and the sensor attached thereto. There is no description about confirmation.

If there is a management terminal in Patent Document 2, and a wireless terminal newly entering the network sets a maximum number of hops in order to deliver data to the management terminal via a wireless terminal already installed in the wireless communication network. If the data is transmitted by using the data transmission, the routing to the management terminal having the number issuing function becomes possible.

However, since the hop count of the newly joining wireless terminal is not registered in the routing of the return route, the management terminal cannot respond to the newly joining wireless terminal.
Although the number of hops for a new wireless terminal can be registered in an adjacent terminal that receives a request from a new wireless terminal, each wireless terminal recognizes the wireless terminal after the new wireless terminal and updates the configuration information. After creating new configuration information, a return communication path from the management terminal will be established.Therefore, it is necessary to confirm the combination of a new wireless terminal and its accompanying sensor by a center device existing on a different network. Requires time to prepare new configuration information for all existing wireless terminals, so it takes a considerable amount of time to confirm whether new wireless terminals have been installed correctly. there were.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is, in a so-called multi-hop network, confirmation of a combination of a wireless terminal newly entering a network by a management terminal for a wireless terminal trying to newly join the network and a newly joining wireless terminal by a center device, and a sensor accompanying it. It is to provide a wireless communication network system capable of promptly performing.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a wireless communication network system comprising a wireless communication network that constitutes a so-called multi-hop network, and a center device connected to the wireless communication network via a gateway. There
The wireless communication network includes a plurality of intermittent operation wireless terminals each having configuration information for managing the number of hops to all terminals in the network, and one of the intermittent operation wireless terminals has a number issuing function in the network. In a wireless communication network that serves as a management terminal having a gateway function for connecting to the center device,
The wireless terminal trying to newly enter the network is
Means for receiving beacons from adjacent wireless terminals,
A means for acquiring the number of hops to the management terminal by exchanging configuration information with respect to the adjacent wireless terminal that has transmitted the beacon having the strongest electric field strength,
Data transmitting means for transmitting a packet including the number of hops to the management terminal by uplink communication to the management terminal via the adjacent wireless terminal,
Each of the wireless terminals involved in relaying data to the management terminal in the upstream communication subtracts the number of hops to the management terminal of its own terminal from the number of hops to the management terminal stored in the packet. Then, means for registering in the configuration information of the own terminal as the number of hops of the newly entered wireless terminal,
When a wireless terminal attempting to newly join the network appears, the configuration information of the wireless terminals involved in the uplink communication from the newly joining wireless terminal to the management terminal is updated.

Further, in the above, the management terminal returns the data of the numbering associated with the network entry to the new entry wireless terminal based on the configuration information updated in the uplink communication, and assigns it to the center apparatus. The number is notified.

Further, in the above, the center device starts accepting the sensor value from the newly joining wireless terminal to the newly joining wireless terminal via the management terminal based on the number notified from the managing terminal. It is characterized in that the wireless terminal of the new entry knows that it has been confirmed by the center device by making a notification to that effect.

Further, in the above, the wireless terminal not involved in the upstream communication updates the configuration information by exchanging the configuration information when communicating with the terminals (including the management terminal) involved in the upstream communication. It is characterized by

According to the present invention, it is possible to shorten the time required for updating the configuration information by first updating the configuration information in the wireless terminal in the multi-hop network by the upstream communication of the wireless terminal involved in the upstream communication. ..

Then, after that, the wireless terminal not involved in the uplink communication updates the configuration information of its own station by exchanging the configuration information during the communication with the wireless terminals (including the management terminal) involved in the uplink communication. Then, by transmitting this to the entire network, the time required for updating the configuration information in the entire network can be shortened.

Further, according to the present invention, it becomes easy to confirm the combination of the wireless terminal newly entered by the center device and the sensor operating in association with the wireless terminal through the management terminal that also serves as the GW.

