Wireless communication system

Abstract

To provide a wireless communication system that connects mobile devices and edge devices via a wireless communication line that uses ultra-high frequency radio waves in the 920 MHz band, eliminating the need to program mobile devices and edge devices for each solution, and that can identify the location of any malfunctions between the mobile devices and edge devices.SOLUTION: A wireless communication system 1 includes a portable device 3 equipped with a sensor 2 and an edge device 4 connected to the portable device 3 via a wireless communication line R, and the portable device 3 includes sensor information acquisition means 11, sensor information division means 13, packet transmission means 14, portable side step processing determination means 15, communication status notification means 16, and response status receiving means 18, and the edge device 4 includes packet receiving means 22, sensor information restoration means 23, edge side step processing determination means 24, and response status transmission means 25.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, more particularly to a wireless communication system in an edge computing system constructed with a mobile device and an edge device, and particularly to a wireless communication system that uses the 920 MHz ultra-high frequency band to perform wireless communication between the mobile device and the edge device. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, IoT devices equipped with wireless communication functions such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark) and Bluetooth (registered trademark) have been developed, including smartphones, tablet devices, cameras, scanners, and various other home appliances. Wireless communication systems have been constructed that use these IoT devices to send and receive various information and data, and to remotely control IoT devices connected via wireless communication from outside.

[0003] Furthermore, at production sites such as manufacturing plants that produce various products, these wireless communication systems are used to manage the various parts and materials used in the manufacture of products, as well as inventory management of completed products. For example, a parts and inventory management system has been established in which information such as barcodes and two-dimensional barcodes previously attached to parts is read by a handheld scanner equipped with a reader function, and sent to a management server connected via a wireless communication line, where it is possible to check the number of stocks and register the storage locations of the parts in a warehouse.

[0004] Furthermore, mail-order companies that handle a wide variety of products in large quantities pick up products from warehouses where they are stored according to the order details, and wireless communication systems using handheld scanners and the like are used for this pickup work. For example, the handheld scanner acquires information about the order details and displays the order in which the products are picked up and the storage location of the products, and by scanning the barcodes or the like attached to the products, it is possible to check that the pickup work has been carried out correctly. This allows the products to be packed without making any mistakes in type or quantity and delivered to the order destination.

[0005] In the above, a handheld scanner equipped with a barcode reader (sensor) function corresponds to a "device," which is an IoT device. In particular, by connecting the device to a wireless communication line, an operator can freely carry the device anywhere in a factory or warehouse and send and receive information from that location. In other words, by using a highly portable, wirelessly capable device (hereinafter referred to as a "portable device"), conventional tasks such as inventory management and product picking can be significantly simplified and made more efficient. Furthermore, input errors can be reduced, enabling accurate transmission and reception of information. This facilitates the management of product parts, products, etc.

[0006] Such wireless communication systems are often so-called "cloud computing systems" that are generally constructed with multiple portable devices, such as handheld scanners, and a management server that is installed on the cloud to process, analyze, store, and manage information, etc., in order to aggregate information, etc. sent from each portable device on the cloud.

[0007] However, in the case of cloud computing services, large amounts of information and data are transmitted from multiple mobile devices to a single management server, and the management server must quickly receive the data and perform appropriate processing, analysis, and storage. This can place an excessive processing burden on the management server. As a result, it becomes difficult for the management server to process the received data in real time, which can result in delays in processing time on the management server side and the need to respond to mobile devices that have transmitted information. Furthermore, since all information must be aggregated on the cloud, various issues are known to arise, such as significantly increased communication costs associated with transmitting and receiving this information.

[0008] In order to eliminate the disadvantages of using the above-mentioned cloud computing system, an edge computing system may be used in which, for example, part of the processing of information, etc. is performed on an edge device (sometimes called an edge terminal, edge interface, etc.) installed at the end of a wireless communication network, and only the processed (processed) information, etc. processed on the edge device side is sent to a management server on the cloud, where it is analyzed, managed, stored, etc. (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0009] As a result, by constructing a wireless communication system with one or more edge devices between the mobile device and the management server, the edge device performs relatively simple processing and other such operations, and then transmits only the information that needs to be managed and stored by the management server, thereby achieving the effect of reducing the processing burden and communication costs associated with the management and storage of all information. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-144864 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0011] As is well known from the above, by adopting existing wireless communication systems, it is possible to process and manage various information and data, thereby achieving significant efficiency improvements. Furthermore, by using highly portable mobile devices, it is possible to use the system anywhere in a factory or warehouse. However, with existing wireless communication systems, there is a possibility that the following problems may occur.

[0012] That is, in a typical wireless communication system, it is necessary to evaluate whether information etc. acquired by a device (portable device) is correctly acquired and transmitted, or whether each step is evaluated by the destination management server (or edge device), etc. In this case, two main methods are assumed: a method in which evaluation programming is installed on the portable device side and the evaluation is mainly performed on the portable device side, and a method in which evaluation is performed on the management server side of the destination of the information etc.

[0013] However, if the evaluation programming is installed on the mobile device, it is necessary to individually program each of the devices that make up the wireless communication system for each purpose and solution. Furthermore, when updating the programming due to design changes or specification changes in the solution, or when modifying the wireless communication system and / or the programming itself, it is necessary to install the programming on each mobile device and update it for each modification, which can require a great deal of effort and cost to build, maintain, and manage the wireless communication system.

[0014] Furthermore, a new process (response process) would be required on the management server side to perform evaluation processing regarding sending and receiving, etc., and to return the evaluation content (response content) to the mobile device, which would require the management server side to reconstruct protocols related to these communication processes, potentially increasing the processing burden and cost burden on the management server side.

