Relay device, communication method, first device, second device

Abstract

To provide a technology for minimizing power consumption of a repeater.SOLUTION: A first motherboard 210 can communicate with a management device that manages fire alarms. A wireless board 250 can communicate with the fire alarms. When the wireless board 250 transmits a transmission acknowledgement to the first motherboard 210 in response to a transmission request which the first motherboard 210 has sent to the wireless board 250, the first motherboard 210 transmits data to the wireless board 250. When receiving the transmission request from the first motherboard 210 during standby in a sleep mode, the wireless board 250 wakes up from the sleep mode.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a communication technology, and in particular to a relay device, a communication method, a first device, and a second device for transmitting and receiving data. [Background technology]

[0002] Residential fire alarms (hereinafter referred to as "fire alarms") detect fires in homes and sound an alarm. In addition, multiple fire alarms communicate with each other, so that abnormal information from one fire alarm is also sounded by the other fire alarms. As the number of fire alarms increases, the occurrence of collisions of wireless signals transmitted from the fire alarms also increases. In order to suppress the increase in the occurrence of collisions of wireless signals, multiple fire alarms are classified into two or more groups, a different frequency is used for each group, and wireless signals between different groups are relayed by a relay device (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-145584 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] A plurality of fire alarm devices are connected to two or more relay devices, and the two or more relay devices are connected to one management device, forming a tree structure in which the management device is on the upper side and the fire alarm devices are on the lower side. In the relay device, for example, a wireless board for communicating with the fire alarm devices is connected to a motherboard for communicating with the upper side, and serial communication is performed between the motherboard and the wireless board. It is necessary to reduce the power consumption of such relay devices.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of these circumstances, and has an object to provide a technique for reducing the power consumption of a relay device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, a relay device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first device capable of communicating with a management device that manages fire alarms, and a fire alarm. Wireless communication possible and a second device configured to transmit data to the first device when the second device transmits a transmission permission to the first device in response to a transmission request transmitted from the first device to the second device, and when the second device is waiting in a sleep mode, the second device wakes up from the sleep mode upon receiving the transmission request from the first device.

[0007] Another aspect of the present disclosure is also a relay device. The relay device includes a first device capable of communicating with a first system and a second system different from the first system. Wireless communication possible and a second device configured to transmit data to the first device when the second device transmits a transmission permission to the first device in response to a transmission request transmitted from the first device to the second device, and when the second device is waiting in a sleep mode, the second device wakes up from the sleep mode upon receiving the transmission request from the first device.

[0008] Yet another aspect of the present disclosure is a communication method. The method includes a first device capable of communicating with a management device that manages a fire alarm, and a Wireless communication possible A communication method in a relay device having a first device and a second device, the method comprising: a step of the first device transmitting data to the second device when the second device has transmitted a transmission permission to the first device in response to a transmission request transmitted by the first device to the second device; and a step of the second device, when waiting in sleep mode, waking up from the sleep mode upon receiving the transmission request from the first device.

[0009] Yet another aspect of the present disclosure is a first device. The first device is capable of communicating with a management device that manages a fire alarm, and a fire alarm. Wireless communication possibleA first device in a relay device including a management device and a second device, the first device having a first interface capable of communicating with the management device and a second interface capable of communicating with the second device. The second interface transmits data to the second device when a transmission permission is received from the second device after transmitting a transmission request to the second device, and when the second device is waiting in a sleep mode, the second interface wakes up the second device from the sleep mode by transmitting a transmission request to the second device.

[0010] Yet another aspect of the present disclosure is a second device. The second device includes a first device capable of communicating with a management device that manages a fire alarm, and a fire alarm. Wireless communication possible The second device in the relay device includes a first interface capable of communicating with a fire alarm and a second interface capable of communicating with the first device. The second interface receives data from the first device when it transmits a transmission permission to the first device in response to a transmission request received from the first device, and when the second device is waiting in a sleep mode, the second device wakes up from the sleep mode when the second interface receives a transmission request from the first device.

