Data logging system, data logging tag, data acquisition device, data logging method, and program

Abstract

To provide a data logging system, a data logging tag, a data acquisition device, a data logging method, and a program capable of reducing a deviation of a time between a measurement time and an actual time on measurement data which is acquired from a used-up type data logging tag having a measurement function.SOLUTION: In a data logging system, a data logging tag for measuring a peripheral state stores measurement data obtained by associating measured measurement information with measurement time information expressing a measurement time during which the measurement is performed. A data acquisition device performs: transmitting a present time as a measurement start time to allow the data logging tag to store the time when transmitting a measurement start instruction for allowing the data logging tag to perform measurement; acquiring the measurement start time when the measurement data is acquired from the data logging tag; and correcting the measurement time expressed by the measurement time information associated with the measurement data on the basis of the acquired measurement start time and an acquisition termination time being the present time when the acquisition of the measurement data is terminated.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a data logging system, a data logging tag, a data acquisition device, a data logging method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, tags (so-called RF tags) that employ non-contact communication technologies such as RFID (Radio Frequency Identifier) ​​have been used to manage the transportation and storage of goods. Among the goods being transported and stored, there are some that require maintaining freshness and preventing quality deterioration, such as perishable foods and refrigerated foods. Therefore, when transporting or storing such goods, they must be managed at a temperature set for each product. Product temperature management during transportation and storage is achieved by placing a temperature logger device inside or outside the product packaging and measuring the temperature at predetermined intervals. However, placing a temperature logger device on every product increases transportation and storage costs and requires the effort of collecting the temperature logger device. For this reason, disposable RF tags (hereinafter referred to as "temperature logging tags") that have a temperature measurement function equivalent to that of a temperature logger device have recently been put into practical use.

[0003] Temperature logging tags measure temperature at predetermined intervals clocked by a timer powered by a built-in battery. However, this timer is not highly accurate, in order to reduce the cost of temperature logging tags. As a result, a time discrepancy occurs between the time when the temperature is measured at the set interval (measurement time) and the actual time during transportation or storage of the product, due to the performance of the timer. Furthermore, since the time discrepancy due to the timer's performance tends to either advance or delay time, the longer the product is transported or stored, the greater the accumulated discrepancy becomes.

[0004] In this regard, techniques for correcting the time discrepancy of a timer have been disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). The technique described in Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which a data logging device is equipped with an antenna that receives standard radio waves carrying time information, and is equipped with a radio-controlled clock function that corrects the time of a real-time clock that keeps time based on the time information carried in the standard radio waves. The technique described in Patent Document 2 discloses a data sampling method in which a common beacon is transmitted from each of a large number of wireless sensor nodes, and the set value of each counter is set based on the received common beacon. By applying these conventional techniques to temperature logging tags, it is believed that the time discrepancy between the time of temperature measurement due to timer performance and the actual time during transportation or storage of a product can be eliminated. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-208133 [Patent Document 2] Special Publication No. 2013-527637 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, if a radio-controlled clock function or a large number of wireless sensor nodes that transmit common beacons are installed as in conventional technology, it is difficult to prevent the high costs of temperature logging tags and systems that use temperature logging tags from increasing.Furthermore, with conventional technology, if the standard radio wave or common beacon cannot be received, it may not be possible to correct or correct the time difference.

[0007] The present invention has been made in light of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a data logging system, a data logging tag, a data acquisition device, a data logging method, and a program that can reduce the time lag between the measurement time and the actual time of measurement data acquired from a disposable data logging tag with measurement function. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problem, one aspect of the present invention provides a data logging system that includes at least a data logging tag that measures the surrounding conditions and a data acquisition device, and exchanges data between the data logging tag and the data acquisition device via wireless communication, wherein the data logging tag stores measurement data that associates measured measurement information with measurement time information that indicates the measurement time at which the measurement was taken, and when the data acquisition device sends a measurement start instruction via wireless communication to cause the data logging tag to take a measurement, it sends the current time as the measurement start time and stores it in the data logging tag, and when the measurement data is acquired from the data logging tag via wireless communication, it acquires the measurement start time and corrects the measurement time represented by the measurement time information associated with the measurement data based on the acquired measurement start time and the acquisition completion time, which is the current time when acquisition of the measurement data is completed.

[0009] Furthermore, in a data logging system according to an aspect of the present invention, the data logging tag comprises a battery, a memory unit, a measurement sensor unit that measures a state around the data logging tag, a timer unit that measures a predetermined unit time, a first wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication, and a first processing circuit that manages the measurement timing of the measurement sensor unit and the measured measurement data, and the data acquisition device comprises a user interface unit that accepts operations from a user and presents information acquired from the data logging tag to the user, a clock function unit that keeps time corrected based on a signal including time information, a second wireless communication unit that performs the wireless communication, and a second processing circuit that controls the measurement operation of the data logging tag and processes the measurement data acquired from the data logging tag, and data is exchanged between the data logging tag and the data acquisition device by the wireless communication between the first wireless communication unit and the second wireless communication unit, and the first processing circuit manages a unit that represents the unit time measured by the timer unit. and when the count value of the counted unit time pulse signal reaches a predetermined count value, acquires measurement information measured by the measurement sensor unit, and stores the count value of the unit time pulse signal when the measurement information is acquired as the measurement time information representing the measurement time in the measurement sensor unit in the memory unit, and the second processing circuit, when transmitting a measurement start instruction via wireless communication to cause the data logging tag to perform a measurement in response to an operation from the user, transmits the current time being kept by the clock function unit as the measurement start time and stores it in the data logging tag, and when acquiring the measurement data from the data logging tag via wireless communication in response to an operation from the user, acquires the measurement start time and corrects the measurement time represented by the measurement time information associated with the measurement data based on the acquired measurement start time and the acquisition completion time, which is the current time being kept by the clock function unit when acquisition of the measurement data is completed.

[0010] Furthermore, a data logging tag according to one aspect of the present invention is a data logging tag that measures the surrounding conditions and exchanges data with a data acquisition device via wireless communication, stores the measurement start time, which is the current time, transmitted via the wireless communication together with a measurement start instruction from the data acquisition device, stores measurement data that associates the measured measurement information with measurement time information that indicates the measurement time at which the measurement was taken, and transmits the stored measurement data and the measurement start time via the wireless communication in response to an instruction from the data acquisition device to start acquiring the measurement data.

[0011] In addition, the data logging tag according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a battery, a memory unit, a measurement sensor unit that measures the conditions around the data logging tag, a timer unit that measures a predetermined unit time, a first wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication, and a first processing circuit that manages the measurement timing in the measurement sensor unit and the measured measurement data, and exchanges data with the data acquisition device through the wireless communication by the first wireless communication unit, and the first processing circuit counts unit time pulse signals that represent the unit time measured by the timer unit, and when the count value of the counted unit time pulse signals reaches a predetermined count value, acquires measurement information measured by the measurement sensor unit, and stores the count value of the unit time pulse signal at the time the measurement information is acquired as measurement time information that represents the measurement time in the measurement sensor unit in the memory unit, and associates the measurement data with the acquired measurement information.

[0012] Furthermore, a data acquisition device according to one aspect of the present invention is a data acquisition device that exchanges data via wireless communication between a data logging tag that stores measurement data that associates measurement information that measures the surrounding conditions with measurement time information that indicates the measurement time at which the measurement was performed, and when sending a measurement start instruction via wireless communication to cause the data logging tag to perform a measurement, the current time is sent as the measurement start time and stored in the data logging tag, and when acquiring the measurement data from the data logging tag via wireless communication, the measurement start time is acquired, and the measurement time in the data logging tag represented by the measurement time information associated with the measurement data is corrected based on the acquired measurement start time and the acquisition completion time, which is the current time when acquisition of the measurement data is completed.

[0013] In addition, a data acquisition device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a user interface unit that accepts operation from a user and presents information acquired from the data logging tag to the user, a clock function unit that keeps time corrected based on a signal including time information, a second wireless communication unit that performs the wireless communication, and a second processing circuit that controls the measurement operation in the data logging tag and processes the measurement data acquired from the data logging tag, and exchanges data with the data logging tag through the wireless communication by the second wireless communication unit, and when the second processing circuit sends a measurement start instruction via the wireless communication to cause the data logging tag to perform a measurement in response to operation from the user, it transmits the current time being kept by the clock function unit as the measurement start time and stores it in the data logging tag, and when acquiring the measurement data from the data logging tag via the wireless communication in response to operation from the user, it acquires the measurement start time and corrects the measurement time represented by the measurement time information associated with the measurement data based on the acquired measurement start time and the acquisition completion time, which is the current time being kept by the clock function unit when acquisition of the measurement data is completed.