[0015] Furthermore, typical wireless communication systems primarily use radio waves in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands. Because radio waves in these frequency bands tend to travel in a highly directional manner, the presence of obstructions in factories and other locations can potentially prevent stable wireless communication. Furthermore, these radio waves are limited to use within the maximum output power (10 mW) that is not subject to regulations under the Radio Law. Furthermore, radio waves in these frequency bands are known to be susceptible to noise from other nearby wireless communication circuits and surrounding electromagnetic waves (e.g., the use of microwave ovens).

[0016] As a result, in factories and the like, the practical range of use is sometimes limited to about 20 to 30 meters, and it can be difficult to use the above-mentioned wireless communication system in medium-sized or large factories where the straight-line distance exceeds 100 meters, or in cases where products are stored in metal containers and the containers are stacked up to the ceiling.

[0017] Meanwhile, in recent years, the development and use of wireless communication technologies using radio waves in the UHF (ultra-high frequency) frequency range (e.g., the 920 MHz band) has been particularly advanced. The 920 MHz band is known to have excellent radio wave propagation characteristics, be less susceptible to obstructions, and enable stable communication over distances of several hundred meters. Furthermore, compared to radio waves in the aforementioned 2.4 GHz frequency range, the 920 MHz band has the advantage of being less susceptible to noise from other wireless communication lines and electromagnetic waves, enabling stable wireless communication. However, there is also the disadvantage that the amount of data per transmission is limited compared to radio waves in the 2.4 GHz frequency range.

[0018] Furthermore, in the above-described existing edge computing system, during wireless communication between a mobile device and an edge device, there is a possibility that an error may occur in a processing step on the mobile device side or in a processing step of wireless communication. In such a case, in a conventional wireless communication system, the operator of the mobile device may not be able to recognize at which stage (processing step) the error occurred. As a result, the operator may continue to send information acquired by the mobile device (sensor information, etc.) to the edge device without noticing the occurrence of the error. As a result, there may be delays in identifying the location of the error, investigating the cause, and responding to the error.

[0019] Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a wireless communication system that is adopted in an edge computing system equipped with a mobile device and an edge device, that uses wireless communication lines in the 920 MHz ultra-high frequency band, that can perform each process by the mobile device and the edge device using a series of protocols that do not require changes to programming, and that can notify the operator of the mobile device of the communication status of the current progress of these processes, including at which stage (step) an error occurred. [Means for solving the problem]

[0020] According to the present invention, a wireless communication system that solves the above problems is provided.

[0021] [1] A wireless communication system comprising a mobile device equipped with a sensor and an edge device connected to the mobile device via a wireless communication line, wherein the mobile device comprises: a sensor information acquisition means for acquiring sensor information using the sensor; a sensor information division means for dividing the sensor information into multiple packets; a packet transmission means for transmitting the divided packets to the edge device via the wireless communication line using an ultra-high frequency frequency band of 920 MHz; a mobile-side step processing determination means for determining whether each of the processes of the sensor information acquisition step associated with the sensor information acquisition means, the sensor information division step associated with the sensor information division means, and the packet transmission step associated with the packet transmission means is being performed normally; and a communication status notification means for reporting the communication status of the wireless communication between the mobile device and the edge device based on the determination result by the mobile-side step processing determination means.

[0022] [2] The packet is composed of a header portion and a data portion, and the header portion includes at least information related to communication status, device control, total number of packets, and packet number. The edge device includes: a packet receiving means for receiving the packet transmitted from the mobile device; a sensor information restoration means for concatenating the received packets based on the header portion and restoring the sensor information; an edge-side step processing determination means for determining based on the header portion whether the processing of the sensor information restoration step related to the sensor information restoration means is being performed normally; and a response status sending means for sending a response status in the edge device to the mobile device based on the determination result by the edge-side step processing determination means. The mobile device further includes a response status receiving means for receiving the response status transmitted from the edge device. The communication status notification means includes the content of the received response status in the communication status and notifies it.

[0023] [3] The wireless communication system described in [2], wherein the mobile device further comprises a sensor information acquisition control means for controlling the acquisition of the sensor information using the sensor during wireless communication between the mobile device and the edge device from the start of the packet transmission step from the mobile device to the completion of reception of the response status.

[0024] [4] The edge device is further connected to a management server via a communication line and further includes a sensor information transmission means for transmitting the restored sensor information to the management server as is or for transmitting processed sensor information, and the edge side step processing determination means further determines whether the processing of the sensor information transmission step related to the sensor information transmission means is being performed normally.

[0025] [5] The wireless communication system described in any of [1] to [4], wherein the portable device comprises a visual notification unit having a plurality of lighting units and an audible notification unit capable of outputting sound, and the communication status notification means further comprises a visual notification means for signal-controlling the lighting state of the lighting units based on the communication status, and an audible notification means for signal-controlling the audible notification unit based on the communication status. [Effects of the Invention]

[0026] According to the wireless communication system of the present invention, there is no need to program the mobile device and edge device for each solution. The system connects to the edge device via a wireless communication line that uses ultra-high frequency radio waves in the 920 MHz band, allowing the operator of the mobile device to grasp the location of the problem between the mobile device and the edge device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing flow of a mobile device in a wireless communication system. [Figure 3] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing flow of a mobile device in a wireless communication system. [Figure 4] 10A and 10B are explanatory diagrams schematically illustrating a process of acquiring sensor information, a process of dividing the sensor information into packets, and a process of transmitting each packet. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing flow of an edge device in the wireless communication system. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing flow of an edge device in the wireless communication system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] Hereinafter, a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the wireless communication system of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment, and those skilled in the art may appropriately change, modify, and improve the following embodiment based on their ordinary knowledge, without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0029] As shown in Figures 1 to 5, a wireless communication system 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as "communication system 1") according to one embodiment of the present invention is mainly constructed with a portable device 3 equipped with a sensor 2, an edge device 4 connected to the portable device 3 via a wireless communication line R using an ultra-high frequency band in the 920 MHz band, and a management server 5 connected to the edge device 4 via a USB communication line C.

