Relay device, relay method, relay program, and communication system

Abstract

To satisfactorily relay data between different communication networks while increasing a degree of freedom in installation.SOLUTION: A sensor system 1 is connected to a narrow-area wireless network 2 through a first wireless communication unit 33 of a gateway device 30, and is connected to a wide-area wireless network 3 through a second wireless communication unit 34. In addition, the gateway device 30 operates each unit with the power supplied from a power supply unit 46, intermittently operates the second wireless communication unit 34, which consumes relatively large power, and changes its cycle according to a state of the power supply unit 46. Therefore, in the sensor system 1, the gateway device 30 or the like can be installed even in a location where it is difficult to connect the gateway device 30 or the like to a commercial power supply, and various pieces of data can be exchanged by the gateway device 30 between each device of the wide-area wireless network 3 or the upper network 5 and each device of the narrow-area wireless network 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a relay device, a relay method, a relay program, and a communication system, and is suitably applied to, for example, a gateway device. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, gateway devices that are connected to different networks (also called communication networks) and relay data by appropriately converting the data to suit each network have been in widespread use.

[0003] Furthermore, a concept called IoT (Internet of Things) has been proposed, which involves installing a large number of sensor devices in various locations. In this IoT, methods are being explored for obtaining new knowledge by collecting data obtained from the sensor devices in server devices on a network and performing advanced analysis and processing. In such cases, it is conceivable to form a relatively narrow local area network using a large number of sensor devices, and connect it to a wide area network (such as the Internet) via a gateway device.

[0004] In recent years, however, problems have arisen over the increase and severity of natural disasters such as river flooding and landslides, as well as the deterioration of highly public buildings and structures (so-called social infrastructure) such as bridges and tunnels. In response, it has been devised to use various sensor devices, for example, to acquire and analyze various data relating to these structures, thereby detecting abnormalities at an early stage and taking measures in advance.

[0005] In such cases, the installation location of the sensor device may be a place where it is not necessarily easy to obtain commercial power, such as a riverbank or a bridge pier. Therefore, it has been proposed to provide the sensor device with a photovoltaic power generation panel (so-called solar cell), making it easier to install in places where it is difficult to wire for commercial power (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-081860 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2016-170087 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, when installing a sensor device in a place where it is not necessarily easy to supply commercial power, it is often not easy to lay wiring, so it is possible to build a narrow area network over a relatively small area and exchange data using wireless communication. In other words, by using solar cells and wireless communication, the sensor device can be installed with a significantly higher degree of freedom. However, the amount of power generated by a solar panel is generally relatively small, and the power consumption by wireless communication is limited, so the distance over which wireless connection is possible is relatively short.

[0008] In this case, the gateway device that wirelessly communicates with the sensor device is installed in a location relatively close to the sensor device, i.e., in a location where it is not necessarily easy to supply commercial power. On the other hand, it is conceivable that the gateway device installed in such a location uses a wireless network such as LTE (Long Term Evolution) as a wide area network. However, in these wireless networks, the power consumption of wireless communication is relatively large due to the relatively long communication distance, etc.

[0009] For this reason, when using power supplied from solar panels or the like in a gateway device, it is difficult to operate the wireless communication circuits for the wide area network properly, and there is a risk that data cannot be relayed properly.

[0010] In other words, in gateway devices that run on power based on various types of power generation using so-called natural energy, including not only commercial power sources but also sunlight, wind, hydroelectric power, geothermal power, solar heat, heat in the atmosphere and other heat existing in nature, biomass, etc., there was a problem that data obtained from sensor devices may not be able to be collected to a server device or the like on the network.

[0011] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and aims to propose a relay device, a relay method, a relay program, and a communication system that can effectively relay data between different communication networks while increasing the freedom of installation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] In order to solve the above problem, a relay device of the present invention includes a first communication unit connected to a first communication network, a second communication unit connected to a second communication network, and a first communication unit that receives data from the first communication network. After a control unit that controls the supply of power to the second communication unit and causes the second communication unit to transmit the data to a second communication network; and a power generation unit that generates power to be supplied to the first communication unit, the second communication unit, and the control unit. The control unit controls the second communication unit to supply power intermittently. I did so.

[0013] The relay method of the present invention includes a receiving step of receiving data by a first communication unit connected to a first communication network, a power supply control step of controlling power supplied from a power generation unit to a second communication unit connected to a second communication network, and a transmitting step of transmitting data to the second communication network by the second communication unit supplied with power from the power generation unit. The power supply control step controls the second communication unit to supply power intermittently. I did so.

[0014] Furthermore, the relay program of the present invention causes the information processing device to execute a receiving step of receiving data by a first communication unit connected to a first communication network, a supply power control step of controlling power supplied from a power generation unit to a second communication unit connected to a second communication network, and a transmitting step of transmitting data to the second communication network by the second communication unit supplied with power from the power generation unit. The power supply control step controls the second communication unit to supply power intermittently. I did so.

[0015] Further, in the communication system of the present invention, a sensor device and a relay device are connected to a first communication network, and a relay device and a management server are connected to a second communication network, and the relay device includes a first communication unit connected to the first communication network, a second communication unit connected to the second communication network, and the first communication unit receives data from the first communication network. After a control unit that controls the supply of power to the second communication unit and causes the second communication unit to transmit the data to a second communication network; and a power generation unit that generates power to be supplied to the first communication unit, the second communication unit, and the control unit. The control unit controls the second communication unit to supply power intermittently. I did so.

[0016] In the present invention, each unit of the relay device can be operated using the power generated by the power generation unit, so there is no need to connect the relay device to a commercial power source, and the degree of freedom in installation can be significantly increased. and control the supply of power intermittently. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately suppress power consumption by the second communication unit, and the relay device can be operated stably with the limited power generated by the power generation unit. Furthermore, the relay device of the present invention includes a first communication unit that communicates using a first communication method, a second communication unit that communicates using a second communication method, a control unit that controls the supply of power to the second communication unit after the first communication unit receives first data using the first communication method and causes the second communication unit to transmit the first data using the second communication method, a sensor unit that generates the second data, a power generation unit that generates power to be supplied to the first communication unit, the second communication unit, the control unit, and the sensor unit, and an operation mode setting unit that sets the gateway mode to operate both the first communication unit and the second communication unit, or to a sensor mode that operates the first communication unit and stops the second communication unit, and when the operation mode setting unit is set to the gateway mode, the control unit controls the second communication unit to transmit the first data and / or the second data using the second communication method, and when the operation mode setting unit is set to the sensor mode, controls the first communication unit to transmit the second data using the first communication method. Furthermore, the relay method of the present invention includes a setting step of setting, by an operation mode setting unit, a gateway mode in which both a first communication unit which communicates using a first communication method and a second communication unit which communicates using a second communication method are operated, or a sensor mode in which the first communication unit is operated and the second communication unit is stopped, and an operation step of operating in the operation mode set by the setting step, wherein, when the operation mode setting unit sets the gateway mode, the operation step operates to receive first data by the first communication unit, supply power from the power generation unit to the second communication unit, and transmit the first data by the second communication unit using the second communication method, and when the operation mode setting unit sets the sensor mode, the operation step operates to generate second data by the sensor unit and transmit the second data by the first communication unit using the first communication method. Furthermore, in the relay program of the present invention, the information processing device is caused to execute a setting step of setting the information processing device to a gateway mode in which both the first communication unit, which communicates using a first communication method, and the second communication unit, which communicates using a second communication method, are operated by an operation mode setting unit, or to a sensor mode in which the first communication unit is operated and the second communication unit is stopped, and an operation step of operating in the operation mode set by the setting step, wherein, when the operation mode setting unit sets the information processing device to the gateway mode, the operation step operates to receive first data via the first communication unit, supply power from the power generation unit to the second communication unit, and transmit the first data via the second communication unit, and when the operation mode setting unit sets the information processing device to the sensor mode, the operation step operates to generate second data via the sensor unit and transmit the second data via the first communication unit using the first communication method. Furthermore, in a communication system of the present invention, a sensor device and a relay device are connected to a first communication network, and a relay device and a management server are connected to a second communication network, and the communication system has a device that operates as a relay device or a sensor device, the device having a first communication unit that communicates in a first communication method, a second communication unit that communicates in a second communication method, a control unit that controls the supply of power to the second communication unit after the first communication unit receives first data in the first communication method and causes the second communication unit to transmit the first data in the second communication method, a sensor unit that generates second data, and power provided to the first communication unit, the second communication unit, the control unit, and the sensor unit. The control unit is configured to: (a) generate power to be supplied; and (b) set the operation mode to a gateway mode in which both the first communication unit and the second communication unit are operated; or (c) set the operation mode to a sensor mode in which the first communication unit is operated and the second communication unit is stopped. When the control unit is configured to operate the device as a relay device, the control unit sets the operation mode to the gateway mode and controls the second communication unit to transmit the first data and / or the second data using the second communication method; and when the control unit is configured to operate the device as a sensor device, the control unit sets the operation mode to the sensor mode and controls the first communication unit to transmit the second data using the first communication method. Effect of the Invention

[0017] According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a relay device, a relay method, a relay program, and a communication system that can satisfactorily relay data between different communication networks while increasing the degree of freedom in installation. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a sensor system according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of a solar wireless sensor device. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of a solar wireless repeater device. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration of an information management server. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration of an information storage server. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an external configuration of a gateway device. [Figure 7] 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a gateway device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 8] 13 is a flowchart showing a power supply mode switching process procedure. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a communication protocol between devices. [Figure 10] 13 is a flowchart showing a data transmission / reception process procedure. [Figure 11] 4 is a sequence chart showing an upstream data transfer sequence according to the first embodiment. [Figure 12] 4 is a sequence chart showing a downstream data transfer sequence according to the first embodiment. [Figure 13] 4 is a sequence chart showing a temperature measurement sequence according to the first embodiment. [Figure 14] 4 is a sequence chart showing a wireless reception level measurement sequence according to the first embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a sensor system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a gateway device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 17] 10 is a sequence chart showing an upstream data transfer sequence according to the second embodiment. [Figure 18] 10 is a sequence chart showing a temperature measurement sequence according to the second embodiment. [Figure 19] 10 is a sequence chart showing a wireless reception level measurement sequence according to the second embodiment. [Figure 20]FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a gateway device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 21] 13 is a flowchart showing an operation mode activation change process procedure. [Figure 22] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a gateway device according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0020] 1. First embodiment [1-1. Sensor system configuration] 1, the sensor system 1 according to the first embodiment is configured such that a plurality of communication devices are connected to each other via a plurality of networks. Specifically, the sensor system 1 includes a plurality of solar wireless (SW) sensor devices 10 (10A, 10B, and 10C), a plurality of solar wireless (SW) relay devices 20 (20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, and 20E), a gateway device 30, an information management server 50, and an information storage server 60.

[0021] The SW sensor device 10, SW relay device 20, and gateway device 30 in the sensor system 1 are installed, for example, on riverbanks or bridge piers in mountainous areas, or in their vicinity, where it is difficult to supply commercial power to any of them. For this reason, the SW sensor device 10, SW relay device 20, and gateway device 30 each have a solar power generation panel, and are designed to operate using power generated by the solar power generation panel (described in detail later). On the other hand, the information management server 50 and information storage server 60 are installed, for example, in a specified building not shown, and are constantly operated using commercial power supply.

[0022] The SW sensor device 10, SW relay device 20, and gateway device 30 are each wirelessly connected to a narrow-area wireless network 2. The narrow-area wireless network 2 is a wireless communication network using the 920 [MHz] band, which complies with standards such as IEEE802.15.4 established by IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). In the narrow-area wireless network 2, various data can be transmitted and received between each node (the SW sensor device 10, the SW relay device 20, and the gateway device 30) by a multi-hop method. Hereinafter, the narrow-area wireless network 2 is also referred to as a narrow-area wireless network or a first communication network.

[0023] In Japan, laws and ministerial ordinances stipulate that in principle a license must be obtained to operate a radio station that transmits radio waves, but if the radio equipment meets the specified technical standards and is certified as conforming to the technical standards, it can be operated as a radio station that does not require a license, a so-called license-exempt station. These technical standards specify in detail, for example, the type of radio waves, frequency, and antenna power, and also stipulate that the 920 MHz band used by the narrow-area wireless network 2 is part of the frequency band that can be used by license-exempt stations.

[0024] In the sensor system 1, each of the wireless devices constituting the short-range wireless network 2, i.e., the SW sensor device 10, the SW relay device 20, and the gateway device 30, is designed and manufactured to comply with technical standards and corresponds to the above-mentioned license-free radio. Therefore, the short-range wireless network 2 of the sensor system 1 corresponds to a privately operated telecommunications facility network (so-called private network).

[0025] In addition, radio waves in the 920 [MHz] band have a lower tendency to travel in a straight line and a better reach compared to higher frequency bands, and have a higher transmission speed due to a larger transmission capacity per band compared to lower frequency bands. Therefore, in the short-range wireless network 2, stable communication connections can be established between wireless devices, and data can be transmitted and received at high speeds. Note that the short-range wireless network 2 is not limited to the 920 MHz band, and can also use various other frequency bands specified by law, ministerial ordinance, such as the 2.4 [GHz] band or the 429 [MHz] band.

[0026] Furthermore, the gateway device 30 is connected to a wide area wireless network 3. The wide area wireless network 3 is a wireless network configured using wireless communication technologies defined, for example, in IEEE802.16-2004, IEEE802.16e, IEEE802.11, etc. established by IEEE, or LTE (Long Term Evolution) established by 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project). This wide area wireless network 3 forms a wireless network that is deployed over a much wider range than the narrow area wireless network 2. Hereinafter, the wide area wireless network 3 is also referred to as a wide area wireless network or a second communication network.

[0027] This wide area wireless network 3 is connected to various wireless devices (not shown), and is also connected to a higher level network 5 via a base station 4. The higher level network 5 is configured by a wired LAN conforming to standards such as IEEE802.3 (IEEE802.3u / ab / an / ae), for example. In addition to the base station 4, the higher level network 5 is also connected to an information management server 50, an information storage server 60, and the like, and is further connected to other networks such as the Internet (not shown).

[0028] Therefore, the gateway device 30 can transmit and receive various data between the information management server 50 and the information storage server 60 via the wide area wireless network 3 , the base station 4 and the upper network 5 .

[0029] In this sensor system 1, each SW sensor device 10 generates data by detecting, for example, the water level of a river or the vibration of a bridge pier with its respective sensor. Next, the SW sensor device 10 transmits the generated data into the narrow-area wireless network 2, and the data is received by the gateway device 30 via the SW relay device 20 as appropriate. The gateway device 30 relays the data and transmits it to the wide-area wireless network 3, and the data is received by the information management server 50 via the base station 4 and the upper network 5. The information management server 50 performs a predetermined conversion process on the data, and then transmits it to the information storage server 60 for storage.

[0030] In this way, in the sensor system 1, data generated by each SW sensor device 10 is transmitted via each network as appropriate, and the data is relayed between networks by the gateway device 30, and is ultimately stored in the information storage server 60.

[0031] [1-1-1. Configuration of SW sensor device] Next, a description will be given of the configuration of the SW sensor device 10. As shown in the block diagram of Fig. 2, the SW sensor device 10 is configured as an information processing device centered around a control unit 11. To this control unit 11, a storage unit 12, a wireless communication unit 13, a sensor unit 14, a temperature measurement unit 15, and a power supply unit 16 are connected.

