Agricultural environment communication system, agricultural environment communication method, and program

Abstract

To provide an environmental communication system, an environmental communication method, and a program that are less affected by a communication environment, consume less power, and are easy to add, change, and update devices.SOLUTION: An environmental communication system includes an environmental communication apparatus that can be connected to a device installed in the field and a computer that can communicate with the environmental communication apparatus. When the environmental communication apparatus detects that a new device is physically connected and notifies the computer, or in response to selection of updating by a user's choice for the computer, a transmitting unit included in the computer divides update data for the device or by the user's selection into predetermined amounts of data and transmits them sequentially at predetermined timings.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an environmental communication system, an environmental communication method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] IoT (Internet of Things) devices have been used to provide support for work such as management in the fields of agriculture, manufacturing, and nursing care (see Patent Document 1). For example, even in the case of agriculture, where the field is outdoors or in a remote location, support for work is provided using IoT devices by constructing a network using a public line such as the Internet. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-97820 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, when the site is located in an environment where it is difficult to secure a power source, such as outdoors, the IoT devices installed there require a battery-powered power source or a wireless network connection. When connecting to a wireless network, the communication environment may be unstable outdoors. Furthermore, when adding or changing a new IoT device, it is necessary to update the driver, replace the hardware according to the communication protocol, change the coding of the received value, etc. For these reasons, it is desirable for the IoT device to have a communication method that is not easily affected by the communication environment, consumes little power during operation, and is easy to configure when adding or changing.

[0005] In view of these problems, the present invention aims to provide an environmental communication system, an environmental communication method, and a program that are less affected by the communication environment, consume less power, and allow devices to be easily added, changed, and updated. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention provides the following solutions.

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an environment communication device that can be connected to a device installed at a site, and wireless A computer capable of communicating with the The power supply for the environmental communication equipment is unstable. An agricultural environmental communication system, comprising: The environmental communication device includes: one or more pieces of data received from the device are sent to the computer together with an identifier that classifies the data as a data type. wireless A transmitting unit for transmitting the signal, The computer includes: A classification unit that classifies one or more pieces of data received from the device by referring to a pre-stored list based on the received identifier; For each classified data, For the above data type Pre-assigned data names of a correlation unit for correlation; Said data Data associated with names is stored in a specified number of digits. To A digit number adjustment unit for adjusting the number of digits; update data for the device, the update data including the identifier; The update data is divided into a predetermined amount of data, and is then divided into a predetermined amount of data at a predetermined timing. The above-mentioned environmental communication equipment Sequential wireless A transmitting unit for transmitting the signal; Equipped with 、 the environment communication device is always in a sleep mode except when transmitting and receiving data to and from the device or the computer; The transmission unit sequentially transmits the update data divided into the predetermined data amount to the environment communication device by wireless only at a timing when the environment communication device receives data from the device. Provides an agricultural environmental communication system.

[0009] The first aspect of the invention is as follows: agricultural Although it is in the category of environmental communication systems, agriculturalThe same effects and advantages can be obtained with an environmental communication method and program.

[0012] No. 2 The invention according to the second aspect is an agricultural environmental communication system according to the first aspect, The environment communication device is capable of communicating with a computer via the Internet and being connected to a device installed at a site, To communicate via an independent communications network connected to the Internet Equipped with multiple wireless communication units, Multiple The wireless The present invention provides an agricultural environment communication system including a switching unit that switches to communication by one of the communication units when the communication network of the wireless communication unit is unavailable.

[0013] According to the third aspect of the invention, agricultural In the environmental communication system, the environmental communication device is capable of communicating with a computer via the Internet and being connected to a device installed at a site, a plurality of communication units for communicating via independent communication networks connected to the Internet; The communication system further includes a switching unit that switches to communication via one of the plurality of communication units when the communication network of the one communication unit is unavailable.

[0016] No. 3 The invention according to the feature of the present invention is the first feature or 2 An agricultural environmental communication system according to the present invention, The environment communication device includes a detection unit that detects that a new device is connected, The transmitting unit of the environment communication apparatus transmits the data received from the new device to the computer; The agricultural environmental communication system is provided with an output unit in which the computer outputs to a user terminal a notification message informing the user that the new device has been connected, the data received from the new device, and recommended update data that matches the setting data obtained by checking whether the new device is an already-existing device.

[0017] No. 4 According to the invention relating to the above feature, the first feature or No. 3 The invention relates to the following features: agricultural In the environmental communication system, The environment communication device includes a detection unit that detects that a new device is connected, The above Environmental communication equipment A transmitting unit transmits the data received from the new device to the computer; The computer sends to a user terminal a notification message informing the user that the new device has been connected; From a new device Received data and, as recommended update data, refer to whether the new device is an existing device and find matching setting data. An output unit that outputs 、 Equipped with.