[0030] That is, the communication system 1 of this embodiment is applied to an edge computing system in which the edge device 4 is interposed between the mobile device 3 and the management server 5.

[0031] The portable device 3 used in the communication system 1 is signal-controlled by a visual notification means 20 and an auditory notification means 21 (each of which will be described in detail later) included in the communication status notification means 16, and is equipped with an LED light 7 consisting of three colored LED lights, a red LED 7R, a yellow LED 7Y, and a green LED 7G, that can distinguishably display the communication status 6 by their respective lighting states (including blinking states), and a speaker 8 that can output the communication status 6 as a Morse code by outputting long and short beep sounds at intervals. Here, the LED light corresponds to the lighting unit in this invention, the LED light 7 corresponds to the visual notification unit in this invention, and the speaker 8 corresponds to the auditory notification unit in this invention.

[0032] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a communication system 1 of this embodiment, FIGS. 2 and 3 are flowcharts showing an example of a processing flow of a mobile device 3 in the communication system 1, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic diagram of a process for acquiring sensor information 10, a process for dividing the sensor information 10 into packets 12, and a process for transmitting each packet 12, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts showing an example of a processing flow of an edge device 4 in the communication system 1,

[0033] In Figure 1, in order to simplify the illustration, the communication system 1 is shown as being configured to include one mobile device 3 and one edge device 4 connected to it, but this is not limited to this, and multiple mobile devices 3 can be connected to one edge device 4 via a wireless communication line R, and the edge device 4 to which the mobile device 3 connects is not limited to only a specific edge device 4, and the mobile device 3 can be connected to any of the multiple edge devices 4 constructed in the communication system 1 of this embodiment.

[0034] In addition, although the embodiment shows one edge device 4 connected to the management server 5 via a universal serial bus communication line C (hereinafter referred to as "USB communication line C"), this is not limited to this, and a communication system can be constructed in which multiple edge devices 4 are connected to the management server 5. The USB communication line C corresponds to the communication line in the present invention. Furthermore, although the embodiment shows the management server 5 and the edge device 4 connected via the USB communication line C, this is not limited to this, and they can also be connected via USB HID communication, for example. Note that USB HID communication can be used, for example, as an output mode for inputting data into spreadsheet software. By connecting via the USB communication line C, for example, a general-purpose computer or a smartphone can be used as the management server 5, and the communication system 1 of this embodiment can be operated using these general-purpose computers.

[0035] Furthermore, the portable device 3 used in the communication system 1 of this embodiment has a reader function capable of reading the two-dimensional barcode 9, and is mainly assumed to be, for example, a conventionally well-known handheld scanner. Such a portable device 3 has portability suitable for use in inventory management in factories and warehouses, and the function of reading the two-dimensional barcode 9 corresponds to the sensor 2 of the present invention.

[0036] In the communication system of the present invention, the sensor mounted on the portable device is not limited to one having a barcode reader function as described above, but may be any sensor capable of detecting physical events around the portable device, such as a vibration sensor, light sensor, or temperature sensor. For example, a portable device equipped with a vibration sensor may be used as a test terminal to replace conventional keystroke testing by checking the vibration of products or the vibration sound of large building structures.

[0037] To go into further detail about the configuration and functional configuration of the portable device 3, it is mainly comprised of a sensor information acquisition means 11 that is equipped with a sensor 2 and acquires sensor information 10 using the sensor 2, a sensor information division means 13 that divides the acquired sensor information 10 into multiple packets 12, a packet transmission means 14 that transmits the divided packets 12 to the edge device 4 through a wireless communication line R in the order of the packet numbers PN, a portable side step processing determination means 15 that determines whether each of the processes of the sensor information acquisition step SA associated with the sensor information acquisition means 11, the sensor information division step SB associated with the sensor information division means 13, and the packet transmission step SC associated with the packet transmission means 14 is being performed normally, and a communication status notification means 16 that notifies the communication status 6 in the wireless communication between the portable device 3 and the edge device 4 based on the determination result by the portable side step processing determination means 15.

[0038] Furthermore, the portable device 3 includes a response status receiving means 18 that receives the response status 17 transmitted from the edge device 4, and a sensor information acquisition restricting means 19 that restricts the acquisition of sensor information 10 using the sensor 2 during the wireless communication between the edge device 4 and the portable device 3, from the start of transmission of the packet 12 from the portable device 3 until the completion of reception of the response status 17. Here, the communication status notifying means 16 constituting the portable device 3 includes a signal-controllable visual notifying means 20 that is connected to the above-mentioned LED light 7 that can visually notify the communication status 6, and a signal-controllable auditory notifying means 21 that is connected to the above-mentioned speaker 8 that can auditorily notify the communication status 6.