[0032] The control unit 11 is a processing unit that controls various operations of the SW sensor device 10. For example, the control unit 11 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a timer circuit, etc. (not shown). This control unit 11 uses the RAM as a work area and executes programs read from the ROM, the storage unit 12, etc., by the CPU, thereby realizing various functions and performing various processes. Furthermore, the control unit 11 can recognize the current date and time, measure the elapsed time from a predetermined point in time, etc., by using the timer circuit (not shown).

[0033] The storage unit 12 has a non-volatile storage medium such as an EEPROM (Electronically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory), an SSD (Solid State Drive), a hard disk drive, etc. The storage unit 12 stores various programs and setting information, data generated by the sensor unit 14, etc.

[0034] The wireless communication unit 13 is a part that performs wireless communication conforming to standards such as IEEE802.15.4, and includes a signal processing circuit, an antenna, and the like (not shown). The wireless communication unit 13 wirelessly connects with other wireless devices that configure the short-range wireless network 2 (FIG. 1), i.e., the SW relay device 20 and the gateway device 30, and can transmit and receive various data. The wireless communication unit 13 also performs intermittent operation, for example, every two seconds.

[0035] The sensor unit 14 is a part that performs sensing. In this embodiment, the term "sensing" is used to mean detection of estimated quantities (or detection of increase / decrease or occurrence) of various physical quantities such as vibration (tremor), temperature, humidity, inclination, etc., and detection of occurrence (or detection of increase / decrease or estimated quantity) of smoke, chemical substances, radiation, current, voltage, static electricity, etc. In addition to the above-mentioned detection, the term "sensing" is also used to mean a process of converting the detected contents into an analog electric signal, and a process of converting the electric signal into digital data. In addition to the above-mentioned detection, the term "sensing" is also used to mean measuring or discriminating the detected contents.

[0036] Specifically, the sensor unit 14 is configured as, for example, an ultrasonic sensor, and has a generating circuit for generating ultrasonic waves and an acquiring circuit for acquiring the ultrasonic waves (neither of which are shown in the figure). The sensor unit 14 generates ultrasonic waves and radiates them in a predetermined direction, acquires ultrasonic waves that have returned due to reflection or the like, converts them into electrical signals, and performs predetermined signal processing, conversion processing, etc. to generate data, and sends this data to the control unit 11.

[0037] In response to this, the control unit 11 can associate date and time information, for example obtained from a timing circuit (not shown), with the data and store it in the memory unit 12 or transmit it from the wireless communication unit 13 to the short-range wireless network 2.

[0038] Incidentally, the sensor unit 14 is not limited to an ultrasonic sensor, and may be various sensors such as a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a vibration (vibration) sensor, a tilt sensor, a pressure sensor, a human sensor, an illuminance sensor, a biosensor, a radioactivity sensor, a soil sensor, an image sensor, etc. The sensor unit 14 may be various sensors such as a position sensor using an artificial satellite such as a Global Positioning System (GPS) / global navigation satellite system (GNSS), an odor sensor, a count sensor for counting vehicles and people, a smoke sensor, a chemical substance sensor, a current sensor, a voltage sensor, and a static electricity sensor. Furthermore, the sensor unit 14 is not limited to a single number and a single type of sensor, and may be provided with a plurality of sensors and a plurality of types of sensors.

[0039] The temperature measurement unit 15 detects the outside air temperature at the location where the SW sensor device 10 is installed, generates temperature information based on the detected temperature, and supplies it to the control unit 11. In response to this, the control unit 11 performs a temperature correction process on the data generated by, for example, the sensor unit 14 based on the temperature information supplied from the temperature measurement unit 15. This temperature measurement unit 15 measures the temperature, for example, once every 5 to 10 minutes.

[0040] Incidentally, when the SW sensor device 10 receives a specified operation instruction from a worker or the like via the wireless communication unit 13, for example when installation work or maintenance work is being performed, the control unit 11 can perform calculation processing of a correction value according to the installation environment based on the temperature information generated by the temperature measurement unit 15.

[0041] The power supply unit 16 is a part that supplies power to each component of the SW sensor device 10, and has a solar cell 17, a charge / discharge control unit 18, and a secondary battery 19. The solar cell 17 is also called a solar power generation panel, and is a photoelectric conversion device that generates electric power (i.e., generates electricity) by utilizing solar energy. The solar cell 17 may be made of various types of silicon, such as crystalline silicon or amorphous silicon, or made of various inorganic or organic compounds. The solar cell 17 is provided, for example, on the upper surface of a housing (not shown) of the SW sensor device 10. When the SW sensor device 10 is installed, the installation position, installation angle, etc. are appropriately adjusted so that the solar cell 17 is sufficiently irradiated with direct sunlight.

[0042] The charge / discharge control unit 18 cooperates with the control unit 11 to charge the power generated by the solar cell 17 into the secondary battery 19, or to discharge the power from the secondary battery 19 and supply it to each unit such as the control unit 11. The charge / discharge control unit 18 also obtains various information related to the power in the power supply unit 16 (hereinafter referred to as power supply information), and notifies the control unit 11 upon request. This power supply information includes, for example, whether or not power is being generated by the solar cell 17, the values ​​of the voltage and current supplied from the solar cell 17, the output voltage of the secondary battery 19, the amount of power stored in the secondary battery 19, etc.

[0043] The secondary battery 19 is a battery capable of storing (i.e., charging) and releasing (i.e., discharging) electric power using chemical reactions, and is, for example, a lithium ion secondary battery, a nickel-cadmium storage battery, a lead storage battery, or the like.

[0044] The control unit 11 also controls each unit of the SW sensor device 10 to operate intermittently, thereby reducing power consumption. Specifically, the control unit 11 controls, for example, the sensor unit 14 to perform a sensing operation and the temperature measurement unit 15 to perform a temperature measurement operation once every 5 to 10 minutes. The control unit 11 also controls, for example, the wireless communication unit 13 to perform a communication operation once every 2 seconds.

[0045] [1-1-2. SW relay device configuration] Next, the configuration of the SW relay device 20 (FIG. 1) will be described. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 corresponding to each other, the SW relay device 20 has a configuration similar to that of the SW sensor device 10, and is configured as an information processing device centered around a control unit 21. A storage unit 22, a wireless communication unit 23, and a power supply unit 26 are connected to the control unit 21.

[0046] Like the control unit 11 (FIG. 2) of the SW sensor device 10, the control unit 21 has a CPU, ROM, RAM, and a timer circuit (not shown). This control unit 21 uses the RAM as a work area and executes programs read from the ROM, storage unit 22, etc., by the CPU, thereby realizing various functions and performing various processes. Also, like the control unit 11, the control unit 21 can recognize the current date and time, measure the elapsed time from a predetermined point in time, and the like, by using a timer circuit (not shown).

[0047] The storage unit 22, like the storage unit 12 (FIG. 2) of the SW sensor device 10, has a non-volatile storage medium such as an EEPROM, an SSD, or a hard disk drive. The storage unit 22 stores various programs, setting information, or data received by the wireless communication unit 23. Like the wireless communication unit 13 (FIG. 2) of the SW sensor device 10, the wireless communication unit 23 is a part that performs wireless communication conforming to standards such as IEEE802.15.4, and has a signal processing circuit, an antenna, and the like (not shown). The wireless communication unit 23 can wirelessly connect with other wireless devices constituting the short-range wireless network 2 (FIG. 1), that is, the SW sensor device 10, other SW relay devices 20, or the gateway device 30, and transmit and receive various data.

[0048] The power supply unit 26 is configured similarly to the power supply unit 16 (FIG. 2) of the SW sensor device 10, and is a part that supplies power to each component of the SW relay device 20. Specifically, the power supply unit 26 has a solar cell 27, a charge / discharge control unit 28, and a secondary battery 29 that are configured similarly to the solar cell 17, the charge / discharge control unit 18, and the secondary battery 19 of the SW sensor device 10 (FIG. 2), respectively. Similarly to the control unit 11 of the SW sensor device 10, the control unit 21 controls each unit of the SW relay device 20 to operate intermittently, thereby reducing power consumption. Specifically, the control unit 21 controls the communication operation of the wireless communication unit 23 to be performed once every two seconds, for example.

[0049] [1-1-3. Information management server configuration] Next, the configuration of the information management server 50 (FIG. 1) will be described. As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 4, the information management server 50 is configured as an information processing device centered around a control unit 51. To this control unit 51, a storage unit 52, a communication unit 53, a display unit 54, and an operation unit 55 are each connected.

[0050] The control unit 51, like the control unit 11 (FIG. 2) of the SW sensor device 10, has a CPU, ROM, RAM, and a timer circuit (not shown). The control unit 51 uses the RAM as a work area and executes programs read from the ROM, the storage unit 52, etc., by the CPU, thereby realizing various functions and performing various processes.

[0051] The storage unit 52, like the storage unit 12 (FIG. 2) of the SW sensor device 10, has a non-volatile storage medium such as an EEPROM, SSD, or hard disk drive. The storage unit 52 stores various programs and setting information, or data received by the communication unit 53. The communication unit 53 is an interface for a wired LAN conforming to a standard such as IEEE802.3, and can transmit and receive various data to and from the upper network 5 (FIG. 1).

[0052] The display unit 54 has a display panel such as a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) panel, and displays various information such as characters, figures, or images under the control of the control unit 51. The operation unit 55 is composed of, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch pad, a touch panel, or the like, and receives operations from the user and notifies the control unit 51.

[0053] [1-1-4. Information storage server configuration] Next, the configuration of the information storage server 60 (FIG. 1) will be described. As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 5 corresponding to FIG. 4, the information storage server 60 is configured as an information processing device centered around a control unit 61. A storage unit 62 and a communication unit 63 are each connected to the control unit 61.

[0054] The control unit 61, like the control unit 51 (FIG. 4) of the information management server 50, has a CPU, ROM, RAM, and a timer circuit (not shown). This control unit 61 uses the RAM as a work area and executes programs read from the ROM, storage unit 62, etc., by the CPU, thereby realizing various functions and performing various processes.

[0055] The storage unit 62 has a non-volatile storage medium such as an EEPROM, SSD, or hard disk drive, similar to the storage unit 52 (FIG. 4) of the information management server 50. The storage unit 62 stores various programs and setting information, or data received by the communication unit 63. The communication unit 63 is an interface for a wired LAN conforming to a standard such as IEEE802.3, and can transmit and receive various data to and from the upper network 5.

[0056] [1-2. Gateway device configuration] Next, a configuration of the gateway device 30 will be described. As shown in the schematic external view of Fig. 6, the gateway device 30 as a relay device is composed of a main body part 30A1, an attachment part 30A2, and a sensor exposed part 30A3. The gateway device 30 is attached to an arm part P2 that extends from a pillar P1 erected near a river bank RB of a river R toward the river.

[0057] The main body 30A1 is generally shaped like a rectangular parallelepiped, and the entire outer circumference is covered by a predetermined housing. The mounting part 30A2 is composed of a mounting metal fitting having a predetermined shape, and positions the main body 30A1 on the upper side of the arm P2 and fixes the main body 30A1 so as to maintain a predetermined posture. The sensor exposure part 30A3 is located below the mounting part 30A2, and is fixed to the lower side of the arm P2 by the mounting part 30A2.

[0058] [1-2-1. Circuit configuration of gateway device] 2 and 3, the gateway device 30 is configured as an information processing device centered around a control unit 31. To this control unit 31, a storage unit 32, a first wireless communication unit 33, a second wireless communication unit 34, a sensor unit 35, a temperature measurement unit 36, and a power supply unit 46 are connected.

[0059] The control unit 31, like the control unit 11 (FIG. 2) of the SW sensor device 10, has a CPU, ROM, RAM, and a timer circuit (not shown). This control unit 31 uses the RAM as a work area and executes programs read from the ROM, storage unit 32, etc., by the CPU, thereby realizing various functions and performing various processes. Also, like the control unit 11, the control unit 31 can recognize the current date and time, measure the elapsed time from a predetermined point in time, and so on, by using a timer circuit (not shown).

[0060] The storage unit 32, like the storage unit 12 (FIG. 2) of the SW sensor device 10, has a non-volatile storage medium such as an EEPROM, an SSD, a hard disk drive, etc. The storage unit 32 stores various programs and setting information, data received by the first wireless communication unit 33, etc.

[0061] The first wireless communication unit 33, like the wireless communication unit 13 (FIG. 2) of the SW sensor device 10, is a part that performs wireless communication conforming to standards such as IEEE802.15.4, and has a signal processing circuit, an antenna, etc. (not shown). The first wireless communication unit 33 is capable of wirelessly connecting with other wireless devices constituting the short-range wireless network 2 (FIG. 1), i.e., the SW sensor device 10 and the SW relay device 20, and transmitting and receiving various data.

[0062] The second wireless communication unit 34 is a part that performs wireless communication in accordance with wireless communication technologies defined by, for example, IEEE802.16-2004, IEEE802.16e, IEEE802.11, etc. established by IEEE, or standards such as LTE for third-generation mobile communication systems and fourth-generation mobile communication systems, and has a signal processing circuit, an antenna, etc. (not shown). This second wireless communication unit 34 is connected to a base station 4 via a wide-area wireless network 3 (FIG. 1), and further connects to an information management server 50 via a higher-level network 5, and can transmit and receive various data.

[0063] Incidentally, a wireless network using a wireless communication technology defined by IEEE802.16-2004, IEEE802.16e, IEEE802.11, LTE, or the like, such as the wide-area wireless network 3, may become a telecommunications network (public network) by providing telecommunications services. When the wide-area wireless network 3 is a telecommunications network (public network), the gateway device 30 can communicate with the wide-area wireless network 3 and various other devices (not shown) connected to the upper network 5 by performing wireless communication via the wide-area wireless network 3.

[0064] The sensor unit 35 is configured similarly to the sensor unit 14 (FIG. 2) of the SW sensor device 10, and functions as, for example, an ultrasonic sensor. The sensor unit 35 has, for example, a generating circuit for generating ultrasonic waves and an acquiring circuit for acquiring the ultrasonic waves, a part of which is provided in the sensor exposed portion 30A3 (FIG. 6), and the rest is provided inside the main body portion 30A1.

[0065] The sensor unit 35 generates ultrasonic waves and radiates them downward from the sensor exposed portion 30A3 (FIG. 6), and the sensor exposed portion 30A3 acquires reflected ultrasonic waves formed when a portion of the ultrasonic waves is reflected on the water surface of the river R. The sensor unit 35 further converts the acquired reflected ultrasonic waves into electrical signals and generates data by performing predetermined signal processing, conversion processing, etc., and sends this data to the control unit 31. This data indicates the distance from the sensor exposed portion 30A3 to the water surface of the river R, and becomes a value indicating the water level of the river R by performing predetermined arithmetic processing.

[0066] The temperature measurement unit 36 ​​is configured similarly to the temperature measurement unit 15 (FIG. 2) of the SW sensor device 10, detects the outside air temperature at the location where the gateway device 30 is installed, generates temperature information based on the detected temperature, and supplies it to the control unit 31. In response to this, the control unit 31 performs a temperature correction process based on the temperature information supplied from the temperature measurement unit 36 ​​on the data generated by the sensor unit 35, for example.

[0067] The power supply unit 46 is configured similarly to the power supply unit 16 (FIG. 2) of the SW sensor device 10, and is a part that supplies power to each component of the gateway device 30. Specifically, the power supply unit 46 has a solar cell 47, a charge / discharge control unit 48, and a secondary battery 49 that are configured similarly to the solar cell 17, the charge / discharge control unit 18, and the secondary battery 19, respectively, of the SW sensor device 10 (FIG. 2).