[0011] Any combination of the above components, and conversion of the present disclosure into a method, device, system, recording medium, computer program, etc. are also valid aspects of the present disclosure. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to reduce the power consumption of a relay device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an alarm system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a first type relay device and a second type relay device in FIG. [Diagram 3] 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a motherboard side IF and a wireless board side IF in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 4(a) and 4(b) are diagrams showing an outline of the operation of the motherboard side IF and the wireless board side IF in FIG. [Diagram 5] 3 is a flowchart showing a wake-up procedure by the wireless board of FIG. 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Before specifically describing the present disclosure, an overview will be provided. The embodiment relates to an alarm system installed in facilities such as an apartment building or a detached house. In the alarm system, a relay device (hereinafter referred to as a "first type relay device") is connected to a management device, another relay device (hereinafter referred to as a "second type relay device") is connected to the first type relay device, and one or more fire alarm devices are connected to each of the first type relay device and the second type relay device (hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as "relay devices"). In such a tree structure, the management device corresponds to the upper side, and the fire alarm device corresponds to the lower side. When the fire alarm device detects the occurrence of a fire, it sounds an alarm and transmits the detection result to the relay device. The relay device relays the detection result between the first type relay device and the second type relay device, and transmits the detection result to the fire alarm. When the fire alarm device receives an alarm signal, it sounds an alarm. In addition, the first type relay device transmits the detection result to the management device. The management device manages the detection result.

[0015] In the relay device, for example, a motherboard for performing communication with a higher-level device is connected to a wireless board for performing wireless communication with a fire alarm. An example of wireless communication is a specific low-power radio. Serial communication, for example, UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver / Transmitter) communication, is used for data transmission between the motherboard and the wireless board. For UART communication, the RTS of the motherboard is connected to the CTS of the wireless board, and the CTS of the motherboard is connected to the RTS of the wireless board. When data to be transmitted to the wireless board occurs on the motherboard, the motherboard changes the RTS from low level to high level. Following this, when the CTS changes from low level to high level, the motherboard starts transmitting data to the wireless board.

[0016] There is a demand for low power consumption for such relay devices. In order to achieve low power consumption, it is effective to have the wireless board wait in a sleep mode. In the sleep mode, the wireless board operates a portion that receives a signal from a fire alarm and a portion that receives a signal from the motherboard, and stops the operation of the other portions. To achieve the sleep mode, it is necessary to add a signal line to the wireless board and the motherboard to control the sleep mode. In order to achieve the sleep mode in the wireless board while preventing the configuration from becoming complicated due to the addition of a signal line, the relay device according to this embodiment executes the following process.

[0017] When RTS and CTS on the radio board are at low level, the radio board goes into sleep mode. When the motherboard wants to transmit data to a radio board in sleep mode, it changes RTS from low to high. When CTS changes from low to high, the radio board wakes up from sleep mode. The woken up radio board changes RTS from low to high. When CTS changes from low to high, the radio board starts transmitting data. In other words, the radio board uses RTS to wake up a radio board in sleep mode.

[0018] 1 shows the configuration of an alarm system 1000. The alarm system 1000 includes a first fire alarm 100a to a sixth fire alarm 100f, collectively referred to as fire alarms 100, a first type relay device 200, a second type relay device 202, and a management device 300. The number of fire alarms 100 is not limited to "6". As described above, the first type relay device 200 and the second type relay device 202 are collectively referred to as the "relay device."

[0019] The alarm system 1000 is applied to a facility such as a house, and is a system that detects a fire and notifies the occurrence of a fire. The alarm system 1000 may be applied to facilities such as offices and commercial facilities. The multiple fire alarms 100 are, for example, residential fire alarms and are equipped with a fire detection sensor. The multiple fire alarms 100 are installed, for example, on the ceiling of the facility, but may also be installed on a wall, etc.

[0020] Here, the first fire alarm 100a to the third fire alarm 100c perform wireless communication with the first type relay device 200, and the fourth fire alarm 100d to the sixth fire alarm 100f perform wireless communication with the second type relay device 202. That is, a star-shaped network topology is formed with the first type relay device 200 and the second type relay device 202 at the center of the network. In addition, the first type relay device 200 and the second type relay device 202 perform wired communication. As a result, when the first fire alarm 100a detects the occurrence of a fire, the detection result indicating the occurrence of a fire is transmitted to the second fire alarm 100b etc. via the first type relay device 200, or transmitted to the fourth fire alarm 100d via the first type relay device 200 and the second type relay device 202. As a result, the detection result is shared among the multiple fire alarms 100, and the multiple fire alarms 100 execute a fire alarm in cooperation with each other.