It is a figure which shows an example of the change of the structure information in a wireless communication network system and the wireless terminal when there is a new entry on the network which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of configuration information in a wireless communication network system and wireless terminals on a network according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the structure information which each wireless terminal A, B, and C manages. It is a figure which shows the communication sequence and the mode of table registration when a wireless terminal newly joins an existing wireless communication network. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a new entry wireless terminal (transmitting wireless terminal) and a receiving wireless terminal shown in FIG. 4. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a packet format used by embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the data transmission sequence based on RIT. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the conventional multihop wireless communication network.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of changes in configuration information in a wireless communication network system according to an embodiment of the present invention and a wireless terminal when a new entry is made on the network. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of configuration information in the wireless communication network system and the wireless terminals on the network according to the embodiment of the present invention.

First, the configuration of the wireless communication network system according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 2, which is a prerequisite of the configuration of FIG.
In FIG. 2, it is assumed that the wireless communication network 1 is constructed by the wireless terminals A to F, and the wireless terminal X is on standby there in an attempt to make a new entry.

The wireless communication network 1 in FIG. 2 has already functioned as a network, and each wireless terminal has configuration information regarding the network. In the illustrated example, the configuration information of other wireless terminals managed by the wireless terminals A to C is provided. The configuration information 4 to 6 excluding is illustrated. Since detailed configuration information will be described with reference to FIG. 3, only the outline will be described here.

In addition, in FIG. 2, a wireless terminal A (which is also referred to as a “gateway: GW”) having a management function of the network 1 is provided, which takes charge of issuing a number (ID) in the network. It is configured to be connected to the center device 3 via an NCU (Network Control Unit) 2. Therefore, since the center device 3 is included in the system, it is called a "wireless communication network system".

The NCU 2 is a general term for a device for controlling a telephone line, has a telephone line on/off function, and is usually built in a modem.
1 and 2, each of the wireless terminals A to F and X is an intermittently operating wireless terminal and transmits a beacon at a specific cycle. The beacon stores an ID (identification number) for identifying the transmitted wireless terminal, and it is possible to identify which wireless terminal transmitted the beacon.

After the beacon is transmitted, it waits for reception of the transmission data for a short time. As a method of executing such a transmission/reception sequence, for example, a RIT (Receiver Initiated Transmission) method defined by IEEE802.15.4e is known. This will be described later. The RIT has already been put into practical use as an access method for low power consumption communication provided to a wireless terminal driven by a battery in a sensor network or the like.

Therefore, in order to reduce power consumption, the wireless terminal according to the present invention stops (sleeps) the transmission/reception function of the wireless terminal during the time other than the beacon transmission and the transmission data reception waiting state. This realizes intermittent operation.

The configuration information described in FIG. 2 will be briefly described. In FIG. 2, since the terminal X may be looking for a new entry, only the configuration information related to FIG. 1 described later is shown. That is, the wireless terminal A has the configuration information 4 of self-involvement, terminals B and E have the number of times of communication (hop count) of 1, and terminals C and D of the number of times of communication (hop count) are 2. , F.

Further, the wireless terminal B has configuration information 5 of self-involvement, terminals A, C, and D having a communication count (hop count) of 1 and E, a terminal having a communication count (hop count) of 2, There is F.
Further, the wireless terminal C has the configuration information 6 of self-involvement, B, D, and F are terminals having a communication count (hop count) of 1, and A is a terminal having a communication count (hop count) of 2. There is E.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of configuration information managed by each of the wireless terminals A, B, and C. In FIG. 3, since the configuration information shown in the upper part of each wireless terminal is the self-involved configuration information described above, the configuration information of other wireless terminals to be managed shown in the lower part of each wireless terminal will be described. That is,
The configuration information in the lower part of the wireless terminal A shows an example of configuration information in which the wireless terminal A manages another terminal, and the wireless terminal A uses the wireless terminal B, as configuration information in which the wireless terminal A manages another terminal. Regarding the wireless terminal B having C and D, the terminal having the communication count (hop count) of 1 has A, C and D, and the terminal having the communication count (hop count) of 2 has E and F.

Regarding the wireless terminal C, terminals having a communication count (hop count) of 1 have B, D, and F, and terminals having a communication count (hop count) of 2 have A and E.
Regarding the wireless terminal D, terminals having a communication count (hop count) of 1 have B and E, and terminals having a communication count (hop count) of 2 have C, D, and F.