[0068] Of these, the solar cell 47 is provided on the upper surface of the main body 30A1 as shown in Fig. 6. The position and attitude of the main body 30A1 are adjusted so that it is well irradiated with direct sunlight, and the main body 30A1 is then fixed to the arm P2 by the attachment part 30A2.

[0069] [1-2-2. Power supply control for gateway device] As described above, in the sensor system 1 (FIG. 1), when the gateway device 30 receives data from the SW sensor device 10 or the SW relay device 20 via the narrow area wireless network 2, the gateway device 30 relays the data and transmits it to the wide area wireless network 3. To receive data from the narrow area wireless network 2, the gateway device 30 needs to operate the first wireless communication unit 33, and to transmit data to the wide area wireless network 3, the gateway device 30 needs to operate the second wireless communication unit 34.

[0070] On the other hand, like the control unit 11 of the SW sensor device 10, the control unit 31 controls each unit of the gateway device 30 to operate intermittently, i.e., at predetermined intervals, thereby reducing power consumption. Specifically, the control unit 31 controls, for example, the sensing operation by the sensor unit 35 and the temperature measurement operation by the temperature measurement unit 36 ​​to be performed once every 5 to 10 minutes. In addition, the control unit 31 controls, for example, the communication operation by the first wireless communication unit 33 to be performed once every 2 seconds, and the communication operation by the second wireless communication unit 34 to be performed, for example, once every 5 minutes.

[0071] In this way, in the gateway device 30, there is a possibility that the timings of operating the first wireless communication unit 33 and the second wireless communication unit 34 do not match with each other. Therefore, the control unit 31 temporarily stores data received from one network in the storage unit 32, and when next connected to the other network, reads out the data from the storage unit 32 and transmits it.

[0072] That is, when the control unit 31 receives data to be transmitted to the information management server 50 from the narrow area wireless network 2 via the first wireless communication unit 33, the control unit 31 stores the data in the memory unit 32, and then, when the second wireless communication unit 34 is operated to connect to the wide area wireless network 3, the control unit 31 reads out and transmits the data stored in the memory unit 32.

[0073] In addition, when the control unit 31 receives data to be transmitted to the SW sensor device 10, for example, from the wide area wireless network 3 via the second wireless communication unit 34, it stores the data in the memory unit 32, and when the control unit 31 next operates the first wireless communication unit 33 to connect to the narrow area wireless network 2, it reads out and transmits the data stored in the memory unit 32.

[0074] Incidentally, the gateway device 30 requires a relatively large amount of power when operating the second wireless communication unit 34. Therefore, the control unit 31 switches the power supply mode according to the state of the power supply unit 46, thereby switching the cycle of power supply to the second wireless communication unit 34, i.e., the cycle of intermittent operation of the second wireless communication unit 34, and transmits and receives data.

[0075] Specifically, when the power is turned on, the control unit 31 reads out and executes a wide area wireless network connection program from the storage unit 32, thereby starting the power supply mode switching process procedure RT1 shown in Fig. 8, and proceeds to the first step SP1. In step SP1, the control unit 31 obtains power supply information including various information related to the power in the power supply unit 46 from the charge / discharge control unit 48, and proceeds to the next step SP2.

[0076] In step SP2, the control unit 31 reads the current amount of power generated by the solar cell 47 from the acquired power source information, and judges whether the amount of power generated is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference amount. This reference amount is set in advance, for example, based on the amount of power when power is supplied to each part including the second wireless communication unit 34 in the gateway device 30. If a positive result is obtained in step SP2, this indicates that the current amount of power generated by the solar cell 47 is relatively large, and therefore the second wireless communication unit 34 can be operated at relatively short intervals. At this time, the control unit 31 proceeds to the next step SP6.

[0077] On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP2, this indicates that the current amount of power generated by the solar cell 47 is relatively small, or power is not being generated at night, etc., and therefore the second wireless communication unit 34 should not be operated at relatively short intervals. In this case, the control unit 31 proceeds to the next step SP3.

[0078] In step SP3, the control unit 31 determines whether or not the secondary voltage, which is the voltage of the secondary battery 49, is equal to or higher than a predetermined reference voltage, that is, whether or not the amount of power stored in the secondary battery 49 is sufficient. If a positive result is obtained here, this indicates that there is at least enough power remaining in the secondary battery 49 to operate the second wireless communication unit 34. In this case, the control unit 31 proceeds to the next step SP4.

[0079] In step SP4, the control unit 31 compares the values ​​of the data stored in the memory unit 32, i.e., the values ​​of the data acquired from the SW sensor device 10 and the values ​​of the data generated by the sensor unit 35, with a predetermined alert threshold, and proceeds to the next step SP5. This alert threshold is set to a value that corresponds to a water level at which there is a risk of flooding of the river R (FIG. 6), for example, and is stored in advance in the memory unit 32.

[0080] In step SP5, the control unit 31 judges whether the value of the data is equal to or greater than the alert threshold. If a positive result is obtained here, this indicates that the data should be transmitted to the information management server 50 at short intervals, for example, when there is a risk of flooding of the river R. In this case, the control unit 31 proceeds to the next step SP6.

[0081] In step SP6, the control unit 31 sets the power supply mode to the short cycle mode, and proceeds to the next step SP9. In the short cycle mode, the cycle for intermittently operating the second wireless communication unit 34 is a relatively short time (for example, 5 minutes).

[0082] On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP5, this indicates that there is no need to transmit data at short intervals to the information management server 50. In this case, the control section 31 proceeds to the next step SP7.

[0083] In step SP7, the control unit 31 sets the power supply mode to the long cycle mode, and proceeds to the next step SP9. In this long cycle mode, the cycle when the second wireless communication unit 34 is intermittently operated is a relatively long time (for example, 60 minutes).

[0084] On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP3, this indicates that the secondary voltage is relatively low and sufficient power is not stored in the secondary battery 49. In this case, the control unit 31 proceeds to the next step SP8, sets the power supply mode to the sleep mode, and proceeds to the next step SP11. In this sleep mode, the second wireless communication unit 34 is paused, and is not allowed to transmit or receive any data.

[0085] In step SP9, the control unit 31 determines whether or not a standby time (i.e., a period) corresponding to the current power supply mode has elapsed since the previous operation of the second wireless communication unit 34. If a negative result is obtained here, the control unit 31 repeats this step SP9 to wait for the standby time to elapse.

[0086] On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step SP9, the control unit 31 proceeds to the next step SP10 and performs wide area wireless network connection processing (described in detail later) as a subroutine to power and operate the second wireless communication unit 34, transmit the data stored in the memory unit 32 to the wide area wireless network 3, and then proceeds to the next step SP11.

[0087] In step SP11, the control unit 31 ends the power supply mode switching process procedure RT1. Incidentally, the control unit 31 executes the power supply mode switching process procedure RT1 at predetermined intervals (e.g., every 5 minutes) and sequentially switches the power supply mode in response to changes in the power generation state of the solar cell 47, changes in the data values, and the like.

[0088] From the viewpoint of reducing power consumption, the control unit 31 of the gateway device 30 intermittently operates not only the second wireless communication unit 34 but also the first wireless communication unit 33, the sensor unit 35, and the temperature measurement unit 36. In this case, it is desirable that the cycle of the intermittent operation of the first wireless communication unit 33, the sensor unit 35, and the temperature measurement unit 36 ​​is synchronized with the cycle of the intermittent operation of the second wireless communication unit 34. That is, in the gateway device 30, it is desirable that the second wireless communication unit 34 transmits data and temperature immediately after they are acquired by the sensor unit 35 and the temperature measurement unit 36, and it is also desirable that the second wireless communication unit 34 transmits the data immediately after the first wireless communication unit 33 acquires the data.

[0089] [1-2-3. Sending and receiving data via wide area wireless network] Incidentally, in the sensor system 1, as described above, the gateway device 30 does not operate the second wireless communication unit 34 all the time, but operates it by supplying power intermittently. Therefore, in the sensor system 1, even if there is data to be transmitted from the information management server 50 to the gateway device 30 or the SW sensor device 10, there is a possibility that a connection with the gateway device 30 cannot be established depending on the timing.

[0090] 9, when there is data to be transmitted from the gateway device 30 to the information management server 50, the sensor system 1 transmits the data by a request of the HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) protocol. Also, in the sensor system 1, when the information management server 50 transmits a response of the HTTPS protocol to the gateway device 30, the data is embedded in the response and transmitted.

[0091] In addition, in the sensor system 1, data is transmitted and received between the information management server 50 and the information storage server 60 using the MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) protocol. For this reason, the information management server 50 transmits data received from the gateway device 30 to the information storage server 60 by appropriately converting the format and protocol of various data, and also transmits data to be transmitted to the gateway device 30 by embedding it in a response of the HTTPS protocol.

[0092] Here, a detailed description will be given of a case where data is sent from the gateway device 30 to the information management server 50 based on the HTTPS communication protocol. In this case, the control unit 31 of the gateway device 30 reads a predetermined HTTPS client program from the storage unit 32 and executes it, thereby functioning as an HTTPS client together with the second wireless communication unit 34. The control unit 51 of the information management server 50 reads a predetermined HTTP server program from the storage unit 52 and executes it, thereby functioning as an HTTPS server together with the communication unit 53.

[0093] Incidentally, the HTTPS client may be a standalone program related to the HTTPS client, or may be a program related to an HTTP client built into the operating system (OS), middleware, or application software executed by the gateway device 30. In this case, specifically, it may be a program related to an HTTPS client built into various application software (programs) such as a Web browser, a Web robot, a text editor, database management software, image editing software, and security software.

[0094] The HTTPS client of the gateway device 30 and the HTTPS server of the information management server 50 control each other, communicate (send and receive) between them, and transmit data from the second wireless communication unit 34 of the gateway device 30 to the communication unit 53 of the information management server 50.

[0095] In this case, the HTTPS client of the gateway device 30 transmits data by an HTTPS request message to the HTTPS server of the information management server 50. In response to this, the HTTPS server of the information management server 50, which has acquired the data, transmits an HTTPS response message to the HTTPS client of the gateway device 30 in response to the HTTPS request message.

[0096] Here, the HTTPS server of the information management server 50 sets a predetermined URL (Uniform Resource Locator) as a value (resource identification information) indicating the location of the public information made public by the HTTPS server. This URL is, for example, "https: / / xxx.yyy.zzz / sensor / upload.do" or the like.

[0097] Furthermore, when sending data, the HTTPS client of the gateway device 30 performs an exchange related to encrypted communication (handshake: generation of common key information using public key encryption technology, etc.) with the HTTPS server of the information management server 50 based on the communication protocol of SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or TLS (Transport Layer Security). As a result, the HTTPS client of the gateway device 30 generates (calculates) common key information used for encryption processing by both the HTTPS client and the HTTPS server.

[0098] Furthermore, the gateway device 30 prestores the IP address of the gateway device 30 in the wide area wireless network 3, the IP address of the information management server 50 in the upper network 5, the communication port number for HTTPS in the information management server 50, and the URL.

[0099] The HTTPS client of the gateway device 30 generates an HTTPS request that includes at least a POST method (characters "POST") or a PUT method (characters "PUT") and the URL in the request line, and data in the message body. The HTTPS client of the gateway device 30 then provides data to the HTTPS server of the information management server 50 by sending a packet including at least a sender address, a sender communication port number, a receiver address, a receiver port number, and an HTTPS request to the wide area wireless network 3. Of these, the sender address is the IP address of the gateway device 30. The sender communication port number is, for example, 60123, which is randomly assigned. The receiver address is the IP address of the information management server 50. The receiver port number is, for example, 443, which represents HTTPS.

[0100] The HTTPS server of the information management server 50, which receives this data, generates an HTTPS response including at least a status code (characters "200" or "201") in the status line of the message header. The HTTPS server of the information management server 50 then sends a packet including the sender's address, sender's communication port number, receiver's address, receiver's port number, and the HTTPS response to the upper network 5, thereby providing the HTTPS client of the gateway device 30 with the result of receiving the HTTPS request (i.e., data). The sender's communication port number is, for example, 443, which represents HTTPS. The receiver's address is the IP address of the gateway device 30. The receiver's port number is 60123, which was used when sending the packet including the HTTPS request.

[0101] In this way, the data transmitted from the second wireless communication unit 34 of the gateway device 30 based on the HTTPS communication protocol is transferred sequentially within the wide area wireless network 3 and the upper network 5 in accordance with a predetermined routing method, and then received by the communication unit 53 of the information management server 50 based on the HTTPS communication protocol.

[0102] Next, a process will be described in which the gateway device 30 transmits and receives data to and from the information management server 50 via the wide area wireless network 3. When the control unit 31 of the gateway device 30 proceeds to step SP10 in the above-mentioned power supply mode switching process procedure RT1 (FIG. 8), the control unit 31 starts a wide area wireless network connection process procedure RT2 shown in FIG. 10 as a subroutine, and proceeds to the first step SP21.

[0103] In step SP21, the control unit 31 starts supplying power to the second wireless communication unit 34, thereby starting the operation of the second wireless communication unit 34, and proceeds to the next step SP22. In step SP22, the control unit 31 connects the second wireless communication unit 34 to the wide area wireless network 3, and proceeds to the next step SP23.

[0104] In step SP23, the control unit 31 causes the second wireless communication unit 34 to transmit the data stored in the storage unit 32 to the information management server 50 by HTTPS protocol, and proceeds to the next step SP24. The transmitted data is transmitted from the second wireless communication unit 34 of the gateway device 30 through the wide area wireless network 3 (FIG. 1), the base station 4, and the upper network 5 in this order, and then reaches the information management server 50 and is received by it.

[0105] At this time, the information management server 50 performs format conversion, protocol conversion, etc. of the received data, and transmits the data to the information storage server 60 by the MQTT protocol for storage. The information management server 50 also transmits a response in the HTTPS protocol to the gateway device 30. At this time, if data to be transmitted to the gateway device 30 is stored in the storage unit 52, the information management server 50 transmits a response in which the data is embedded.

[0106] In step SP24, the control unit 31 receives a response from the information management server 50 via the second wireless communication unit 34, and proceeds to the next step SP25. In step SP25, the control unit 31 determines whether data has been received from the information management server 50, specifically, whether data has been embedded in the received response. If a positive result is obtained here, this indicates that the received data needs to be extracted and, in some cases, forwarded to a final destination. In this case, the control unit 31 proceeds to the next step SP26.

[0107] In step SP26, the control unit 31 extracts the received data from the HTTPS protocol response and stores it in the storage unit 32, and proceeds to the next step SP27. In step SP27, the control unit 31 disconnects the second wireless communication unit 34 from the wide area wireless network 3, and proceeds to the next step SP28. In step SP28, the control unit 31 ends the power supply to the second wireless communication unit 34, and proceeds to the next step SP29.

[0108] In step SP29, the control unit 31 judges whether the destination of the received data is itself (i.e., the gateway device 30). If a positive result is obtained here, the control unit 31 proceeds to the next step SP30, executes appropriate processing for the received data, and proceeds to the next step SP35. For example, if the data is an update value for various setting values, the control unit 31 updates the setting values ​​stored in the storage unit 32.

[0109] On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP29, this indicates that the destination of the received data is a node connected to the short-range wireless network 2. In this case, the control unit 31 proceeds to the next step SP31. In step SP31, the control unit 31 determines a route to the destination in the short-range wireless network 2 (FIG. 1) (details will be described later), and proceeds to the next step SP32. In step SP32, the control unit 31 causes the first wireless communication unit 33 to transmit the data to the short-range wireless network 2, and proceeds to the next step SP35.