[0039] On the other hand, the edge device 4 is mainly functionally configured to include a packet receiving means 22 that receives packets 12 transmitted from the portable device 3, a sensor information restoration means 23 that concatenates the received packets 12 based on the packet number PN contained in the header portion 12a to restore sensor information 10, a sensor information transmission means 26 that transmits the restored sensor information 10 to the management server 5 connected to the edge device 4 via a USB communication line C, an edge-side step processing determination means 24 that determines based on the header portion 12a whether the processing of the sensor information restoration step TA related to the sensor information restoration means 23 and the sensor information transmission step TBS. related to the sensor information transmission means 26 is performed normally, a response status transmission means 25 that transmits a response status 17 in the edge device 4 to the portable device 3 based on the determination result by the edge-side step processing determination means 24, and a sensor information transmission means 26 that transmits the sensor information 10 restored by the sensor information restoration means 23 to the management server 5.

[0040] In the communication system 1 of this embodiment, the mobile device 3 has the function of acquiring sensor information 10, dividing the acquired sensor information 10 into packets 12, and then transmitting it to the edge device 4.Furthermore, the mobile device 3 has the function of determining whether or not each of the processes of acquisition and transmission has been performed normally, particularly based on the information in the header section 12a that constitutes the packet 12, and notifying the result as a communication status 6.

[0041] The functions related to the acquisition and transmission of the sensor information 10 can be implemented as a general-purpose protocol applicable to various solutions using wireless communication between the mobile device 3 and the edge device 4. In the communication system 1 of this embodiment, the packet 12 is designed and constructed with a unique configuration including a header section 12a and a data section 12b, so that the acquisition of the sensor information 10, the communication status (response status) of the sensor information 10, and the occurrence of errors during communication can be controlled by a single protocol. Therefore, there is no need to develop a mobile device 3 and a corresponding edge device 4 for each solution, or to change or update the programming. This significantly reduces the development cost of the wireless communication system compared to conventional systems. Details of the determination of each process related to acquisition and transmission and the notification of the communication status 6 will be described later.

[0042] More specifically, the plurality of packets 12 formed by dividing the sensor information 10 are each composed of a header section 12a and a data section 12b, as shown in Fig. 4. Furthermore, the header section 12a has a capacity of 2 bytes (16 bits), and contains information relating to a 1-bit "communication status PC", a 3-bit "device control PD", a 4-bit "total number of packets PS", a 4-bit "packet number PN", and a 4-bit "spare PR".

[0043] In the communication system 1 of this embodiment, since the packets 12 have the above-described unique configuration, it is possible to design, using a single protocol, the acquisition of each sensor information 10 related to wireless communication, and the control of communication between different hardware between the mobile device 3 and the edge device 4, and between the edge device 4 and the management server 5.

[0044] Furthermore, in the communication system 1 of this embodiment, the content of the communication status 6 notified to the operator operating the portable device 3 can include, in addition to notification of errors and the like caused by the portable device 3, notification of errors and the like caused by the edge device 4 or the management server 5. That is, based on the content of the response status 17 sent from the edge device 4, which includes notification of normal processing or notification of an error, the status of communication with the edge device 4 or between the edge device 4 and the management server 5 can be grasped.

[0045] As a result, an operator operating the portable device 3 while moving around a factory or the like can easily determine whether the cause of the error lies in the sending portable device 3, the receiving edge device 4, or the management server 5 connected to the edge device 4, making it easier to identify the cause of the error.

[0046] Furthermore, the communication system 1 of this embodiment can be used by switching between two modes of operation: an "output mode" that notifies only the communication status 6 of the mobile device 3, and an "input / output mode" that notifies the communication status 6 of both the mobile device 3 and the edge device 4.

[0047] Here, by selecting "output mode," only the communication status 6 on the mobile device 3 side can be received and reported. This makes it easy to check the operation status and communication status on the mobile device 3 side during the prototype and design stages of wireless communication between the mobile device 3 and edge device 4. That is, in the early prototype stage, the operation of only the mobile device 3 can be checked, and after confirming that the mobile device 3 is operating normally, wireless communication with the edge device 4 can be checked. Checking the communication status 6 in stages in this way makes it easier to identify the location of an error and facilitates troubleshooting.

[0048] In addition, the communication system 1 of this embodiment uses ultra-high frequency radio waves in the 920 MHz band, which have excellent propagation characteristics, as the wireless communication line R between the mobile device 3 and the edge device 4. This allows stable wireless communication even if there is an obstacle or the like that blocks the communication between the mobile device 3 and the edge device 4.

[0049] In addition, by using radio waves in the 920 MHz frequency band, the distance over which stable wireless communication is possible between the mobile device 3 and the edge device 4 can be extended, which has the advantage that wireless communication can be performed even when the distance between the mobile device 3 and the edge device is several hundred meters or more. Furthermore, since the mobile device 3 transmits the acquired sensor information 10 in the form of multiple packets 12, there is little data loss even when transmitting large amounts of data, and delays in transmission are unlikely to occur.

[0050] Here, the mobile device 3, edge device 4, and management server 5 used to configure the communication system 1 of this embodiment may have other basic configurations as a general information communication terminal. For example, the mobile device 3 may have a storage means (not shown) configured with a well-known fixed storage medium such as a hard disk drive or a solid-state drive. Furthermore, these storage means (not shown) store programming and the like for enabling each device to function, and by activating the programming, each component in the communication system 1 of this embodiment can exhibit its respective excellent functions. Furthermore, the management server 5 connected to the edge device 4 may be a server configured as part of a conventionally well-known edge computing system, and detailed description of its functional configuration and the like will be omitted here.

[0051] The communication system 1 of this embodiment, the flow of each process in the mobile device 3 constituting the communication system 1, and the flow of each process in the edge device 4 will be specifically described below.