[0014] Furthermore, a data logging method according to one aspect of the present invention is a data logging method in a data logging system that includes at least a data logging tag that measures the surrounding conditions and a data acquisition device, and exchanges data between the data logging tag and the data acquisition device via wireless communication, wherein a computer of the data logging tag stores measurement data that corresponds measured measurement information with measurement time information that indicates the measurement time at which the measurement was taken, and when a computer of the data acquisition device sends a measurement start instruction via wireless communication to cause the data logging tag to take a measurement, it sends the current time as the measurement start time and stores it in the data logging tag, and when the measurement data is acquired from the data logging tag via wireless communication, it acquires the measurement start time and corrects the measurement time represented by the measurement time information associated with the measurement data based on the acquired measurement start time and the acquisition completion time, which is the current time when acquisition of the measurement data is completed.

[0015] Furthermore, one aspect of the present invention provides a program for a data logging system that includes at least a data logging tag that measures the surrounding conditions and a data acquisition device, and that exchanges data between the data logging tag and the data acquisition device via wireless communication. The program stores measurement data in a computer of the data logging tag that corresponds measured measurement information with measurement time information that indicates the measurement time at which the measurement was performed, and when the computer of the data acquisition device sends a measurement start instruction via wireless communication to cause the data logging tag to perform a measurement, the program transmits the current time as the measurement start time and stores the current time in the data logging tag. When the measurement data is acquired from the data logging tag via wireless communication, the program acquires the measurement start time, and corrects the measurement time represented by the measurement time information associated with the measurement data based on the acquired measurement start time and the acquisition completion time, which is the current time when acquisition of the measurement data is completed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a data logging system, a data logging tag, a data acquisition device, a data logging method, and a program that can reduce the time lag between the measurement time and the actual time of measurement data acquired from a disposable data logging tag with measurement function. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a usage environment of a data logging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a data logging tag that constitutes the data logging system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of storing measurement data measured in a data logging tag according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically illustrating another example of storing measurement data measured in the data logging tag according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a data acquisition device that acquires measurement data measured in a data logging tag that constitutes a data logging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of the temporal relationship of information for correcting the measurement time of measurement data measured in the data logging tag according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically illustrating another example of the temporal relationship of information for correcting the measurement time of measurement data measured in the data logging tag according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen when presenting measurement data measured by a data logging tag in the data acquisition device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the overall processing flow in the data logging system according to the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Hereinafter, a data logging system, a data logging tag, a data acquisition device, a data logging method, and a program according to embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the data logging tag according to the embodiment is a card-sized, disposable RF tag (hereinafter referred to as a "temperature logging tag") that has a temperature measurement function equivalent to that of a temperature logger device. Therefore, in the following description, the data logging system according to the embodiment is a temperature logging system. The temperature logging system measures temperature using a temperature logging tag attached to the outside of a product package or included inside the product package, and manages the temperature during transportation and storage of the product by having a data acquisition device acquire the temperature data measured by the temperature logging tag.

[0019] [Temperature logging system usage environment] 1 is a diagram showing an example of an environment in which a data logging system (temperature logging system) according to an embodiment of the present invention is used. The temperature logging system 1 includes, for example, a temperature logging tag 100 and a data acquisition device 200.

[0020] The temperature logging tag 100 is, for example, a disposable RF tag that has a temperature measurement function equivalent to that of a temperature logger device and employs contactless communication technology such as RFID (Radio Frequency Identifier). The temperature logging tag 100 includes, for example, a built-in temperature sensor and a disposable battery, and a timer powered by the battery keeps time so that the temperature sensor measures the temperature at predetermined intervals. The temperature logging tag 100 stores a predetermined number of pieces of measured temperature data (hereinafter referred to as "temperature data"). The temperature data stored in the temperature logging tag 100 is read by wireless communication with the data acquisition device 200. The wireless communication between the temperature logging tag 100 and the data acquisition device 200 is, for example, short-range wireless communication such as NFC (Near Field Communication). The wireless communication between the temperature logging tag 100 and the data acquisition device 200 may also be, for example, wireless communication such as UHF (Ultra High Frequency). In the following description, it is assumed that the wireless communication performed between the temperature logging tag 100 and the data acquisition device 200 is short-range wireless communication (hereinafter referred to as "NFC communication").

[0021] The temperature logging tag 100 is an example of a “data logging tag.” Temperature data is an example of “measurement data.”

[0022] The data acquisition device 200 is a device that sets information indicating conditions for temperature measurement in the temperature logging tag 100, reads temperature data stored in the temperature logging tag 100, and provides information based on the read temperature data to a user of the temperature logging system 1. The data acquisition device 200 is, for example, a portable terminal device such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal. The data acquisition device 200 may be a dedicated terminal device compatible with the temperature logging tag 100. When a user brings the data acquisition device 200 close to the temperature logging tag 100, the data acquisition device 200 performs NFC communication with the temperature logging tag 100 to exchange data, such as setting temperature measurement conditions for the temperature logging tag 100 and reading temperature data stored in the temperature logging tag 100. The data acquisition device 200 executes, for example, an application for using the temperature logging system 1 (hereinafter referred to as a "measurement application"), and performs NFC communication with the temperature logging tag 100 in response to a user's operation. The measurement application transmits information indicating conditions for temperature measurement to the temperature logging tag 100 in response to a user's operation, causing the temperature logging tag 100 to set the conditions. The information indicating the conditions for temperature measurement (hereinafter referred to as "temperature measurement conditions") is, for example, information such as the timing (measurement start timing) at which the temperature logging tag 100 actually starts temperature measurement after an instruction to start temperature measurement (measurement start instruction) is given to the temperature logging tag 100, and the periodic time interval (measurement interval) at which temperature measurement is performed. The measurement start timing indicates the elapsed time (e.g., time in minutes) from the measurement start instruction, in other words, the waiting time from the measurement start instruction to the actual start of temperature measurement. The measurement interval indicates the time interval (e.g., time in minutes) at which the temperature logging tag 100 performs temperature measurement. When the measurement application gives the temperature logging tag 100 an instruction to start measurement, it stores the current time measured by the data acquisition device 200 as the measurement start time. The measurement start time is the reference time in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), i.e., "UTC+0".The measurement application may use, as a measurement start instruction, an instruction to transmit and store the current time (measurement start time) of the data acquisition device 200 to the temperature logging tag 100. The measurement application reads temperature data stored in the temperature logging tag 100 in response to a user operation. The temperature data read from the temperature logging tag 100 is associated with information indicating the measured temperature (hereinafter referred to as "temperature information") and information indicating the time when the temperature measurement was performed (hereinafter referred to as "measurement time information"). When reading temperature data from the temperature logging tag 100, the measurement application also reads information on the temperature measurement conditions (i.e., the measurement start timing and measurement interval) transmitted and set at the start of the temperature measurement, and the measurement start time stored when issuing the measurement start instruction. The measurement application provides information based on the read temperature data (e.g., information indicating the measured temperature, a graph showing the change in temperature over time generated by performing a predetermined process on the temperature data, etc.) to the user by, for example, displaying it on a display device included in the data acquisition device 200.

[0023] Temperature information is an example of "measurement information."