[0018] No. 4 The invention according to the above feature is as follows: Third An agricultural environmental communication system according to the present invention, The agricultural environmental communication system further includes a computer that stores the data received from the new device in association with the data name input from the user terminal.

[0020] No. 5 The present invention relates to an agricultural environmental communication system according to the first aspect of the present invention, and the environmental communication device is a device for communicating via an independent communication network connected to the Internet. wireless Multiple communication units are provided, Each of the wireless The communication unit transmits the transmission command received from the control unit to the corresponding wirelessA reference table for converting the command into a command for executing communication by the communication unit is stored in advance; When a transmission command is received from the control unit, the wireless An agricultural environmental communication system is provided that converts data into a communication command for a communication unit and executes communication.

[0024] No. 6 The present invention relates to an agricultural environmental communication system according to the first aspect of the present invention, and the environmental communication device comprises: Operates on solar power alone With a microcomputer motion Create R Provides an agricultural environmental communication system.

[0026] A seventh aspect of the present invention is a method for an agricultural environmental communication system that includes an environmental communication device connectable to a device installed in a field and a computer capable of wireless communication with the environmental communication device, the method comprising: the environmental communication appliance wirelessly transmitting to the computer one or more pieces of data received from the device along with an identifier classifying the data as a data type; The computer classifies one or more pieces of data received from the device by referring to a pre-stored list based on the received identifier; A step of associating, by the computer, each of the classified data with a data name that is previously associated with the data type; a step of adjusting the data associated with the data name by the computer to a predetermined number of digits; The computer receives update data for the device, the identifier The update data including the above is divided into a predetermined amount of data, and a predetermined a step of wirelessly transmitting the environmental communication information to the environmental communication device in sequence at the timing; Including, The environmental communication equipment transmits and receives data to and from the device or the computer. Otherwise, it is always in sleep mode. In the step of sequentially wirelessly transmitting, the environment communication apparatus transmits data from the device. The update data is divided into the predetermined data amount only when the update data is received. A method is provided for wirelessly transmitting data to said environmental communication device in a sequential manner.

[0027] No. 8 The invention relates to an environmental communication device that can be connected to a device installed at a site, and wireless A computer capable of communicating with the The power supply of the environmental communication equipment is unstable. Agricultural environmental communication system A computer readable program that operates So, Environmental communication equipment To, The one or more pieces of data received from the device are treated as a data the computer together with an identifier classifying the wireless Sending Steps of Run it, The computer To, The one or more pieces of data received from the device are pre-stored based on the received identifier. Referencing and classifying the stored list and , For each classified data, For the above data type Pre-assigned data names of Seki An engaging step; Said data A step of adjusting the data associated with the name to a predetermined number of digits. and , update data for the device, the update data including the identifier; Update data, Divide into a predetermined amount of data and transmit it at a predetermined timing. And the ring Border communication equipment Sequential wireless Sending Steps and, Run the command, The environmental communication equipment transmits and receives data to and from the device or the computer. Otherwise, it is always in sleep mode. In the step of sequentially wirelessly transmitting, the environment communication apparatus transmits data from the device. The update data divided into the predetermined data amount is sequentially wirelessly transmitted to the environmental communication device only when the update data is received.Offer the program. Effect of the Invention

[0028] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an environmental communication system that is less susceptible to the effects of the communication environment, consumes less power, and allows devices to be easily added, changed, and updated. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a basic concept of an environmental communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of an environmental communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of a SOTA process according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is an image diagram showing an example of a display screen for selecting update data displayed on a user terminal in the SOTA processing according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a failover process according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a failover process according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a failover processing flow according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an overview of a classification process of ModBUS data according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of an identifier in a classification process of ModBUS data according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a data list in a classification process of ModBUS data according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 11] 11 is an image diagram showing an example of a display screen of associations displayed on a user terminal in the classification process of ModBUS data according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 12]FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a classification process of ModBUS data according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a classification process flow of ModBUS data according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an overview of device detection processing according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a lookup table writing process according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a Lookup Table according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] Hereinafter, a detailed description will be given of an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following drawings, the same elements are designated by the same numbers or symbols throughout the description of the embodiment.

[0031] [Basic concept / basic configuration] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the basic concept of an environment communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] 1, the environmental communication system 1 includes at least a device 10, such as a sensor, installed on-site, an environmental communication device 20 connected to the device 10, a computer 30 capable of communicating with the environmental communication device 20 via a network 2 such as an Internet line, a user terminal 40 capable of communicating with the computer 30 via the network 2, and a solar panel 50 as a power source for the environmental communication device 20. There may be one or more devices 10, and each may be connected simultaneously. In addition, there is no need to be one user terminal 40, and there may be multiple user terminals 40.