The configuration information in the lower part of the wireless terminal B shows an example of configuration information in which the wireless terminal B manages another terminal, and the wireless terminal B uses the wireless terminal A, as the configuration information in which the wireless terminal B manages another terminal. Regarding the wireless terminal A having C and D, the terminal having the number of times of communication (hop count) has B and E, and the terminal having the number of times of communication (hop count) has C, D and F.

Regarding the wireless terminal C, terminals having a communication count (hop count) of 1 have B, D, and F, and terminals having a communication count (hop count) of 2 have A and E.
Regarding the wireless terminal D, a terminal having a communication count (hop count) of 1 has B, C, E, and F, and a terminal having a communication count (hop count) of 2 has A.

The configuration information in the lower part of the wireless terminal C shows an example of configuration information in which the wireless terminal C manages another terminal. The wireless terminal C uses the wireless terminal B, as configuration information in which the wireless terminal C manages another terminal. Regarding the wireless terminal B having D and F, the terminal having the communication count (hop count) of 1 has A, C and D, and the terminal having the communication count (hop count) of 2 has the E and F.

Regarding the wireless terminal D, a terminal having a communication count (hop count) of 1 has B, C, E, and F, and a terminal having a communication count (hop count) of 2 has A.
Regarding the wireless terminal F, terminals having a communication count (hop count) of 1 have C, D, and E, and terminals having a communication count (hop count) of 2 have A and B.

The description will proceed to FIG. 1 with these self-involved configuration information and configuration information for managing other terminals in mind.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a change in the configuration information in the wireless terminal when a new entry is made in the wireless communication network 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Assume that you have entered the communication network 1.

In order to newly enter the wireless communication network 1, the wireless terminal X acquires (1) a number (ID) from the wireless terminal A having a number issuing function, and (2) new in order to newly enter the wireless communication network 1. In order for the wireless terminal X that has entered the wireless communication network 1 to be recognized in the network, it is necessary to register (update) the configuration information in each wireless terminal.

In FIG. 1, since there is no builder as before, the wireless terminal X waits for the arrival of a beacon from the receiving terminal that receives the transmission data in order to transmit the transmission data.
In a wireless communication network that adopts a wireless access method such as RIT described above, the beacon is periodically transmitted, so that the wireless terminal X can receive the beacon.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state of registration of a communication sequence and configuration information (hop count table) when a wireless terminal newly joins an existing wireless communication network.
The upper part of FIG. 4 shows a state in which the wireless terminals C and B, which indicate that they are ready to receive the transmission data of the wireless terminal X that is about to newly enter, transmit the beacon.

The wireless terminal X is in the beacon reception mode and continuously receives beacons transmitted by other terminals. By receiving the beacons from the wireless terminals C and B, these terminals are recognized as adjacent wireless terminals.

Then, of the received beacons, the one having the highest electric field strength (in this case, the wireless terminal C) is selected and this wireless terminal C is determined as the transmission target.
The wireless terminal X performs table exchange (exchange of configuration information) with the wireless terminal C selected as the transmission target as shown in the middle part of FIG. 4, and thereby the number of hops from the wireless terminal C to the GW (terminal A) ( N=3) is acquired. Therefore, it can be recognized that the number of hops (N+1) from the wireless terminal X to the GW (terminal A) is the number of hops obtained by adding +1 to the number of hops obtained from the wireless terminal C.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a packet format used in the embodiment of the present invention. The wireless terminal X sets a temporary source address 130 in the header section 110 of the format shown in FIG. 6, sets a GW (terminal A) in the destination address 140, and sets a hop obtained from the wireless terminal C in the hop count 150. Set the number of hops that is +1 to the number.

In the data section 160 of the data section 120, since the terminal itself is a new entry into the existing wireless communication network 1, a packet including an ID (identification number) assignment request is created and directed to the GW (terminal A). Requesting uplink communication from the wireless terminal C.

As shown in the lower part of FIG. 4, until the uplink communication to the management terminal A is performed, the wireless terminal C has the management terminal A stored in the header section 110 of the packet shown in FIG. The number of hops of the wireless terminal X is registered in the self-involvement configuration information 6 of the terminal C as the number of hops of the newly entered wireless terminal by subtracting the number of hops to the management terminal A of the own terminal from the number of hops of ..

