Communication device

Abstract

To reduce power consumption in a communication device that periodically resets a wireless module.SOLUTION: A communication device 100 is provided that includes a wireless communication module 120 for communicating with a center 400 via a base station 300, and a microcomputer 110 that periodically resets the wireless communication module. When it can be determined that communication via the wireless communication module has been successful, the microcomputer lengthens the interval between resets of the wireless communication module.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technology for a communication device, and more particularly to a technology for a communication device for transmitting predetermined information to a center via a base station by wireless communication. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, communication devices that upload meter reading results, measurement results, and other information to a center via a base station via wireless communication have been known. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2017-37358 (Patent Document 1) discloses an observation system, a relay device, and an observation data receiving method. According to Patent Document 1, an observation data is intermittently received from an observation station that observes observation data of an observation target and transmits it at a predetermined cycle. If the wireless receiving unit fails to receive the observation data, the currently set reception cycle is changed to a reception cycle in which at least one of the reception pause time and reception time of the intermittent reception in the wireless receiving unit is set to a time different from the current reception pause time or the current reception time, and the next reception operation is performed. If the wireless receiving unit successfully receives the observation data, the next reception operation is performed at a basic reception cycle corresponding to the predetermined transmission cycle, in which the reception pause time and reception time of the intermittent reception in the wireless receiving unit are set to a predetermined basic reception pause time and basic reception time. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-37358 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] An object of the present invention is to reduce power consumption and reduce the load on the server in a communication device that periodically resets its wireless module. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication device comprising a wireless communication module for communicating with a center via a base station, and a microcomputer for periodically resetting the wireless communication module, wherein the microcomputer lengthens the interval between resets of the wireless communication module when it determines that communication via the wireless communication module has been successful. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce power consumption and reduce the load on the server in a communication device that periodically resets its wireless module. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the overall configuration of a network system 1 according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing information processing in the network system 1 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating communication processing in eDRX mode according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a communication process in a PSM mode according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing information processing in the network system 1 according to the second embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing information processing in the network system 1 according to the third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals. The names and functions of the components are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated. First Embodiment <Overall configuration of network system 1>

[0009] First, referring to FIG. 1, a network system 1 according to the present embodiment mainly includes a communication device 100, a meter 200, a base station device 300, a center device 400, and a server 500.

[0010] The meter 200 measures the amount of gas or water used and transmits the measurement result to the communication device 100.

[0011] The communication device 100 is connected to the meter 200, acquires the measurement value of the meter 200, and transmits the measurement value and the measurement date and time to the base station device 300 by wireless communication such as LTE (Long Term Evolution). The communication device 100 of this embodiment can be connected to the meter 200 as an add-on and is battery-powered.

[0012] The base station device 300 constitutes an end point of a mobile communication network constructed by various communication carriers, and performs wireless communication such as LTE with a plurality of communication devices 100. In this embodiment, the base station device 300 transmits data from the communication devices 100 to the center device 400 via the carrier network or the Internet.

[0013] The server 500 provides an IP address to the communication device 100. By using the acquired IP address, the communication device 100 can connect to and exchange data with the center device 400 of the meter operating company.

[0014] The center device 400 obtains meter reading results from the meters 200 from multiple communication devices 100 used for various services such as water and gas via the Internet or a carrier network, stores them in a database, and calculates usage fees for each user. <Configuration of communication device 100>

[0015] Next, a description will be given of the configuration of the communication device 100. The communication device 100 mainly includes a microcomputer 110, an external interface 130, a communication module 120, and a wireless interface 121.

[0016] The microcomputer 110 includes a memory 112 for storing programs and data, a processor 111 for controlling each part of the communication device 100 in accordance with the programs, and a timer 113 for measuring the current time and elapsed time.

[0017] The external interface 130 is connected by a cable or the like to perform data communication with the meter 200. The external interface 130 transfers data acquired from the meter 200 to the processor 111 of the microcomputer 110.