[0110] On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP25, this indicates that the received response did not include data. In this case, the control unit 31 performs the same processes as steps SP27 and SP28 in steps SP33 and SP34, respectively, to disconnect the second wireless communication unit 34 from the wide area wireless network 3 and terminate power supply to the second wireless communication unit 34, and proceeds to the next step SP35. In step SP35, the control unit 31 terminates the wide area wireless network connection processing procedure RT2 and returns to the original power supply mode switching processing procedure RT1 (FIG. 8).

[0111] [1-2-4. Sending and receiving data using other protocols] Incidentally, in the sensor system 1, the protocol used between the gateway device 30 and the information management server 50 can be a protocol other than HTTPS. As the other protocol, for example, FTP (File Transfer Protocol), Telnet (Teletype network), SSH (Secure Shell), SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol), HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol), etc. can be used. Among these, the HTTP protocol omits the part related to encrypted communication using a communication protocol such as SSL / TLS, compared to the above-mentioned case where the HTTPS protocol is used, but the other parts are common. Specific operations when each protocol other than HTTP is used will be described below.

[0112] [1-2-4-1. Using the FTP protocol] Here, a case will be described in which data is sent from the gateway device 30 to the information management server 50 based on the FTP communication protocol. In this case, the control unit 31 of the gateway device 30 functions as an FTP client together with the second wireless communication unit 34 by reading and executing a predetermined FTP client program from the storage unit 32. The control unit 51 of the information management server 50 functions as an FTP server together with the communication unit 53 by reading and executing a predetermined FTP server program from the storage unit 52.

[0113] In addition, the control unit 31 of the gateway device 30 pre-stores in the memory unit 32 the IP address of the second wireless communication unit 34 in the wide area wireless network 3, the IP address of the information management server 50 in the upper network 5, and the communication port number for FTP on the information management server 50.

[0114] The control unit 31 of the gateway device 30, acting as an FTP client, starts communication between the FTP client and the FTP server by sending a predetermined packet to the wide area wireless network 3. This packet contains at least the IP address of the gateway device 30, which is the sender's address, the sender's communication port number (for example, 60123, which is randomly assigned), the IP address of the information management server 50, which is the receiver's address, and the receiver's port number (for example, 21, which indicates FTP), and also contains data.

[0115] In this way, the data transmitted from the second wireless communication unit 34 of the gateway device 30 based on the FTP communication protocol is transferred sequentially within the wide area wireless network 3 and the upper network 5 in accordance with a predetermined routing method, and then received by the communication unit 53 of the information management server 50 based on the FTP communication protocol.

[0116] [1-2-4-2. Use of Telnet protocol] Here, a case will be described where data is sent from the gateway device 30 to the information management server 50 based on the Telnet communication protocol. In this case, the control unit 31 of the gateway device 30 reads a predetermined Telnet client program from the storage unit 32 and executes it, thereby functioning as a Telnet client together with the second wireless communication unit 34. Also, the control unit 51 of the information management server 50 reads a predetermined Telnet server program from the storage unit 52 and executes it, thereby functioning as an FTP server together with the communication unit 53.

[0117] In addition, the control unit 31 of the gateway device 30 pre-stores in the memory unit 32 the IP address of the second wireless communication unit 34 in the wide area wireless network 3, the IP address of the information management server 50 in the upper network 5, and the communication port number for Telnet on the information management server 50.

[0118] The control unit 31 of the gateway device 30, acting as a Telnet client, starts communication between the Telnet client and the Telnet server by sending a predetermined packet to the wide area wireless network 3. This packet contains at least the IP address of the gateway device 30, which is the sender's address, the sender's communication port number (for example, 60123, which is randomly assigned), the IP address of the information management server 50, which is the receiver's address, and the receiver's port number (for example, 23, which indicates Telnet), and also contains data.

[0119] Furthermore, the Telnet client of the gateway device 30 and the Telnet server of the information management server 50 have binary transfer means (programs) so that they can perform communication (sending and receiving) based on binary transfer protocols such as Kermit, XMODEM, YMODEM, ZMODEM, etc. Therefore, when the Telnet client of the gateway device 30 sends data to the Telnet server of the information management server 50, it can make the Telnet server obtain the data by binary transferring the order information based on a binary transfer protocol such as Kermit, XMODEM, YMODEM, etc.

[0120] In this way, the data transmitted from the second wireless communication unit 34 of the gateway device 30 based on the Telnet communication protocol is sequentially forwarded within the wide area wireless network 3 and the upper network 5 in accordance with a predetermined routing method, and then received by the communication unit 53 of the information management server 50 based on the Telnet communication protocol.

[0121] [1-2-4-3. Using SSH protocol] Here, a case will be described where data is sent from the gateway device 30 to the information management server 50 based on the SSH communication protocol. In this case, the control unit 31 of the gateway device 30 functions as an SSH client together with the second wireless communication unit 34 by reading and executing a predetermined SSH client program from the storage unit 32. The control unit 51 of the information management server 50 functions as an SSH server together with the communication unit 53 by reading and executing a predetermined SSH server program from the storage unit 52.

[0122] In addition, the control unit 31 of the gateway device 30 pre-stores in the memory unit 32 the IP address of the second wireless communication unit 34 in the wide area wireless network 3, the IP address of the information management server 50 in the upper network 5, and the communication port number for SSH on the information management server 50.

[0123] The control unit 31 of the gateway device 30, acting as an SSH client, starts communication between the SSH client and the SSH server by sending a predetermined packet to the wide area wireless network 3. This packet contains at least the IP address of the gateway device 30, which is the sender's address, the sender's communication port number (for example, 60123, which is randomly assigned), the IP address of the information management server 50, which is the receiver's address, and the receiver's port number (for example, 22, which indicates SSH), and also contains data.

[0124] Furthermore, the SSH client of the gateway device 30 and the SSH server of the information management server 50 each have a secure copy means (program) so that they can perform communication (transmission and reception) based on the Secure Copy Protocol (SCP). Therefore, when the SSH client of the gateway device 30 provides data to the SSH server, the SSH server of the information management server 50 can obtain the data by file transfer of the data based on the Secure Copy Protocol.

[0125] In this way, the data transmitted from the second wireless communication unit 34 of the gateway device 30 based on the SSH communication protocol is transferred sequentially within the wide area wireless network 3 and the upper network 5 in accordance with a predetermined routing method, and then received by the communication unit 53 of the information management server 50 based on the SSH communication protocol.

[0126] [1-2-4-4. Use of SMTP protocol] Here, a case will be described where data is sent from the gateway device 30 to the information management server 50 based on the SMTP communication protocol. In this case, the control unit 31 of the gateway device 30 reads out a predetermined SMTP client program from the storage unit 32 and executes it, thereby functioning as an SMTP client together with the second wireless communication unit 34. The control unit 51 of the information management server 50 reads out a predetermined SMTP server program from the storage unit 52 and executes it, thereby functioning as an SMTP server together with the communication unit 53.

[0127] In addition, the control unit 31 of the gateway device 30 pre-stores in the memory unit 32 the IP address of the second wireless communication unit 34 in the wide area wireless network 3, the IP address of the information management server 50 in the upper network 5, and the communication port number for SMTP on the information management server 50.

[0128] The control unit 31 of the gateway device 30, acting as an SMTP client, starts communication between the SMTP client and the SMTP server by sending a predetermined packet to the wide area wireless network 3. This packet contains at least the IP address of the gateway device 30, which is the sender's address, the sender's communication port number (for example, 60123, which is randomly assigned), the IP address of the information management server 50, which is the receiver's address, and the receiver's port number (for example, 25, which indicates SMTP), and also contains data.

[0129] Here, when the SMTP client provides data to the SMTP server, the SMTP client of the gateway device 30 can provide the data to the SMTP server of the information management server 50 by forming and sending an e-mail with the data as an attachment or an e-mail containing the data in the body of the e-mail.

[0130] In this way, the data transmitted from the second wireless communication unit 34 of the gateway device 30 based on the SMTP communication protocol is sequentially forwarded within the wide area wireless network 3 and the upper network 5 in accordance with a predetermined routing method, and then received by the communication unit 53 of the information management server 50 based on the SMTP communication protocol.

[0131] In addition, when the SMTP server is implemented by another server device (not shown) other than the information management server 50, it is also possible to operate both the gateway device 30 and the information management server 50 as SMTP clients and transmit data between the two.

[0132] In this case, data can be handed over from the second wireless communication unit 34 of the gateway device 30 to the communication unit 53 of the information management server 50 by going through exchanges (sending and receiving) between the SMTP client of the gateway device 30 and the SMTP server, and exchanges (sending and receiving) between the SMTP server and the SMTP client of the information management server 50.

[0133] Here, when the SMTP client provides data to the SMTP server, the SMTP client of the gateway device 30 provides the order information to the SMTP server by forming and sending an e-mail with the data as an attachment or an e-mail containing the data in the body. When the SMTP server provides the order information to the SMTP client, the SMTP server provides the data to the SMTP client of the information management server 50 by sending an e-mail with the data as an attachment or an e-mail containing the data in the body (e-mail received from the SMTP client of the gateway device 30). In this way, data can also be sent from the gateway device 30 to the information management server 50 by using a relay of an SMTP server executed in another server device.

[0134] [1-3. Route determination in short-range wireless networks] In the narrow-area wireless network 2, the gateway device 30 is set as a parent device, and each SW sensor device 10 and each SW relay device 20 is set as a child device. Therefore, when each SW sensor device 10 and each SW relay device 20, which are child devices, transmits data to each device connected to the upper network 5, the data is first transmitted to the gateway device 30, which is a parent device, in the narrow-area wireless network 2.

[0135] In the short-range wireless network 2 (FIG. 1), as described above, each node (SW sensor device 10, SW relay device 20, and gateway device 30) is connected to each other by a multi-hop method. In this short-range wireless network 2, data is transmitted and received between each node by a method such as that described in Patent Document 3.

[0136] [Patent Document 3] JP 2011-205556 A (Fig. 1, etc.)

[0137] In particular, in the short-range wireless network 2, as described above, the wireless communication units of each node, i.e., the wireless communication unit 13 of the SW sensor device 10, the wireless communication unit 23 of the SW relay device 20, and the first wireless communication unit 33 of the gateway device 30, are all controlled to operate intermittently. Therefore, in the short-range wireless network 2, when a node transmits data to another node, the data is transmitted by searching for a route that reaches the destination node via only the SW relay device 20 that is operating at that time.

[0138] That is, in the short-range wireless network 2, for example, when transmitting data from the SW sensor device 10 to the gateway device 30, the SW sensor device 10 searches for a route to the gateway device 30 via only the SW relay device 20 that is currently operating, and sets the destination, etc., of the data according to this route before transmitting. Also, in the short-range wireless network 2, for example, when transmitting data from the gateway device 30 to the SW sensor device 10, the gateway device 30 searches for a route to the SW sensor device 10 via only the SW relay device 20 that is currently operating, and sets the destination, etc., of the data according to this route before transmitting.

[0139] [1-4. Data transfer in sensor systems] Next, we will explain how data is transmitted and received while being transferred by each device in the sensor system 1 (FIG. 1). Hereinafter, data sequentially transferred from the SW sensor device 10 to the information storage server 60 is called upstream data, and data sequentially transferred from the information storage server 60 to the SW sensor device 10 is called downstream data.

[0140] [1-4-1. Upstream data transfer] First, a process of sequentially transmitting upstream data from the SW sensor device 10 to the information storage server 60 in the sensor system 1 will be described with reference to a sequence chart of FIG.

[0141] First, the control unit 11 of the SW sensor device 10 starts an upstream data transmission processing procedure RT11 by reading and executing a predetermined upstream data transmission program from the storage unit 12, and proceeds to the first step SP111. In step SP111, the control unit 11 generates data by the sensor unit 14, and proceeds to the next step SP112. In step SP112, the control unit 11 searches for a route to the gateway device 30 via only the SW relay devices 20 operating within the short-range wireless network 2 (FIG. 1) at this time, and proceeds to the next step SP113. Here, it is assumed that a route to the gateway device 30 via one SW relay device 20 has been selected.

[0142] In step SP113, the control unit 11 transmits data addressed to the SW relay device 20 in the narrow-area wireless network 2 via the wireless communication unit 13, and proceeds to the next step SP114. The data transmitted at this time includes, in addition to the data generated by the sensor unit 14, information such as the amount of power generated by the solar cell 17 in the power supply unit 16, the voltage value of the secondary battery 19, or the temperature measured by the temperature measurement unit 15. In step SP114, the control unit 11 ends this upstream data transmission processing procedure RT11.

[0143] The control unit 21 of the SW relay device 20 starts the upstream data relay processing procedure RT12 by previously reading and executing a predetermined upstream data relay program from the storage unit 22. When the control unit 21 receives data from the SW sensor device 10 via the wireless communication unit 23, the control unit 21 proceeds to step SP121. In step SP121, the control unit 21 relays the received data via the wireless communication unit 23, i.e., transmits the received data as is to the gateway device 30, and proceeds to the next step SP122. In step SP122, the control unit 21 ends the upstream data relay processing procedure RT12.

[0144] The control unit 31 of the gateway device 30 starts the uplink data reception / transmission processing procedure RT13 by previously reading and executing a predetermined uplink data reception / transmission program from the storage unit 32. When the control unit 31 receives data from the SW relay device 20 via the first wireless communication unit 33, the control unit 31 proceeds to step SP131. In step SP131, the control unit 31 stores the data received by the first wireless communication unit 33 in the storage unit 32, and proceeds to step SP132. In step SP132, the control unit 31 transmits the data to the wide area wireless network 3 by performing wide area wireless network connection processing, and proceeds to the next step SP133.

[0145] Specifically, the control unit 31 executes a power supply mode switching process procedure RT1 shown in Fig. 8 as a subroutine to operate the second wireless communication unit 34 at a period based on the state of the power supply unit 46. Next, in step SP10 of the power supply mode switching process procedure RT1 (Fig. 8), the control unit 31 executes a wide-area wireless network connection process procedure RT2 (Fig. 10) as a subroutine, and in step SP23, causes the second wireless communication unit 34 to transmit data to the wide-area wireless network 3 (Fig. 1) in response to a request of the HTTPS protocol. The transmitted data reaches the base station 4 in the wide-area wireless network 3, and reaches the information management server 50 via the upper network 5. In step SP133, the control unit 31 ends the uplink data reception / transmission process procedure RT13.

[0146] The control unit 51 of the information management server 50 starts the upstream data conversion relay processing procedure RT14 by reading and executing a predetermined upstream data conversion relay program from the storage unit 52 in advance. When the control unit 51 receives data from the gateway device 30 through the communication unit 53, the control unit 51 proceeds to step SP141. In step SP141, the control unit 51 performs a predetermined conversion process on the received data to generate data of the MQTT protocol, and proceeds to the next step SP142. In step SP142, the control unit 51 transmits the data of the MQTT protocol to the upper network 5 (FIG. 1) through the communication unit 53, and proceeds to the next step SP143. In step SP143, the control unit 51 ends the upstream data conversion relay processing procedure RT14.

[0147] The control unit 61 of the information storage server 60 starts the upstream data reception and storage processing procedure RT15 by previously reading and executing a predetermined upstream data reception and storage program from the storage unit 62. When the control unit 61 receives data from the information management server 50 via the communication unit 63, the control unit 61 proceeds to step SP151. In step SP151, the control unit 61 stores the received data in the storage unit 62, and proceeds to the next step SP152. In step SP152, the control unit 61 ends the upstream data reception and storage processing procedure RT15.

[0148] In this manner, in the sensor system 1, the data generated in the SW sensor device 10 (that is, the upstream data) can be stored in the information storage server 60 by being sequentially received and transmitted by each device.