[0021] The fire alarm 100 includes a fire detection sensor for detecting the occurrence of a fire. A known technology may be used for the fire detection sensor. For example, the fire detection sensor may be an optical smoke detection sensor, and may detect a fire by detecting smoke during a fire using diffuse reflection of light. For example, the fire detection sensor may be a heat detection sensor, and may detect a fire by detecting heat during a fire. For example, the fire detection sensor may be a carbon monoxide detection sensor, and may detect a fire by detecting the concentration of carbon monoxide generated by combustion during a fire. For example, the fire detection sensor may be an infrared detection sensor, and may detect a fire by detecting infrared rays emitted by combustion during a fire.

[0022] When the fire detection sensor of the fire alarm 100 detects the occurrence of a fire, the fire alarm 100 transmits the detection result to the first type relay device 200 or the second type relay device 202 wirelessly. The fire alarm 100 receives the detection result of the other fire alarms 100 wirelessly from the first type relay device 200 or the second type relay device 202. For example, a specific low-power radio in the 426 MHz band is used for wireless communication with the first type relay device 200 or the second type relay device 202. When the fire detection sensor of the fire alarm 100 detects the occurrence of a fire or receives a detection result from another fire alarm 100, the fire alarm 100 notifies the occurrence of a fire. The occurrence of a fire is notified, for example, by outputting a sound from a speaker or sounding a buzzer from a buzzer. The occurrence of a fire may also be notified by blinking of a light-emitting device.

[0023] The first type relay device 200 performs wireless communication with the first fire alarm device 100a to the third fire alarm device 100c. Specifically, the first fire alarm device 100a to the third fire alarm device 100c operate as child devices, and the first type relay device 200 operates as a parent device. Operating as a parent device corresponds to the parent device acting as a center to control at least each child device. For example, the parent device broadcasts a beacon signal, and each child device operates according to the received beacon signal. Alternatively, the parent device may transmit a control signal to each child device by unicast. The second type relay device 202 also performs the same process as the first type relay device 200 for the fourth fire alarm device 100d to the sixth fire alarm device 100f. The second type relay device 202 is connected to the first type relay device 200 by a cable, and performs wired communication between the first type relay device 200 and the second type relay device 202.

[0024] When the first type relay device 200 receives the detection result wirelessly from the first fire alarm device 100a, it transmits the detection result wirelessly to the second fire alarm device 100b and the third fire alarm device 100c. The first type relay device 200 also transmits the detection result wired to the second type relay device 202. When the second type relay device 202 receives the detection result from the first type relay device 200, it transmits the detection result wirelessly to the fourth fire alarm device 100d to the sixth fire alarm device 100f. The same process is performed when the first type relay device 200 or the second type relay device 202 wirelessly receives the detection result from a fire alarm device 100 other than the first fire alarm device 100a.

[0025] Unlike the second type relay device 202, the first type relay device 200 can communicate with the management device 300. That is, among the relay devices, the relay device that can directly communicate with the management device 300 is the first type relay device 200, and the relay device that can communicate with the management device 300 via the first type relay device 200 is the second type relay device 202. For example, 920 MHz wireless communication conforming to the Wi-SUN (registered trademark) standard (international standard IEEE 802.15.4g) is used for communication between the first type relay device 200 and the management device 300. However, the communication is not limited to this, and wired communication may be performed.

[0026] The management device 300 is, for example, a controller of a Home Energy Management System (HEMS) installed in a facility. The management device 300 can communicate with a plurality of devices installed in the facility. The plurality of devices includes, for example, air conditioners, lighting devices, water heaters, and the like having a communication function. The management device 300 can also communicate with a first type relay device 200 installed in the facility. The management device 300 can also communicate with a second type relay device 202 and a plurality of fire alarms 100 via the first type relay device 200. When the management device 300 receives a detection result from the fire alarm 100 from the first type relay device 200, the management device 300 may manage the detection result and display a message indicating that a fire has occurred on a display based on the detection result. The management device 300 may also control the devices based on the detection result. The management device 300 may also control the operation of the fire alarm 100 via the first type relay device 200.

