Communication status display relay device

Abstract

To provide a communication status display relay device that relays communication via a first communication unit and communication via a second communication unit and displays a communication status of the communication via the first communication unit and the communication via the second communication unit.SOLUTION: A communication status display relay device 100 displays a communication status of communication based on a wireless PAN standard via a first communication unit 100c and a communication status of communication based on a wireless LAN standard via a second communication unit 100d. This allows a user of the communication status display relay device 100 to easily confirm the communication status relayed by the communication status display relay device 100 by only confirming each communication status displayed by the communication status display relay device 100. That is, when a communication failure occurs, the user can easily confirm where a problem is of the communication based on the wireless PAN standard via the first communication unit 100c and the communication based on the wireless LAN standard via the second communication unit 100d.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a communication state display relay device that relays communication via a first communication unit and communication via a second communication unit, and particularly relates to a device that displays the communication states of communication via the first communication unit and communication via the second communication unit.

Background Art

[0002] A conventional communication state display relay device will be described using a communication device that displays the notification screen shown in FIG. 10. The communication device includes a communication unit that accesses a network including a plurality of access points by connecting to any one of the plurality of access points, an operation display unit that receives from a user a setting of an execution timing of a reset process for resetting an access point that is a connection destination of the communication unit, and at the execution timing, detects the reception strength of each signal output from the plurality of access points, and performs, as the reset process, a process of setting as the connection destination the access point that outputs the signal with the strongest reception strength, and a control unit that causes the communication unit to connect to the access point set as the connection destination. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the communication state of the wireless LAN communication.

[0003] In this communication device, the operation panel 3 prompts the user to set the execution timing of the reset process, for example, by displaying a notification screen 320 as shown in FIG. 10. A message MG1 indicating that the reception strength of the wireless LAN communication is weak is arranged on the notification screen 320 (see Patent Document 1 above).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The conventional communication device described above has the following points to be improved. In the conventional communication device, only the reception strength of the access point to which it tries to connect is displayed. Therefore, when a communication network is configured by conventional communication devices, if data cannot be acquired from any of the communication devices, the network administrator has to visit each communication device to check the reception strength of the access point and whether data can actually be transmitted, which is a point to be improved.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a communication state display relay device that relays communication via a first communication unit and communication via a second communication unit and displays the communication states of the communication via the first communication unit and the communication via the second communication unit.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] Means for solving the problems in the present invention and the effects of the invention are shown below.

[0008] A communication state display relay device according to the present invention is a communication state display relay device that relays communication with a communication device that communicates based on a first communication standard and communication with a communication device that communicates based on a second communication standard, and includes a first communication unit that communicates with another communication device based on the first communication standard, a second communication unit that communicates with another communication device that communicates based on the second communication standard, a relay unit that relays the communication in the first communication unit to the communication in the second communication unit, and a communication state display control unit that displays the communication state based on the first communication standard and the communication state based on the second communication standard.

[0009] Thereby, by simply checking the display of the communication state display relay device, the communication states of the communication via the first communication unit and the communication via the second communication unit can be confirmed. Therefore, when there is an abnormality in the communication state, it is possible to easily grasp which communication via which communication unit has a problem.

[0010] In the communication state display relay device according to the present invention, the communication state display control unit is characterized in that it displays the communication state based on the first communication standard and the communication state based on the second communication standard on the same screen.

[0011] Thereby, by simply checking the display of the communication state display relay device, the communication states of the communication via the first communication unit and the communication via the second communication unit can be easily confirmed simultaneously.

[0012] In the communication state display relay device according to the present invention, the communication state display control unit is characterized in that it displays the communication status of all the communication devices communicating based on the first communication standard and all the communication devices communicating based on the second communication standard.

[0013] Thereby, by simply checking the display of the communication state display relay device, the communication states of all the communications via the first communication unit and all the communications via the second communication unit can be easily confirmed.

[0014] In the communication state display relay device according to the present invention, the communication state display control unit is characterized in that it displays the communication status in color according to the communication status.

[0015] Thereby, by simply checking the display of the communication state display relay device, the communication states of the communication via the first communication unit and the communication via the second communication unit can be easily confirmed.