[0033] The device 10 and the environmental communication device 20 may be connected to each other via a communication interface such as RS485, RS232, or I 2The device 10 and the environmental communication device 20 are connected via a serial communication interface such as RS485, ADC, or GPIO (General Purpose Input / Output). In this embodiment, the device 10 and the environmental communication device 20 transmit and receive data via a communication interface of RS485 based on a predetermined communication protocol in a master-slave system. The predetermined communication protocol in a master-slave system may be, for example, a Modbus communication protocol. The environmental communication device 20 and the computer 30, and the computer 30 and the user terminal 40 are connected at least by a wireless communication interface, for example, a mobile communication system such as 4G / LTE or cellular, a short-range communication such as WiFi, Bluetooth or BLE, or an LPWA (low-power long-range communication) such as LoRaWAN. The electricity generated by the solar panel 50 is stored in the battery of the environmental communication device 20 via a converter or the like.

[0034] In response to a request from the environmental communication device 20, the device 10 of the environmental communication system 1 transmits measured data to the environmental communication device 20. One or more devices 10 are installed at sites where work is taking place, such as outdoor facilities such as farmland and agricultural greenhouses, and indoor facilities such as factories and warehouses. Examples of the installed devices 10 include temperature sensors, humidity sensors, light sensors, soil moisture sensors, weather observation sensors, position sensors, and human presence sensors.

[0035] The environmental communication device 20 of the environmental communication system 1 is installed at an outdoor facility or an indoor facility, just like the device 10, and in addition to sending and receiving data with the device 10 described above, sends and receives at least a notification that a new device has been connected, data received from the device 10, and data from the device 10, using one or more switchable connection methods with the computer 30.

[0036] The environmental communication device 20 of the environmental communication system 1 is in sleep mode when not sending or receiving data with the device 10 and the computer 30, and is capable of operating on low power and can also operate solely on a battery (not shown) that stores electricity generated by the solar panel 50.

[0037] The computer 30 of the environment communication system 1 manages data acquired from the environment communication device 20, and classifies, associates, and adjusts the number of digits of data received from the device 10 and acquired from the environment communication device 20. The computer 30 also outputs update data for the device 10 to the environment communication device 20 in response to a notification acquired from the environment communication device 20 or in response to a user selection, and outputs at least the data of the device 10 acquired from the environment communication device 20, a message in response to a notification from the environment communication device 20, and on-site data and analysis results to the user terminal 40. The computer 30 is an on-premise server or on-premise computing system, or a cloud server or cloud computing system, and is a cloud computing system in this embodiment.

[0038] The user terminal 40 of the environmental communication system 1 is a terminal for transmitting and receiving the data to the computer 30, and may be an electronic device such as a computer, a smartphone, or a tablet terminal.

[0039] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the basic configuration of the environment communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] The environmental communication device 20 of the environmental communication system 1 has a control unit 100 which is an MCU (Micro Controller Unit) that has at least a CPU (Central Processing Unit), GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), etc., and a device for enabling communication with other terminals and devices, such as a Wi-Fi or LoRaWAN compatible device, and has a data storage unit such as a semiconductor memory, recording medium, memory card, etc., as a memory unit 110.

[0041] The environment communication device 20 includes a detection unit 202, a second transmission unit 203, a switching unit 204, and a communication unit 205 in addition to the control unit 100 and the storage unit 110 described above.

[0042] In the environment communication device 20 , the control unit 100 loads a predetermined program, thereby realizing a detection unit 202 , a second transmission unit 203 , a switching unit 204 , and a communication unit 205 in cooperation with the storage unit 110 .

[0043] The computer 30 of the environmental communication system 1 includes at least a CPU, a GPU, a RAM, a ROM, and a device for enabling communication with other terminals and devices, such as a Wi-Fi or LoRaWAN compatible device, as a control unit 101, and includes a data storage unit such as a hard disk, semiconductor memory, recording medium, or memory card as a memory unit 111. The storage unit may be present outside and capable of network communication.

[0044] In addition to the control unit 101 and memory unit 111 described above, the computer 30 includes a first transmission unit 201, a classification unit 206, an association unit 207, a number-of-digits adjustment unit 208, an output unit 209, and a terminal output unit 210.

[0045] In computer 30, control unit 101 loads a predetermined program to implement a first transmission unit 201, a classification unit 206, an association unit 207, a number of digits adjustment unit 208, an output unit 209, and a terminal output unit 210 in cooperation with memory unit 111.

[0046] The user terminal 40 of the environmental communication system 1 includes a terminal control unit (not shown) that includes a CPU, GPU, RAM, ROM, etc., similar to the control unit in the computer 30 described above. The user terminal 40 includes a communication unit (not shown) that includes a device for enabling communication with other terminals, devices, etc. The user terminal 40 also includes an input / output unit (not shown) that includes an input / output device for inputting and outputting data. The user terminal 40 also includes a memory unit (not shown) that includes a data storage unit such as a hard disk, semiconductor memory, recording medium, memory card, etc.