[0052] As already explained, the communication system 1 of this embodiment is mainly assumed to have a function of acquiring a two-dimensional barcode 9 pre-displayed on a part or the like using a sensor 2 of a portable device 3, and transmitting the acquired sensor information 10 to an edge device 4, and the edge device 4 has a function of receiving the sensor information 10 transmitted from the portable device 3, processing the acquired sensor information 10, etc., and transmitting it to a management server 5.

[0053] Furthermore, in the communication system 1 of the present embodiment, the portable device 3 notifies the communication status 6 by displaying the lit state (including blinking state) of the LED light 7 and outputting a Morse code beep from the speaker 8. However, the notification method is not limited to this and may be any other method that can be perceived visually or aurally by the operator of the portable device 3. For example, the portable device 3 may be equipped with an LCD display or the like, and the communication status 6 may be displayed on the LCD display. However, in order to form the portable device 3 with a relatively simple configuration, it is useful to combine the illumination of the LED light 7 or the like shown in the present embodiment with the audio output of the speaker 8. Note that by using a simple configuration for the communication status notification means, such as the illumination of the LED light 7 or the like and the audio beep from the speaker 8, it is possible to easily notify, for example, persons other than the operator operating the portable device 3. In other words, a patrol / monitoring robot that periodically circulates around a warehouse or the like may easily recognize an abnormality notification.

[0054] First, the operator of the portable device 3 holds the reading unit (barcode reader unit) of the sensor 2 of the portable device 3 over the two-dimensional barcode 9 and performs an operation (reading operation) to acquire the two-dimensional barcode 9. As a result, the portable device 3 acquires sensor information 10 (step S1, sensor information acquisition means 11). Thereafter, the portable device 3 evaluates the acquired sensor information 10 (step S2, mobile-side step processing determination means 15).

[0055] Specifically, the sensor information acquisition means 11 starts to determine and evaluate whether the processing related to the sensor information acquisition step SA has been performed normally (step S2). At this time, the communication status 6 is notified to the portable device 3 under evaluation. That is, based on the acquisition start processing of the sensor information 10, the visual notification means 20 performs signal control, and the red LED 7R, yellow LED 7Y, and green LED 7G of the LED light 7 are all turned on to correspond to the communication status 6 under evaluation. Furthermore, based on signal control by the auditory notification means 21, the speaker 8 emits a Morse code beep corresponding to the communication status 6.<ST:[··· -]> is output (communication status notification means 16).

[0056] In the evaluation in step S2, if the sensor information acquisition step SA is not performed normally, for example, if a part of the two-dimensional barcode 9 is displayed unclearly and therefore complete sensor information 10 cannot be acquired, or if an operational error occurs such that the position of either the portable device 3 or the two-dimensional barcode 9 moves when acquiring (reading) the two-dimensional barcode 9, changing the relative position, and so on, and therefore complete sensor information 10 cannot be acquired, it is determined that abnormal processing has occurred, and an error code corresponding to the respective abnormal processing is output. Then, if such an error code is output, in other words, if abnormal processing of the sensor information 10 is recognized (NO in step S3), it is processed as if an acquisition error has occurred (step S5).

[0057] At this time, in accordance with the processing of step S5, a communication status 6 corresponding to the occurrence of an acquisition error is notified (communication status notifying means 16). Specifically, only the red LED 7R of the LED light 7 is turned on, and a Morse code beep corresponding to the communication status 6 is output from the speaker 8.<NGS:[-· --· ···]> After that, the process moves from step S5 to step S20.

[0058] On the other hand, if no error code is output, in other words, if the acquired sensor information 10 is normal (YES in step S3), processing proceeds to the next step (step S4), and the sensor information 10 is divided into packets 12 (sensor information division step SB) (sensor information division means 13).

[0059] The process of dividing the acquired sensor information 10 into packets 12 in step S4 is, for example, as schematically shown in Fig. 4, a process of dividing the large data size sensor information 10 acquired in step S1 into a plurality of packets 12 (eight packets (see P1, P2, ..., P8) in the case of Fig. 4) for each specified data size. As a result, one piece of sensor information 10 is divided into a plurality (eight) of packets 12.

[0060] Here, as shown in Fig. 4, the divided packets 12 are configured with a header section 12a and a data section 12b, and information such as measurement results related to the sensor information 10 is divided for each packet 12 and stored in the data section 12b. Meanwhile, as already described, in the communication system 1 of this embodiment, the header section 12a has a capacity of 2 bytes (16 bits) and is configured to store information related to the communication status PC (1 bit), device control PD (2 bits), total number of packets PS (4 bits), packet number PN (4 bits), and spare PR (4 bits) (see Fig. 4). Then, after the division into multiple packets 12 is completed, the number of divided packets 12 (total number of packets PS) is counted, and a determination is made based on the information on the total number of packets PS included in the header section 12a (step S6).

[0061] That is, if the total number of packets PS of the packet 12 after division is completed is less than a specified number (e.g., less than 17) (YES in step S6), the mobile device 3 starts the process of transmitting the packet 12 to the edge device 4 (packet transmission step SC) (step S7, packet transmission means 14).

[0062] At this time, in accordance with the processing of step S7, the communication status 6 corresponding to the transmission of the packet 12 is notified based on the communication status PC in the header portion 12a (communication status notifying means 16). Specifically, the red LED 7R, yellow LED 7Y, and green LED 7G of the LED light 7 are sequentially lit at 0.3 second intervals. Note that the speaker 8 does not output a Morse code beep.