[0024] In the temperature logging system 1, the configuration for setting temperature measurement conditions for the temperature logging tag 100, reading temperature data stored in the temperature logging tag 100, and providing information based on the temperature data to a user is not limited to a portable terminal device such as the data acquisition device 200. The temperature logging system 1 may include, for example, a data acquisition device 300 instead of or in addition to the data acquisition device 200. The data acquisition device 300 is, for example, a stationary computer device such as a personal computer (PC). An external device such as an NFC reader / writer is connected to the data acquisition device 300, and NFC communication is performed between the external device and the temperature logging tag 100. As a result, the data acquisition device 300 sets temperature measurement conditions for the temperature logging tag 100 and reads temperature data from the temperature logging tag 100 via the external device. An application equivalent to the measurement application is also executed in the data acquisition device 300. FIG. 1 illustrates a case in which a stationary NFC reader / writer 320 and a handheld (portable) NFC reader / writer 340 are connected to the data acquisition device 300 as external devices. When using the NFC reader / writer 320 as the external device, a user sets temperature measurement conditions and reads temperature data by, for example, placing a temperature logging tag 100 attached to the outside of a product package or included inside the product package on the NFC reader / writer 320. When using the NFC reader / writer 340 as the external device, a user sets temperature measurement conditions and reads temperature data by, for example, bringing the NFC reader / writer 340 close to the temperature logging tag 100. The connection between the NFC reader / writer 320 and the NFC reader / writer 340 and the data acquisition device 300 is not limited to a wired connection as illustrated in FIG. 1 , and may be a connection using a wireless communication standard such as a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) (so-called WiFi (registered trademark)) or a short-range wireless communication standard such as Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[0025] The temperature logging system 1 is an example of a "data logging system." The data acquisition device 200, and the configuration of the data acquisition device 300 with the NFC reader / writer 320 or the configuration of the NFC reader / writer 340 are examples of a "data acquisition device."

[0026] [Temperature Logging Tag Configuration] 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a data logging tag (temperature logging tag 100) that constitutes the data logging system (temperature logging system 1) according to an embodiment of the present invention. The temperature logging tag 100 includes, for example, a battery 110, a storage unit 120, a short-range wireless communication unit 130, a timer unit 140, a temperature sensor unit 150, and a processing circuit 160.

[0027] The battery 110 is a disposable battery that supplies the power required to realize the temperature measurement function of the temperature logging tag 100 to each of the components.

[0028] The storage unit 120 stores temperature data in which temperature information indicating the temperature measured in the temperature logging tag 100 is associated with measurement time information indicating the time when the temperature measurement was performed, in response to control from the processing circuit 160. The storage unit 120 is a storage device with a storage capacity sufficient to store a predetermined number of pieces of temperature data. The storage unit 120 is realized by, for example, a semiconductor memory element such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), or a flash memory.

[0029] The short-range wireless communication unit 130 performs NFC communication with the data acquisition device 200. The short-range wireless communication unit 130 also includes, for example, an antenna (not shown) for performing NFC communication. The short-range wireless communication unit 130 outputs information indicating conditions for temperature measurement (temperature measurement conditions) transmitted by the data acquisition device 200 to the processing circuit 160. The short-range wireless communication unit 130 transmits the temperature data and the like output by the processing circuit 160 to the data acquisition device 200.

[0030] The short-range wireless communication unit 130 is an example of a "first wireless communication unit."

[0031] The timer unit 140 is a timekeeping unit that operates at predetermined time intervals. The timer unit 140 is realized by, for example, a real time clock (RTC). The timer unit 140 also includes, for example, an oscillation circuit (not shown) that oscillates a clock signal at a predetermined frequency. The timer unit 140 measures a predetermined unit time based on the clock signal oscillated by the oscillation circuit (not shown). The timer unit 140 starts measuring time in response to control from the processing circuit 160 and outputs information representing the unit time being measured to the processing circuit 160. The information representing the unit time is a pulse signal that is output once per unit time. For example, if the unit time of the timer unit 140 is in seconds, the information representing the unit time is a pulse signal that is output once per second. It is considered that the time (unit time) measured by the timer unit 140 contains some error, that is, a certain amount of time deviation occurs. This is because the timer unit 140 is not highly accurate, in order to prevent the temperature logging tag 100 from becoming too costly and large. For this reason, the pulse signal that the timer unit 140 outputs to the processing circuit 160 per unit time as information representing time (hereinafter referred to as the "unit time pulse signal") is not necessarily output once per second, but rather once every few seconds. However, in the temperature logging system 1, a data acquisition device 200 (which may be data acquisition device 300), which will be described later, corrects the time measured by the timer unit 140, so some error (a certain amount of deviation in the unit time) is allowed.

[0032] The temperature sensor unit 150 measures the ambient conditions (here, the ambient temperature) of the temperature logging tag 100. The temperature sensor unit 150 outputs temperature information indicating the measured temperature to the processing circuit 160. The temperature sensor unit 150 may sequentially output the temperature information to the processing circuit 160, or may measure the temperature in response to control from the processing circuit 160 and output the measured temperature information to the processing circuit 160.

[0033] The temperature sensor unit 150 is an example of a "measurement sensor unit."

[0034] The processing circuit 160 manages the timing of measuring the temperature in the temperature logging tag 100 and the measured temperature data under control of the data acquisition device 200. The processing circuit 160 executes processes such as a counting function 162 and an acquisition function 164. The processing circuit 160 realizes the respective functions such as the counting function 162 and the acquisition function 164 by, for example, a hardware processor executing a program (software) stored in a memory (not shown) (which may be the storage unit 120). The memory (not shown) is realized by, for example, a semiconductor memory element such as a ROM, a RAM, or a flash memory.

[0035] The term "hardware processor" refers to a circuit such as a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a programmable logic device (e.g., a simple programmable logic device (SPLD) or a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), or a field programmable gate array (FPGA)). Instead of storing a program in a memory (not shown), the program may be directly embedded in the hardware processor. In this case, the hardware processor realizes each function by reading and executing the program embedded in the circuit. The hardware processor is not limited to a single circuit, but may be configured as a single hardware processor by combining multiple independent circuits to realize each function. Multiple components may be integrated into a single hardware processor to realize each function. Multiple components may be integrated into a single dedicated LSI to realize each function. Here, the program (software) may be stored in advance in a storage device (a non-transitory storage device (which may be the storage unit 120)) such as a semiconductor memory element such as ROM, RAM, or flash memory. The program (software) may be downloaded in advance from another computer device via wireless communication such as RFID or NFC, and installed in a storage device (which may be the storage unit 120) provided in the temperature logging tag 100.The program (software) may be downloaded in advance from a server device or storage device incorporated in a cloud computing system to another computer device via a network, and may further be downloaded in advance from this other computer device via wireless communication such as RFID or NFC, and installed in a storage device (which may be the storage unit 120) provided in the temperature logging tag 100. The program (software) installed in the storage device provided in the temperature logging tag 100 may be transferred to the processing circuit 160 provided in the temperature logging tag 100 and executed.

[0036] The processing circuit 160 stores information on the temperature measurement conditions (i.e., measurement start timing and measurement interval) and measurement start time set by the data acquisition device 200 in a register provided in the processing circuit 160 or in a memory (which may be the storage unit 120) not shown. When the processing circuit 160 receives a measurement start instruction from the data acquisition device 200, it starts temperature measurement from the measurement start timing set by the data acquisition device 200, and then periodically repeats temperature measurement at the measurement interval set by the data acquisition device 200. The processing circuit 160 stores each measured temperature data in the storage unit 120.

[0037] The counting function 162 counts the unit time pulse signals output by the timer unit 140. More specifically, the counting function 162 counts the unit time pulse signals output by the timer unit 140 to measure the measurement start timing and the measurement interval of the temperature measurement, which are set by the data acquisition device 200. When the count value of the unit time pulse signals being counted by the counting function 162 reaches the count value of the measurement start timing set by the data acquisition device 200, and thereafter reaches the count value of the measurement interval, that is, when the count value reaches the count value of the timing at which the acquisition function 164 acquires temperature information output by the temperature sensor unit 150, the counting function 162 outputs a signal indicating this (hereinafter referred to as an "acquisition timing signal") to the acquisition function 164. The counting function 162 may output the acquisition timing signal to the temperature sensor unit 150 to cause the temperature sensor unit 150 to measure the temperature and output the temperature information, and cause the acquisition function 164 to acquire the temperature information output by the temperature sensor unit 150.

[0038] The acquisition function 164 acquires the temperature information output by the temperature sensor unit 150 in response to the acquisition timing signal output by the count function 162 .

[0039] The processing circuit 160 stores in the memory unit 120 the temperature data associated with the temperature information acquired by the acquisition function 164, using the count value of the unit time pulse signal when the count function 162 outputs the acquisition timing signal as measurement time information.