[0027] 2 shows the configuration of the first type relay device 200 and the second type relay device 202. The first type relay device 200 includes a first type motherboard 210 and a wireless board 250. The first type motherboard 210 includes a wireless communication unit 230, a control unit 232, a wired communication unit 234, and a motherboard side IF 240, and the wireless board 250 includes a wireless board side IF 260, a control unit 262, and a wireless IF 264. The second type relay device 202 includes a second type motherboard 212 and a wireless board 250. The second type motherboard 212 includes a control unit 236, a wired communication unit 238, and a motherboard side IF 240. In other words, the first type relay device 200 and the second type relay device 202 have different first type motherboards 210 and second type motherboards 212, but share the wireless board 250. The first motherboard 210 and the second motherboard 212 are sometimes collectively referred to as "motherboards."

[0028] The wireless communication unit 230 of the first type motherboard 210 performs wireless communication with the management device 300 of FIG. 1, and the wired communication unit 234 performs wired communication with the wired communication unit 238 of the second type motherboard 212. The wireless communication in the wireless communication unit 230 and the wired communication in the wired communication unit 234 are as described above, so a description thereof will be omitted here. The motherboard side IF 240 performs serial communication with the wireless board side IF 260 of the wireless board 250. An example of serial communication is UART communication, which will be described later. The control unit 232 controls the operation of the wireless communication unit 230, the wired communication unit 234, and the motherboard side IF 240.

[0029] The wireless board side IF 260 of the wireless board 250 executes serial communication with the motherboard side IF 240 of the first type motherboard 210. The wireless IF 264 executes wireless communication with the fire alarm 100 of FIG. 1. The wireless communication in the wireless IF 264 is as described above, but the wireless IF 264 communicates, for example, with a plurality of fire alarms 100 intermittently. The control unit 262 controls the operation of the wireless board side IF 260 and the wireless IF 264. The wired communication unit 238 and the motherboard side IF 240 of the second type motherboard 212 are similar to the wired communication unit 234 and the motherboard side IF 240 of the first type motherboard 210. The control unit 236 controls the operation of the wired communication unit 234 and the motherboard side IF 240.

[0030] For example, when the wireless IF 264 of the second type relay device 202 receives a detection result from one fire alarm 100, it outputs the detection result to the control unit 262. The control unit 262 transmits the detection result to another fire alarm 100 via the wireless IF 264, and also transmits the detection result to the control unit 236 via the wireless board side IF 260. When the control unit 236 receives the detection result from the wireless board 250 via the motherboard side IF 240, it transmits the detection result to the first type relay device 200 via the wired communication unit 238.

[0031] The control unit 232 of the first type relay device 200 receives the detection result from the second type relay device 202 via the wired communication unit 234. The control unit 232 transmits the detection result to the wireless board 250 via the motherboard side IF 240, and transmits the detection result to the management device 300 via the wireless communication unit 230. The control unit 262 of the wireless board 250 receives the detection result from the first type motherboard 210 via the wireless board side IF 260. The control unit 262 transmits the detection result to the fire alarm 100 via the wireless IF 264.

[0032] Here, when the management device 300 is called the "first system", the fire alarm 100 is called the "second system". When the first type motherboard 210 and the second type motherboard 212 are called the "first device", the wireless board 250 is called the "second device". When the wireless communication unit 230 in the first type motherboard 210 and the wired communication unit 238 in the second type motherboard 212 are called the "first interface" capable of communicating with the management device 300, the motherboard side IF 240 is called the "second interface" capable of communicating with the wireless board 250. When the wireless IF 264 in the wireless board 250 is called the "first interface" capable of communicating with the fire alarm 100, the wireless board side IF 260 is called the "second interface" capable of communicating with the motherboard.

[0033] In order to reduce the power consumption of the relay device, a sleep mode is executed in the radio board 250. The process for realizing the sleep mode in the radio board 250 will be described below. Fig. 3 shows the configuration of the motherboard side IF 240 and the radio board side IF 260. The motherboard side IF 240 includes terminals RTS270, TXD272, CTS274, and RXD276, and the radio board side IF 260 includes terminals CTS280, RXD282, RTS284, and TXD286.

[0034] RTS 270 and CTS 280 are connected, TXD 272 and RXD 282 are connected, CTS 274 and RTS 284 are connected, and RXD 276 and TXD 286 are connected. RTS 270 and RTS 284 are "request to send", CTS 274 and CTS 280 are "clear to send", TXD 272 and TXD 286 are "transmit data", and RXD 276 and RXD 282 are "receive data".

