Relay communication device and information storage system

Abstract

A relay communication device capable of increasing the upper limit of the number of sensors that can be connected to a storage device, and an information storage system including the relay communication device are provided. [Solution] The relay communication device 32 includes a receiving communication unit 80, a sending communication unit 82, and a communication control unit 84. The receiving communication unit 80 receives information via serial communication. The sending communication unit 82 sends the information received by the receiving communication unit 80. The communication control unit 84 controls the receiving communication unit 80 to receive information. The communication control unit 84 controls the sending communication unit 82 to send the information received by the receiving communication unit 80. The sending communication unit 82 sends the information via the computer network 300 in accordance with the Internet Protocol.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a relay communication device and an information storage system. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a monitoring control device. This monitoring control device includes a data processing terminal and a display terminal. The data processing terminal receives status signals transmitted from each of a plurality of pieces of equipment using different communication protocols. These status signals are signals indicating the status of each piece of equipment detected by various sensors, etc. The data processing terminal then performs various types of data processing based on the status signals. Through such various types of data processing, the data processing terminal grasps the status of each piece of equipment. The display terminal displays the processed data on the data processing terminal. According to the monitoring control device disclosed in Patent Document 1, a gradual transition of the monitoring control system can be performed in which some equipment is controlled by an existing monitoring control device and other equipment is controlled by a newly installed monitoring control device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2010-205163 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the device disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that the number of sensors, etc. that can be connected to a data processing terminal is likely to easily reach its upper limit. Not only in the case of the gradual transition related to this device, but also in the case of monitoring the state of equipment using sensors, the upper limit of the number of sensors, etc. that can be connected to a data processing terminal or other storage device is likely to be limited.

[0005] The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a relay communication device that allows an increase in the upper limit of the number of sensors that can be connected to a storage device, and an information storage system that includes the relay communication device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The relay communication device and the information storage system of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the reference numerals in the drawings are used in this section to facilitate understanding of the contents of the invention, and are not intended to limit the contents to the scope of the drawings.

[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to one aspect of the present invention, the relay communication device 32 includes an incoming communication unit 80, an outgoing communication unit 82, and a communication control unit 84. The incoming communication unit 80 receives information through serial communication. The outgoing communication unit 82 transmits the information received by the incoming communication unit 80. The communication control unit 84 controls the incoming communication unit 80 to receive information. The communication control unit 84 controls the outgoing communication unit 82 to transmit the information received by the incoming communication unit 80. The outgoing communication unit 82 transmits the information via the computer network 300 in accordance with the Internet Protocol.

[0008] One of the reasons why the upper limit of the number of sensors 50 that can be connected to the storage device 34 tends to be limited is that communication with the sensors 50 is by serial communication. In order for the storage device 34 to receive information by serial communication, a dedicated communication line is required for each sender of the information. If a dedicated communication line is not provided, identification of the sender and other technical problems will arise. The need for a dedicated communication line means that the number of receiving terminals in the storage device 34 increases with an increase in the number of sensors 50. In contrast, it is not easy to increase the number of receiving terminals in the storage device 34. Therefore, the upper limit of the number of sensors 50 that can be connected to the storage device 34 tends to be limited. When the sending communication unit 82 transmits information that the receiving communication unit 80 receives from the sensor 50 by serial communication, the information is transmitted via the computer network 300 according to the Internet Protocol. As a result, the storage device 34 can receive information transmitted from the sensor 50 by serial communication even if it does not have a dedicated communication line. Since the storage device 34 does not need to have a dedicated communication line, the upper limit of the number of sensors 50 that can be connected to the storage device 34 can be increased.

[0009] It is also preferable that the above-mentioned sending communication unit 82 transmits information via a virtual private network.

[0010] When the virtual private network is mediated in the transmission of the sending communication unit 82, the relay communication device 32 can transmit the information received by the receiving communication unit 80 through serial communication to the remote storage device 34. This means that the storage device 34 can receive information transmitted from the remote sensor 50. As a result, the upper limit of the number of remote sensors 50 that can be connected to the storage device 34 can be increased.

[0011] Alternatively, it is preferable that the above-mentioned sending communication unit 82 is connected to a virtual private network by wireless communication.