[0063] On the other hand, if the total number of packets PS of the packets 12 after division is equal to or greater than the specified number (for example, 17 or more) (NO in step S6), it is determined that an acquisition error in the sensor information 10 has occurred, and the process proceeds to step S5.

[0064] That is, the data size of the information (sensor information 10) stored in the two-dimensional barcode 9 is predetermined, and when this information is divided into packets 12 of the predetermined data size in the processing of step S4, the total number of packets PS does not exceed the predetermined number. In other words, if the total number of packets PS is equal to or greater than the predetermined number, it means that some kind of error has occurred when acquiring the sensor information 10. Note that the notification of the communication status 6 when proceeding to the processing of step S5 has already been explained, so an explanation of this will be omitted here. Thereafter, the processing proceeds from step S5 to step S20.

[0065] Furthermore, the portable device 3 performs processing to restrict acquisition of the sensor information 10 at the timing of the processing to start transmitting the packet 12 (step S8, sensor information acquisition restriction means 19). As a result, acquisition of the sensor information 10 using the sensor 2 of the portable device 3 is prohibited from the start of the packet transmission step SC by the portable device 3 until completion of reception of a response status 17 (details of which will be described later) transmitted from the edge device 4, or until some error occurs on the portable device 3 side.

[0066] By performing such a restriction process (prohibition process), it is possible to avoid a situation in which new sensor information 10 is acquired and transmitted to the edge device 4 as a packet 12 while the portable device 3 is transmitting the packet 12.

[0067] Thereafter, the divided packets 12 are sequentially transmitted to the edge device 4 packet by packet 12 in accordance with the order of the packet numbers PN contained in the header portion 12a (step S9, packet transmission means 14). Here, if there is no abnormality in the transmission process of the packets 12 based on the information related to the communication status PC and device control PD in the header portion 12a (YES in step S10), it is confirmed whether the packet 12 currently being transmitted is the one to which the final packet number PN has been assigned (step S11).

[0068] Here, if it is not the final packet 12 to be transmitted (NO in step S11), in other words, if the packet 12 with the final packet number PN has not yet been transmitted, the process returns to step S9, and the transmission process of the packet 12 with the next packet number PN is continued. As a result, all of the divided packets 12 are transmitted to the edge device 4 until the end.

[0069] On the other hand, if the final packet 12 has been transmitted (YES in step S11), in other words, if the packet 12 with the final packet number PN has been transmitted and there are no untransmitted packets 12, the process proceeds to the next step (step S13). At this time, if the portable device 3 is executing the processes from step S7 to step S11, the notification by the communication status 6 continues to output the communication status 6 corresponding to the transmission of the packet 12. That is, to notify the communication status 6 in step S7, the red LED 7R, yellow LED 7Y, and green LED 7G of the LED light 7 are each turned on sequentially at 0.3 second intervals. Note that no Morse code beep is output from the speaker 8.

[0070] On the other hand, if an abnormality is found in the transmission of the packet 12 based on the header portion 12a (NO in step S10), the packet 12 is processed as having a transmission error (step S12).

[0071] At this time, in accordance with the process of step S12, a communication status 6 corresponding to the occurrence of a transmission error is notified (communication status notifying means 16). Specifically, only the red LED 7R of the LED light 7 is turned on, and a Morse code beep corresponding to the communication status 6 is output from the speaker 8.<NGC:[-· --· -·-·]> After that, the process moves from step S12 to step S20.

[0072] After all packets 12 have been successfully transmitted to the edge device 4 through steps S10 and S11, the mobile device 3 waits to receive a response status 17 transmitted from the edge device 4 (step S13).

[0073] While waiting to receive the response status 17, the mobile device 3 measures the elapsed time since the completion of transmission of the final packet 12, and detects whether or not there is a response from the edge device 4 (whether or not the response status 17 has been sent) before a predetermined specified number of seconds (t seconds) has elapsed (step S14).

[0074] If the response status 17 is transmitted from the edge device 4 within the specified number of seconds (YES in step S14), the portable device 3 receives the response status 17 (step S16, response status receiving means 18).

[0075] On the other hand, if the response status 17 is not transmitted from the edge device 4 even after the specified number of seconds has elapsed (NO in step S14), it is assumed that an edge-side response error has occurred in the processing on the edge device 4 side (step S15). This prevents the mobile device 3 from continuing to wait for reception of the response status 17 after transmitting the packet 12, which would otherwise cause the processing of the communication system 1 of this embodiment to stagnate.

[0076] At this time, in conjunction with the processing of step S15, a communication status 6 corresponding to the occurrence of an edge-side response error is notified (communication status notifying means 16). Specifically, the yellow LED 7Y and green LED 7G of the LED light 7 are sequentially lit at 0.5 second intervals. Note that no Morse code beep is output from the speaker 8. Thereafter, the processing proceeds from step S15 to step S20.

[0077] The mobile device 3 receives the response status 17 sent from the edge device 4 and evaluates, according to the contents of the response code included in the response status 17, whether the sensor information 10 has been correctly restored on the edge device 4 side and whether the sensor information 10 has been correctly sent to the management server 5 (step S17, mobile side step processing determination means 15).

[0078] Based on the response status 17, if the sensor information 10 has been successfully transmitted to the edge device 4 (YES in step S17), the transmission is processed as successful (step S18). This means that the sensor information 10 acquired by the mobile device 3 has been successfully transmitted to the management server 5 via the edge device 4.

[0079] At this time, in accordance with the processing of step S18, a communication status 6 corresponding to successful transmission is notified (communication status notifying means 16). Specifically, only the green LED 7G of the LED light 7 is turned on, and a Morse code beep corresponding to the communication status 6 is output from the speaker 8.<OK:[--- -·-]> After that, the process moves from step S18 to step S20.