[0149] [1-4-2. Downstream data transfer] Next, a process for sequentially transferring downstream data from the information storage server 60 to the SW sensor device 10 in the sensor system 1 will be described with reference to a sequence chart of FIG.

[0150] The control unit 61 of the information storage server 60 starts the downstream data transmission processing procedure RT25 by reading and executing a predetermined downstream data transmission program from the memory unit 62, and proceeds to the first step SP251. In step SP251, the control unit 61 reads data to be transmitted to the SW sensor device 10 from the memory unit 62, transmits this data from the communication unit 63 to the information management server 50 via the upper network 5 (FIG. 1) using the MQTT protocol, and proceeds to the next step SP252. In step SP252, the control unit 61 ends the downstream data transmission processing procedure RT25.

[0151] The control unit 51 of the information management server 50 performs a downstream data conversion relay processing procedure RT24 by previously reading and executing a predetermined downstream data conversion relay program from the storage unit 52. When the control unit 51 receives data from the information storage server 60 via the communication unit 53, the control unit 51 proceeds to step SP241. In step SP241, the control unit 51 converts the received MQTT protocol data into a format that can be stored in an HTTPS protocol response, and proceeds to the next step SP242. In step SP242, the control unit 51 stores the converted data in the storage unit 52, and proceeds to the next step SP243.

[0152] In step SP243, the control unit 51 judges whether or not upstream data has been received from the gateway device 30. If a negative result is obtained here, this indicates that upstream data has not been received from the gateway device 30 and therefore data cannot be transmitted in response to the gateway device 30. At this time, the control unit 51 waits for reception of upstream data from the gateway device 30 by repeating this step SP243.

[0153] The control unit 31 of the gateway device 30 starts a downstream data reception / transmission processing procedure RT23 by previously reading and executing a predetermined downstream data reception / transmission program from the storage unit 32, and proceeds to the first step SP231. In step SP231, the control unit 31 executes a power supply mode switching processing procedure RT1 shown in Fig. 8 as a subroutine, thereby operating the second wireless communication unit 34 at a period based on the state of the power supply unit 46. Next, in step SP10 of the power supply mode switching processing procedure RT1 (Fig. 8), the control unit 31 executes a wide-area wireless network connection processing procedure RT2 (Fig. 10) as a subroutine, and in step SP23, causes the second wireless communication unit 34 to transmit data to the wide-area wireless network 3 (Fig. 1) in response to a request of the HTTPS protocol.

[0154] In response, when the control unit 51 of the information management server 50 receives this data via the communication unit 53, a positive result is obtained in step SP243, and the process proceeds to the next step SP244. In step SP244, the control unit 51 transmits the data stored in the memory unit 52 (i.e., downstream data) embedded in an HTTPS protocol response from the communication unit 53 to the gateway device 30, and then proceeds to the next step SP245. In step SP245, the control unit 51 ends the downstream data conversion relay processing procedure RT24.

[0155] In response to this, the control unit 31 of the gateway device 30 receives a response of the HTTPS protocol from the information management server 50 in step SP24 of the wide area wireless network connection processing procedure RT2 (FIG. 10). Furthermore, in step SP31 of this wide area wireless network connection processing procedure RT2 (FIG. 10), the control unit 31 determines a route to the destination in the narrow area wireless network 2 (FIG. 1), and in the following step SP32, transmits data from the first wireless communication unit 33 to the SW relay device 20, and then ends the wide area wireless network connection processing procedure RT2. Thereafter, the control unit 31 returns to the downstream data reception and transmission processing procedure RT23 (FIG. 12), proceeds to the next step SP232, and ends the downstream data reception and transmission processing procedure RT23.

[0156] The control unit 21 of the SW relay device 20 starts the downstream data relay processing procedure RT22 by previously reading and executing a predetermined downstream data relay program from the storage unit 22. When the control unit 21 receives data from the gateway device 30 via the wireless communication unit 23, the process proceeds to step SP221. In step SP221, the control unit 21 relays the received data via the wireless communication unit 23, i.e., transmits the received data as is to the SW sensor device 10, and then proceeds to the next step SP222. In step SP222, the control unit 21 ends the downstream data relay processing procedure RT22.

[0157] The control unit 11 of the SW sensor device 10 starts a downstream data reception processing procedure RT21 by reading and executing a predetermined downstream data reception program from the memory unit 12. When the control unit 11 receives data from the SW relay device 20 via the wireless communication unit 13, the control unit 11 proceeds to step SP211. In step SP211, the control unit 11 stores the received data in the memory unit 12, and proceeds to the next step SP212. In step SP212, the control unit 11 ends the downstream data reception processing procedure RT21.

[0158] In this manner, in the sensor system 1, the data transmitted from the information storage server 60 (that is, downstream data) can be stored in the SW sensor device 10 by being sequentially received and transmitted by each device.

[0159] [1-5. Remote maintenance in sensor systems] Next, a description will be given of remote maintenance in the sensor system 1. This remote maintenance is a process in which, based on an operational instruction from a user that is received by the information management server 50, a request is made to the SW sensor device 10 or the like to generate data using the sensor unit 14 (FIG. 2), measure temperature, or measure wireless reception level, etc., and the obtained measurement data is transmitted to the information management server 50.

[0160] [1-5-1. Temperature measurement] Here, we will explain the processing performed in the sensor system 1 when the SW sensor device 10 measures temperature based on instructions from the information management server 50 and transmits the obtained measurement data to the information management server 50, with reference to the sequence chart in Figure 13.

[0161] First, the control unit 51 of the information management server 50 receives an instruction from a user via the operation unit 55 (FIG. 4) to measure the temperature with the SW sensor device 10. Next, the control unit 51 reads out a temperature measurement request program from the storage unit 52 and executes it to start the temperature measurement request processing procedure RT34, and proceeds to the first step SP341.

[0162] In step SP341, the control unit 51 transmits a temperature measurement request to the gateway device 30 from the communication unit 53 via the upper network 5. In this regard, similar to the case of the downstream data conversion relay processing procedure RT24 (FIG. 12), when the control unit 51 receives upstream data from the gateway device 30 in response to an HTTPS protocol request, it transmits the temperature measurement request in a state where the data is embedded in an HTTPS protocol response.

[0163] The control unit 31 of the gateway device 30 has previously read out and executed a temperature measurement request receiving and transmitting program from the storage unit 32 to start a temperature measurement request receiving and transmitting processing procedure RT33, and when the second wireless communication unit 34 receives a temperature measurement request from the information management server 50 via the wide area wireless network 3, the process proceeds to step SP331. In step SP331, the control unit 31 transmits the temperature measurement request from the first wireless communication unit 33 to the SW relay device 20 via the narrow area wireless network 2.

[0164] The control unit 21 of the SW relay device 20 has previously read out and executed a temperature measurement request relay program from the storage unit 22 to start the temperature measurement request relay processing procedure RT32, and when the control unit 21 receives a temperature measurement request from the gateway device 30 via the wireless communication unit 23, the process proceeds to step SP321. In step SP321, the control unit 21 transmits a temperature measurement request from the wireless communication unit 23 to the SW sensor device 10.

[0165] The control unit 11 of the SW sensor device 10 has previously read out and executed a temperature measurement program from the storage unit 12 to start the temperature measurement processing procedure RT31, and when it receives a temperature measurement request from the SW relay device 20 via the wireless communication unit 13, it proceeds to step SP311. In step SP311, the control unit 11 causes the temperature measurement unit 15 to measure the temperature, obtains the generated temperature data, and proceeds to the next step SP312. In step SP312, the control unit 11 transmits the obtained temperature data as measurement data to the SW relay device 20 via the wireless communication unit 13. Thereafter, the control unit 11 proceeds to the next step SP313 to end the temperature measurement processing procedure RT31.

[0166] When the control unit 21 of the SW relay device 20 receives the measurement data from the SW sensor device 10 via the wireless communication unit 23, it proceeds to step SP322 and transmits the measurement data to the gateway device 30 via the wireless communication unit 23. After that, the control unit 21 proceeds to the next step SP323 and ends the temperature measurement request relay processing procedure RT32.

[0167] When the control unit 31 of the gateway device 30 receives the measurement data from the SW relay device 20 via the first wireless communication unit 33, the control unit 31 proceeds to step SP332 and transmits the measurement data to the information management server 50 via the wide area wireless network 3 via the second wireless communication unit 34. Incidentally, the control unit 31 then executes the power supply mode switching processing procedure RT1 (FIG. 8) to operate the second wireless communication unit 34 at a period based on the state of the power supply unit 46 and transmits the measurement data. Thereafter, the control unit 31 proceeds to the next step SP333 and ends the temperature measurement request reception and transmission processing procedure RT33.

[0168] When the control unit 51 of the information management server 50 receives the measurement data from the gateway device 30 via the communication unit 53, the process proceeds to step SP342, where it stores the measurement data in the memory unit 52. The control unit 51 also displays the numerical values ​​of the received measurement data and graphs based on the measurement data on the display unit 54, based on operation instructions from the user via the operation unit 55, etc. Thereafter, the control unit 51 proceeds to the next step SP343, where it ends the temperature measurement request processing procedure RT34.

[0169] In this way, in the sensor system 1, when the information management server 50 is instructed to measure the temperature by the SW sensor device 10, the temperature measurement request can be relayed in sequence by each device and reach the SW sensor device 10. Also, in the sensor system 1, the temperature measurement data generated by the SW sensor device 10 based on the temperature measurement request can be relayed in sequence by each device and reach the information management server 50.

[0170] In the sensor system 1, if the temperature measurement data obtained from the SW sensor device 10 deviates from the normal range and an abnormality in the SW sensor device 10 is suspected, data generation by the sensor unit 14 of the SW sensor device 10 can be stopped by issuing a predetermined operation instruction to the information management server 50 (a sensor stop request is relayed from the information management server 50 by each device in sequence to reach the SW sensor device 10). Also, in the sensor system 1, for example, by issuing a predetermined operation instruction to the information management server 50 (a request for displaying an abnormality is relayed from the information management server 50 by each device in sequence to reach the SW sensor device 10), the SW sensor device 10 can display an abnormality in the sensor unit 14 by controlling a light-emitting unit (not shown) such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) to turn on, off, blink, change color, etc.

[0171] [1-5-2. Measuring wireless reception level] Next, the process of measuring the wireless reception level using the SW sensor device 10 based on instructions from the information management server 50 and transmitting the obtained measurement data to the information management server 50 in the sensor system 1 will be described with reference to the sequence chart of FIG. 14 corresponding to FIG. 13.

[0172] First, the control unit 51 of the information management server 50 receives an instruction from a user via the operation unit 55 (FIG. 4) to measure a wireless reception level using the SW sensor device 10. Next, the control unit 51 reads out a wireless reception level measurement request program from the storage unit 52 and executes it to start a wireless reception level measurement request processing procedure RT44, and proceeds to the first step SP441.

[0173] In step SP441, the control unit 51 transmits a wireless reception level measurement request to the gateway device 30 from the communication unit 53 via the upper network 5. Incidentally, when the control unit 51 receives upstream data in response to an HTTPS protocol request from the gateway device 30, it transmits the wireless reception level measurement request in a state where the data is embedded in an HTTPS protocol response, as in the case of the downstream data conversion relay processing procedure RT24 (FIG. 12) and the temperature measurement request processing procedure RT34 (FIG. 13).

[0174] The control unit 31 of the gateway device 30 starts a wireless reception level measurement request reception and transmission processing procedure RT43 by previously reading and executing a wireless reception level measurement request reception and transmission program from the storage unit 32. When the control unit 31 receives a wireless reception level measurement request from the information management server 50 via the wide area wireless network 3 by the second wireless communication unit 34, the control unit 31 proceeds to step SP431. In step SP431, the control unit 31 transmits the wireless reception level measurement request from the first wireless communication unit 33 to the SW relay device 20 via the narrow area wireless network 2.

[0175] The control unit 21 of the SW relay device 20 has previously read out and executed a temperature measurement request relay program from the storage unit 22 to start a wireless reception level measurement request relay processing procedure RT42, and when the control unit 21 receives a wireless reception level measurement request from the gateway device 30 via the wireless communication unit 23, the process proceeds to step SP421. In step SP421, the control unit 21 transmits a wireless reception level measurement request from the wireless communication unit 23 to the SW sensor device 10.

[0176] The control unit 11 of the SW sensor device 10 starts the wireless reception level measurement processing procedure RT41 by previously reading and executing a wireless reception level measurement program from the storage unit 12, and when the control unit 11 receives a wireless reception level measurement request from the SW relay device 20 via the wireless communication unit 13, it proceeds to step SP411. In step SP411, the control unit 11 transmits a wireless transmission request from the wireless communication unit 13 to the SW relay device 20.

[0177] When the control unit 21 of the SW relay device 20 receives the wireless transmission request from the SW sensor device 10 via the wireless communication unit 23, the process proceeds to step SP422, and causes the wireless communication unit 23 to transmit a predetermined wireless signal addressed to the SW sensor device 10. This wireless signal contains a predetermined signal pattern suitable for measuring the wireless reception level.

[0178] When the control unit 11 of the SW sensor device 10 receives a wireless signal from the SW relay device 20 via the wireless communication unit 13, the control unit 11 proceeds to step SP412, where the wireless communication unit 13 measures a received signal strength (RSSI: Received Signal Strength Indication) value based on the amplitude and the like of the received wireless signal, and proceeds to the next step SP413. In step SP413, the control unit 11 transmits the obtained data of the received signal strength as measurement data to the SW relay device 20 via the wireless communication unit 13. Thereafter, the control unit 11 proceeds to the next step SP414, where the wireless reception level measurement processing procedure RT41 is terminated.

[0179] When the control unit 21 of the SW relay device 20 receives the measurement data from the SW sensor device 10 via the wireless communication unit 23, it proceeds to step SP423 and transmits the measurement data to the gateway device 30 via the wireless communication unit 23. After that, the control unit 21 proceeds to the next step SP424 and ends the wireless reception level measurement request relay processing procedure RT42.

[0180] When the control unit 31 of the gateway device 30 receives the measurement data from the SW relay device 20 via the first wireless communication unit 33, it proceeds to step SP432 and transmits the measurement data to the information management server 50 via the wide area wireless network 3 via the second wireless communication unit 34. Incidentally, the control unit 31 executes the power supply mode switching processing procedure RT1 (FIG. 8) at this time to operate the second wireless communication unit 34 at a period based on the state of the power supply unit 46 and transmit the measurement data. Thereafter, the control unit 31 proceeds to the next step SP433 and ends the wireless reception level measurement request reception and transmission processing procedure RT43.

[0181] When the control unit 51 of the information management server 50 receives the measurement data from the gateway device 30 via the communication unit 53, the process proceeds to step SP442, where it stores the measurement data in the memory unit 52. The control unit 51 also displays the numerical values ​​of the received measurement data of the wireless reception level and a graph based on the measurement data, etc., on the display unit 54, based on an operation instruction by the user via the operation unit 55. Thereafter, the control unit 51 proceeds to the next step SP443, where it ends the wireless reception level measurement request processing procedure RT44.

[0182] In this way, in the sensor system 1, when the information management server 50 is instructed to measure the wireless reception level by the SW sensor device 10, the wireless reception level measurement request is relayed in sequence by each device and can reach the SW sensor device 10. Also, in the sensor system 1, the measurement data of the wireless reception level generated in the SW sensor device 10 based on the wireless reception level measurement request can be relayed in sequence by each device and can reach the information management server 50.