[0047] Such an environmental communication system makes it possible to provide IoT devices that are less affected by the communication environment, consume less power, and are easy to add, change, and update.

[0048] The basic concept and basic configuration of the environmental communication system 1 have been described above.

[0049] Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to drawings 3 to 14.

[0050] [SOTA processing] 3 is a diagram showing an overview of SOTA (Software updates Over The Air) processing executed by the environmental communication system 1. The SOTA processing executed by the environmental communication system 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0051] The environment communication system 1 is capable of updating software by the environment communication device 20 receiving update data 301, such as driver data, transmitted from the computer 30 by wireless communication.

[0052] When the environment communication device 20 detects a new device, the environment communication device 20 notifies the computer 30 (step S400a).

[0053] When the computer 30 receives a notification from the environmental communication device 20 (step S401a), the first transmission unit 201 of the computer 30 divides the update data 301 for the new device into predetermined data amounts, and transmits the divided update data 301 to the environmental communication device 20 sequentially at predetermined timings (step S402). Here, the above-mentioned division into a predetermined data amount indicates, for example, dividing the update data 301 into data of 255 bytes each. At this time, the divided data may have a fraction less than 255 bytes. Also, the above-mentioned predetermined timing indicates, for example, a fixed interval such as every 20 minutes, or a predetermined timing such as matching the timing when the environment communication device 20 receives data from another device 10.

[0054] Here, even if the user selects update data for the device from the user terminal 40 (step S401b) instead of when the environment communication device 20 detects a new device, the first transmission unit 201 of the computer 30 achieves the same effect as in step S402 described above. Note that there is no limitation on the timing at which the user selects the update data.

[0055] FIG. 4 is an image diagram showing an example of a display screen for selecting update data displayed on a user terminal of the SOTA processing executed by the environment communication system 1. In FIG.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 4, for example, a case where a new device 10 is connected to Address (Addr) 01 of the environment communication device 20 will be described. When the environment communication device 20 detects the connection of the new device 10, it notifies the computer 30 of data (Connect status) specific to the device 10, for example, "12, 34". Upon receiving the notification, the computer 30 displays "NEW" in the field indicating the connection destination of the new device. Next, based on the data "12, 34" specific to the device 10 notified by the environment communication device 20, the update data 301 stored in the storage unit 111 is referenced, and the update data 301 recommended for the device 10, for example, the device setting data "SA-555", is displayed on the user terminal 40. Here, the recommended update data 301 is the setting data that the computer 30 recommends by referring to the data "12, 34", for example, whether it is a general device. When applying setting data other than the recommended update data 301 setting data "SA-555", other setting data, for example, setting data OM-1293, may be manually selected via the user terminal 40. Here, the selected setting data is divided into a predetermined data amount by the computer 30 as the update data 301, and sequentially transmitted to the environmental communication device 20.

[0057] Here, the update data 301 includes at least type, which sets the data type measured by the device 10, addr, which sets the address of the device 10, fnc, which sets a function code that defines the request content to the device 10, reg, which sets the holding register address of the device 10, cnt, which sets the number of data to be obtained from the device 10, and data_types (data type), which sets the classification of the data to be obtained from the device 10.

[0058] In this way, the SOTA processing prevents the environmental communication device 20 from operating for long periods of time to obtain the update data 301, and transmits the update data 301 in portions in accordance with the timing of obtaining data from the device 10, updates the update data such as driver data every time a new device is connected or updated, and updates the update data 301 can be performed remotely over the network, thereby reducing the power consumption of the environmental communication device 20, increasing operating efficiency, and providing an environmental communication system in which devices can be easily added and updated.

[0059] This is the SOTA process.

[0060] [Failover processing] 5 and 6 are diagrams showing an overview and a functional configuration for explaining the failover process executed by the environment communication device 20 of the environment communication system 1. FIG.

[0061] The environment communication device 20 of the environment communication system 1 includes a switching unit 204 and communication units 205-1, 205-2, . . . , 205-n (when the communication units are not to be distinguished from one another, they are simply referred to as 205).