[0080] On the other hand, if the response status 17 indicates that the sensor information 10 has not been transmitted to the edge device 4 successfully (NO in step S17), it is processed as if a transmission error has occurred (step S19).

[0081] At this time, in accordance with the process of step S19, a communication status 6 corresponding to the transmission error is notified (communication status notifying means 16). Specifically, the red LED 7R and yellow LED 7Y of the LED light 7 are turned on, and a Morse code beep corresponding to the communication status 6 is output from the speaker 8.<NGR:[-· --· ·-·]> After that, the process moves from step S19 to step S20.

[0082] After the process related to successful transmission based on the response status 17 (step S18) or the process related to a transmission error based on the response status 17 (step S19) is performed, or after the process related to an acquisition error during the process of acquiring the sensor information 10 in step S5, the process related to a transmission error during the process of transmitting the packet 12 in step S12, or the process related to a response error during the response process of the edge device 4 in step S15 is performed, the portable device 3 performs a process of canceling the restriction on acquisition of the sensor information 10 (step S20). This enables the portable device 3 to acquire new sensor information 10.

[0083] Thereafter, if there is an instruction to perform processing to acquire new sensor information 10 (next sensor information) by the portable device 3 (YES in step S21), the process returns to step S1 and executes processing to acquire new sensor information 10. Thereafter, the process continues from step S2.

[0084] On the other hand, if there is an instruction not to perform the process of acquiring new sensor information 10 (NO in step S21), the system relating to wireless communication between the mobile device 3 and the edge device 4 is terminated (step S22).

[0085] Next, a description will be given of the processing flow of the edge device 4 in the communication system 1 of this embodiment. After starting up the communication system 1 of this embodiment, the edge device 4 first waits to receive a packet 12 transmitted from the portable device 3 (step T1). Then, upon detecting the transmission of the packet 12 from the portable device 3, the edge device 4 receives the packet 12 (step T2).

[0086] Packets 12 are sequentially transmitted from the portable device 3 connected via the wireless communication line R in the numerical order of the packet numbers PN included in the header portion 12a. The edge device 4 receives each of the transmitted packets 12 and concatenates the packets 12 in the numerical order of the packet numbers PN (step T3).

[0087] Then, a process is performed to check whether all of the multiple packets 12 transmitted from the portable device 3 have been concatenated based on the information in the header portion 12a (step T4). If concatenation of all of the packets 12 has been completed (YES in step T4), restoration of the sensor information 10 (see FIG. 4) before being divided by the portable device 3 is completed (step T5, sensor information restoration means 23, sensor information restoration step TA).

[0088] On the other hand, if the concatenation of all packets 12 has not been completed (NO in step T4), the process returns to step T2, receives packets 12 transmitted from the portable device 3 (step T12), further concatenates the received packets 12 (step T3), and repeats each process until the restoration of the sensor information 10 is completed. As a result, the edge device 4 can receive each of the multiple packets 12 divided by the portable device 3 via the wireless communication line R, and can restore the original state of the sensor information 10 in the edge device 4. As a result, the edge device 4 can process the sensor information 10, store it, and so on.

[0089] 5 and 6, if the linking of all packets 12 and the restoration of the sensor information 10 are not completed even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the edge device 4 started receiving the packets 12, the restoration process and the like may be canceled. This prevents the transmission process of the sensor information 10 between the mobile device 3 and the edge device 4 from stagnating, and allows the reception of packets 12 into which new sensor information 10 transmitted from the mobile device 3 has been divided.

[0090] After the restoration of the sensor information 10 is completed by the processing of step T5, the edge device 4 transmits the sensor information 10 to the management server 5 through the USB communication line C (step T6, sensor information transmitting means 26, sensor information transmitting step TB). At this time, the restored sensor information 10 may be transmitted to the management server 5 as is, or the edge device 4 may process the data size or the like or change the transmission timing depending on the operating status of the management server 5.

[0091] Thereafter, the edge device 4 checks the mode (output mode or input / output mode) that was set in advance when the communication system 1 started (step T7). Here, if the output mode is specified as the mode (YES in step T7), the edge device 4 transmits a completion response status 17a to the portable device 3 as the response status 17 (step T8). That is, if the output mode is specified, it is not considered whether the processes of the sensor information restoration step TA related to the sensor information restoration means 23 and the sensor information transmission step TB related to the sensor information transmission means 26 described above are normal or not, and the completion response status 17a is transmitted assuming that the processes of both steps have been performed correctly. The effect of setting the output mode has already been explained, so its explanation will be omitted here.

[0092] On the other hand, if the output mode is not specified, in other words, if the input / output mode is specified (NO in step T7), the edge device 4 waits for a response from the management server 5 that transmitted the sensor information 10 (step T9, edge-side step).The edge device 4 then receives the response from the management server 5, evaluates the processes in the sensor information restoration step TA and the sensor information transmission step TB, and outputs a corresponding response code (step T9, edge-side step processing determination means 24).

[0093] Here, if the sensor information 10 is restored and transmitted normally based on the output response code (TRUE in step T10), the process proceeds to step T8, and the edge device 4 transmits a completion response status 17a as the response status 17 to the portable device 3 (response status transmitting means 25). That is, if it is determined and evaluated that each process between the portable device 3 and the edge device 4 has been performed normally in the input / output mode, the completion response status 17a is transmitted in the same manner as described above. The portable device 3 can report the content of the completion response status 17a as the communication status 6.