[0035] Data transmission from the motherboard IF 240 to the radio board IF 260 is performed as follows. When the RTS 270 changes from low to high, the CTS 280 also changes from low to high. When the radio board IF 260 is ready to receive data, the RTS 284 changes from low to high, and the CTS 274 also changes from low to high. In this state, the motherboard IF 240 is ready to transmit data, the TXD 272 transmits data, and the RXD 282 receives data. In other words, when the radio board 250 transmits a transmission permission to the motherboard in response to a transmission request transmitted from the motherboard to the radio board 250, the motherboard transmits data to the radio board 250. This can also be said to be when the radio board 250 transmits a transmission permission to the motherboard in response to a transmission request received from the motherboard, the data from the motherboard is received.

[0036] On the other hand, data transmission from the radio board side IF 260 to the motherboard side IF 240 is performed as follows. When RTS 284 changes from low to high, CTS 274 also changes from low to high. When the motherboard side IF 240 is able to receive data, CTS 280 also changes from low to high when RTS 270 changes from low to high. In this state, the radio board side IF 260 is able to transmit data, TXD 286 transmits data, and RXD 276 receives data. In other words, when the motherboard transmits a transmission permission to the radio board 250 in response to a transmission request transmitted to the motherboard by the radio board 250, the radio board 250 transmits data to the motherboard.

[0037] The wireless board 250 can transition to a sleep mode when the CTS 280 and RTS 284 are at a low level and no data is being transmitted or received through the RXD 282 and TXD 286. In the sleep mode, the operation of the control unit 262 is stopped. Here, the processing for the wireless board 250 in the sleep mode will be described with reference to Figs. 4(a)-(b). Figs. 4(a)-(b) show an overview of the operation of the motherboard side IF 240 and the wireless board side IF 260. Fig. 4(a) shows the operation when data is transmitted from the motherboard side IF 240. Since the wireless board 250 is in the sleep mode, both the RTS 270 and the CTS 274 are in a low mode until time T1. When data to be transmitted occurs at time T1, the RTS 270 changes from a low label to a high level.

[0038] The wireless board 250 that detects this change wakes up before the 10 msec wake-up period expires. In other words, when the wireless board 250 is waiting in sleep mode, it wakes up from the sleep mode when it receives a transmission request from the motherboard. This can also be said that when the wireless board 250 is waiting in sleep mode, the motherboard-side IF 240 transmits a transmission request to the wireless board 250, thereby waking up the wireless board 250 from the sleep mode.

[0039] When the radio board IF260 wakes up from sleep mode, it transmits a transmission permission to the motherboard. In response to this, at time T2, CTS274 changes from low to high. At time T3, which is the time from time T2 until the expiration of the 10 msec timeout period, TXD272 transmits data. When data transmission ends at time T4 and data reception ends at the radio board IF260, CTS274 changes from high to low at time T5.

[0040] From time T5 until the timeout period expires at time T6, data is transmitted from the wireless board side IF 260, and the RXD 276 receives the data. When data reception ends at time T7, the CTS 274 is changed from low level to high level at time T8.

[0041] At the following time T9, the TXD 272 transmits data. The data transmission ends at time T10, and when the wireless board side IF 260 finishes receiving the data, the CTS 274 changes from high level to low level at time T11.

[0042] At time T12, data is transmitted from the wireless board side IF 260, and the RXD 276 receives the data. At time T13, the RTS 270 changes from high to low. The reception of data by the RXD 276 ends at time T14. In this state, since both the RTS 270 and the RXD 276 are low, the wireless board 250 can transition to sleep mode.

[0043] 4B shows an operation when transmitting data from the IF 260 on the radio board side. When the radio board 250 in the sleep mode wakes up, the CTS 274 is changed from low level to high level at time T50. At time T51, the RTS 270 is changed from low level to high level, and the TXD 272 transmits ENQ. When the transmission of ENQ ends at time T52, the CTS 274 is changed from high level to low level at time T53. At the following time T54, the RXD 276 receives data. When the reception of data ends at time T55, the CTS 274 is changed from low level to high level at time T56. At time T57, the TXD 272 transmits data. When the transmission of data ends at time T58, the CTS 274 is changed from high level to low level at time T59. At the following time T60, the RXD 276 receives data. At time T61, RTS 270 changes from high to low. At time T62, data reception ends.