[0062] The environment communication device 20 can be wirelessly connected to the computer 30 by a plurality of communication methods, and the switching unit 204 switches among the communication units 205, which are the plurality of communication methods, according to the priority order to perform communication. In detail, when the environment communication device 20 communicates with the computer 30, the communication is first performed according to the priority order preset in the storage unit 100 of the control unit 100. For example, if the communication unit 205-1 is a Wi-Fi connection, the communication unit 205-2 is an mLoRaWAN connection, and the communication unit 205-3 is a cellular connection, the priority order is determined and set in ascending order. In this case, communication is performed by the Wi-Fi connection of the communication unit 205-1, which is the first priority. At this time, if the communication by the Wi-Fi connection of the communication unit 205-1 is not possible due to, for example, the communication device not working, radio waves not reaching due to communication failure, no response from the communication destination computer 30, etc., the environmental communication device 20 judges the communication as "failed." If the communication by the communication unit 205-1 of the environmental communication device 20 fails, the switching unit 204 switches the communication method of the environmental communication device 20 to the LoRaWAN connection of the communication unit 205-2 with the next highest priority and communicates. Furthermore, if the communication by the LoRaWAN connection of the communication unit 205-2 also fails, the switching unit 204 switches to the cellular connection of the communication unit 205-3 with the next highest priority after the communication unit 205-2 and communicates, and so on, sequentially switching and communicating.

[0063] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a functional configuration in the failover process executed by the environmental communication system 1. As shown in FIG.

[0064] The environment communication device 20 of the environment communication system 1 includes an MCU as the control unit 100 and a data storage unit as the memory unit 110, similar to the above-described environment communication device 20.

[0065] In the environment communication device 20 , the control unit 100 reads a predetermined program, and thereby cooperates with the storage unit 110 to realize a switching unit 204 and a communication unit 205 .

[0066] The configuration and structure of the failover process executed by the environment communication device 20 of the environment communication system 1 have been described above.

[0067] 7 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the failover process executed by the environment communication device 20 of the environment communication system 1. The failover process executed by the environment communication device 20 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0068] First, the connection of the communication unit 205-n (n=x) of the environment communication device 20 fails (step S403).

[0069] Next, the switching unit 204 of the environment communication device 20 switches the n of the communication unit 205-n to n=x+1 (step S404) and reconnects. If the connection of the communication unit 205-n (n=x+1) is successful (step S405NO), the environment communication device 20 communicates with the communication unit 205-n (n=x+1) (step S406).

[0070] If the connection of the communication unit 205-n (n=x+1) fails (step S405 YES), the switching unit 204 of the environmental communication device 20 switches n of the communication unit 205-n to n=x+2 (step S404) and attempts to connect again. After that, n of the communication unit 205-n is incremented every time the connection of the communication unit 205-n fails (step S405 YES).

[0071] Here, when the repetition of switching by the switching unit 204 exceeds a predetermined number of times or exceeds a predetermined time, the switching unit 204 stores the data that was scheduled to be communicated in the memory unit 110 of the environmental communication device 20, returns n in the communication unit 205-n to n=x, and terminates the failover process.

[0072] When the connection of the environment communication device 20 to the computer 30 is re-established, the switching unit 204 re-establishes the connection of the data stored in the storage unit 110 of the environment communication device 20 from the communication unit 205-n where n=x.

[0073] In this way, according to the failover process, when a connection via communication unit 205 fails, it is possible to switch to communication via another communication unit 205, thereby making it possible to provide redundancy to the communication network even when the communication environment is unstable.

[0074] This is the failover process.

[0075] [Classification of ModBUS data] Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an overview of the classification process of ModBUS data executed by the environment communication system 1. The classification process of ModBUS data executed by the environment communication system 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 8, taking as an example a case where the device 10 is, for example, a ModBUS device.

[0076] 8, the environment communication device 20 of the environment communication system 1 first receives data measured by the device 10 in response to a request from the environment communication device 20 as received data 302 (step S01). Next, the second transmission unit 203 of the environment communication device 20 transmits the received data 302 together with an identifier 303 for classifying the data to the computer 30 via the network 2 (step S02). The classification unit 206 of the computer 30 of the environment communication system 1 that receives the received data 302 and the identifier 303 classifies the received data 302 based on the identifier 303 with reference to the data list 304, and generates classified data 305 (step S03). The associating unit 207 of the computer 30 associates a data name with the classified data 305 based on the data list 304 (step S04a). Alternatively, the data name is manually associated with the classified data 305 via the user terminal 40 (step S04b). Next, the digit number adjusting unit 208 of the computer 30 adjusts the number of digits of the classified data 305 associated with the data name based on the data list 304 (step S409). The classified data 305 with the adjusted number of digits is output by the output unit 209 to the user terminal 40 as adjusted data 306 (step S05).

[0077] Here, the device 10 is a Modbus device that communicates according to the Modbus communication protocol. In order for the environment communication device 20 to request the device 10 to send received data 302, data for controlling the device 10, such as a device driver, is required. The above-mentioned update data 301 includes at least driver data for controlling the device 10, so when the device 10 is connected to the environment communication device 20, the update data 301 for the device 10 transmitted by the computer 30 is stored in the storage unit 110 of the environment communication device 20.