[0016] In the communication state display relay device according to the present invention, the communication state display control unit is characterized in that it displays the number of the communication devices communicating based on the first communication standard and / or the communication devices communicating based on the second communication standard.

[0017] Thereby, the number of the communicating communication devices can be easily grasped.

[0018] In the communication status display relay device according to the present invention, the communication status display control unit displays information regarding the communication device that communicates based on the first communication standard and / or the communication device that communicates based on the second communication standard. This is the gist of the invention.

[0019] Thereby, information on the communicating communication device can be easily grasped.

[0020] In the communication status display relay device according to the present invention, when the communication device that communicates based on the first communication standard and / or the communication device that communicates based on the second communication standard is a detection device that detects predetermined information, the communication status display control unit displays the detected predetermined information. This is the gist of the invention.

[0021] Thereby, information detected by the communicating communication device can be easily grasped.

[0022] In the communication status display relay device according to the present invention, the communication status display control unit is characterized in that it switches the display by a predetermined operation from the outside.

[0023] Thereby, more information can be displayed.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0024]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0025] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment

[0026] The communication state display relay device according to the present invention will be described by taking, as an example, the communication state display relay device 100 which is an embodiment.

[0027] Overview of the First Communication State Display Relay Device 100 The communication state display relay device 100 functions as a so-called gateway device that relays communication based on a first communication standard and communication based on a second communication standard.

[0028] The overview of the communication status display relay device 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The communication status display relay device 100 relays communication based on a communication standard used as a first communication standard, a wireless PAN (Personal Area Network) (hereinafter referred to as the wireless PAN standard), for example, communication with IoT (Internet of Things) devices arranged in a factory, and communication based on a communication standard used as a second communication standard, a wireless LAN (hereinafter referred to as the wireless LAN standard), for example, communication with a wireless LAN router RT. That is, the communication status display relay device 100 functions as a gateway device that relays communication between predetermined communication standards. In this embodiment, a lower network is formed by a first network formed by communication based on the wireless PAN standard via the first communication unit 100c of the communication status display relay device 100, and an upper network is formed by a second network formed by communication based on the wireless LAN standard via the communication status display relay device 100. The wireless LAN router RT is connected to a predetermined cloud server CS through the Internet line.

[0029] The communication status display relay device 100 displays the communication status of communication based on the wireless PAN standard via the first communication unit 100c, specifically, the communication status of communication with the IoT device, and the communication status of communication based on the wireless LAN standard via the second communication unit 100d, specifically, the communication status with the wireless LAN router RT. Thereby, the user of the communication status display relay device 100 can easily confirm the communication status relayed by the communication status display relay device 100 only by checking each communication status displayed by the communication status display relay device 100. That is, when a communication failure occurs, it is possible to easily confirm where there is a problem in the communication based on the wireless PAN standard via the first communication unit 100c and the communication based on the wireless LAN standard via the second communication unit 100d.

[0030] Configuration of the Second Communication Status Display Relay Device 100 The external configuration of the communication status display relay device 100 will be described with reference to the perspective view shown in FIG. 2. The communication status display relay device 100 includes a housing 100H, a power switch 100S, an operation button 100B, a power receiving / supplying terminal 100U, and a display unit 100e.

[0031] The housing 100H houses an electric circuit and the like in the internal space. The power switch 100S switches on and off the operation of the communication status display relay device 100.

[0032] The operation button 100B inputs support for some items displayed on the display unit 100e. The power receiving / supplying terminal 100U is a terminal for obtaining power supplied from an external power source to each component inside the communication status display relay device 100. The power receiving / supplying terminal 100U is a USB terminal.

[0033] The internal configuration of the communication status display relay device 100 will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. 3. The communication status display relay device 100 includes a CPU 100a, a memory 100b, a first communication unit 100c, a second communication unit 100d, a display unit 100e, and a power supply unit 100f.

[0034] The CPU 100a performs processing based on an operating system (OS), a communication status display relay program, and other applications recorded in the memory 100b. The memory 100b provides a working area for the CPU 100a. The memory 100b records and holds the OS, the communication status display relay program, and other applications and various data.

[0035] The first communication unit 100c connects to other communication devices belonging to the first network using the wireless PAN standard. The first communication unit 100c uses BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy (trademark)) as the wireless PAN standard.