[0044] The subject of the device, system, or method in the present disclosure includes a computer. The computer executes a program to realize the function of the subject of the device, system, or method in the present disclosure. The computer includes a processor that operates according to a program as a main hardware configuration. The type of the processor does not matter as long as it can realize the function by executing the program. The processor is composed of one or more electronic circuits including a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) or an LSI (Large Scale Integration). The multiple electronic circuits may be integrated into one chip or may be provided on multiple chips. The multiple chips may be integrated into one device or may be provided on multiple devices. The program is recorded on a non-transitory recording medium such as a computer-readable ROM, an optical disk, or a hard disk drive. The program may be stored in the recording medium in advance, or may be supplied to the recording medium via a wide area communication network including the Internet.

[0045] The operation of the alarm system 1000 configured as above will be described. Fig. 5 is a flow chart showing the wake-up procedure by the wireless board 250. The wireless board 250 is in sleep mode (S10). When CTS280 is at high level, that is, when RTS270 changes to high level (Y in S12), the wireless board 250 wakes up (S14). When CTS280 is at high level, that is, when RTS270 does not change to high level (N in S12), the process returns to step 10.

[0046] According to this embodiment, the RTS 270 for notifying a transmission request is used to wake up the wireless board 250 that is waiting in the sleep mode, so that the sleep mode of the wireless board 250 can be controlled. Furthermore, since the sleep mode of the wireless board 250 is controlled, the power consumption of the relay device can be reduced. Furthermore, the RTS 270 for notifying a transmission request is used to wake up the wireless board 250 that is waiting in the sleep mode, so that the sleep mode of the wireless board 250 can be controlled without adding a new signal. Furthermore, since the sleep mode of the wireless board 250 is controlled without adding a new signal, it is possible to suppress the complexity of the configuration. Furthermore, when the wireless board 250 wakes up from the sleep mode, it transmits a transmission permission to the motherboard, so that it is possible to notify the motherboard of the wake-up.

[0047] An overview of one aspect of the present disclosure is as follows. A relay device (200, 202) of one aspect of the present disclosure includes a first device (210, 212) capable of communicating with a management device (300) that manages a fire alarm (100), and a second device (250) capable of communicating with the fire alarm (100). When the second device (250) transmits a transmission permission to the first device (210, 212) in response to a transmission request transmitted from the first device (210, 212) to the second device (250), the first device (210, 212) transmits data to the second device (250), and when the second device (250) is waiting in sleep mode, it wakes up from the sleep mode when it receives a transmission request from the first device (210, 212).

[0048] Another aspect of the present disclosure is also a relay device (200, 202). This device includes a first device (210, 212) capable of communicating with a first system (300), and a second device (250) capable of communicating with a second system (100) different from the first system (300). When the second device (250) transmits a transmission permission to the first device (210, 212) in response to a transmission request transmitted from the first device (210, 212) to the second device (250), the first device (210, 212) transmits data to the second device (250), and when the second device (250) is waiting in a sleep mode, it wakes up from the sleep mode when it receives a transmission request from the first device (210, 212).

[0049] The second device (250) may transmit a permission to transmit to the first device (210, 212) upon waking up from a sleep mode.

[0050] Yet another aspect of the present disclosure is a communication method in a relay device (200, 202) including a first device (210, 212) capable of communicating with a management device (300) that manages a fire alarm device (100) and a second device (250) capable of communicating with the fire alarm device (100), the communication method including a step of the first device (210, 212) transmitting data to the second device (250) when the second device (250) transmits a transmission permission to the first device (210, 212) in response to a transmission request transmitted from the first device (210, 212) to the second device (250), and a step of the second device (250), when waiting in a sleep mode, waking up from the sleep mode upon receiving the transmission request from the first device (210, 212).

[0051] Yet another aspect of the present disclosure is a first device (210, 212). This device is a first device (210, 212) in a relay device (200, 202) including a first device (210, 212) capable of communicating with a management device (300) that manages a fire alarm (100) and a second device (250) capable of communicating with the fire alarm (100), and includes a first interface (230, 238) capable of communicating with the management device (300) and a second interface (240) capable of communicating with the second device (250). The second interface (240) transmits data to the second device (250) when a transmission permission is received from the second device (250) after transmitting a transmission request to the second device (250), and when the second device (250) is waiting in the sleep mode, the second interface (240) wakes up the second device (250) from the sleep mode by transmitting a transmission request to the second device (250).