[0040] Here, an example of the relationship between temperature measurement in the temperature logging tag 100 and temperature data stored in the memory unit 120 will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of storing measurement data (temperature data) measured in a data logging tag (temperature logging tag 100) according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 illustrates an example of storing measured temperature data in the memory unit 120 from the time when an instruction to start temperature measurement (measurement start instruction) is received from the data acquisition device 200. More specifically, FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a case in which the counting function 162 outputs an acquisition timing signal to the acquisition function 164 with the measurement start timing set to zero seconds when the measurement start instruction is received from the data acquisition device 200, and thereafter outputs an acquisition timing signal to the acquisition function 164 at measurement intervals Ti.

[0041] In this case, the acquisition function 164 acquires the temperature information output by the temperature sensor unit 150 each time an acquisition timing signal is output from the count function 162. Then, the processing circuit 160 sequentially stores in the storage unit 120 temperature data in which the temperature information acquired by the acquisition function 164 is associated with the count value of the unit time pulse signal when the count function 162 outputs the acquisition timing signal as measurement time information. Figure 3 shows an example in which the acquisition function 164 acquires temperature information output by the temperature sensor unit 150 at each of the first, second, third, ... Nth acquisition timing signals output by the count function 162, and sequentially stores in the storage unit 120 temperature data in which the acquired temperature information is associated with the count value of the unit time pulse signal when the count function 162 outputs the acquisition timing signal as measurement time information. The acquisition function 164 sequentially stores the temperature data in the storage unit 120 until an instruction to end the temperature measurement is received from the data acquisition device 200, or until the storage unit 120 is no longer able to store new temperature data (the storage capacity of the storage unit 120 becomes full), or until the storage unit 120 has stored the number of temperature data items set by the data acquisition device 200. In FIG. 3, the count function 162 sequentially stores temperature data in the storage unit 120, where the count value obtained by counting the number of times the acquisition timing signal has been output, i.e., the number of times the temperature has been measured, is associated with the temperature information as measurement time information. In this case, the count function 162 may be configured to include a counter that repeatedly counts the number of unit time pulse signals corresponding to the measurement interval, and a counter that counts the number of times the acquisition timing signal has been output.

[0042] 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating another example of storing measurement data (temperature data) measured in a data logging tag (temperature logging tag 100) according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 illustrates an example in which the timing at which the measured temperature data is stored in the memory unit 120 after an instruction to start temperature measurement (measurement start instruction) is received from the data acquisition device 200 is different from the example illustrated in Fig. 3. More specifically, Fig. 4 illustrates an example in which the counting function 162 outputs an acquisition timing signal to the acquisition function 164 when a time represented by the measurement start timing Td has elapsed after the measurement start instruction is received from the data acquisition device 200, and then outputs an acquisition timing signal to the acquisition function 164 at every measurement interval Ti.

[0043] In this case as well, the acquisition function 164 acquires the temperature information output by the temperature sensor unit 150 each time an acquisition timing signal is output from the count function 162, and the processing circuit 160 sequentially stores in the storage unit 120 temperature data in which the count value of the unit time pulse signal when the count function 162 outputs the acquisition timing signal is associated as measurement time information with the temperature information acquired by the acquisition function 164. The example shown in Figure 4 is similar to the example shown in Figure 3 in the operation of each component, except that the timing at which the acquisition function 164 acquires the temperature information is different from the example shown in Figure 3.

[0044] As described above, the processing circuit 160 may store a count value indicating the number of temperature measurements as measurement time information in the storage unit 120 in association with the temperature information, but the measurement time information associated with the temperature information is not limited to the above. In addition to the count value indicating the number of temperature measurements, the processing circuit 160 may also store a count value indicating the number of unit-time pulse signals counted at each measurement interval Ti in association with the temperature information as measurement time information in the storage unit 120. In this case, the counting function 162 may also be configured as the counter described above. For example, the processing circuit 160 may store a count value indicating the number of unit-time pulse signals counted since a measurement start instruction was issued in association with the temperature information as measurement time information in the storage unit 120. In this case, the counting function 162 may be configured as a counter that counts unit-time pulse signals since a measurement start instruction was issued, but the present embodiment does not particularly limit the configuration of the counting function 162.

[0045] The processing circuit 160 is an example of a "first processing circuit."

[0046] [Data acquisition device configuration] In the following explanation, an example of the configuration of the data acquisition device 200 will be described as a representative data acquisition device that acquires temperature data measured by the temperature logging tag 100 in the temperature logging system 1. When the data acquisition device that acquires temperature data measured by the temperature logging tag 100 in the temperature logging system 1 is the data acquisition device 300, its configuration is equivalent to the configuration of the data acquisition device 200 described below.

[0047] 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a data acquisition device 200 that acquires measurement data (temperature data) measured in a data logging tag (temperature logging tag 100) that constitutes a data logging system (temperature logging system 1) according to an embodiment of the present invention. The data acquisition device 200 includes, for example, a user interface unit 210, a short-range wireless communication unit 220, a clock function unit 230, and a processing circuit 240.

[0048] The user interface unit 210 includes, for example, an input unit 212 that accepts various operations, including execution (launch) of a measurement application by a user of the data acquisition device 200, and a data presentation unit 214 that presents the user with various information based on the temperature data acquired from the temperature logging tag 100. The input unit 212 included in the user interface unit 210 is, for example, an operating member such as a button or switch. The data presentation unit 214 included in the user interface unit 210 is, for example, a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD). The user interface unit 210 may include a pressure sensor as the input unit 212 and be configured as a touch panel combined with the data presentation unit 214. In this case, the user inputs various operations by performing various touch operations (such as tapping or flicking) on ​​the screen of the measurement application displayed on the data presentation unit 214. After starting the measurement application in the data acquisition device 200, the user inputs information such as the timing to start temperature measurement (measurement start timing) to be set for the temperature logging tag 100 and the periodic time interval for temperature measurement (measurement interval) on the screen of the measurement application, and then inputs an instruction to start temperature measurement (measurement start instruction). When the user wants to check the temperature data measured by the temperature logging tag 100, the user starts the measurement application in the data acquisition device 200 and then inputs an instruction to request the temperature logging tag 100 to output temperature data (acquisition start instruction) on the screen of the measurement application. Various information based on the temperature data acquired from the temperature logging tag 100 in response to this acquisition start instruction is displayed on the data presentation unit 214 and presented to the user.

[0049] The short-range wireless communication unit 220 performs NFC communication with the temperature logging tag 100. The short-range wireless communication unit 220 also includes, for example, an antenna (not shown) for performing NFC communication. The short-range wireless communication unit 220 transmits various information (e.g., measurement start timing, measurement interval, and information indicating a measurement start instruction) input by the user to the measurement application to the temperature logging tag 100 in response to control from the processing circuit 240. The short-range wireless communication unit 220 transmits an acquisition start instruction input by the user to the measurement application to the temperature logging tag 100 in response to control from the processing circuit 240. The short-range wireless communication unit 220 receives temperature data and the like output by the temperature logging tag 100 in response to the acquisition start instruction, and outputs the received temperature data and the like to the processing circuit 240.

[0050] The short-range wireless communication unit 220 is an example of a "second wireless communication unit."

[0051] The clock function unit 230 is a clock that keeps more accurate time than the timer unit 140 provided in the temperature logging tag 100. The clock function unit 230 is a clock (in other words, a radio-controlled clock) that corrects the time based on satellite signals containing time information transmitted from satellites that make up a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), such as the Global Positioning System (GPS).

[0052] The processing circuit 240 executes a measurement application and controls the temperature measurement operation of the temperature logging tag 100 in response to user operations. The processing circuit 240 executes processes such as a measurement control function 242, an acquisition function 244, a time correction function 246, and a data processing function 248. The processing circuit 240 realizes each of the functions such as the measurement control function 242, the acquisition function 244, and the time correction function 246 by, for example, a hardware processor executing a program (software) stored in a memory (not shown). The memory (not shown) is realized by, for example, a semiconductor memory element such as a ROM, a RAM, or a flash memory.

[0053] The hardware processor refers to a circuit such as a CPU, a GPU, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (e.g., a simple programmable logic device (SPLD) or complex programmable logic device (CPLD), or a field programmable gate array (FPGA)). Instead of storing a program in a memory (not shown), the program may be directly embedded in the circuit of the hardware processor. In this case, the hardware processor realizes each function by reading and executing the program embedded in the circuit. The hardware processor is not limited to being configured as a single circuit, but may be configured as a single hardware processor by combining multiple independent circuits to realize each function. Multiple components may be integrated into a single hardware processor to realize each function. Multiple components may be incorporated into a single dedicated LSI to realize each function. Here, the program (software) may be stored in advance in a storage device (non-transitory storage device) such as a semiconductor memory element such as a ROM, RAM, or flash memory. The program (software) may be downloaded in advance via a network from another computer device, including a server device or storage device, incorporated in a cloud computing system, and installed in a storage device provided in the data acquisition device 200. The program (software) installed in the storage device included in the data acquisition device 200 may be transferred to the processing circuit 240 included in the data acquisition device 200 and executed therein.