[0018] The wireless interface 121 includes an antenna for wireless communication and transmits and receives various data to and from the base station device 300 under the control of the communication module 120. The communication module 120 controls the wireless interface 121 to exchange data with the base station device 300. For example, the communication module 120 periodically or at a predetermined timing executes a Tracking Area Update (TAU) on the base station device 300 to identify a currently available base station device 300, register the communication device 100 for a service, and obtain accurate current time information from the base station device 300. Furthermore, the wireless communication module 120 transmits and receives various application layer data or IP (Internet Protocol) layer data to and from the base station device 300 using the wireless interface 121 in accordance with instructions from the microcomputer 110. In this embodiment, the wireless communication module 120 obtains an IP address from the server 500 via the wireless interface 121 and exchanges data with the center device 400 using the IP address.

[0019] In the network system 1 according to this embodiment, the microcomputer 110 of the communication device 100 resets the wireless communication module 120 periodically, for example, every few days, to maintain a state in which communication with the base station device 300, the server 500, and the center device 400 is possible. In particular, the microcomputer 110 according to this embodiment resets the timer 113 for measuring the elapsed time until the reset of the wireless communication module 120 when the connection with the center device 400 is successful. In other words, by restarting the count until the next reset of the wireless communication module 120 from zero, it is possible to reduce the number of reset processes that are less necessary. <Data communication flow in network system 1>

[0020] The flow of information processing in the network system 1 according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG.

[0021] First, the microcomputer 110 of the communication device 100 periodically resets the communication module 120 (step S110). At this time, the microcomputer 110 resets the timer 113 that measures the period until the next reset (step S112).

[0022] As a reset process, the microcomputer 110 requests the communication module 120 to connect to the carrier's center device 400 (step S114). The communication module 120 requests an IP address from the server 500 via the base station device 300 by using the wireless interface 121 (steps S116, S118). The communication module 120 acquires an IP address from the server 500 via the base station device 300 by using the wireless interface 121 (steps S120, S122). The communication module 120 notifies the microcomputer 110 that the connection with the server 500 has been successful (step S124). This completes the current reset of the communication module 120.

[0023] Thereafter, the microcomputer 110 connects to the center device 400 via the communication module 120 and transmits and receives data (step S130). If the connection with the center device 400 is successful, the microcomputer 110 resets the timer 113 that measures the period until the next reset (step S132).

[0024] After that, when the period has elapsed, the microcomputer 110 of the communication device 100 resets the communication module 120 (step S110). At this time, the microcomputer 110 resets the timer 113 that measures the period until the next reset (step S112).

[0025] In this embodiment, the microcomputer 110 sets the reset cycle of the communication module 120 to a shorter value, such as one day, in the eDRX mode shown in Fig. 3. On the other hand, the microcomputer 110 sets the reset cycle of the communication module 120 to a longer value, such as seven days, in the PSM mode shown in Fig. 4. <Second embodiment>

[0026] In the above embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, when a connection with the center device 400 is successful, the count until the next reset of the communication module 120 is restarted from zero. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration.

[0027] For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when the microcomputer 110 has successfully connected to the server 500 that is the destination of the attach request (step S230), the microcomputer 110 may restart the count until the reset of the communication module 120 from zero (step S232). <Third embodiment>

[0028] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, when it is confirmed that the connection with the base station device 300 has been successfully established, the microcomputer 110 may restart the count until the reset of the communication module 120 from zero.

[0029] For example, the communication module 120 may notify the microcomputer 110 that it has successfully connected to the base station (step S332), which may cause the microcomputer 110 to restart the count until the next reset of the communication module 120 from zero (step S334).

[0030] Alternatively, the communication module 120 may store information that it has successfully connected to the base station device 300 (step S330) and return the information in response to a request from the microcomputer 110 (step S332). This may cause the microcomputer 110 to restart the count until the next reset of the communication module 120 from zero (step S334). <Fourth embodiment>

[0031] In the above embodiment, the microcomputer 110 restarts the countdown period until the reset of the communication module 120 from zero when the microcomputer 110 has successfully established a connection with the center device 400, the server 500, or the base station device 300. However, the microcomputer 110 may extend the period until the reset by a different method when the communication module 120 recognizes that communication has been successful.