[0052] Yet another aspect of the present disclosure is a second device (250). This device is a second device (250) in a relay device (200, 202) including a first device (210, 212) capable of communicating with a management device (300) that manages a fire alarm (100), and a second device (250) capable of communicating with the fire alarm (100), and includes a first interface (264) capable of communicating with the fire alarm (100) and a second interface (260) capable of communicating with the first device (210, 212). When the second interface (260) transmits a transmission permission to the first device (210, 212) in response to a transmission request received from the first device (210, 212), the second interface (260) receives data from the first device (210, 212), and when the second device (250) is waiting in sleep mode, when the second interface (260) receives a transmission request from the first device (210, 212), the second device (250) wakes up from the sleep mode.

[0053] The present disclosure has been described above based on the embodiments. These embodiments are merely illustrative, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications are possible in the combination of each component or each treatment process, and that such modifications are also within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0054] In this embodiment, the relay device is connected to a fire alarm 100 that has both a fire detection function and an alarm sound generation function. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the fire alarm 100 may only have a fire detection function. Also, instead of the fire alarm 100, a sensor that detects not only fires but also flood damage, earthquakes, gas leaks, and CO (carbon monoxide) generation due to incomplete combustion may be used. According to this modification, the degree of freedom of configuration can be improved.

[0055] In this embodiment, a first type relay device 200 is connected to the management device 300, and a second type relay device 202 is connected to the first type relay device 200. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a plurality of first type relay devices 200 may be connected to the management device 300, a plurality of second type relay devices 202 may be connected to the first type relay device 200, or one or more second type relay devices 202 may be connected to the second type relay device 202. According to this modification, the degree of freedom of the configuration can be improved. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 100 fire alarm, 200 first type relay device, 202 second type relay device, 210 first type motherboard, 212 second type motherboard, 230 wireless communication unit, 232 control unit, 234 wired communication unit, 236 control unit, 238 wired communication unit, 240 motherboard side IF, 250 wireless board, 260 wireless board side IF, 262 control unit, 264 wireless IF, 300 management device, 1000 alarm system.

Claims

1. A first device capable of communicating with a management device that manages the fire alarm; a second device capable of wirelessly communicating with the fire alarm, The first device transmits data to the second device when the second device transmits a transmission permission to the first device in response to a transmission request transmitted by the first device to the second device; The second device is a relay device that, when in a sleep mode and waiting, wakes up from the sleep mode when the second device receives the transmission request from the first device.

2. A first device capable of communicating with a first system; a second device capable of wirelessly communicating with a second system different from the first system; The first device transmits data to the second device when the second device transmits a transmission permission to the first device in response to a transmission request transmitted by the first device to the second device; The second device is a relay device that, when in a sleep mode and waiting, wakes up from the sleep mode when the second device receives the transmission request from the first device.

3. The relay device according to claim 1 , wherein the second device transmits the transmission permission to the first device when waking up from a sleep mode.

4. A communication method in a relay device including a first device capable of communicating with a management device that manages fire alarms, and a second device capable of wireless communication with the fire alarms, a step of the first device transmitting data to the second device when the second device transmits a transmission permission to the first device in response to a transmission request transmitted by the first device to the second device; the second device, when in a standby state in a sleep mode, waking up from the sleep mode upon receiving the transmission request from the first device; A communication method comprising:

5. A first device in a relay device including a first device capable of communicating with a management device that manages fire alarms, and a second device capable of wirelessly communicating with the fire alarms, A first interface capable of communicating with the management device; a second interface capable of communicating with the second device; the second interface transmits data to the second device when a transmission permission is received from the second device after transmitting a transmission request to the second device; The second interface is a first device configured to, when the second device is waiting in a sleep mode, wake up the second device from a sleep mode by transmitting the transmission request to the second device.

6. A second device in a relay device including a first device capable of communicating with a management device that manages a fire alarm, and a second device capable of wirelessly communicating with the fire alarm, A first interface capable of communicating with the fire alarm; a second interface capable of communicating with the first device; the second interface receives data from the first device when transmitting a transmission permission to the first device in response to a transmission request received from the first device; When the second device is waiting in a sleep mode, and the second interface receives the transmission request from the first device, the second device wakes up from the sleep mode.

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