[0183] In the sensor system 1, if the measurement data of the wireless reception level obtained from the SW sensor device 10 deviates from the normal range, various setting values ​​in the wireless communication unit 13 can be changed to bring it within the normal range by a predetermined operation instruction to the information management server 50. Also, in the sensor system 1, if an abnormality in the wireless communication unit 13 in the SW sensor device 10 is suspected, the wireless communication unit 13 of the SW sensor device 10 can be stopped by a predetermined operation instruction to the information management server 50 (a request to stop the wireless communication unit is relayed from the information management server 50 by each device in sequence to reach the SW sensor device 10), thereby preventing the occurrence of a communication abnormality in the narrow-area wireless network 2. Also, in the sensor system 1, for example, by a predetermined operation instruction to the information management server 50 (a request to display an abnormality is relayed from the information management server 50 by each device in sequence to reach the SW sensor device 10), a light-emitting unit (not shown) such as an LED in the SW sensor device 10 can be controlled to turn on, off, blink, change color, etc., to indicate an abnormality in the wireless communication unit 13.

[0184] [1-6. Time Synchronization] Meanwhile, in the wide area wireless network 3 of the sensor system 1, each device connected to the network can obtain the accurate time by using mechanisms such as the third generation communication system and LTE. Specifically, in the wide area wireless network 3, for example, the base station 4 has a highly accurate clock (not shown), and each device connected to the wide area wireless network 3 synchronizes its internal clock with the clock of the base station 4.

[0185] For this reason, when the control unit 31 of the gateway device 30 (Figure 7) connects to the wide area wireless network 3 via the second wireless communication unit 34 depending on the state of the power supply unit 46, it synchronizes the timing circuit within the control unit 31 with the clock of the base station 4 to maintain accurate time.

[0186] Furthermore, in the short-range wireless network 2, each connected device obtains the accurate time from the gateway device 30 and synchronizes its own internal clock (timekeeping circuit) with the clock (timekeeping circuit) of the gateway device 30.

[0187] [1-7. Effects, etc.] In the above configuration, the gateway device 30 of the sensor system 1 according to the first embodiment is connected to the narrow-area wireless network 2 by the first wireless communication unit 33, and is also connected to the wide-area wireless network 3 by the second wireless communication unit 34 (FIGS. 1 and 7). The gateway device 30 also operates each unit with power supplied from a power supply unit 46 having a solar cell 47, a secondary battery 49, etc. (FIGS. 6 and 7).

[0188] Therefore, the gateway device 30 can operate even in a place where it is difficult to connect to a commercial power source, as long as it is exposed to direct sunlight. In the sensor system 1, the SW sensor device 10 and the SW relay device 20 can also obtain power from the power supply unit 16 and the power supply unit 26, respectively, which are similar to the power supply unit 46.

[0189] Generally, when installing a sensor device, a relay device, etc. in a mountainous area, a gateway device is also installed within a range where wireless communication between the sensor device and the relay device is possible. In such cases, for example, a building may be constructed near the sensor device, etc., and commercial power supply equipment and generators may be installed inside the building to supply power to the sensor device, the gateway device, etc. However, in this case, relatively large-scale construction work such as building the building and laying the wiring is required, and the cost is relatively high.

[0190] In this respect, in this embodiment, all the devices connected to the short-range wireless network 2, i.e., the SW sensor device 10, the SW relay device 20, and the gateway device 30, are provided with solar cells 17, secondary batteries 49, etc., so there is no need to supply power to each device from outside, and the degree of freedom in installation can be greatly increased. As a result, in the sensor system 1, all the devices connected to the short-range wireless network 2 can be installed in various places where it is difficult to connect to a commercial power source, such as mountainous areas and coastal areas, and the obtained data can be delivered to the information storage server 60 and stored therein without delay.

[0191] However, in recent years, localized heavy rains caused by so-called abnormal weather have caused frequent river flooding. Measures using civil engineering and construction can be considered to deal with these river floods, but it is difficult to apply these measures to all rivers from the standpoint of cost and time. Therefore, it is conceivable to install sensors that measure the water level of each river, and provide information such as evacuation warnings to target people within an appropriate range at an appropriate time based on the obtained water level values. The installation of such sensors can be completed in a relatively short time compared to measures using civil engineering and construction, and can also reduce costs. The sensor system 1 is an extremely useful solution for such applications.

[0192] Of these, information such as an evacuation warning can be provided, for example, as follows: First, in step SP141 (FIG. 11), the control unit 51 of the information management server 50 compares the received data with a predetermined alert threshold (for example, the water level at which river R (FIG. 6) is at risk of flooding) before performing a predetermined conversion process on the data. Next, if the control unit 51 determines that information such as an evacuation warning should be provided based on the obtained comparison result, it provides the information on the evacuation warning on the display unit 54, or notifies a predetermined notification destination, or uploads it to a web server (not shown) on the Internet as a homepage.

[0193] Furthermore, the gateway device 30 operates the second wireless communication unit 34, which consumes relatively large amounts of power, intermittently, and changes the cycle according to the amount of power generated by the solar cell 47 in the power supply unit 46 and the amount of power stored in the secondary battery 49 (FIG. 8). Therefore, in the sensor system 1, the second wireless communication unit 34 can be operated in the shortest possible cycle within the range in which power can be supplied by the gateway device 30, and the amount of delay until the data acquired from the SW sensor device 10 etc. reaches the information storage server 60 can be kept as short as possible.

[0194] In general communication devices, from the viewpoint of reducing power consumption for energy saving, a method is used in which the communication connection in the wireless communication unit is logically disconnected, that is, by software control. In contrast, in the gateway device 30 according to the present embodiment, when the operation of the second wireless communication unit 34 is stopped, the communication is not logically disconnected, but the supply of power to the second wireless communication unit 34 is terminated. As a result, in the gateway device 30, even a slight power consumption by the circuit part of the second wireless communication unit 34 can be suppressed, and unnecessary power consumption can be thoroughly reduced.

[0195] Furthermore, the gateway device 30 is provided with a sensor unit 35 that functions as an ultrasonic sensor and generates data corresponding to the water level of the river R (FIG. 6). Therefore, in the sensor system 1, the gateway device 30 can be used as a device that generates data similar to the SW sensor device 10, rather than as a device dedicated to communication.

[0196] In addition, in the sensor system 1, the HTTPS protocol, which is a protocol that is used very frequently in various networks, is used in the communication between the gateway device 30 and the information management server 50 (FIG. 9). Therefore, in the sensor system 1, the possibility that the HTTPS protocol will be blocked due to restrictions such as security measures in various communication devices (not shown) provided in the higher-level network 5 is extremely low, and data can be communicated stably.

[0197] Furthermore, in the sensor system 1, when data is transmitted from the information management server 50 to the gateway device 30, the data is embedded in a response transmitted immediately after the gateway device 30 transmits a request of the HTTPS protocol (FIG. 9). Therefore, in the sensor system 1, the gateway device 30 is configured to be intermittently connected to the wide area wireless network 3, and yet necessary data can be reliably transmitted from the information management server 50 to the gateway device 30.

[0198] Moreover, in the sensor system 1, as remote maintenance using a mechanism for sequentially relaying data by each device, the SW sensor device 10 measures temperature, wireless reception level, etc. based on operation instructions to the information management server 50, and the obtained measurement data is transmitted to the information management server 50 (FIGS. 13 and 14). Also, in the sensor system 1, the SW relay device 20 and the gateway device 30 can be made to transmit measurement data to the information management server 50 using a similar procedure.

[0199] Therefore, in the sensor system 1, the operating status of the SW sensor device 10 can be confirmed via the information management server 50 without the need for a maintenance worker to travel to a mountainous area where the SW sensor device 10 is installed, and further, it is also possible to instruct the SW sensor device 10 to change various settings or stop operation. In addition, in the sensor system 1, the operating status of each SW sensor device 10, each SW relay device 20, and the gateway device 30 can be confirmed collectively via the information management server 50, and it is also possible to instruct each device to change various settings or stop operation. As a result, the sensor system 1 can quickly detect the occurrence of an abnormality in each device and immediately take possible measures remotely, so that the frequency of the maintenance worker traveling to the installation location of the SW sensor device 10 can be significantly reduced, and the efficiency of the maintenance work can be improved and the required costs can be reduced.

[0200] In other words, the sensor system 1 can improve the reliability, availability, serviceability, integrity, security, etc. of the entire system by intermittently operating the second wireless communication unit 34 in the gateway device 30.

[0201] According to the above configuration, the sensor system 1 according to the first embodiment is connected to the narrow-area wireless network 2 by the first wireless communication unit 33 of the gateway device 30, and is connected to the wide-area wireless network 3 by the second wireless communication unit 34. The gateway device 30 operates each unit with power supplied from the power supply unit 46, and operates the second wireless communication unit 34, which consumes relatively large power, intermittently, and further changes the cycle according to the state of the power supply unit 46. Therefore, in the sensor system 1, the gateway device 30 and the like can be installed in a place where it is difficult to connect to a commercial power source, and various data can be exchanged between each device of the wide-area wireless network 3 or the upper network 5 and each device of the narrow-area wireless network 2 by the gateway device 30.

[0202] 2. Second embodiment 1, the sensor system 201 according to the second embodiment differs from the sensor system 1 according to the first embodiment in that the sensor system 201 has three gateway devices 230 (230S, 230R, and 230G) instead of the SW sensor device 10A, the SW relay device 20A, and the gateway device 30. The sensor system 201 is configured similarly to the sensor system 1 in other respects.

[0203] [2-1. Gateway device configuration and operation mode switching] As shown in FIG. 16 corresponding to FIG. 7, the gateway device 230 differs from the gateway device 30 according to the first embodiment in that it has a control unit 231 and a memory unit 232 instead of the control unit 31 and the memory unit 32, and in that it has an operation mode setting unit 241 and a setting switch 242, but is otherwise configured in the same manner.

[0204] Like the control unit 31, the control unit 231 has a CPU, ROM, RAM, and a timer circuit, etc. (not shown). Like the control unit 31, this control unit 231 performs processing that is partially different from that of the first embodiment by using the CPU to execute a program read from the ROM, storage unit 232, etc. while using the RAM as a work area. Also, like the control unit 31, the control unit 231 can recognize the current date and time and measure the elapsed time from a predetermined point in time using a timer circuit (not shown).

[0205] The storage unit 232, like the storage unit 32, has a non-volatile storage medium such as an EEPROM, an SSD, a hard disk drive, etc. The storage unit 232 stores programs and setting information that are partially different from those in the first embodiment, or data received by the first wireless communication unit 33, etc.

[0206] The gateway device 230 has three operation modes: a gateway mode, a sensor mode, and a relay mode, and can be set to any one of these modes by an operation mode setting unit 241 and a setting switch 242.

[0207] The setting switch 242 is, for example, a 10-contact rotary switch, and can be set to any of 10 numbers from "0" to "9" by rotating a specific knob. The operation mode setting unit 241 reads the setting value from the setting switch 242, and can switch the operation mode of the gateway device 230 based on this setting value. The setting value of the setting switch 242 and the operation mode are associated as shown in Table 1.

[0208] [Table 1]

[0209] Among these, the gateway mode is also called the first mode, and is an operation mode in which the gateway device 230 functions similarly to the gateway device 30 in the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the gateway device 230 operating in the gateway mode is also referred to as the gateway device 230G.

[0210] The sensor mode, also called the second mode, is an operation mode in which the gateway device 230 functions similarly to the SW sensor device 10 in the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the gateway device 230 operating in the sensor mode is also referred to as the gateway device 230S.

[0211] The relay mode, also called the third mode, is an operation mode in which the gateway device 230 functions similarly to the SW relay device 20 in the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the gateway device 230 operating in the relay mode is also referred to as the gateway device 230R.

[0212] The gateway device 230 is also configured to switch the operation state of each unit (the first wireless communication unit 33, the second wireless communication unit 34, the sensor unit 35, the temperature measurement unit 36, etc.), for example, between enabled and disabled, depending on the operation mode. The operation state of each unit of the gateway device 230 in each operation mode can be summarized as shown in Table 2 below.

[0213] [Table 2]

[0214] Furthermore, the gateway device 230 switches the data transfer operation depending on the operation mode. The transfer operation of the gateway device 230 in each operation mode can be summarized as shown in Table 3 below.

[0215] [Table 3]

[0216] In this way, the gateway device 230 can operate in substantially the same manner as the gateway device 30, the SW sensor device 10, or the SW relay device 20 in the first embodiment by switching the operation mode.

[0217] Incidentally, the gateway device 230 is configured to switch the operation mode by the control unit 231 cooperating with the operation mode setting unit 241, for example, immediately after the power is turned on or when the gateway device 230 is restarted.

[0218] [2-2. Data transfer in sensor systems] Next, a case where upstream data is sequentially transferred from the gateway device 230S in the sensor mode to the information storage server 60 in the sensor system 201 (FIG. 15) will be described with reference to the sequence chart of FIG. 17 corresponding to FIG.

[0219] Here, it is assumed that, within the short-range wireless network 2, upstream data is sequentially transferred from the gateway device 230S in the sensor mode to the gateway device 230G in the gateway mode via the gateway device 230R in the relay mode. In other words, in the sequence chart of Fig. 17, the SW sensor device 10 in Fig. 11 is replaced with the gateway device 230S in the sensor mode, the SW relay device 20 is replaced with the gateway device 230R in the relay mode, and the gateway device 30 is replaced with the gateway device 230G in the gateway mode.

[0220] The control unit 231 of the gateway device 230S in the sensor mode transmits data generated by the sensor unit 35 (FIG. 16) to the gateway device 230R in the relay mode by executing an upstream data transmission processing procedure RT61 (FIG. 17) that is almost similar to the upstream data transmission processing procedure RT11 (FIG. 11).

[0221] The control unit 231 of the gateway device 230R in the relay mode transmits the data received from the gateway device 230S to the gateway device 230G in the gateway mode by executing an upstream data relay processing procedure RT62 (FIG. 17) that is almost similar to the upstream data relay processing procedure RT12 (FIG. 11).

[0222] The control unit 231 of the gateway device 230G in the gateway mode executes an upstream data reception / transmission processing procedure RT63 (FIG. 17) which is substantially the same as the upstream data reception / transmission processing procedure RT13 (FIG. 11). As a result, the control unit 231 transmits the data received from the gateway device 230R by the first wireless communication unit 33 to the information management server 50 from the second wireless communication unit 34 via the wide area wireless network 3.

[0223] The control unit 51 of the information management server 50 executes an upstream data conversion relay processing procedure RT64 (Figure 17) that is almost similar to the upstream data conversion relay processing procedure RT14 (Figure 11), thereby converting the data received from the gateway device 230G and transmitting it to the information storage server 60.

[0224] The control unit 61 of the information storage server 60 stores the data received by the information management server 50 in the memory unit 62 by executing an upstream data reception and storage processing procedure RT65 (FIG. 17) that is substantially similar to the upstream data reception and storage processing procedure RT15 (FIG. 11).

[0225] Thus, in the sensor system 201, data generated by the sensor unit 35 in the gateway device 230S in the sensor mode can be sequentially transferred to the information storage server 60 and stored therein, similarly to the first embodiment.

[0226] Incidentally, in the sensor system 201, when downstream data is sequentially transferred from the information storage server 60 to the gateway device 230S in the sensor mode, each device performs the same process as the sequence chart of FIG.

[0227] [2-3. Remote maintenance in sensor systems] Next, remote maintenance in the sensor system 201 will be described for the cases where temperature and wireless reception level are measured in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

[0228] [2-3-1. Temperature measurement] First, in the sensor system 201, a case will be described with reference to the sequence chart of FIG. 18 corresponding to FIG. 13 in which the gateway device 230S in the sensor mode measures temperature based on instructions from the information management server 50 and transmits the obtained measurement data to the information management server 50.