[0012] The location where the sensor 50 is installed is often a location where complicated construction is required to install a wired transmission path. On the other hand, when the sending communication unit 82 is connected to a virtual private network by wireless communication, it becomes unnecessary to install a wired transmission path between a communication device that is one end of the virtual private network and the sending communication unit 82. Since it becomes unnecessary to install a wired transmission path, complicated construction is also unnecessary.

[0013] Alternatively, it is preferable that the above-mentioned receiving and communicating unit 80 receives information by serial communication via a wired transmission path.

[0014] When the sending communication unit 82 is connected to a virtual private network by wireless communication, it becomes easy to place the relay communication device 32 near the sensor 50. When the relay communication device 32 is placed near the sensor 50, the possibility of the wired transmission line being disconnected and other troubles occurring is reduced compared to when the relay communication device 32 is placed at a location far away from the sensor 50. On the other hand, when the serial communication between the sensor 50 and the receiving communication unit 80 is via a wired transmission line, the communication between them is more likely to be stabilized.

[0015] According to another aspect of the present invention, an information storage system includes a measuring device 30, a relay communication device 32, and a storage device 34. The measuring device 30 generates information indicating a predetermined physical quantity based on measurement. The measuring device 30 transmits the information indicating the predetermined physical quantity by serial communication. The relay communication device 32 receives the information indicating the predetermined physical quantity from the measuring device 30 by serial communication. The relay communication device 32 transfers the information indicating the predetermined physical quantity. The storage device 34 receives the information indicating the predetermined physical quantity transmitted by the relay communication device 32. The storage device 34 stores the information indicating the predetermined physical quantity. The measuring device 30 includes a sensor 50 and a measurement-side serial communication unit 52. The sensor 50 generates information indicating the predetermined physical quantity based on measurement. The measurement-side serial communication unit 52 is connected to the sensor 50 by wire. The measurement-side serial communication unit 52 transmits the information indicating the predetermined physical quantity generated by the sensor 50 by serial communication. The relay communication device 32 has an incoming communication unit 80, an outgoing communication unit 82, and a communication control unit 84. The incoming communication unit 80 is connected to the measurement side serial communication unit 52 by wire. The incoming communication unit 80 receives information indicating a predetermined physical quantity transmitted by the measurement side serial communication unit 52 by serial communication. The outgoing communication unit 82 transmits information indicating the predetermined physical quantity received by the incoming communication unit 80. The communication control unit 84 controls the incoming communication unit 80 to receive information indicating the predetermined physical quantity. The communication control unit 84 controls the outgoing communication unit 82 to transmit information indicating the predetermined physical quantity received by the incoming communication unit 80. The outgoing communication unit 82 transmits information indicating the predetermined physical quantity via the computer network 300 according to the Internet Protocol. The storage device 34 has a storage device communication unit 110 and a storage unit 104. The storage device communication unit 110 receives information indicating the predetermined physical quantity via the computer network 300 according to the Internet Protocol. The storage unit 104 stores information indicating the predetermined physical quantity received by the storage device communication unit 110 .

[0016] The measurement side serial communication unit 52 of the measurement device 30 transmits information indicating a predetermined physical quantity generated by the sensor 50 by serial communication. The receiving communication unit 80 of the relay communication device 32 receives information indicating the predetermined physical quantity transmitted by the measurement side serial communication unit 52 by serial communication. The sending communication unit 82 of the relay communication device 32 transmits information indicating the predetermined physical quantity received by the receiving communication unit 80. When the sending communication unit 82 transmits information received by the receiving communication unit 80 from the sensor 50 by serial communication, the information is transmitted via the computer network 300 according to the Internet Protocol. This allows the storage device 34 to receive information transmitted from the sensor 50 by serial communication even if it does not have a communication line for serial communication. Since the storage device 34 does not need to have a communication line for serial communication, the upper limit of the number of sensors 50 that can be connected to the storage device 34 can be increased.

[0017] It is also preferable that the above-mentioned sending communication unit 82 transmits information indicating the predetermined physical quantity by wireless communication. In this case, it is preferable that the measurement-side serial communication unit 52 transmits information indicating the predetermined physical quantity by serial communication via a wired transmission path. In this case, it is preferable that the receiving communication unit 80 receives information indicating the predetermined physical quantity by serial communication via a wired transmission path. In this case, it is preferable that the measuring device 30 further includes a pull-up unit 54. The pull-up unit 54 pulls up the measurement-side serial communication unit 52.