[0078] When the environment communication device 20 requests received data 302 from the device 10, it first reads update data 301 for the device 10 and makes a request to the device 10 based on the update data 301. The device 10 that receives the request transmits values ​​to the environment communication device 20 in a specific order based on the update data 301. Here, since the specific order is fixed by the device manufacturer, it is necessary to classify, associate, and adjust the number of digits of the received data 302 by referring to a data list 304 that indicates what the values ​​for each device indicate.

[0079] 9 is an image diagram showing an example of identifier 303 in update data 301 in the ModBUS data classification process executed by the environment communication system 1. In the update data 301, for example, in addition to a different setting value for each sensor included in the conventional Modbus communication protocol, data_types (data type), which is an identifier 303 for classifying the sensor data received from each sensor according to the type of data, is set. The data type may be composed of a number such as "104" or may be composed of alphanumeric characters.

[0080] 10 is a diagram showing an example of a data list 304 in the classification process of ModBUS data executed by the computer 30 of the environment communication system 1. The data list 304 is a data list for displaying what kind of data the received data 302 measured by the device 10 and received by the environment communication apparatus 20 is, and includes at least size and name referenced by the associating unit 207, and signed and divisor referenced by the number of digits adjusting unit 208, which correspond to the data_types of the identifier 303, for example.

[0081] Fig. 11 is an image diagram showing an example of a display screen of association displayed by the user terminal 40 in the classification process of ModBUS data executed by the environment communication system 1. When the associating unit 207 associates the classified data 305, the user can manually associate the classified data via the user terminal 40. For example, as shown in Fig. 11, the classified data 305 classified with the data type "101" of the identifier 303 is associated with "illuminance" (see Fig. 10). Here, the user can change the data name to another one via the user terminal 40.

[0082] Fig. 12 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of the ModBUS data classification process executed by the environment communication system 1. The functional configuration of the ModBUS data classification process executed by the environment communication system 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 12.

[0083] The environmental communication device 20 has an MCU as a control unit 100 that includes at least a CPU, GPU, RAM, ROM, etc., and a device for enabling communication with other terminals and devices, such as a Wi-Fi or LoRaWAN compatible device, and has a data storage unit as a memory unit 110 using a semiconductor memory, recording medium, memory card, etc.

[0084] The computer 30 includes at least a CPU, a GPU, a RAM, a ROM, and a device for enabling communication with other terminals and devices, such as a Wi-Fi or LoRaWAN compatible device, as a control unit 101, and includes a data storage unit such as a hard disk, a semiconductor memory, a recording medium, a memory card, etc., as a memory unit 111. The storage unit may be present outside and capable of network communication.

[0085] The computer 30 includes a classification unit 206 , a correlation unit 207 , a number-of-digits adjustment unit 208 , and an output unit 209 in addition to the control unit 101 and storage unit 111 described above.

[0086] In the computer 30, the control unit 101 loads a predetermined program, and thereby cooperates with the storage unit 111 to realize a classification unit 206, a correlation unit 207, a number-of-digits adjustment unit 208, and an output unit 209.

[0087] The user terminal 40 includes a terminal control unit (not shown) that includes a CPU, GPU, RAM, ROM, etc., similar to the control unit in the computer 30. The user terminal 40 includes a communication unit (not shown) that includes a device for enabling communication with other terminals, devices, etc. The user terminal 40 also includes an input / output unit (not shown) that includes an input / output device for inputting and outputting data. The user terminal 40 also includes a memory unit (not shown) that includes a data storage unit such as a hard disk, semiconductor memory, recording medium, memory card, etc.

[0088] Fig. 13 is a diagram showing a classification process flow of ModBUS data according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 13, the environment communication device 20 of the environment communication system 1 first receives data measured by the device 10 in response to a request from the environment communication device 20 as received data 302 (step S405). Next, the second transmission unit 203 of the environment communication device 20 transmits the received received data 302 together with an identifier 303 for classifying the data to the computer 30 via the network 2 (step S406).

[0089] Next, the computer 30 receives the reception data 302 and the identifier 303 from the environment communication device 20 (step S407).

[0090] The classification unit 206 of the computer 30 of the environment communication system 1 that receives the received data 302 and the identifier 303 classifies the received data 302 based on the identifier 303 with reference to the data list 304, and generates classified data 305 (step S408).

[0091] For example, suppose that received data 301 is "121, -312, 30000" as shown in Fig. 11. Furthermore, if identifier 303 and data list 304 are as shown in Fig. 9 and Fig. 10, respectively, classification unit 206 refers to data_types from identifier 303, and classifies the first data of the three pieces of data as 104 in data list 304, the second data as 103, and the third data as 100, and generates classified data 305.

[0092] Next, the user manually associates a data name with the classified data 305 from the user terminal 40 (step S409 YES).