[0229] The control unit 51 of the information management server 50 executes a temperature measurement request processing procedure RT74 (FIG. 18) which is substantially similar to the temperature measurement request processing procedure RT34 (FIG. 13), thereby transmitting a temperature measurement request to the gateway device 230G in gateway mode via the upper network 5 in step SP741.

[0230] The control unit 231 of the gateway device 230G in the gateway mode executes a temperature measurement request reception and transmission processing procedure RT73 (FIG. 18) which is substantially similar to the temperature measurement request reception and transmission processing procedure RT33 (FIG. 13). As a result, in step SP731, the control unit 231 transmits the temperature measurement request received from the information management server 50 by the second wireless communication unit 34 to the gateway device 230R in the relay mode by the first wireless communication unit 33.

[0231] The control unit 231 of the gateway device 230R in the relay mode executes a temperature measurement request relay processing procedure RT72 (FIG. 18) that is substantially similar to the temperature measurement request relay processing procedure RT32 (FIG. 13). As a result, in step SP721, the control unit 231 transmits the temperature measurement request received from the gateway device 230G in the gateway mode by the first wireless communication unit 33 to the gateway device 230S in the sensor mode by the first wireless communication unit 33.

[0232] The control unit 231 of the gateway device 230S in the sensor mode executes a temperature measurement process procedure RT71 (FIG. 18) that is substantially similar to the temperature measurement process procedure RT31 (FIG. 13). As a result, the control unit 231 measures the temperature with the temperature measurement unit 36 ​​in step SP711 to generate measurement data, and transmits the measurement data to the gateway device 230R in the relay mode via the first wireless communication unit 33 in step SP712.

[0233] The control unit 231 of the gateway device 230R in the relay mode transmits the measurement data received from the gateway device 230S in the sensor mode via the first wireless communication unit 33 to the gateway device 230G in the gateway mode via the first wireless communication unit 33 in step SP722 in accordance with the temperature measurement request relay processing procedure RT72.

[0234] In accordance with the temperature measurement request receiving and transmitting processing procedure RT73, the control unit 231 of the gateway device 230G in the gateway mode transmits the measurement data received from the gateway device 230R in the relay mode by the first wireless communication unit 33 to the information management server 50 via the wide area wireless network 3 or the like by the second wireless communication unit 34 in step SP732.

[0235] In accordance with the temperature measurement request processing procedure RT74, the control unit 51 of the information management server 50 stores the measurement data received from the gateway device 230G in the gateway mode in the storage unit 52 in step SP742. At this time, the control unit 51 displays the numerical values ​​of the received measurement data and graphs based on the measurement data on the display unit 54 based on an operation instruction by the user via the operation unit 55, as in the first embodiment.

[0236] [2-3-2. Measuring wireless reception level] Next, a case in which in the sensor system 201, the gateway device 230S in sensor mode measures the wireless reception level based on instructions from the information management server 50 and transmits the obtained measurement data to the information management server 50 will be described with reference to the sequence chart of FIG. 19 corresponding to FIG. 14.

[0237] The control unit 51 of the information management server 50 executes a wireless reception level measurement request processing procedure RT84 (FIG. 19) which is substantially similar to the wireless reception level measurement request processing procedure RT44 (FIG. 14), thereby transmitting a wireless reception level measurement request to the gateway device 230G in gateway mode via the upper network 5 in step SP841.

[0238] The control unit 231 of the gateway device 230G in the gateway mode executes a wireless reception level measurement request reception and transmission processing procedure RT83 (FIG. 19) which is substantially similar to the wireless reception level measurement request reception and transmission processing procedure RT43 (FIG. 14). As a result, the control unit 231 transmits the wireless reception level measurement request received from the information management server 50 by the second wireless communication unit 34 to the gateway device 230R in the relay mode by the first wireless communication unit 33 in step SP831.

[0239] The control unit 231 of the gateway device 230R in the relay mode executes a wireless reception level measurement request relay process procedure RT82 (FIG. 19) which is substantially similar to the wireless reception level measurement request relay process procedure RT42 (FIG. 14). As a result, in step SP821, the control unit 231 transmits the wireless reception level measurement request received by the first wireless communication unit 33 from the gateway device 230G in the gateway mode to the gateway device 230S in the sensor mode by the first wireless communication unit 33.

[0240] The control unit 231 of the gateway device 230S in the sensor mode executes a wireless reception level measurement processing procedure RT81 (FIG. 19) that is almost the same as the wireless reception level measurement processing procedure RT41 (FIG. 14). As a result, in steps SP811 and SP812, the control unit 231 measures the wireless reception level based on the wireless signal received from the gateway device 230R in the relay mode, and generates measurement data, and in step SP813, transmits the measurement data to the gateway device 230R in the relay mode via the first wireless communication unit 33.

[0241] The control unit 231 of the gateway device 230R in the relay mode transmits the measurement data received from the gateway device 230S in the sensor mode via the first wireless communication unit 33 to the gateway device 230G in the gateway mode via the first wireless communication unit 33 in step SP823 in accordance with the wireless reception level measurement request relay processing procedure RT82.

[0242] The control unit 231 of the gateway device 230G in gateway mode, in accordance with the wireless reception level measurement request receiving and transmitting processing procedure RT83, transmits the measurement data received from the gateway device 230R in relay mode by the first wireless communication unit 33 to the information management server 50 via the wide area wireless network 3 or the like by the second wireless communication unit 34 in step SP832.

[0243] The control unit 51 of the information management server 50, in accordance with the wireless reception level measurement request processing procedure RT84, stores the measurement data received from the gateway device 230G in the gateway mode in the storage unit 52 in step SP842. At this time, the control unit 51 displays the numerical values ​​of the received measurement data and graphs based on the measurement data on the display unit 54 based on an operation instruction by the user via the operation unit 55, as in the first embodiment.

[0244] [2-4. Effects, etc.] In the above configuration, the gateway device 230 of the sensor system 201 according to the second embodiment is connected to the narrow-area wireless network 2 by the first wireless communication unit 33 and connected to the wide-area wireless network 3 by the second wireless communication unit 34, as in the first embodiment (FIGS. 15 and 16). Also, the gateway device 230 is configured to operate each unit with power supplied from a power supply unit 46 having a solar cell 47, a secondary battery 49, etc., as in the first embodiment (FIG. 16). Therefore, the gateway device 230 can operate in a place where it is difficult to connect to a commercial power source, as long as it is exposed to direct sunlight, as in the first embodiment.

[0245] In addition, in the sensor system 201, the gateway device 230 is provided with an operation mode setting unit 241 and a setting switch 242, so that the operation mode of the gateway device 230 can be switched to gateway mode, sensor mode, or relay mode depending on the setting value of the setting switch 242.

[0246] Therefore, in the sensor system 201, for example, in installation work, maintenance work, etc., the gateway device 230S in the sensor mode and the gateway device 230R in the relay mode can be installed instead of the SW sensor device 10 and the SW relay device 20 in the first embodiment. As a result, in the sensor system 201, for example, in installation work, maintenance work, etc., only one type of gateway device 230 is prepared, and the same function as the SW sensor device 10 and the SW relay device 20 can be realized by simply switching the operation mode according to the purpose of use. That is, in the sensor system 201, the cost required for manufacturing and management can be reduced and the work can be simplified by sharing the devices. That is, the sensor system 201 can build an extremely practical and economical monitoring system, and this can lead to advances in the maintenance and management of infrastructure facilities and measures against various natural disasters.

[0247] In other respects as well, the sensor system 201 according to the second embodiment can achieve the same effects as the sensor system 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0248] 3. Third embodiment The sensor system 301 (FIG. 15) according to the third embodiment differs from the sensor system 201 according to the second embodiment in that the sensor system 301 has gateway devices 330 (330S, 330R, and 330G) instead of the gateway devices 230 (230S, 230R, and 230G). The sensor system 301 is configured similarly to the sensor system 201 in other respects.

[0249] As shown in Fig. 20 corresponding to Fig. 16, the gateway device 330 differs from the gateway device 230 according to the second embodiment in that it has a control unit 331, a storage unit 332, and an operation mode setting unit 341 instead of the control unit 231, the storage unit 232, and the operation mode setting unit 241. The gateway device 330 also differs in that it omits the setting switch 242 in the second embodiment, while having an external bus unit 343 and a third wireless communication unit 344. However, in other respects, the gateway device 330 is configured similarly to the second embodiment.

[0250] Like the control unit 231, the control unit 331 has a CPU, ROM, RAM, and a timer circuit, etc. (not shown). Like the control unit 231, this control unit 331 uses the RAM as a work area and executes a program read from the ROM, storage unit 332, etc., by the CPU, thereby performing processing that is partially different from that of the second embodiment. Also, like the control unit 231, the control unit 331 can recognize the current date and time and measure the elapsed time from a predetermined point in time by using a timer circuit (not shown).

[0251] The storage unit 332, like the storage unit 232, has a non-volatile storage medium such as an EEPROM, an SSD, or a hard disk drive. The storage unit 332 stores programs and setting information that are partially different from those in the second embodiment, or data received by the first wireless communication unit 33. The storage unit 332 is also configured to store in the EEPROM a setting value of the operation mode and operation mode activation information for enabling or disabling the operation mode setting unit 341.

[0252] As in the second embodiment, the operation mode setting unit 341 is configured to set the operation mode of the gateway device 330 to any one of the gateway mode, the sensor mode, and the relay mode. However, unlike the second embodiment, the operation mode setting unit 341 is configured to read a setting value from the EEPROM of the storage unit 332 via the control unit 331, and set an operation mode according to this setting value.

[0253] The external bus unit 343 is a wired communication interface that complies with standards such as USB (Universal Serial Bus), etc. This external bus unit 343 can be connected to, for example, a predetermined maintenance device (not shown) via a USB cable or the like (not shown).

[0254] The third wireless communication unit 344 is a wireless communication interface that complies with standards such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), etc. The third wireless communication unit 344 can be connected to, for example, a predetermined maintenance device (not shown).

[0255] When the control unit 331 of the gateway device 330 is connected to a predetermined maintenance device (not shown) via the external bus unit 343 or the third wireless communication unit 344, it can cause the maintenance device to read the setting information, etc. stored in the memory unit 332 and rewrite the setting information, etc.

[0256] Specifically, when the control unit 331 is connected to a predetermined maintenance device (not shown) via the external bus unit 343 or the third wireless communication unit 344, it reads out an operation mode activation change program from the storage unit 332 and executes it to start an operation mode activation change processing procedure RT91 shown in Fig. 21. In the first step SP901, the control unit 331 obtains an instruction from the maintenance device via the external bus unit 343 or the third wireless communication unit 344, and proceeds to the next step SP902.

[0257] In step SP902, the control unit 331 judges whether or not it has acquired an instruction to enable (activate) the operation mode setting unit 341. If a positive result is obtained here, the control unit 331 proceeds to the next step SP903, where it stores the operation mode enable information in the storage unit 332, and then proceeds to the next step SP907.

[0258] On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP902, the control unit 331 proceeds to the next step SP904, where it determines whether or not it has acquired an instruction to disable (deactivate) the operation mode setting unit 341. If a positive result is obtained here, the control unit 331 proceeds to the next step SP905, where it stores operation mode disable information in the storage unit 332, and then proceeds to the next step SP907.

[0259] On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP904, this indicates that an instruction to change the set value of the operation mode has been received from the maintenance device. In this case, the control unit 331 proceeds to the next step SP906, where it stores the set value of the operation mode in the memory unit 332 based on the contents of the instruction, and proceeds to the next step SP907. In step SP907, the control unit 331 ends the operation mode activation change processing procedure RT91.

[0260] In this way, the gateway device 330 according to the third embodiment stores operation mode activation information in the storage unit 332. Therefore, the control unit 331 refers to the operation mode activation information in the storage unit 332, for example, immediately after power is turned on or when the device is restarted, and if operation mode valid information is stored, switches the operation mode in cooperation with the operation mode setting unit 341, as in the second embodiment. On the other hand, if operation mode invalid information is stored as the operation mode activation information in the storage unit 332, the control unit 331 operates in the gateway mode regardless of the setting value of the operation mode. Therefore, the gateway device 330 can easily switch whether or not to operate in the operation mode based on the setting value simply by changing the operation mode activation information in the storage unit 332.

[0261] In other respects as well, the sensor system 301 according to the third embodiment can achieve the same effects as the sensor system 1 according to the first embodiment and the sensor system 201 according to the second embodiment.

[0262] [4. Other embodiments] In the above-mentioned first embodiment, the sensor unit 35 of the gateway device 30 is an ultrasonic sensor, and the sensor exposure unit 30A3 that emits and acquires ultrasonic waves is attached to the lower side of the attachment unit 30A2 (FIG. 6). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the sensor unit 35 may be a water pressure type water level gauge, and a part of the sensor exposure unit 430A3 may be located underwater, as in the gateway device 430 shown in FIG. 22(A). Alternatively, the sensor unit 35 may be an imaging unit (so-called camera), and the sensor exposure unit 530A3 incorporating a lens, an imaging element, etc. may be provided on the lower side of the attachment unit 530A2, as in the gateway device 530 shown in FIG. 22(B). The same applies to the second and third embodiments.

[0263] In the above-described first embodiment, the power supply mode for the second wireless communication unit 34 is switched between three modes, namely, a short cycle mode, a long cycle mode, and a pause mode, depending on the state of the power supply unit 46 in the gateway device 30 and the value of the data (FIG. 8). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be switched between two modes, namely, a short cycle mode and a pause mode, or the cycle may be calculated by a calculation using the amount of power generated by the solar cell 47 or the voltage value of the secondary battery 49. The cycle for supplying power to the first wireless communication unit 33 may be changed as appropriate, or power may be constantly supplied to the first wireless communication unit 33. The same applies to the second and third embodiments.

[0264] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned first embodiment, the power supply mode is switched in the power supply unit 46 of the gateway device 30 based on the amount of power generated by the solar cell 47 and the voltage of the secondary battery 49, as well as the result of comparing the data value with the alert threshold (FIG. 8). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the power supply mode may be switched based on either the amount of power generated by the solar cell 47 or the voltage of the secondary battery 49. Also, for example, multiple levels of alert thresholds may be set, and the cycle may be switched in multiple levels based on the result of comparing these with the data value. Alternatively, for example, the power supply mode may be switched based only on the amount of power generated by the solar cell 47 and the voltage of the secondary battery 49, regardless of the data value. Furthermore, for example, a weather forecast for the installation location of the gateway device 30 may be supplied from the information management server 50, and the power supply mode may be switched according to the weather. Alternatively, for example, when it is known that the characteristics of the secondary battery 49 vary depending on the temperature, the power supply mode may be switched in consideration of the temperature measured by the temperature measurement unit 36. Furthermore, for example, when the time of sunset or sunrise is known, the power supply mode may be switched taking into consideration other factors, such as the current time. Also, for example, a value determined by the information management server 50 may be set as the period. The same applies to the second and third embodiments.

[0265] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned first embodiment, the case where the solar cell 47 is provided in the main body 30A1 of the gateway device 30 (FIG. 6) has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the solar cell 47 may be provided separately from the main body 30A1. Or, for example, in addition to the solar cell 47 provided in the main body 30A1, another solar cell may be connected. The same applies to the secondary battery 49, the SW sensor device 10, and the SW relay device 20. The same applies to the second and third embodiments.