[0054] FIG. 5 shows an example of the configuration of the data acquisition device 200. When the data acquisition device is the data acquisition device 300 shown in FIG. 1, the program (software) may be stored in advance in a storage device (a storage device having a non-transitory storage medium) such as a semiconductor memory element such as a ROM, RAM, or flash memory, or a hard disk drive, or may be stored in a removable storage medium (a non-transitory storage medium) such as a DVD or CD-ROM, and the storage medium may be installed in the storage device of the data acquisition device 300 by inserting the storage medium into a drive device of the data acquisition device 300. In this case, the program (software) may also be downloaded in advance via a network from another computer device, including a server device or a storage device incorporated in a cloud computing system, and installed in the storage device of the data acquisition device 300. The program (software) installed in the storage device of the data acquisition device 300 may then be transferred to a processing circuit (a processing circuit equivalent to the processing circuit 240 of the data acquisition device 200) of the data acquisition device 300 and executed.

[0055] When information representing the conditions for temperature measurement is input by a user's operation on the measurement application running in the processing circuit 240, the measurement control function 242 outputs the input temperature measurement conditions to the short-range wireless communication unit 220 and transmits them to the temperature logging tag 100.

[0056] When a user operates the measurement application running on the processing circuit 240 to input an acquisition start instruction requesting the temperature logging tag 100 to output temperature data, the acquisition function 244 outputs information indicating a request for temperature data to the short-range wireless communication unit 220 and causes the temperature logging tag 100 to transmit the data. The acquisition function 244 then acquires the temperature data output (transmitted) by the temperature logging tag 100. At this time, the acquisition function 244 also acquires information on the temperature measurement conditions (measurement start timing and measurement interval) transmitted and set by the measurement control function 242 and the measurement start time stored when the measurement start instruction was issued. The acquisition function 244 also acquires the current count value (hereinafter referred to as the "current count value") of the unit time pulse signal being counted in the temperature logging tag 100. The temperature measurement conditions, measurement start time, and current count value are each measurement time information associated with the temperature data, i.e., information used to correct the time when the temperature measurement was performed (hereinafter referred to as the "correction information"). The acquisition function 244 outputs the acquired temperature data and correction information to the time correction function 246.

[0057] Here, an example of the temporal relationship between temperature measurement in the temperature logging tag 100 and correction information used to correct the time at which the temperature measurement was performed will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of the temporal relationship of information (correction information) for correcting the measurement time of measurement data (temperature data) measured in a data logging tag (temperature logging tag 100) according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of the temporal relationship of correction information acquired by the acquisition function 244 when the temperature logging tag 100 corrects the measurement time of temperature data measured at the example timing shown in FIG. 3. More specifically, in FIG. 6, the measurement start time transmitted and stored in the temperature logging tag 100 when issuing a measurement start instruction is defined as a "measurement start time T1," and the current time measured by the data acquisition device 200 when the acquisition function 244 completes acquisition of the temperature data and correction information is defined as an "acquisition completion time T2." A count value CM of the measurement period included between the measurement start time T1 and the acquisition completion time T2 and a count value CL of the elapsed time since the last temperature measurement are acquired.

[0058] The count value CM is a count value that can be obtained based on measurement time information associated with the temperature data. More specifically, when the temperature logging tag 100 stores in the memory unit 120 temperature data associated with the count value of the number of temperature measurements as measurement time information, as in the example shown in FIG. 3, the count value CM can be obtained by multiplying the count value of the unit time pulse signal counted by the count function 162 of the temperature logging tag 100 to measure the timing of the set measurement interval Ti by the count value −1, which represents the number of temperature measurements associated with the temperature data. In other words, (count value of the measurement interval * (number of measurements − 1)) = count value CM. Here, the count value of the unit time pulse signal counted by the count function 162 of the temperature logging tag 100 to measure the timing of the set measurement interval Ti may be obtained from the temperature logging tag 100, or may be a count value that is expected to be counted by the count function 162. For example, when the measurement time information associated with the temperature data is a count value representing the number of unit time pulse signals counted in a measurement interval Ti, the count value CM can be obtained by summing the measurement time information associated with each temperature data (in FIG. 6, the count value represented by the measurement time information of the temperature data of the first temperature measurement is "0", and the count values ​​represented by the measurement time information of the temperature data of the subsequent temperature measurements are "count value of the measurement interval Ti"). When the measurement time information associated with the temperature data is a count value representing the number of unit time pulse signals counted since a measurement start instruction was issued, the count value CM can be obtained from the count value represented by the measurement time information associated with the last measured temperature data (in FIG. 6, the temperature data of the Nth temperature measurement).

[0059] The count value CL is a current count value of unit-time pulse signals being counted in the temperature logging tag 100. More specifically, the count value CL is a count value representing the number of unit-time pulse signals being counted in the current measurement interval Ti by the counting function 162 of the temperature logging tag 100. More specifically, when the temperature logging tag 100 stores temperature data in the storage unit 120 associated with count values ​​obtained by counting the number of temperature measurements as measurement time information, as in the example shown in FIG. 3, the count value CL is a count value representing the current number of unit-time pulse signals being counted in the current measurement interval Ti by the counting function 162 of the temperature logging tag 100 to determine the timing of the set next measurement interval Ti. The count value CL is also the same when the measurement time information associated with the temperature data is, for example, a count value representing the number of unit-time pulse signals counted in the measurement interval Ti. For example, when the measurement time information associated with the temperature data is a count value itself indicating the number of unit-time pulse signals counted since a measurement start instruction was issued, the count value CL is a count value indicating the current number of unit-time pulse signals that are being counted in the current measurement interval Ti by the counting function 162 included in the temperature logging tag 100. In this case, since the count value CL also includes the count value CM, the acquisition function 244 may omit acquiring the count value CM.

[0060] FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating another example of the temporal relationship of information (correction information) for correcting the measurement time of measurement data (temperature data) measured in a data logging tag (temperature logging tag 100) according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 illustrates an example of the temporal relationship of the correction information acquired by the acquisition function 244 when the temperature logging tag 100 corrects the measurement time of temperature data measured at the example timing shown in FIG. 4. More specifically, in FIG. 7, the measurement start time transmitted to and stored in the temperature logging tag 100 when issuing a measurement start instruction is defined as a "measurement start time T1." The current time measured by the data acquisition device 200 when the acquisition function 244 completes acquisition of the temperature data and correction information is defined as an "acquisition completion time T2." The following are acquired between the measurement start time T1 and the acquisition completion time T2: a count value CD from the measurement start instruction to the measurement start timing Td (i.e., the temperature measurement waiting time), a count value CM for the measurement period, and a count value CL for the time elapsed since the last temperature measurement.

[0061] In this case as well, the count values ​​CM and CL are the same as the example shown in FIG.

[0062] The count value CD is the count value of the unit time pulse signals being counted in the temperature logging tag 100. The count value CD can also be obtained based on measurement time information associated with the temperature data. More specifically, if the measurement time information associated with the temperature data is, for example, a count value representing the number of unit time pulse signals counted since a measurement start instruction was issued, the count value CD will be the count value represented by the measurement time information associated with the temperature data of the first temperature measurement = "the count value at the measurement start timing Td." In this case, the acquisition function 244 may omit acquiring the count value CD.

[0063] The measurement start time T1 is an example of a "measurement start time", and the acquisition completion time T2 is an example of an "acquisition completion time".

[0064] Acquisition function 244 outputs correction information including the respective count values ​​acquired in this manner to time correction function 246. Acquisition function 244 may be configured to store each of the acquired temperature data and correction information in a storage unit (not shown), notify time correction function 246 of this fact, and have time correction function 246 read each of the temperature data and correction information stored in the storage unit (not shown), thereby outputting each of the temperature data and correction information acquired by acquisition function 244 to time correction function 246.