[0032] For example, if the microcomputer 110 has successfully connected to the center device 400, the server 500, or the base station device 300 (steps S130, S230, S330), the microcomputer 110 may omit the reset process of the communication module 120 at the next reset timing. <Fifth embodiment>

[0033] Alternatively, the microcomputer 110 may extend the reset interval of the communication module 120 by one day each time the microcomputer 110 succeeds in connecting to the center device 400, the server 500, or the base station device 300 (steps S130, S230, S330). In this case, the microcomputer 110 may return the reset interval to the initial value when the microcomputer 110 fails to connect to the center device 400, the server 500, or the base station device 300. Alternatively, when the microcomputer 110 resets the communication module 120, the microcomputer 110 may return the reset interval to the initial value. <Summary>

[0034] In the above embodiment, a communication device is provided that includes a wireless communication module for communicating with a center via a base station and a microcomputer that periodically resets the wireless communication module. When the microcomputer determines that communication via the wireless communication module is successful, it lengthens the interval between resets of the wireless communication module.

[0035] In the above embodiment, a communication device is provided that includes a wireless communication module for communicating with a center via a base station and a microcomputer that periodically resets the wireless communication module. If the microcomputer determines that communication via the wireless communication module is successful, it skips the next reset of the wireless communication module.

[0036] In the above embodiment, a communication device is provided that includes a wireless communication module for communicating with a center via a base station and a microcomputer that periodically resets the wireless communication module. When the microcomputer determines that communication via the wireless communication module has been successful, it resets the count until the next reset of the wireless communication module.

[0037] Preferably, the microcomputer sets the reset interval to be short in the LTE eDRX mode and sets the reset interval to be long in the PSM mode.

[0038] Preferably, the microcomputer determines that communication via the wireless communication module has been successful when connection with the center via the wireless communication module has been successful.

[0039] Preferably, the microcomputer determines that communication via the wireless communication module has been successful when connection with the server via the wireless communication module has been successful.

[0040] Preferably, the microcomputer determines that communication via the wireless communication module has been successful when connection with the base station via the wireless communication module has been successful.

[0041] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 1: Network system 100: Communication equipment 110: Microcomputer 111: Processor 112: Memory 113: Timer 120: Wireless communication module 121: Wireless interface 130: External interface 200: Meter 300:Base station equipment 400: Center device 500: Server

Claims

1. a wireless communication module for communicating with a center via a base station; a microcomputer that periodically resets the wireless communication module, The communication device, wherein the microcomputer increases the interval between resets of the wireless communication module when it is determined that communication via the wireless communication module has been successful.

2. a wireless communication module for communicating with a center via a base station; a microcomputer that periodically resets the wireless communication module, The communication device, wherein the microcomputer omits the next reset of the wireless communication module when it can be determined that communication via the wireless communication module has been successful.

3. a wireless communication module for communicating with a center via a base station; a microcomputer that periodically resets the wireless communication module, The communication device, wherein the microcomputer resets a count until the next reset of the wireless communication module when it is determined that communication via the wireless communication module has been successful.

4. The communication device according to claim 1 , wherein the microcomputer sets the reset interval to be short in an eDRX mode of LTE and sets the reset interval to be long in a PSM mode.

5. 4. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the microcomputer determines that communication via the wireless communication module has been successful when connection with the center via the wireless communication module has been successful.

6. The communication device according to claim 1 , wherein the microcomputer determines that communication via the wireless communication module has been successful when connection with the server via the wireless communication module has been successful.

7. The communication device according to claim 1 , wherein the microcomputer determines that communication via the wireless communication module has been successful when connection with the base station via the wireless communication module has been successful.

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