[0093] If the user does not manually associate the data (step S409 NO), the associating unit 207 of the computer 30 associates a data name with the classified data 305 based on the data list 304 (step S410). For example, in the case of classified data 305 whose data type classified in the data list 304 is 104, the associating unit 207 associates "humidity" set in the name of 104 in the data list 304 with the classified data 305. Similarly, the second and third classified data 305 whose data types are 103 and 101 are associated with "temperature" and "illuminance", respectively.

[0094] Next, the digit number adjusting unit 208 of the computer 30 adjusts the number of digits of the classified data 305 associated with the data name based on the data list 304 to generate adjusted data 306 (step S411).

[0095] For example, suppose that received data 301 is "121, -312, 30000" as shown in Fig. 11, and identifier 303 and data list 304 are as shown in Fig. 9 and Fig. 10, respectively. In the case of classified data 305 with a first value "121" and a data type "104", digit number adjustment unit 208 refers to data list 304, adjusts the value to a positive value because "signed" is false, and adjusts the value to a positive value divided by 2 because "divisor is 2", generating adjusted data 306 with a value of "60.5". Similarly, classified data 305 with a second value "-312" and a data type "103", and classified data with a third value "30000" and a data type "101" are generated as adjusted data 306 with values ​​of "31.2" and "30,000", respectively.

[0096] Next, the output unit 209 of the computer 30 outputs the generated adjusted data 306 to the user terminal 40 (step S412).

[0097] For example, suppose that the received data 301 is "121, -312, 30000" as shown in Fig. 11, and the identifier 303 and data list 304 are as shown in Fig. 9 and Fig. 10, respectively. In this case, the output adjusted data 306 is displayed on the user terminal 40 as the data received from the device 10 as "humidity of 60.5%, temperature of 31.2°C", and "illuminance of 30,000lx", as shown in Fig. 11.

[0098] In this way, classification of ModBUS data makes it possible to acquire data from various devices with different standards, and output and display the acquired data in a format set by the user.

[0099] This completes the classification process for ModBUS data.

[0100] [New device detection notification process] Fig. 14 is a diagram showing an outline of a new device detection notification process according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 14, when a new device 10 is connected, the detection unit 202 of the environment communication device 20 detects the connection of the new device 10 and notifies the computer 30 via the network 2. The terminal output unit 210 of the computer 30 that has received the notification creates a notification message 307 indicating that a new device has been connected and outputs it to the user terminal 40 via the network 2. Here, the timing when the detection unit 202 of the environment communication device 20 notifies the computer 30 and the timing when the terminal output unit 210 of the computer 30 outputs the notification message 307 to the user terminal 40 are not limited.

[0101] The above is the new device detection notification process.

[0102] [Control setting write process] Fig. 15 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of the control setting writing process according to the embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 16 is a conceptual diagram of a lookup table (reference table) for converting into commands. The environmental communication device 20 includes an MCU such as a CPU, GPU, RAM, ROM, etc. as the control unit 100, a data storage unit such as a semiconductor memory, a recording medium, a memory card, etc. as the memory unit 110, and one or more communication units 205-1, 205-2, ..., 205-n (when the communication units are not distinguished, they are simply referred to as 205) that communicate with the computer 30 via the network 2.

[0103] Here, the environmental communication device 20 is equipped with multiple communication units 205 for communicating via an independent communication network connected to the Internet, and each of the communication units 205 has a lookup table (reference table) stored in advance in the memory unit 110, which converts a transmission command received from the control unit 100 into a command for the communication unit to execute communication, and when a transmission command is received from the control unit 100, the command is converted into a communication command for the respective communication unit 205 based on the reference table, and communication is executed.

[0104] According to the example of Fig. 15, when the control unit 100 instructs the "at+connect" command, assuming that the communication unit 205-1 is the "Cellular model module" in the upper row and is the communication means currently performing communication, the "Cellular model module" converts the communication command "At+QIOPEN" by referring to the LookupTable, and transmits the "at+connect" command to the communication unit 205-1. Here, the "at+connect" command is a command to start a connection, and other commands instructed by the control unit 100 include the "at+send" command which is a command to send, the "at+receive" command which is a command to receive, the "at+battery" command to obtain battery information, and the "at+sleep" command for a sleep mode, which will be described later, and the like.

[0105] The above is the control setting writing process.

[0106] The environmental communication device 20 does not send or receive data with the device 10 and the computer 30 except at predetermined times, when the computer 30 communicates with the environmental communication device 20, and when the device 10 communicates with the environmental communication device 20, and is capable of operating in a sleep mode with low power consumption.

[0107] According to such an environmental communication system, it is possible to provide an environmental communication system, an environmental communication method, and a program that are less susceptible to the influence of the communication environment, consume less power, and allow devices to be easily added, changed, and updated.