[0065] Returning to FIG. 5, the time correction function 246 corrects the measurement time of the temperature data output by the acquisition function 244 based on the correction information. At this time, the time correction function 246 calculates the actual time of the predetermined unit time represented by the unit time pulse signal based on the actual elapsed time since the temperature measurement and the count value indicating the number of unit time pulse signals counted by the count function 162 of the temperature logging tag 100 during that time. This makes it possible to calculate the error between the predetermined unit time represented by the unit time pulse signal and the actual time, that is, the deviation of the unit time measured by the timer unit 140 of the temperature logging tag 100. For example, if the unit time pulse signal is a signal output once per second, the time correction function 246 can calculate the deviation from the ideal one second.

[0066] More specifically, in the example shown in FIG. 6, the time correction function 246 obtains the actual unit time (hereinafter referred to as "unit time Tu") represented by the unit time pulse signal using the following equation (1).

[0067] Tu = (T2 - T1) / (CM + CL) (1)

[0068] In the above equation (1), (T2-T1) is the actual elapsed time, and (CM+CL) is the total count value of the unit time pulse signal counted by the counting function 162 of the temperature logging tag 100 during the actual elapsed time.

[0069] On the other hand, in the example shown in FIG. 7, the time correction function 246 obtains the actual unit time Tu represented by the unit time pulse signal using the following equation (2).

[0070] Tu=(T2-T1) / ((CD*60)+CM+CL) ···(2)

[0071] In the above formula (2), ((CD * 60) + CM + CL) is also the total count value of the unit time pulse signals counted by the counting function 162 of the temperature logging tag 100 over the actual elapsed time. However, in the above formula (2), the count value CD is multiplied by "60." This is done to align the time unit to "seconds," because the measurement start timing set in the temperature logging tag 100 as a temperature measurement condition is the elapsed time in "minutes" from the measurement start instruction, while the unit time pulse signals and measurement intervals are in "seconds." The time correction function 246 may calculate the unit time Tu in the example case shown in FIG. 6 using the above formula (2) instead of the above formula (1) by setting the count value CD = "0" in the above formula (2).

[0072] Then, the time correction function 246 corrects the actual measurement time (hereinafter referred to as "measurement time Tm") when the temperature measurement associated with the temperature data output by the acquisition function 244 based on the calculated actual unit time Tu. More specifically, the time correction function 246 calculates the actual measurement time Tm when each temperature data was measured using the following equation (3):

[0073] Tm=T1+((CD*60)+(CTi*(Nm-1))*Tu ···(3)

[0074] In the above equation (3), CTi is the count value of the unit time pulse signal counted by the counting function 162 provided in the temperature logging tag 100 to measure the timing of the set measurement interval Ti, and (Nm-1) is the count value representing the number of temperature measurements associated with the temperature data.

[0075] The time correction function 246 corrects the measurement time information associated with each piece of temperature data stored in the storage unit 120 by the processing circuit 160 in the example shown in Fig. 4 to the actual measurement time (measurement time Tm) using the above formula (3). The time correction function 246 can correct the measurement time information associated with each piece of temperature data stored in the storage unit 120 by the processing circuit 160 in the example shown in Fig. 3 to the actual measurement time (measurement time Tm) by setting the count value CD in the above formula (3) to "0".

[0076] The time correction function 246 corrects the measurement time information associated with each temperature data to the actual measurement time using the above formula (3) and outputs the temperature data (hereinafter referred to as "corrected temperature data") to the data processing function 248. The time correction function 246 may be configured to store each corrected temperature data in a storage unit (not shown), notify the data processing function 248 of this, and have the data processing function 248 read out each corrected temperature data stored in the storage unit (not shown), thereby outputting the corrected temperature data with the measurement time corrected to the data processing function 248.

[0077] The data processing function 248 performs predetermined processing on the corrected temperature data output by the time correction function 246 in response to a user's operation on the measurement application running on the processing circuit 240, in order to present to the user the temperature data measured by the temperature logging tag 100. The data processing function 248 outputs information on the corrected temperature data that has been subjected to the predetermined processing to the user interface unit 210. As a result, the temperature data measured by the temperature logging tag 100 is presented to the user by the data presentation unit 214 included in the user interface unit 210.

[0078] Here, an example of a case where the data processing function 248 performs predetermined processing and presents the temperature data measured by the temperature logging tag 100 to the user will be described. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen when the data acquisition device 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention presents measurement data (temperature data) measured by the data logging tag (temperature logging tag 100). FIG. 8 shows an example of a case where the temperature data measured by the temperature logging tag 100 is presented to the user in the form of a graph showing the change in temperature over time. More specifically, FIG. 8 shows an example of a case where the temperature data is presented to the user by displaying a graph on the display device of the data acquisition device 200 showing the change in temperature represented by the temperature information measured by the temperature logging tag 100 from the measurement start time when a measurement start instruction is issued to the time when acquisition of the temperature data and correction information is completed. This allows the user to check the temperature data measured by the temperature logging tag 100 (the measured temperature and the measurement time) by checking the graph displayed on the display device of the data acquisition device 200.

[0079] Processing circuit 240 is an example of a "second processing circuit."

[0080] [Overall processing flow in the temperature logging system] Next, an example of the overall processing flow in the temperature logging system 1 will be described. FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the overall processing flow in the data logging system (temperature logging system 1) according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 9, the processing of the data acquisition device 200 is shown as processing of a measurement application executed in the processing circuit 240. The sequence diagram shown in FIG. 9 also shows the clock function unit 230 provided in the data acquisition device 200. In the following description, for ease of explanation, NFC communication performed between the short-range wireless communication unit 130 and the short-range wireless communication unit 220 will be omitted as appropriate.

[0081] When the user inputs information indicating the conditions for temperature measurement (temperature measurement conditions), the measurement application causes the measurement control function 242 to output the input temperature measurement conditions to the short-range wireless communication unit 220, which then transmits the temperature measurement conditions to the temperature logging tag 100 via NFC communication (step S100). In the temperature logging tag 100, the short-range wireless communication unit 130 receives the temperature measurement conditions transmitted by the data acquisition device 200 via NFC communication and outputs them to the processing circuit 160. As a result, in the temperature logging tag 100, the processing circuit 160 stores the temperature measurement conditions (step S102).

[0082] Next, when the user instructs the measurement application to start temperature measurement, the acquisition function 244 acquires the current time from the clock function unit 230 (step S110). The measurement application then sets the current time acquired from the clock function unit 230 as "UTC+0" using the acquisition function 244, and causes the measurement control function 242 to transmit the current time of "UTC+0" as the measurement start time along with a measurement start instruction to the temperature logging tag 100 (step S112). As a result, the temperature logging tag 100 stores the measurement start time of "UTC+0," and the timer unit 140 starts timing at a predetermined unit time and starts outputting a unit time pulse signal to the processing circuit 160 (step S114). The timer unit 140 may start timing and the output of the unit time pulse signal to the processing circuit 160 from the time the temperature measurement conditions are transmitted from the data acquisition device 200. Furthermore, in the temperature logging tag 100, the counting function 162 included in the processing circuit 160 starts counting the unit time pulse signals output by the timer section 140 (step S116).

[0083] In the temperature logging tag 100, the acquisition function 164 included in the processing circuit 160 checks whether an acquisition timing signal has been output from the counting function 162 (step S120). If it is confirmed in step S120 that an acquisition timing signal has not been output from the counting function 162, the acquisition function 164 repeats the check in step S120 as to whether an acquisition timing signal has been output.

[0084] On the other hand, if it is confirmed in step S120 that an acquisition timing signal has been output from the counting function 162, the acquisition function 164 acquires the temperature information output by the temperature sensor unit 150. The processing circuit 160 uses the count value of the unit time pulse signal when the counting function 162 outputs the acquisition timing signal as measurement time information, and stores the temperature data associated with the temperature information acquired by the acquisition function 164 in the storage unit 120 (step S130). Then, the acquisition function 164 repeats the confirmation of whether or not an acquisition timing signal has been output in step S120.

[0085] With this processing flow, in the temperature logging system 1, the temperature logging tag 100 measures the temperature at a set predetermined time interval in accordance with control from the data acquisition device 200 (more specifically, a measurement application running in the processing circuit 240), and stores the temperature data in the memory unit 120.