[0018] When the pull-up unit 54 pulls up the measurement-side serial communication unit 52, the distance over which serial communication is possible via a wired transmission path between the measurement-side serial communication unit 52 and the receiving communication unit 80 becomes longer than when the pull-up unit 54 does not pull up the measurement-side serial communication unit 52. When the distance becomes longer, restrictions on wireless communication caused by the location where the measurement device 30 is installed can be alleviated. Effect of the Invention

[0019] According to the relay communication device of the present invention and the information storage system including the relay communication device, the upper limit of the number of sensors that can be connected to the storage device can be increased. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an information storage system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a measurement device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 3] 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a relay communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of a storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

[0022] [Configuration of information storage system] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an information storage system according to this embodiment. The configuration of the information storage system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1.

[0023] The information storage system according to this embodiment includes four measuring devices 30, a relay communication device 32, and a storage device .

[0024] The measuring device 30 generates information indicating a predetermined physical quantity based on the measurement. The measuring device 30 transmits the information indicating the predetermined physical quantity by serial communication. In this embodiment, the predetermined physical quantity is temperature and relative humidity. In this embodiment, the four measuring devices 30 are fixed inside the measurement object 200. The four measuring devices 30 measure the temperature and relative humidity at each point inside the measurement object 200. The relay communication device 32 is connected to each of the four measuring devices 30 by a wired transmission path. The relay communication device 32 transmits the information indicating the predetermined physical quantity received from the measuring device 30 to the storage device 34. The transmission is performed via the computer network 300. As a result, the information indicating the predetermined physical quantity is transferred. The storage device 34 receives the information indicating the predetermined physical quantity from the relay communication device 32. The storage device 34 stores the information indicating the predetermined physical quantity.

[0025] [Measurement equipment configuration] 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the measurement device 30 according to this embodiment. The configuration of the measurement device 30 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0026] In this embodiment, the measurement device 30 has a sensor 50, a measurement-side serial communication unit 52, and a pull-up unit 54. The measurement device 30 according to this embodiment is configured by providing elements on a single substrate. The sensor 50, the measurement-side serial communication unit 52, and the pull-up unit 54 are realized by these components.

[0027] The sensor 50 generates information indicating a predetermined physical quantity based on the measurement. The measurement-side serial communication unit 52 is connected to the sensor 50 by wire. The measurement-side serial communication unit 52 transmits the information indicating the predetermined physical quantity generated by the sensor 50 by serial communication. The pull-up unit 54 pulls up the measurement-side serial communication unit 52.

[0028] In this embodiment, the sensor 50 has a temperature sensing unit 60 and a relative humidity sensing unit 62. The temperature sensing unit 60 generates information indicating temperature as information indicating the predetermined physical quantity. The temperature sensing unit 60 outputs the information in analog format. The relative humidity sensing unit 62 generates information indicating relative humidity as information indicating the predetermined physical quantity. The relative humidity sensing unit 62 also outputs the information as an analog signal.

[0029] In this embodiment, the measurement side serial communication unit 52 has an A / D (Analog / Digital) converter 70, a measurement side calculation unit 72, a measurement side storage unit 74, and a measurement side serial communication main unit 76. The A / D converter 70 converts analog signals output by the temperature sensing unit 60 and the relative humidity sensing unit 62 into digital signals. The A / D converter 70 outputs these signals to the measurement side calculation unit 72. The measurement side calculation unit 72 outputs information indicated by these signals to the measurement side serial communication main unit 76. The measurement side calculation unit 72 controls the measurement side serial communication main unit 76 to transmit the information indicated by these signals to the relay communication device 32. The measurement side calculation unit 72 is realized by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like. The measurement side calculation unit 72 realizes such control by executing a program previously stored in the measurement side storage unit 74. The measurement side memory unit 74 stores information used by the measurement side calculation unit 72 during its operation and information indicated by a signal output by the A / D converter 70. The measurement side memory unit 74 is realized by a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. The measurement side serial communication main unit 76 communicates with the relay communication device 32. Accordingly, the measurement side serial communication main unit 76 transmits information output from the measurement side calculation unit 72 to the relay communication device 32. The communication in the measurement side serial communication main unit 76 is serial communication.