[0266] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned first embodiment, the case where the solar cell 47 is provided in the power supply unit 46 of the gateway device 30 has been described (FIGS. 6 and 7). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various power generation devices utilizing so-called natural energy, such as wind power, water power, geothermal power, solar heat, heat in the atmosphere, other heat existing in nature, biomass, etc., or an appropriate combination of these may be provided in the power supply unit 46. The same applies to the SW sensor device 10 and the SW relay device 20, and also to the second and third embodiments.

[0267] Furthermore, in the above-described first embodiment, a case has been described in which the gateway device 30 is provided with the sensor unit 35, and data is generated by the sensor unit 35. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the sensor unit 35 may be omitted from the gateway device 30. The same applies to the second and third embodiments.

[0268] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned first embodiment, the case where the temperature measurement unit 36 ​​is provided in the gateway device 30 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the temperature measurement unit 36 ​​may be omitted from the gateway device 30. Alternatively, for example, a temperature and humidity measurement unit that measures temperature and humidity may be provided instead of the temperature measurement unit 36. The same applies to the second and third embodiments.

[0269] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned second embodiment, the case where the operation mode of the gateway device 230 is switched between three modes has been described (Tables 1, 2, and 3). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the operation mode of the gateway device 230 may be switched between two modes or four or more modes. The same applies to the third embodiment.

[0270] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned third embodiment, a case has been described in which the gateway device 330 (FIG. 20) is provided with the external bus unit 343 and the third wireless communication unit 344. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, either the external bus unit 343 or the third wireless communication unit 344 may be provided. Also, both the external bus unit 343 and the third wireless communication unit 344 may be omitted, and a maintenance device (not shown) may be connected via the first wireless communication unit 33 or the second wireless communication unit 34.

[0271] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned first embodiment, various programs are stored in advance in the storage unit 32 of the gateway device 30, and the control unit 31 reads out and executes the programs from the storage unit 32 to execute various processes. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the gateway device 30 may acquire (download) various programs from the information management server 50 via the second wireless communication unit 34, and execute the programs to execute various processes. The same applies to the second and third embodiments.

[0272] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and other embodiments. That is, the scope of application of the present invention extends to embodiments in which the above-described embodiments and the other embodiments are combined in part or in whole in any manner, or to embodiments in which parts are extracted.

[0273] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the gateway device 30 as a relay device is configured by the first wireless communication unit 33 as a first communication unit, the second wireless communication unit 34 as a second communication unit, the control unit 31 as a control unit, and the power supply unit 46 as a power generation unit. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the relay device may be configured by the first communication unit, the second communication unit, the control unit, and the power generation unit having various other configurations.

[0274] [4-1. Application Examples] In the above-mentioned first embodiment, it has been described that each SW sensor device 10 and gateway device 30 detects, for example, the water level of a river or the vibration of a bridge pier with the respective sensors to generate data. More specifically, it has been described that each SW sensor device 10 and gateway device 30 are installed as sensors that measure the water level of a river, and information such as an evacuation warning is provided based on the obtained water level value. In addition, the present invention can be used for various sensing.

[0275] [4-1-1.Sensing in agriculture] However, in recent years, the number of agricultural management entities and the number of employment management entities have both been declining due to the so-called aging population and labor shortages. Possible measures to address this labor shortage in agriculture include recruiting and training labor, and adjusting human resources according to the needs of production areas, but from the perspective of cost and time, it is difficult to apply these measures to the entire agricultural industry. Therefore, as one way of improving the environment to reduce the labor burden, efforts are being made to realize smart agriculture (a new type of agriculture that realizes ultra-labor-saving and high-quality production using robotics and ICT (Information and Communications Technology)).

[0276] In order to achieve high-quality production in agriculture, for example, it is conceivable to install soil sensors that measure moisture levels at multiple points in farmland, and provide information such as soil moisture level alerts to appropriate targets at appropriate times based on the moisture level values ​​obtained. The placement of such sensors can be completed in a relatively short time and at low cost, compared to farmers identifying soil moisture levels based on visual inspection or experience.

[0277] For example, when providing information such as a soil moisture level warning in the sensor system 1, the control unit 51 of the information management server 50 compares the data received in step SP141 (FIG. 11) with a predetermined alert threshold (for example, a level at which the moisture level in farmland may be harmful to the health of crops) before performing a predetermined conversion process on the data. Next, when the control unit 51 determines that information such as a soil moisture level warning should be provided based on the obtained comparison result, it provides the information such as a soil moisture level warning by displaying it on the display unit 54, or by notifying a predetermined notification destination (addressed to a farmer), or by uploading it as a homepage to a web server (not shown) on the Internet.

[0278] [4-1-2. Sensing in infectious disease control] In recent years, the so-called Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) have raised public awareness of infectious diseases, and there is a need to prevent the spread of infection. One possible measure to prevent the spread of infection is to detect and notify the outbreak of an infectious disease, but it is difficult to apply manual PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) testing to the entire area where an infectious disease outbreak is expected, due to the cost and time involved. Therefore, as one way of improving the environment to reduce the burden of detecting the outbreak of an infectious disease, efforts are being made to realize infectious disease detection using biosensors.

[0279] In order to realize the detection of infectious diseases, it is conceivable to install biosensors that detect the causative agent, the virus, in multiple locations in areas where the outbreak of infectious diseases is expected, and provide information such as infectious disease detection warnings to subjects in an appropriate range at an appropriate time based on the presence or absence of the causative agent, the biosensors. The placement of such sensors can be completed in a relatively short time and at a reduced cost compared to the detection of infectious diseases by PCR testing done manually.

[0280] For example, when providing information such as an infectious disease detection alarm in the sensor system 1, the control unit 51 of the information management server 50 compares the data received in step SP141 (FIG. 11) with a predetermined alert threshold (e.g., the presence of a virus that is a causative agent that may be harmful to human health) before performing a predetermined conversion process on the data. Next, when the control unit 51 determines that information such as an infectious disease detection alarm should be provided based on the obtained comparison result, it provides the information on the infectious disease detection alarm by displaying it on the display unit 54, or notifying a predetermined notification destination (medical worker), or uploading it as a homepage to a web server (not shown) on the Internet.

[0281] [4-1-3. Sensing in traffic] In recent years, due to the influence of chronic traffic congestion, traffic optimization has been promoted. One possible approach to traffic optimization is to detect and report the occurrence of traffic congestion, but it is difficult to apply manual counting of cars to the entire area where traffic congestion is expected to occur due to the cost and time involved. Therefore, as one way of improving the environment to reduce the burden of detecting traffic congestion, efforts are being made to realize traffic congestion detection using vehicle count sensors.

[0282] In order to realize congestion detection, it is conceivable to install vehicle count sensors that detect and count passing vehicles in multiple locations in areas where congestion is expected to occur, and provide information such as congestion detection warnings to subjects within an appropriate range at an appropriate time based on the number of detected and counted passing vehicles. The placement of such sensors can be completed in a relatively short time and at a reduced cost compared to congestion detection based on manual counting of cars.

[0283] For example, when providing information such as a traffic congestion detection warning in the sensor system 1, the control unit 51 of the information management server 50 compares the data received in step SP141 (FIG. 11) with a predetermined alert threshold (e.g., the count number of passing vehicles that may lead to traffic congestion) before performing a predetermined conversion process on the data. Next, when the control unit 51 determines that information such as a traffic congestion detection warning should be provided based on the obtained comparison result, it provides the information such as a traffic congestion detection warning by displaying it on the display unit 54, or by notifying a predetermined notification destination (road administrator or road user), or by uploading it to a web server (not shown) on the Internet as a homepage. [Industrial Applicability]

[0284] The present invention can be used, for example, in a gateway device that is connected to two different types of wireless networks. [Explanation of symbols]

[0285] 1, 201, 301...sensor system, 2...narrow area wireless network, 3...wide area wireless network, 4...base station, 5...upper network, 10...SW sensor device, 11, 21, 31, 51, 61, 231, 331...control unit, 12, 22, 32, 52, 62, 232, 332...memory unit, 13, 23...wireless communication unit, 14, 35...sensor unit, 15, 36...temperature measurement unit, 16, 26, 46...power supply unit, 17, 27, 47...solar cell , 18, 28, 48...Charge / discharge control unit, 19, 29, 49...Secondary battery, 20...SW relay device, 30, 230, 330, 430, 530...Gateway device, 33...First wireless communication unit, 34...Second wireless communication unit, 50...Information management server, 53, 63...Communication unit, 54...Display unit, 55...Operation unit, 60...Information storage server, 241, 341...Operation mode setting unit, 242...Setting switch, 343...External bus unit, 344...Third wireless communication unit.

Claims

1. a first communication unit connected to a first communication network; a second communication unit connected to a second communication network; a control unit that controls a supply of power to the second communication unit after the first communication unit receives data from the first communication network, and causes the second communication unit to transmit the data to the second communication network; a power generation unit that generates the power to be supplied to the first communication unit, the second communication unit, and the control unit; Equipped with The control unit controls the second communication unit to supply the power intermittently. A relay device comprising:

2. The control unit changes the intermittent interval in accordance with the amount of power generated by the power generation unit.

2. The relay device according to claim 1 .

3. The control unit changes the interval of the intermittent period in response to the data.

2. The relay device according to claim 1 .

4. The control unit controls the supply of power to the first communication unit, and when the first communication unit receives the data from the first communication network, controls the supply of power to the second communication unit and causes the second communication unit to transmit the data to the second communication network.

2. The relay device according to claim 1 .

5. A memory unit for storing information; Equipped with When the power generation unit cannot supply the power necessary for the operation of the second communication unit, the control unit causes the data received by the first communication unit from the first communication network to be stored in the storage unit, and controls the second communication unit not to operate.

2. The relay device according to claim 1 .

6. A memory unit for storing information; Equipped with When the power generation unit changes from a state in which it is unable to supply the power necessary for the operation of the second communication unit to a state in which it is able to supply the power, the control unit controls the power generation unit to supply the power to the second communication unit and controls the data stored in the storage unit to be transmitted from the second communication unit to the second communication network.

2. The relay device according to claim 1 .

7. A sensor unit for generating second data; Equipped with The control unit controls the second data generated by the sensor unit to be transmitted from the second communication unit to the second communication network.

2. The relay device according to claim 1 .

8. an operation mode setting unit that sets an operation mode to a gateway mode in which both the first communication unit and the second communication unit are operated, or a sensor mode in which the first communication unit is operated and the second communication unit is stopped; Equipped with When the control unit is set to the gateway mode by the operation mode setting unit, the control unit controls the data received from the first communication network by the first communication unit and the second data generated by the sensor unit to be transmitted from the second communication unit to the second communication network, and when the control unit is set to the sensor mode by the operation mode setting unit, controls the second data generated by the sensor unit to be transmitted from the first communication unit to the first communication network.

8. The relay device according to claim 7,

9. the operation mode setting unit sets the operation mode to the gateway mode, the sensor mode, or a relay mode in which the first communication unit is operated and the second communication unit and the sensor unit are stopped; When the relay mode is set by the operation mode setting unit, the control unit controls the data received from the first communication network by the first communication unit to be transmitted from the first communication unit to the first communication network.

9. The relay device according to claim 8,

10. a receiving step of receiving data by a first communication unit connected to a first communication network; a supply power control step of controlling power supplied from the power generation unit to a second communication unit connected to the second communication network; a transmission step of transmitting the data to the second communication network by the second communication unit to which the power is supplied from the power generation unit; having The power supply control step controls the power supply to the second communication unit so as to be intermittently supplied. A relay method comprising:

11. For the information processing device, a receiving step of receiving data by a first communication unit connected to a first communication network; a supply power control step of controlling power supplied from the power generation unit to a second communication unit connected to the second communication network; a transmission step of transmitting the data to the second communication network by the second communication unit to which the power is supplied from the power generation unit; Run the command, The power supply control step controls the power to be supplied to the second communication unit intermittently. A broadcast program for.

12. A communication system in which a sensor device and a relay device are connected to a first communication network, and the relay device and a management server are connected to a second communication network, The relay device is A first communication unit connected to the first communication network; A second communication unit connected to the second communication network; a control unit that controls a supply of power to the second communication unit after the first communication unit receives data from the first communication network, and causes the second communication unit to transmit the data to the second communication network; a power generation unit that generates the power to be supplied to the first communication unit, the second communication unit, and the control unit; Equipped with The control unit controls the second communication unit to supply the power intermittently. A communication system comprising:

13. A first communication unit that communicates using a first communication method; A second communication unit that communicates in a second communication method; a control unit that controls a supply of power to the second communication unit after the first communication unit receives first data in the first communication method, and causes the second communication unit to transmit the first data in the second communication method; A sensor unit that generates second data; a power generation unit that generates the power to be supplied to the first communication unit, the second communication unit, the control unit, and the sensor unit; an operation mode setting unit that sets the first communication unit and the second communication unit to a gateway mode in which both of the first communication unit and the second communication unit are operated, or to a sensor mode in which the first communication unit is operated and the second communication unit is stopped; Equipped with The control unit is When the operation mode setting unit sets the gateway mode, the first data and / or the second data is controlled so as to be transmitted by the second communication unit in the second communication method; When the operation mode setting unit sets the operation mode to the sensor mode, the second data is controlled to be transmitted by the first communication unit in the first communication method. A relay device comprising:

14. A setting step of setting an operation mode setting unit to a gateway mode in which a first communication unit that communicates using a first communication method and a second communication unit that communicates using a second communication method are both operated, or to a sensor mode in which the first communication unit is operated and the second communication unit is stopped; an operating step of operating in the operation mode set by the setting step; having The operation step includes: when the operation mode setting unit sets the gateway mode, the first communication unit receives first data, a power generation unit supplies power to the second communication unit, and the second communication unit transmits the first data in the second communication method; When the operation mode setting unit sets the sensor mode, the sensor unit generates second data, and the first communication unit transmits the second data in the first communication method. A relay method comprising:

15. For an information processing device, a setting step of setting, by an operation mode setting unit, a gateway mode in which both a first communication unit that communicates using a first communication method and a second communication unit that communicates using a second communication method are operated, or a sensor mode in which the first communication unit is operated and the second communication unit is stopped; an operating step of operating in the operation mode set by the setting step; Run the command, The operation step includes: when the operation mode setting unit sets the gateway mode, the first communication unit receives first data, a power generation unit supplies power to the second communication unit, and the second communication unit transmits the first data in the second communication method; When the operation mode setting unit sets the sensor mode, the sensor unit generates second data, and the first communication unit transmits the second data in the first communication method. A broadcast program for.

16. A communication system in which a sensor device and a relay device are connected to a first communication network, the relay device and a management server are connected to a second communication network, and the communication system has a device that operates as the relay device or the sensor device, The apparatus comprises: A first communication unit that communicates in a first communication method; A second communication unit that communicates in a second communication method; a control unit that controls a supply of power to the second communication unit after the first communication unit receives first data in the first communication method, and causes the second communication unit to transmit the first data in the second communication method; A sensor unit that generates second data; a power generation unit that generates the power to be supplied to the first communication unit, the second communication unit, the control unit, and the sensor unit; an operation mode setting unit that sets the first communication unit and the second communication unit to a gateway mode in which both of the first communication unit and the second communication unit are operated, or to a sensor mode in which the first communication unit is operated and the second communication unit is stopped; Equipped with The control unit is When the device is operated as the relay device, the operation mode setting unit sets the device to the gateway mode, and controls the second communication unit to transmit the first data and / or the second data in the second communication method; When the device is operated as the sensor device, the operation mode setting unit sets the device to the sensor mode, and controls the first communication unit to transmit the second data in the first communication method. A communication system comprising:

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