[0108] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Furthermore, the effects described in the embodiments of the present invention are merely a list of the most preferable effects resulting from the present invention, and the effects of the present invention are not limited to those described in the embodiments of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0109] 1. Environmental communication system 2 Network 10 Devices 20 Environmental communication equipment 30 Computers 40 User terminal

Claims

1. An agricultural environmental communication system comprising an environmental communication device connectable to a device installed at a site and a computer capable of wireless communication with the environmental communication device, the power supply of the environmental communication device being unstable, The environmental communication device includes: a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit to the computer one or more pieces of data received from the device together with an identifier classifying the data as a data type; The computer includes: A classification unit that classifies one or more pieces of data received from the device by referring to a pre-stored list based on the received identifier; an associating unit that associates each classified data with a data name that is previously associated with the data type; a digit number adjusting unit that adjusts the data associated with the data name to a predetermined digit number; a transmission unit that divides update data for the device, the update data including the identifier, into a predetermined data amount and wirelessly transmits the divided data to the environment communication device in sequence at a predetermined timing; Equipped with the environment communication device is always in a sleep mode except when transmitting and receiving data to and from the device or the computer; The transmission unit wirelessly transmits update data divided into the predetermined data amount to the environmental communication device in sequence only at the timing when the environmental communication device receives data from the device.

2. The environmental communication device is capable of communicating with a computer via the Internet and being connected to a device installed at a site, a plurality of wireless communication units for communicating via independent communication networks connected to the Internet; The agricultural environment communication system according to claim 1 , further comprising a switching unit that switches to communication by another communication unit when a communication network of one of the plurality of wireless communication units is unavailable.

3. The environment communication device includes a detection unit that detects that a new device is connected, The transmitting unit of the environment communication apparatus transmits the data received from the new device to the computer; The agricultural environmental communication system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the computer is provided with an output unit that outputs to a user terminal a notification message informing that the new device has been connected, the data received from the new device, and the recommended update data by checking whether the new device is an already-existing device and matching setting data.

4. 4. The agricultural environmental communication system according to claim 3, wherein the computer stores the data received from the new device in association with the data name input from the user terminal.

5. the environmental communication device is provided with a plurality of wireless communication units for communicating via an independent communication network connected to the Internet; Each of the wireless communication units has a reference table stored therein in advance, the reference table converting a transmission command received from the control unit into a command for the wireless communication unit to execute communication; 3. The agricultural environmental communication system according to claim 1, wherein when a transmission command is received from the control unit, the transmission command is converted into a communication command for the wireless communication unit based on the reference table, and communication is performed.

6. 2. The agricultural environmental communication system according to claim 1, wherein the environmental communication device is operated by a microcomputer that operates only with sunlight.

7. A method for implementing an agricultural environmental communication system in which a power source of the environmental communication device is unstable, the method comprising: an environmental communication device connectable to a device installed in a field; and a computer capable of wireless communication with the environmental communication device, the power source of the environmental communication device being unstable, the method comprising: the environmental communication appliance wirelessly transmitting to the computer one or more pieces of data received from the device along with an identifier classifying the data as a data type; The computer classifies the one or more pieces of data received from the device by referring to a pre-stored list based on the received identifier; A step of associating, by the computer, each of the classified data with a data name that is previously associated with the data type; a step of adjusting the data associated with the data name by the computer to a predetermined number of digits; The computer receives update data for the device, the identifier The update data including the above is divided into a predetermined amount of data, and a predetermined a step of wirelessly transmitting the environmental communication device in sequence at the timing; Including, The environmental communication equipment transmits and receives data to and from the device or the computer. Otherwise, it is always in sleep mode. In the step of sequentially wirelessly transmitting, the environment communication apparatus transmits data from the device. The update data is divided into the predetermined data amount only when the update data is received. A method for wirelessly transmitting data to said environmental communication device in sequence.

8. The present invention provides a computer-readable program for operating an agricultural environmental communication system that includes an environmental communication device that can be connected to a device installed at a site and a computer that can wirelessly communicate with the environmental communication device, the agricultural environmental communication system being unstable in terms of the power supply of the environmental communication device. So, The environmental communication equipment receives one or more pieces of data from the device, and wirelessly transmitting to said computer an identifier classifying said device as a Run it, The computer includes: One or more pieces of data received from the device are pre-processed based on the received identifier. referencing and classifying the stored list; Each classified data is associated with a data name that is pre-associated with the data type. An engaging step; adjusting the data associated with the data name to a predetermined number of digits; update data for the device, the update data including the identifier; The data is divided into a predetermined amount of data, and the environment is wirelessly transmitting the information to the corresponding peripheral communication devices; Run the command, The environmental communication equipment transmits and receives data to and from the device or the computer. Otherwise, it is always in sleep mode. In the step of sequentially wirelessly transmitting, the environment communication apparatus transmits data from the device. and a program for wirelessly transmitting the update data divided into the predetermined data amount to the environmental communication device in sequence only at the timing when the update data is received from the environmental communication device.

Images