Similarly, the wireless terminal B subtracts the hop count to the management terminal A of the terminal B from the hop count to the management terminal A stored in the header part 110 of the packet set by the wireless terminal X shown in FIG. As a result, the hop count of the wireless terminal X is registered in the self-involvement configuration information 5 of the terminal B as the hop count of the newly entered wireless terminal.

Then, the wireless terminal A subtracts the number of hops to the management terminal A from the number of hops to the management terminal A stored in the header section 110 of the packet set by the wireless terminal X shown in FIG. The number of hops of the wireless terminal X is registered in the self-involvement configuration information 4 of the terminal A as the number of hops of the wireless terminal that has entered.

However, by exchanging a table with the wireless terminal C, the configuration information of the self-participation of the wireless terminal X is newly registered as the configuration information 7 written together with the terminal X in FIG.
In this way, since the configuration information (the number of hops) related to the newly entered wireless terminal is updated by the uplink communication by the newly entered wireless terminal, it is possible to shorten the time required to update the configuration information. Become.

Further, the management terminal A refers to the configuration information updated by the above-mentioned upstream communication, and returns the numbering data associated with the network entry to the new entry wireless terminal X.
Further, the management terminal A will notify the above-mentioned center device 3 of the network number given to the wireless terminal X newly joining the wireless communication network 1.

In addition, the center device 3 is based on the network number notified from the management terminal A as described above, and the new wireless terminal X from the center device 3 to the new wireless terminal X via the management terminal A. Will notify that the sensor value can be started to be received by the sensor attached to the.

By doing so, the wireless terminal X that is newly entering will know that the new entry has been confirmed by the center device 3.
Note that the update of the configuration information by the uplink communication in the above is for speeding up the entry of the wireless terminal of a new entry into the system, and the update of the configuration information in the terminal that is not involved in the uplink communication is the uplink communication. Since the configuration information is updated by exchanging the configuration information during communication with the involved wireless terminals (including the management terminal), the time required to update the configuration information required for the entire network is shortened. It becomes possible.

To further explain this point, since the management terminal A involved in the upstream communication has the updated configuration information, for example, when the measurement data of the terminal E is sent to the center apparatus via the terminal A, the terminal E Will communicate with the terminal A, and at this time, the terminal E can receive the updated configuration information from the terminal A, and accordingly updates its own configuration information.

Therefore, as described above, the wireless terminals involved in the upstream communication promptly update the configuration information, so that the wireless terminals not involved in the upstream communication also communicate with the wireless terminals (including the management terminal) involved in the upstream communication. By doing so, the configuration information can be updated, and as a result, the update of the configuration information due to the appearance of a new entry terminal can be quickly spread to all wireless terminals in the wireless communication network.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the new entry wireless terminal (transmission wireless terminal) and an adjacent reception wireless terminal shown in FIG.
The wireless terminal C shown in FIG. 5 transmits a beacon to the wireless terminal X and receives data from the wireless terminal X in response to the beacon, and is therefore referred to as a “receiving terminal” here.

The wireless terminal X shown in FIG. 5 is a wireless terminal that transmits data when a beacon is received. Since the wireless terminal X transmits data, the wireless terminal X is referred to as a “transmission terminal” here.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a data transmission sequence based on RIT. What is defined in IEEE802.15.4e as wireless access by RIT (Receiver Initiated Transmission), which has been introduced above, will be explained again.

As shown in FIG. 7, when a transmission request is generated, the data transmission terminal is in a state of waiting for continuous beacon reception.
When the beacon from the data receiving terminal is received in the continuous beacon waiting state, the ID (identification number) stored in the received beacon identifies the terminal as one that can transmit data, and the data receiving terminal After sending the beacon, the data is sent to the data reception waiting state.