[0094] On the other hand, if an abnormality has occurred in the restoration of the sensor information 10 or in the transmission of the sensor information 10 based on the output response code (FALSE in step T10), the processing proceeds to step T11, and the edge device 4 transmits an error response status 17b as the response status 17 to the mobile device 3 (response status transmission means 25).

[0095] Thereafter, the edge device 4, which has sent either a completion response status 17a or an error response status 17b to the mobile device 3, waits for an instruction to be input as to whether or not to return to waiting for reception of a packet 12 related to new sensor information 10 (step T12).

[0096] If there is an instruction to return to waiting for reception of packet 12 (YES in step T12), the process proceeds to step T1, and waits for transmission of packet 12 from the portable device 3.

[0097] On the other hand, if there is no instruction to return to waiting for reception of packet 12 (NO in step T1), the communication system 1 of this embodiment is terminated by the processing of step T13. This completes the processing of the communication system 1 using the mobile device 3 and the edge device 4.

[0098] As described above, the communication system 1 of this embodiment utilizes a portable device 3 and an edge device 4 that are highly versatile and have a relatively simple configuration, enabling wireless communication between the portable device 3 and the edge device 4. In particular, the control status related to communication between different hardware between the portable device 3 and the edge device 4 and between the edge device 4 and the management server 5 can be designed using a single protocol by configuring the header section 12a included in the packet 12. As a result, there is no need to program each solution separately. Furthermore, by using radio waves based on the 920 MHz ultra-shortwave frequency band, stable transmission and reception of information, etc., is possible over long distances compared to conventional wireless communication technologies. In addition, the operator of the portable device 3 can visually and audibly grasp the communication status of each process, allowing the location of an abnormality, such as an error, to be quickly identified. [Industrial Applicability]

[0099] The wireless communication system of the present invention can be used as various wireless communication systems adopted in edge computing systems, and has particularly useful industrial applicability, such as inventory management systems in warehouses and factories, or for picking up goods from warehouses. [Explanation of symbols]

[0100] 1: Communication system (wireless communication system), 2: Sensor, 3: Mobile device, 4: Edge device, 5: Management server, 6: Communication status, 7: LED light (visual alarm), 7G: Green LED (lighting part), 7R: Red LED (lighting part), 7Y: Yellow LED (lighting part), 8: Speaker (auditory alarm), 9: Two-dimensional barcode, 10: Sensor information, 11: Sensor information acquisition means, 12: Packet, 13: Sensor information division means, 14: Packet transmission means, 15: Mobile edge-side step processing determination means, 16: communication status notification means, 17: response status, 17a: completion response status, 17b: error response status, 18: response status receiving means, 19: sensor information acquisition restriction means, 20: visual notification means, 21: auditory notification means, 22: packet receiving means, 23: sensor information restoration means, 24: edge-side step processing determination means, 25: response status transmission means, 26: sensor information transmission means, C: USB communication line (universal serial bus communication, communication line), PC: communication status, PD: device control, PN: packet number, PR: spare, PS: total number of packets, SA: sensor information acquisition step, SB: sensor information division step, SC: packet transmission step, TA: sensor information restoration step, TB: sensor information transmission step.

Claims

1. a mobile device equipped with a sensor; an edge device connected to the mobile device via a wireless communication line; A wireless communication system comprising: The mobile device a sensor information acquisition means for acquiring sensor information using the sensor; a sensor information dividing means for dividing the sensor information into a plurality of packets; a packet transmitting means for transmitting the divided packets to the edge device through the wireless communication line using an ultra-high frequency frequency band of 920 MHz; a mobile-side step processing determination means for determining whether or not the processes of the sensor information acquisition step of the sensor information acquisition means, the sensor information division step of the sensor information division means, and the packet transmission step of the packet transmission means are being performed normally; a communication status reporting means for reporting a communication status of wireless communication between the mobile device and the edge device based on a determination result by the mobile-side step processing determining means; A wireless communication system comprising:

2. The packet It is configured to have a header section and a data section, The header section The information includes at least information related to communication status, device control, total number of packets, and packet number; The edge device packet receiving means for receiving the packets transmitted from the portable device; a sensor information restoring means for linking the received packets based on the header portion and restoring the sensor information; an edge-side step processing determination means for determining whether or not the processing of the sensor information restoration step related to the sensor information restoration means is normally performed based on the header portion; a response status transmitting means for transmitting a response status in the edge device to the mobile device based on a determination result by the edge-side step processing determining means; Equipped with The mobile device a response status receiving means for receiving the response status transmitted from the edge device; Further provided with The communication status notification means 2. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the content of the received response status is included in the communication status and is notified.

3. The mobile device 3. The wireless communication system according to claim 2, further comprising a sensor information acquisition control means for controlling the acquisition of the sensor information using the sensor during wireless communication between the edge device and the mobile device from the start of the packet transmission step from the mobile device to the completion of reception of the response status.

4. The edge device It is further connected to the management server through a communication line, The system further comprises a sensor information transmitting means for transmitting the restored sensor information to the management server as is or for transmitting processed sensor information, The edge side step processing determination means 3. The wireless communication system according to claim 2, further comprising: determining whether or not the processing of the sensor information transmission step related to said sensor information transmission means is being performed normally.

5. The mobile device a visual notification unit having a plurality of lighting units; an auditory notification unit capable of outputting voice; Equipped with The communication status notification means a visual notification means for signal-controlling the lighting state of the lighting unit based on the communication status; an auditory notification means for signal-controlling the auditory notification unit based on the communication status; 5. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, further comprising:

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