[0030] In this embodiment, the pull-up unit 54 receives power from the relay communication device 32. The pull-up unit 54 uses the power to pull up the measurement-side serial communication main unit 76 of the measurement-side serial communication unit 52. Since specific means for pull-up are well known, detailed description thereof will not be repeated here.

[0031] [Configuration of relay communication device] 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a relay communication device 32 according to this embodiment. The configuration of the relay communication device 32 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0032] In this embodiment, the relay communication device 32 includes an incoming communication unit 80, an outgoing communication unit 82, and a communication control unit 84.

[0033] The receiving communication unit 80 is connected to the measurement side serial communication unit 52 of the measuring device 30 by wire. The receiving communication unit 80 receives information indicating a predetermined physical quantity transmitted by the measurement side serial communication unit 52 by serial communication. In this embodiment, the serial communication is performed via a wired transmission path. In this embodiment, the receiving communication unit 80 is realized by, for example, a multiplexer, that is, a device that outputs information transmitted by one of multiple transmission sources according to a control signal input from the outside. This enables the relay communication device 32 to communicate with the four measuring devices 30 described above. Note that the receiving communication unit 80 according to this embodiment relays power supplied to the measuring device 30 by a power supply unit 98 described later.

[0034] The sending communication unit 82 transmits information indicating the predetermined physical quantity received by the receiving communication unit 80. In this embodiment, the sending communication unit 82 transmits the information indicating the predetermined physical quantity via the computer network 300 in accordance with the Internet Protocol. The computer network 300 used in this embodiment is a virtual private network. In this embodiment, the sending communication unit 82 transmits the information via the virtual private network by wireless communication. Since the device itself that realizes the function of the sending communication unit 82 is well known, a detailed description thereof will not be repeated here.

[0035] The communication control unit 84 controls the receiving communication unit 80 to receive information indicating the predetermined physical quantity. The communication control unit 84 controls the sending communication unit 82 to transmit information indicating the predetermined physical quantity received by the receiving communication unit 80. To this end, in the case of this embodiment, the communication control unit 84 first receives information output by the receiving communication unit 80, i.e., information indicating the predetermined physical quantity transmitted by the measurement-side serial communication unit 52. The communication control unit 84 outputs the received information indicating the predetermined physical quantity to the sending communication unit 82.

[0036] In this embodiment, the communication control unit 84 has a receiving communication unit 90, a communication control calculation unit 92, a communication control storage unit 94, an output communication unit 96, a power supply unit 98, and a connector 100. The receiving communication unit 90 communicates with the receiving communication unit 80 under the control of the communication control calculation unit 92. The communication control calculation unit 92 performs a predetermined information processing on the information output by the receiving communication unit 80, i.e., the information indicating a predetermined physical quantity transmitted by the measurement side serial communication unit 52. One of the information processing is to convert the information output by the receiving communication unit 80 into a format usable by the storage device 34. The communication control storage unit 94 stores various information required when the communication control calculation unit 92 performs information processing. The communication control storage unit 94 temporarily stores the information output by the receiving communication unit 80. The output communication unit 96 communicates with the sending communication unit 82 under the control of the communication control calculation unit 92. The power supply unit 98 is connected to the measurement device 30. The power supply unit 98 supplies power to the measuring device 30 via the receiving and communicating unit 80. The connector 100 receives information stored in a Universal Serial Bus (USB) memory 250.

[0037] The operation of the communication control unit 84 according to this embodiment is realized by the above-mentioned communication control calculation unit 92 executing a program read from the USB memory 250. Such a program may be distributed in a state recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. The USB memory 250 is one type of such recording medium. Such a program may also be distributed via the well-known Internet. In the case of this embodiment, such a program is temporarily stored in the communication control storage unit 94. Therefore, the most essential part of the communication control unit 84 according to this embodiment is the program recorded on a recording medium such as the USB memory 250. The specific content of the operation of the communication control unit 84 realized by the communication control calculation unit 92 executing such a program will be described later.

[0038] [Storage device configuration] 4 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the storage device 34 according to this embodiment. The configuration of the measurement device 30 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0039] In this embodiment, the storage device 34 includes a storage device communication unit 110 , a storage device calculation unit 112 , an internal storage device storage unit 114 , an input reception unit 116 , and a display unit 118 .