Thereby, the data transmitting terminal can transmit data to the data receiving terminal. The data receiving terminal can also receive data from the data transmitting terminal.
Returning to FIG. 5, the description will be continued. In FIG. 5, the wireless terminal is described separately for the transmitting side and the receiving side, but an actual wireless terminal has functions of a receiving terminal (operating state control unit 31a) and a transmitting terminal (operating state control unit 31b). It will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

[Configuration of receiving terminal]
The receiving terminal C includes a control unit 12a, a wireless transmission unit 13a, a wireless reception unit 14a, a transmission/reception switching unit 15a, an antenna 16a, a battery 17a, an interface 18a, a switch 19a, and a switch 20a. Further, the receiving terminal C has configuration information (table) in a memory (not shown).

The control unit 12a includes an operation state control unit 31a, a data transmission control unit 35a, and a beacon determination unit 36a, and controls transmission/reception of data. Further, the control unit 12a can use an information processing device such as a CPU.

The operation state control unit 31a includes a transmission state control unit 32a, a reception state control unit 33a, and an intermittent operation control unit 34a.
The wireless transmission unit 13a modulates data and wirelessly transmits it to a target wireless terminal. The wireless receiver 14a receives and demodulates the signal transmitted from the wireless terminal.

The transmission/reception switching unit 15a controls transmission/reception switching by a control signal (not shown) from the control unit 12a. For example, the intermittent operation control unit 34a controls the switching.
The antenna 16a transmits data modulated for wireless communication with the wireless terminal and receives a signal sent from the wireless terminal.

The battery 17a supplies electric power to the wireless transmission unit 13a, the wireless reception unit 14a, and the control unit 12a. The battery is not limited to the battery as long as it supplies electric power.
The interface 18a exchanges data with a host device. It should be noted that, for example, an information processing device, a switch, a sensor, a display, and the like are assumed as the higher-level device.

The switch 19a is controlled by the transmission state control unit 32a to turn on/off the power of the wireless transmission unit 13a. The switch 20a is controlled by the reception state control unit 33a to turn on/off the power of the wireless reception unit 14a.

The data transmission control unit 35a is connected to the beacon determination unit 36a and the host device, and controls transmission of transmission data based on the control signals and data contents transferred from these units. The beacon determination unit 36a identifies the wireless terminal based on the received data content.

Next, the operation state control unit 31a will be described. The transmission state control unit 32a is connected to the data transmission control unit 35a and the intermittent operation control unit 34a, and controls the switch 19a based on the data transmitted from the data transmission control unit 35a and the intermittent operation control unit 34a.

The reception state control unit 33a is connected to the data transmission control unit 35a and the intermittent operation control unit 34a, and controls the switch 20a based on the data transmitted from the data transmission control unit 35a and the intermittent operation control unit 34a.

The intermittent operation control unit 34a controls the transmission state control unit 32a and the reception state control unit 33a based on the time value measured by the timer to intermittently shift the wireless transmission unit 13a or the wireless reception unit 14a to the operating state.

In addition, the control unit 12a enters a sleep state in order to maintain the power consumption of the control unit 12a itself to the minimum, and shifts to the operating state after a certain time based on the time value measured by the timer provided in the control unit 12a. You can

[Configuration of sending terminal]
The transmission terminal X includes a control unit 12b, a wireless transmission unit 13b, a wireless reception unit 14b, a transmission/reception switching unit 15b, an antenna 16b, a battery 17b, an interface 18b, a switch 19b, and a switch 20b. Further, the transmission terminal X can have configuration information (table) in a memory (not shown).

The control unit 12b includes an operation state control unit 31b, a data transmission control unit 35b, and a beacon determination unit 36b, and controls transmission/reception of data. Further, the control unit 12b can use an information processing device such as a CPU.

The operation state control unit 31b includes a transmission state control unit 32b, a reception state control unit 33b, and an intermittent operation control unit 34b.
The wireless transmission unit 13b modulates data and wirelessly transmits it to a target wireless terminal. The wireless reception unit 14b receives and demodulates the signal transmitted from the wireless terminal.

The transmission/reception switching unit 15b controls transmission/reception switching by a control signal (not shown) from the control unit 12b. For example, the intermittent operation control unit 34b controls the switching.
The antenna 16b transmits data that has been modulated to perform wireless communication with a wireless terminal, and receives a signal sent from another wireless terminal.