[0036] The second communication unit 100d connects to other communication devices belonging to the second network using the wireless LAN standard. The second communication unit 100d uses IEEE 802.11g as the wireless LAN standard.

[0037] The display unit 100e displays the communication state of the communication based on the wireless PAN standard, that is, the communication state with the communication devices belonging to the first network, and the communication state of the communication based on the wireless LAN standard, that is, the communication state with the communication devices belonging to the second network. The display unit 100e is configured by, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). Further, the display unit 100e has a touch panel function for receiving external input.

[0038] The power supply unit 100f supplies the power received via the power receiving and supplying terminal 100U to the internal components. ds

[0039] Operation of the third communication state display relay device 100

[0040] The CPU 100a of the communication state display relay device 100 executes communication state display processing and communication relay processing based on the communication state display relay program. Hereinafter, a communication device belonging to the first network and with which the communication state display relay device 100 communicates based on the wireless PAN standard is referred to as an IoT device, and a communication device belonging to the second network and with which the communication state display relay device 100 communicates based on the wireless LAN standard is referred to as a so-called wireless LAN router RT. The communication state display processing will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG. 4.

[0041] 1. Initial settings When the CPU 100a connects to a new IoT device belonging to the first network based on the wireless LAN standard via the first communication unit 100c, it acquires the communication information of the connected IoT device, for example, specific information such as the ID and name for identifying each communication device, and stores and holds it in the memory 100b as the first connection information. In this embodiment, device numbers such as "NO.101" are set as specific information for each IoT device.

[0042] Similarly, when the CPU 100a connects to a new wireless LAN router RT belonging to the second network based on the wireless LAN standard via the second communication unit 100d, it acquires setting information set at that time, for example, identification information such as the ID and name of the wireless LAN router RT, the IP address, and the MAC address (Media Access Control address), and stores and retains them in the memory 100b as the second connection information.

[0043] 2. Communication status display process When the power is turned on, the CPU 100a connects to each IoT device belonging to the first network based on the wireless PAN standard via the first communication unit 100c (S401). The CPU 100a determines the communication status with each IoT device belonging to the first network (S403). As the communication status, for example, "good", "acceptable", and "no connection" are determined. Here, the communication status "good" indicates a communication status in which communication can be performed in an ideal state, the communication status "acceptable" indicates a communication status in which communication can be performed but is not ideal, and the communication status "no connection" indicates a communication status in which no communication can be performed at all. Note that, for example, the data loss rate, response time, number of retries, etc. are used to determine the communication status.

[0044] The CPU 100a displays the communication status of each IoT device on the display unit 100e (S405). When displaying the communication status of each IoT device, the identification information of each IoT device, for example, the ID and the communication status, is associated and displayed. Also, the CPU 100a uses colors associated with the communication status, that is, color-codes, to display the communication status of each communication device. As the colors associated with the communication status, for example, the communication status "good" is blue, the communication status "acceptable" is yellow, and the communication status "no connection" is red.

[0045] CPU 100a connects to a wireless LAN router RT belonging to a second network via a second communication unit 100d based on the wireless LAN standard (S407). CPU 100a determines the communication state with the wireless LAN router RT belonging to the second network (S409). As the communication state, similar to the first network, it is determined as "good", "acceptable", or "no connection".

[0046] CPU 100a displays the communication state of the wireless LAN router RT belonging to the second network on the display unit 100e (S411). When displaying the communication state of the wireless LAN router RT, similar to the IoT device, the specific information of the wireless LAN router RT, for example, the ID and the communication state, are associated and displayed with a color display associated with the communication state.

[0047] CPU 100a repeats the processes of steps S401 to S411 until the end of the operation (S415) at predetermined time intervals (S413).

[0048] 3. Communication Relay Process On the other hand, similar to a general communication relay device, when CPU 100a acquires data from an IoT device via a first communication unit 100c based on the wireless PAN standard, it relays the acquired data to the wireless LAN router RT via a second communication unit 100d based on the wireless LAN standard. Similarly, when CPU 100a acquires data from the wireless LAN router RT via a second communication unit 100d based on the wireless LAN standard, it relays the acquired data to the IoT device via a first communication unit 100c based on the wireless PAN standard.