[0040] The storage device communication unit 110 receives information indicating a predetermined physical quantity via the computer network 300 according to the Internet Protocol. As described above, the computer network 300 used in this embodiment is a virtual private network. Since the device itself that realizes the function of the storage device communication unit 110 is well known, a detailed description thereof will not be repeated here.

[0041] The storage device calculation unit 112 performs predetermined information processing on the information received by the storage device communication unit 110, i.e., information indicating a predetermined physical quantity. One type of information processing is to generate information indicating a graph of the transition of the physical quantity identified by the sensor 50. Another type of information processing is to generate a collection of information indicating the physical quantity identified by the sensor 50.

[0042] The storage device internal storage unit 114 stores various information necessary when the storage device calculation unit 112 performs information processing. The storage device internal storage unit 114 stores information received by the storage device communication unit 110 that indicates a predetermined physical quantity.

[0043] The input receiving unit 116 receives input of instructions by an operator of the storage device 34 according to this embodiment and input of information by the operator.

[0044] The display unit 118 displays information under the control of the storage device calculation unit 112. An example of the information displayed on the display unit 118 is information showing the transition of the physical quantity identified by the sensor 50 in the form of a graph.

[0045] The operation of the storage device 34 according to this embodiment is realized by the storage device calculation unit 112 executing a program. As in the case of the communication control unit 84 described above, such a program may be distributed in a state in which it is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. Such a program may also be distributed via the well-known Internet. In the case of this embodiment, such a program is temporarily stored in the storage unit 114 within the storage device. Therefore, the most essential part of the storage device 34 according to this embodiment is the program recorded on such a recording medium. The specific content of the operation of the storage device 34 realized by the storage device calculation unit 112 executing such a program will be described later.

[0046] [Explanation of operation] The operation of the information storage system according to this embodiment will be described below.

[0047] When both the relay communication device 32 and the storage device 34 are started up, the sending communication unit 82 of the relay communication device 32 operates under the control of the communication control unit 84 so as to be in a state capable of communicating with the storage device communication unit 110 of the storage device 34. The storage device communication unit 110 of the storage device 34 operates under the control of the storage device calculation unit 112 so as to be in a state capable of communicating with the sending communication unit 82 of the relay communication device 32. Through these operations, the sending communication unit 82 of the relay communication device 32 and the storage device communication unit 110 of the storage device 34 are in a state capable of communicating with each other. The specific content and procedure of the operations for achieving this state are well known, and therefore a detailed description thereof will not be repeated here.

[0048] Also, the receiving communication unit 80 of the relay communication device 32 operates so as to be in a state in which it can communicate with any of the measurement side serial communication units 52 of the measuring device 30. This operation is performed under the control of the communication control unit 84. The power supply unit 98 of the relay communication device 32 starts supplying power to the measuring device 30. With the start of the power supply, the measurement side serial communication unit 52 and the pull-up unit 54 of the measuring device 30 start operating. The measurement side serial communication main unit 76 of the measurement side serial communication unit 52 operates so as to be in a state in which it can communicate with the receiving communication unit 80 of the relay communication device 32. This operation is performed under the control of the measurement side calculation unit 72. With these operations, the measurement side serial communication unit 52 of the measuring device 30 and the receiving communication unit 80 of the relay communication device 32 are in a state in which they can communicate with each other. The specific contents and procedures of the operations for achieving this state are well known, and therefore detailed descriptions thereof will not be repeated here.

[0049] When power supply to the measurement device 30 starts, the temperature sensing unit 60 of the measurement device 30 generates information indicating the temperature. The temperature sensing unit 60 outputs the information to the A / D converter 70. The relative humidity sensing unit 62 of the measurement device 30 generates information indicating the relative humidity. The relative humidity sensing unit 62 also outputs the information to the A / D converter 70. The A / D converter 70 outputs the information to the measurement side calculation unit 72.