[0086] Thereafter, when the user inputs an acquisition start instruction to read temperature data from the temperature logging tag 100, the measurement application causes the measurement control function 242 to output information indicating a request for temperature data to the short-range wireless communication unit 220, which then transmits the information to the temperature logging tag 100 via NFC communication (step S200). In response, the short-range wireless communication unit 130 in the temperature logging tag 100 receives the information indicating a request for temperature data transmitted by the data acquisition device 200 via NFC communication and outputs the information to the processing circuit 160. The processing circuit 160 then causes the short-range wireless communication unit 130 to transmit the correction information (temperature measurement conditions, measurement start time, and current count value) and the respective temperature data stored in the memory unit 120 (step S202). Consequently, the measurement application causes the acquisition function 244 to acquire the temperature data and the correction information from the temperature logging tag 100 (step S204).

[0087] Next, the measurement application acquires the current time from the clock function unit 230 using the acquisition function 244 (step S210). Then, the measurement application sets the current time (acquisition completion time) acquired from the clock function unit 230 using the acquisition function 244 to "UTC+0", and uses the time correction function 246 to correct the measurement time of the temperature data acquired from the temperature logging tag 100 to the actual measurement time based on the correction information acquired from the temperature logging tag 100 and the acquisition completion time set to "UTC+0" (step S220). In other words, the measurement application converts the temperature data acquired from the temperature logging tag 100 into corrected temperature data using the time correction function 246. That is, in the temperature logging system 1, even if the data acquisition device 200 that sent the measurement start instruction to the temperature logging tag 100 is different from the data acquisition device 200 that sent the acquisition start instruction to the temperature logging tag 100, the measurement time at which the temperature logging tag 100 measured the temperature is corrected to the actual measurement time based on the time "UTC+0". Furthermore, as described above, the clock function unit 230 provided in each data acquisition device 200 is a radio-controlled clock that corrects the time based on a satellite signal containing time information to keep accurate time, and there is very little time discrepancy between different data acquisition devices 200. For example, when a product with a temperature logging tag 100 attached to the outside of a package or included inside the product package is transported to a different country, the data acquisition device 200 that issues a measurement start instruction and the data acquisition device 200 that issues an acquisition start instruction are different, but there is very little time discrepancy between these data acquisition devices 200. For this reason, the error in the actual measurement time obtained by correcting the measurement time at which the temperature logging tag 100 measured the temperature is very small.

[0088] Next, the measurement application performs predetermined processing on the corrected temperature data using the data processing function 248 in response to user operation. The measurement application then outputs information about the corrected temperature data that has undergone the predetermined processing to the user interface unit 210, and causes the data presentation unit 214 to present the data to the user (step S230). This allows the user to confirm the temperature data (measured temperature and its measurement time) measured by the temperature logging tag 100 by checking the information displayed on the display device of the data acquisition device 200. At this time, the measurement application adjusts the measurement time of each corrected temperature data to the location of the data acquisition device 200 that presents the corrected temperature data information to the user based on the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) location setting (i.e., time zone setting) at the current time (acquisition completion time) acquired from the clock function unit 230 by the acquisition function 244. This allows the user to check the temperature data measured by the temperature logging tag 100 with an intuitive sense of time.

[0089] Through this processing flow, in the temperature logging system 1, the data acquisition device 200 acquires the temperature data measured by the temperature logging tag 100, corrects the measurement time included in the acquired temperature data, and presents it to the user.

[0090] In the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 9 , after step S200 when the measurement application starts acquiring temperature data and correction information from the temperature logging tag 100, the temperature logging tag 100 does not store temperature data in the storage unit 120. However, in the temperature logging system 1, the temperature logging tag 100 may continue to store temperature data in the storage unit 120 while the measurement application is acquiring temperature data and correction information from the temperature logging tag 100, or even after completing acquisition of the temperature data and correction information from the temperature logging tag 100. In this case, after presenting the corrected temperature data information to the user in step S230, the measurement application can present the user with corrected temperature data information including temperature data measured by the temperature logging tag 100 since the previous presentation to the user (presented in the first processing of step S230 in FIG. 9 ). For example, when a product is transported with a temperature logging tag 100 attached to the outside of a package or packed inside the product package, information on the corrected temperature data for the product from its departure point to the relay point can be presented to the user at a relay point, and then information on the corrected temperature data for the product from its departure point to its arrival point can be presented to the user at the arrival point. This allows the temperature logging system 1 to more effectively manage the temperature of the product during transportation. Here, the measurement application that presents the corrected temperature data to the user at the relay point and the measurement application that presents the corrected temperature data to the user at the arrival point may be executed in different data acquisition devices 200 (or may be data acquisition devices 300).

[0091] As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the data acquisition device 200 constituting the temperature logging system 1 stores the current time (measurement start time) when it causes the temperature logging tag 100 to start temperature measurement. In the embodiment of the present invention, the temperature logging tag 100 constituting the temperature logging system 1 counts the unit time pulse signals output by the timer unit 140, and stores the count value of the unit time pulse signals when the temperature measurement is performed as measurement time information in the memory unit 120, thereby storing temperature data associated with the measured temperature information. In the embodiment of the present invention, the data acquisition device 200 constituting the temperature logging system 1 acquires temperature data from the temperature logging tag 100, and then corrects the measurement time associated with the temperature data based on the measurement start time stored when the temperature measurement was started, the measurement time information, and the current time (acquisition completion time) when the temperature data was acquired. As a result, in the temperature logging system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the measurement time associated with the temperature data can be corrected to the actual measurement time using the time measured by the highly accurate clock function unit 230 of the data acquisition device 200, without having to, for example, change the timer unit 140 of the temperature logging tag 100 to one with high-precision specifications that minimize time error, or adopt a configuration such as a radio-controlled clock equipped with a satellite signal antenna for correcting the time based on a satellite signal containing time information transmitted from a satellite. In other words, the temperature logging system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention can achieve high accuracy in the information (measurement time information) indicating the time when the temperature logging tag 100 performed the temperature measurement, without increasing cost or size.

[0092] Furthermore, if the timer unit 140 of the temperature logging tag 100 is configured, for example, like a radio-controlled clock equipped with a satellite signal antenna, there is a concern that a discrepancy in the corrected time may occur if the satellite signal cannot be received. In contrast, in the temperature logging system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the clock function unit 230 of the data acquisition device 200 is a highly accurate device, such as a radio-controlled clock, that corrects the time based on a satellite signal containing time information to keep accurate time. Since the measurement time information is corrected using the time measured by this clock function unit 230, the possibility of a discrepancy in the corrected time is reduced. Furthermore, the clock function units 230 of each data acquisition device 200 have very little time discrepancy between different data acquisition devices 200. For example, when a product with a temperature logging tag 100 attached to the outside of a package or packed inside a product package is transported to a different country, the data acquisition device 200 that issues the measurement start instruction and the data acquisition device 200 that issues the acquisition start instruction are different, but the time discrepancy between these data acquisition devices 200 is very small. Therefore, the error in the actual measurement time corrected for the measurement time when the temperature logging tag 100 measured the temperature is very small.

[0093] In the temperature logging system 1 of an embodiment for implementing the present invention, when temperature measurements are performed using multiple temperature logging tags 100, even if the time (unit time) measured by the timer unit 140 provided in each temperature logging tag 100 is different, the measurement time associated with the temperature data can be corrected for each temperature logging tag 100, rather than being corrected uniformly.

[0094] In the embodiment of the present invention, the wireless communication between the temperature logging tag 100 and the data acquisition device 200 is described as near-field wireless communication (NFC communication). However, as described above, the wireless communication between the temperature logging tag 100 and the data acquisition device 200 may be wireless communication, such as UHF. In this case, the configurations of the data logging system, data logging tag, and data acquisition device, as well as the operation and processing of each function, may be equivalent to the configurations of the data logging system (temperature logging system 1), data logging tag (temperature logging tag 100), and data acquisition device (data acquisition device 200 (or data acquisition device 300)) of the above-described embodiment, as well as the operation and processing of each function. In other words, the NFC communication in the above-described embodiment can be easily replaced with wireless communication, such as UHF. More specifically, this can be easily achieved by replacing the short-range wireless communication unit 130 included in the temperature logging tag 100, the short-range wireless communication unit 220 included in the data acquisition device 200, and the external device (NFC reader / writer 320 or NFC reader / writer 340) connected to the data acquisition device 300 with one suitable for wireless communication such as UHF. Therefore, detailed descriptions of the configurations of the data logging system, data logging tag, and data acquisition device, and the operation and processing of each function in the case where the wireless communication performed between the temperature logging tag 100 and the data acquisition device 200 is other than short-range wireless communication (NFC communication) will be omitted.