The battery 17b supplies power to the wireless transmission unit 13b, the wireless reception unit 14b, and the control unit 12b. The battery is not limited to the battery as long as it supplies electric power.
The interface 18b exchanges data with a host device. It should be noted that, for example, an information processing device, a switch, a sensor, a display, and the like are assumed as the higher-level device.

The switch 19b is controlled by the transmission state control unit 32b to turn on/off the power of the wireless transmission unit 13b. The switch 20b is controlled by the reception state control unit 33b to turn on/off the power of the wireless reception unit 14b.

The data transmission control unit 35b is connected to the beacon determination unit 36b and the host device, and controls transmission of transmission data based on the control signals and data contents transferred from these units. The beacon determination unit 36b identifies the wireless terminal based on the received data content.

Next, the operation state control unit 31b will be described.
The transmission state control unit 32b is connected to the data transmission control unit 35b and the intermittent operation control unit 34b, and controls the switch 19b based on the data transmitted from the data transmission control unit 35b and the intermittent operation control unit 34b.

The reception state control unit 33b is connected to the data transmission control unit 35b and the intermittent operation control unit 34b, and controls the switch 20b based on the data transmitted from the data transmission control unit 35b and the intermittent operation control unit 34b.

The intermittent operation control unit 34b intermittently shifts the wireless transmission unit 13b or the wireless reception unit 14b to the operating state. In other words, the operating state control unit 31b enters a sleep state in order to maintain the power consumption of the control unit 12b itself to the minimum, and waits for reception when a transmission event occurs based on the time value measured by the timer provided in the control unit 12b. The state is transited to the transmission state.

1 wireless communication network 2 NCU (network control unit)
3 Center device 4-7 Example of configuration information of self-involvement
12a, 12b control unit
13a, 13b Wireless transmitter
14a, 14b Wireless receiver
15a, 15b send/receive switching unit
16a, 16b antenna
17a, 17b batteries
18a, 18b interface
19a, 19b switch
20a, 20b switch
31a, 31b Operating state controller
32a, 32b Transmission status controller
33a, 33b Reception state control unit
34a, 34b Intermittent operation controller
35a, 35b Data transmission controller
36a, 36b Beacon decision unit

Claims (4)

A wireless communication network system in which the network comprises a wireless communication network forming a so-called multi-hop network, and a center device connected to the wireless communication network via a gateway,
The wireless communication network includes a plurality of intermittent operation wireless terminals each having configuration information for managing the number of hops to all terminals in the network, and one of the intermittent operation wireless terminals has a number issuing function in the network. In a wireless communication network that serves as a management terminal having a gateway function for connecting to the center device,
The wireless terminal trying to newly enter the network is
Means for receiving beacons from adjacent wireless terminals,
A means for acquiring the number of hops to the management terminal by exchanging configuration information with respect to the adjacent wireless terminal that has transmitted the beacon having the strongest electric field strength,
Data transmitting means for transmitting a packet including the number of hops to the management terminal by uplink communication to the management terminal via the adjacent wireless terminal,
Each of the wireless terminals involved in relaying data to the management terminal in the upstream communication subtracts the number of hops to the management terminal of its own terminal from the number of hops to the management terminal stored in the packet. Then, means for registering in the configuration information of the own terminal as the number of hops of the newly entered wireless terminal,
A wireless communication network, characterized in that, when a wireless terminal attempting to newly enter the network appears, the configuration information of the wireless terminals involved in the uplink communication from the newly participating wireless terminal to the management terminal is updated. system. The management terminal returns the numbering data accompanying the network entry to the wireless terminal newly joining based on the configuration information updated in the upstream communication, and the number given to the center device is returned. The wireless communication network system according to claim 1, wherein the notification is made. The center device, based on the number notified from the management terminal, notifies the wireless terminal of the new entry via the management terminal that the reception of the sensor value from the wireless terminal of the new entry is started. The wireless communication network system according to claim 2, wherein the wireless terminal of the new entry knows that the newly entered wireless terminal has been confirmed by the center device. The wireless terminal not involved in the upstream communication updates the configuration information by exchanging the configuration information when communicating with the wireless terminals (including the management terminal) involved in the upstream communication. The wireless communication network system according to claim 1.

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