[0050] The communication control calculation unit 92 of the relay communication device 32 requests the measuring device 30 to transmit information at a predetermined cycle. In this embodiment, the cycle as seen from the measuring device 30 is one minute. Information indicating the request is transmitted to the measuring device 30 via the receiving communication unit 80. When the measuring side serial communication unit 52 of the measuring device 30 receives the information indicating the request, the measuring side calculation unit 72 of the measuring device 30 outputs the information output by the A / D converter 70 to the measuring side serial communication main unit 76. The measuring side serial communication main unit 76 transmits the output information to the relay communication device 32. This operation is performed under the control of the measuring side calculation unit 72. The receiving communication unit 80 of the relay communication device 32 receives the transmitted information. The receiving communication unit 80 outputs the received information to the communication control calculation unit 92.

[0051] The communication control calculation unit 92 converts the information indicating the relative humidity among the information output by the receiving communication unit 80 into a format usable by the storage device 34. The communication control storage unit 94 stores the information indicating the relative humidity whose format has been converted. The communication control storage unit 94 also stores information indicating the temperature.

[0052] The communication control calculation unit 92 requests each of the measuring devices 30 to transmit the above-mentioned information during the above-mentioned predetermined period. Accordingly, information indicating the temperature and information indicating the relative humidity are transmitted from each of the measuring devices 30. As a result, the communication control storage unit 94 stores the information indicating the temperature and information indicating the relative humidity transmitted from each of the measuring devices 30.

[0053] When the information indicating the temperature and the information indicating the relative humidity transmitted from each of the measuring devices 30 is stored, the communication control calculation unit 92 reads out the information from the communication control storage unit 94 and outputs it to the sending communication unit 82. The sending communication unit 82 sends the information to the storage device 34. That is, the sending communication unit 82 of the relay communication device 32 transfers the information indicating the predetermined physical quantity received from the measuring device 30 by serial communication to the storage device 34. In the case of this embodiment, the order in which the information indicating the temperature and the information indicating the relative humidity are sent is uniquely determined by whether the information indicates the temperature or the relative humidity and by which measuring device 30 the information was sent from. In addition, as described above, the computer network 300 used in this embodiment is a virtual private network. Therefore, the storage device 34 can identify the relay communication device 32 that is the source of the information. With these, the storage device 34 can recognize which measuring device 30 generated the information received from the relay communication device 32.

[0054] The storage device communication unit 110 of the storage device 34 receives the information indicating the relative humidity and the information indicating the temperature transmitted from the relay communication device 32. The storage device communication unit 110 outputs the information to the storage device calculation unit 112. The storage device calculation unit 112 stores the information in the storage device internal memory unit 114. Thereafter, the same operations are repeated in the storage device 34.

[0055] When the storage device calculation unit 112 of the storage device 34 receives an instruction from the operator via the input reception unit 116, it creates the information described below. The information shows the temperature transition and the relative humidity transition in a graph format. When the information is created, the storage device calculation unit 112 stores the created information in the storage device internal memory unit 114. In addition, the storage device calculation unit 112 outputs the created information to the display unit 118. The display unit 118 displays the information.

[0056] Furthermore, when the storage device calculation unit 112 of the storage device 34 receives a request from an information processing device (not shown) via the computer network 300, it transmits the following information to the information processing device. The information includes information indicating the relative humidity and information indicating the temperature transmitted from the relay communication device 32 within a predetermined period (one day in this embodiment). The information is stored in the storage unit 114 in the storage device.

[0057] [Effect description] As described above, in the information storage system according to the present embodiment, the measurement side serial communication unit 52 of the measurement device 30 transmits information indicating the predetermined physical quantity generated by the sensor 50 by serial communication. The receiving communication unit 80 of the relay communication device 32 receives the information indicating the predetermined physical quantity transmitted by the measurement side serial communication unit 52 by serial communication. The sending communication unit 82 of the relay communication device 32 transmits the information indicating the predetermined physical quantity received by the receiving communication unit 80. When the sending communication unit 82 transmits the information received by the receiving communication unit 80 from the sensor 50 by serial communication, the information is transmitted via the computer network 300 according to the Internet Protocol. This allows the storage device 34 to receive the information transmitted from the sensor 50 by serial communication even if it does not have a communication line for serial communication. Since the storage device 34 does not need to have a communication line for serial communication, the upper limit of the number of sensors 50 that can be connected to the storage device 34 can be increased.