[0095] In the embodiment of the present invention, the data logging tag of the present invention is described as a temperature logging tag 100 that measures temperature. However, the data logging tag of the present invention is not limited to one that measures temperature. For example, the data logging tag of the present invention may measure humidity in addition to or instead of measuring temperature. In this case, the configurations of the data logging system, data logging tag, and data acquisition device, as well as the operation and processing of each function, can be easily considered from the above-described embodiment. Therefore, detailed descriptions of the configurations of the data logging system, data logging tag, and data acquisition device, as well as the operation and processing of each function, will be omitted.

[0096] The above describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings, but the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and various modifications are also included within the scope that does not deviate from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0097] 1. Temperature logging system 100 Temperature Logging Tag 110···Battery 120...Storage section 130...Near field communication department 140 Timer section 150 Temperature sensor part 160 Processing circuit 162···Count function 164···Acquisition function 200 Data acquisition device 210 User Interface Section 212 Input section 214...Data presentation section 220...Near field communication department 230 Clock function section 240 Processing circuit 242 Measurement control function 244···Retrieval function 246···Time correction function 248···Data processing function 300 Data acquisition device 320···NFC Reader / Writer 340···NFC Reader / Writer

Claims

1. At least a data logging tag for measuring ambient conditions and a data acquisition device; A data logging system in which data is exchanged between the data logging tag and the data acquisition device by wireless communication, The data logging tag comprises: storing measurement data in which the measured measurement information is associated with measurement time information indicating the measurement time at which the measurement was performed; The data acquisition device When transmitting a measurement start instruction to the data logging tag via the wireless communication, the current time is transmitted as a measurement start time and stored in the data logging tag; When acquiring the measurement data from the data logging tag via the wireless communication, the measurement start time is acquired, and the measurement time indicated by the measurement time information associated with the measurement data is corrected based on the acquired measurement start time and an acquisition completion time, which is the current time when acquisition of the measurement data is completed. Data logging system.

2. The data logging tag comprises: Battery and A memory unit; a measurement sensor unit for measuring the surrounding conditions of the data logging tag; a timer unit that measures time in predetermined unit times; a first wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication; a first processing circuit that manages measurement timing in the measurement sensor unit and measurement data; Equipped with The data acquisition device a user interface unit that receives operations from a user and presents information acquired from the data logging tag to the user; a clock function unit that keeps time corrected based on a signal containing time information; a second wireless communication unit that performs the wireless communication; a second processing circuit for controlling the measurement operation in the data logging tag and for processing the measurement data acquired from the data logging tag; Equipped with data is exchanged between the data logging tag and the data acquisition device by the wireless communication between the first wireless communication unit and the second wireless communication unit; The first processing circuit counting unit time pulse signals representing the unit time measured by the timer unit; When the count value of the counted unit time pulse signal reaches a predetermined count value, the measurement information measured by the measurement sensor unit is acquired; a count value of the unit time pulse signal when the measurement information is acquired is used as the measurement time information representing the measurement time in the measurement sensor unit, and the measurement data associated with the acquired measurement information is stored in the storage unit; The second processing circuit When transmitting a measurement start instruction to cause the data logging tag to perform measurement via the wireless communication in response to an operation from the user, the current time kept by the clock function unit is transmitted as a measurement start time and stored in the data logging tag; When acquiring the measurement data from the data logging tag via the wireless communication in response to an operation from the user, the measurement start time is acquired, and the measurement time indicated by the measurement time information associated with the measurement data is corrected based on the acquired measurement start time and an acquisition completion time, which is the current time measured by the clock function unit when acquisition of the measurement data is completed.

10. The data logging system of claim 1.

3. A data logging tag that measures the surrounding conditions and exchanges data with a data acquisition device via wireless communication, storing a measurement start time, which is the current time, transmitted by the wireless communication together with the measurement start instruction from the data acquisition device; storing measurement data in which the measured measurement information is associated with measurement time information indicating the measurement time at which the measurement was performed; transmitting the stored measurement data and the measurement start time via the wireless communication in response to an instruction to start acquiring the measurement data from the data acquisition device; Data logging tag.

4. The data logging tag comprises: Battery and A memory unit; a measurement sensor unit for measuring the surrounding conditions of the data logging tag; a timer unit that measures time in predetermined unit times; a first wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication; a first processing circuit that manages measurement timing in the measurement sensor unit and measurement data; Equipped with exchanging data with the data acquisition device through the wireless communication by the first wireless communication unit; The first processing circuit counting unit time pulse signals representing the unit time measured by the timer unit; When the count value of the counted unit time pulse signal reaches a predetermined count value, the measurement information measured by the measurement sensor unit is acquired; a count value of the unit time pulse signal when the measurement information is acquired is used as the measurement time information representing the measurement time in the measurement sensor unit, and the measurement data associated with the acquired measurement information is stored in the storage unit; 4. The data logging tag of claim 3.

5. A data acquisition device that wirelessly exchanges data with a data logging tag that stores measurement data in which measurement information obtained by measuring a surrounding state and measurement time information indicating the measurement time at which the measurement was performed are associated with each other, When transmitting a measurement start instruction to the data logging tag via the wireless communication, the current time is transmitted as a measurement start time and stored in the data logging tag; When acquiring the measurement data from the data logging tag via the wireless communication, the measurement start time is acquired, and the measurement time in the data logging tag represented by the measurement time information associated with the measurement data is corrected based on the acquired measurement start time and an acquisition completion time which is the current time when acquisition of the measurement data is completed. Data acquisition equipment.

6. The data acquisition device a user interface unit that receives operations from a user and presents information acquired from the data logging tag to the user; a clock function unit that keeps time corrected based on a signal containing time information; a second wireless communication unit that performs the wireless communication; a second processing circuit for controlling the measurement operation in the data logging tag and for processing the measurement data acquired from the data logging tag; Equipped with data is exchanged with the data logging tag through the wireless communication by the second wireless communication unit; The second processing circuit When transmitting a measurement start instruction to cause the data logging tag to perform measurement via the wireless communication in response to an operation from the user, the current time kept by the clock function unit is transmitted as a measurement start time and stored in the data logging tag; When acquiring the measurement data from the data logging tag via the wireless communication in response to an operation from the user, the measurement start time is acquired, and the measurement time indicated by the measurement time information associated with the measurement data is corrected based on the acquired measurement start time and an acquisition completion time, which is the current time measured by the clock function unit when acquisition of the measurement data is completed. The data acquisition device according to claim 5 .

7. At least a data logging tag for measuring ambient conditions and a data acquisition device; A data logging method in a data logging system in which data is exchanged between the data logging tag and the data acquisition device by wireless communication, comprising: the data logging tag's computer: storing measurement data in which the measured measurement information is associated with measurement time information indicating the measurement time at which the measurement was performed; The computer of the data acquisition device When transmitting a measurement start instruction to the data logging tag via the wireless communication, the current time is transmitted as a measurement start time and stored in the data logging tag; When acquiring the measurement data from the data logging tag via the wireless communication, the measurement start time is acquired, and the measurement time indicated by the measurement time information associated with the measurement data is corrected based on the acquired measurement start time and an acquisition completion time, which is the current time when acquisition of the measurement data is completed. Data logging methods.

8. At least a data logging tag for measuring ambient conditions and a data acquisition device; A program in a data logging system that exchanges data between the data logging tag and the data acquisition device by wireless communication, a computer in the data logging tag; storing measurement data in which the measured measurement information is associated with measurement time information indicating the measurement time at which the measurement was performed; The computer of the data acquisition device When a measurement start instruction for causing the data logging tag to perform measurement is transmitted via the wireless communication, the current time is transmitted as a measurement start time and stored in the data logging tag; When the measurement data is acquired from the data logging tag via the wireless communication, the measurement start time is acquired, and the measurement time indicated by the measurement time information associated with the measurement data is corrected based on the acquired measurement start time and an acquisition completion time, which is the current time when acquisition of the measurement data is completed. program.

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