[0058] [Description of Modifications] The above-mentioned information storage system is exemplified to embody the technical idea of ​​the present invention. The configuration of each device is not limited to those in these embodiments. The configuration of each device may be modified in various ways.

[0059] For example, the number of measuring devices 30 is not limited to 4. The physical quantities indicated by the information generated by the measuring device 30 are not limited to temperature and relative humidity.

[0060] There is no limit to the number of types of physical quantities detected by the sensor 50. The physical quantities detected by the sensor 50 may be only temperature, only relative humidity, or other physical quantities, or may be three or more types of physical quantities. There is no limit to the specific means for generating information indicating those physical quantities.

[0061] The specific means by which the storage device 34 recognizes that the information received from the relay communication device 32 indicates what physical quantity was generated by which measuring device 30 is not limited to the above. For example, the above recognition may be possible by communicating the information indicating the physical quantity in association with information for identifying the measuring device 30. Even in this case, the storage device 34 does not need to have a communication line for serial communication, so that the upper limit of the number of sensors 50 that can be connected to the storage device 34 can be increased. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 30…Measuring equipment 32...Relay communication device 34…Storage device 50…Sensor 52…Measurement side serial communication section 54…Pull-up section 60...Temperature sensing section 62…Relative humidity sensing section 70...A / D converter 72...Measurement side calculation unit 74…Measuring side memory unit 76…Measurement side serial communication main unit 80…Reception and Correspondence Department 82…Transmission communication section 84...Communication control unit 90…Reception communication department 92...Communication control calculation unit 94…Communication control memory unit 96...Output communication section 98…Power supply section 100…Connector 104...Storage section 110...storage device communication unit 112...Storage device calculation section 114...Storage unit in storage device 116... Input reception section 118...Display section 200…Measurement object 250…USB memory 300…Computer Networks

Claims

1. A receiving and communicating unit that receives information through serial communication; a sending communication unit that transmits the information received by the receiving communication unit; a communication control unit that controls the receiving communication unit to receive the information, and controls the sending communication unit to send the information received by the receiving communication unit, The relay communication device, wherein the sending communication unit transmits the information via a computer network in accordance with an Internet Protocol.

2. 2. The relay communication device according to claim 1, wherein the sending communication unit transmits the information via a virtual private network.

3. 3. The relay communication device according to claim 2, wherein the transmission communication unit is connected to the virtual private network by wireless communication.

4. 4. The relay communication device according to claim 3, wherein the receiving communication unit receives the information by serial communication via a wired transmission path.

5. a measurement device that generates information indicating a predetermined physical quantity based on a measurement and transmits the information indicating the predetermined physical quantity via serial communication; a relay communication device that receives information indicating the predetermined physical quantity from the measuring device through serial communication and transfers the information indicating the predetermined physical quantity; a storage device that receives information indicating the predetermined physical quantity transmitted by the relay communication device and stores the information indicating the predetermined physical quantity, The measuring device comprises: a sensor that generates information indicating the predetermined physical quantity based on the measurement; a measurement-side serial communication unit that is connected to the sensor by wire and transmits information indicating the predetermined physical quantity generated by the sensor by serial communication; The relay communication device, a receiving communication unit that is connected to the measurement-side serial communication unit by wire and receives, via serial communication, information indicating the predetermined physical quantity transmitted by the measurement-side serial communication unit; a sending communication unit that sends information indicating the predetermined physical quantity received by the receiving communication unit; a communication control unit that controls the receiving communication unit to receive information indicating the predetermined physical quantity, and controls the sending communication unit to send information indicating the predetermined physical quantity received by the receiving communication unit, the sending communication unit transmits information indicating the predetermined physical quantity via a computer network in accordance with an Internet Protocol; The storage device, a storage device communication unit that receives information indicating the predetermined physical quantity via the computer network in accordance with the Internet Protocol; and a storage unit that stores information indicating the predetermined physical quantity received by the storage device communication unit.

6. the sending communication unit transmits information indicating the predetermined physical quantity by wireless communication; the measurement-side serial communication unit transmits information indicating the predetermined physical quantity by serial communication via a wired transmission path; the receiving and communicating unit receives information indicating the predetermined physical quantity by serial communication via the wired transmission path, 6. The information storage system according to claim 5, wherein the measuring device further comprises a pull-up unit that pulls up the measurement side serial communication unit.

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