[0049] 4. Display of Communication State FIG. 5A and 5B show an example of a state in which the communication state display relay device 100 displays the communication states of each communication device on the display unit 100e. Here, the communication state with the IoT device belonging to the first network based on the wireless PAN standard via the first communication unit 100c is shown at the lower part of the display unit 100e, and the communication state with the wireless LAN router RT belonging to the second network based on the wireless LAN standard via the second communication unit 100d is shown at the upper part of the display unit 100e, respectively.

[0050] In FIG. 5A, the display associated with the red background of "No. 201: Disconnected" at the lower part of the display unit 100e indicates that the communication with the IoT device of the specific information "No. 201" belonging to the first network based on the wireless PAN standard via the first communication unit 100c is disconnected. On the other hand, the display associated with the blue background of "RT001: Good" at the upper part of the display unit 100e indicates that the communication with the wireless LAN router RT of the specific information "RT001" belonging to the second network based on the wireless LAN standard via the second communication unit 100d is being performed in an ideal state.

[0051] Therefore, the user of the communication state display relay device 100 can identify that the reason for being unable to obtain information from the IoT device of the specific information "No. 201" is the communication disconnection between the IoT device of the specific information "No. 201" and the communication state display relay device 100 just by checking the display on the display unit 100e of the communication state display relay device 100. Thus, there is no need to check the communication with the wireless LAN router RT belonging to the second network based on the wireless LAN standard via the second communication unit 100d. That is, the user can identify the cause in a short time.

[0052] Also, in FIG. 5B, the display associated with the red background of "RT001: No connection" at the upper part of the display unit 100e indicates that the communication between the wireless LAN router RT of the specific information "RT001" belonging to the second network based on the wireless LAN standard via the second communication unit 100d is not connected. On the other hand, the display associated with the blue background of "No.104: Good" at the lower part of the display unit 100e indicates that the communication with the IoT device of the specific information "No.104" belonging to the first network based on the wireless PAN standard via the first communication unit 100c is being carried out in an ideal state.

[0053] Therefore, the user of the communication status display relay device 100 can identify that the reason for being unable to obtain information from the IoT device of the specific information "No.104" is the communication failure between the wireless LAN router RT of the specific information "RT001" and the communication status display relay device 100 just by checking the display on the display unit 100e of the communication status display relay device 100. Thus, there is no need to check the communication with the IoT device belonging to the first network based on the wireless PAN standard via the first communication unit 100d. That is, the user can identify the cause in a short time.

[0054] Note that when there are a plurality of IoT devices and a plurality of wireless LAN routers RT, the communication status display relay device 100 sequentially displays the respective communication statuses. Also, when the communication status of a certain IoT device or wireless LAN router RT is being displayed, if a display command for communication information regarding the displayed IoT device or wireless LAN router RT is obtained via the display unit 100e, for example, the communication log regarding the displayed IoT device or wireless LAN router RT is displayed. Further, when a predetermined menu display command is separately obtained via the display unit 100e, a list of communication statuses, a list of IoT devices and wireless LAN routers RT whose communication status is "No connection", etc. are displayed. Thereby, even with the small display unit 100e, a lot of information can be displayed and provided to the user.

Embodiment

[0055] In the communication status display relay device 100 in the foregoing Example 1, the first communication unit 100c communicated based on the wireless PAN standard, and the second communication unit 100d communicated based on the wireless LAN standard. However, in the communication status display relay device 200 in this example, the second communication unit 200d communicates based on a communication standard using a mobile phone line. In the following, the same components as those in Example 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in Example 1, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

[0056] Overview of the First Communication Status Display Relay Device 200 The communication status display relay device 200 functions as a so-called gateway device that connects communication based on a first communication standard and communication based on a second communication standard.

[0057] The overview of the communication status display relay device 200 will be described with reference to FIG. 6. The communication status display relay device 200 relays communication based on the wireless PAN standard, which is the first communication standard, for example, communication with a smartphone owned by an individual, and communication based on a communication standard using a mobile phone line (hereinafter referred to as the mobile phone communication standard), which is the second communication standard, for example, communication with a wireless mobile phone base station MBS. That is, the communication status display relay device 200 functions as a gateway device that relays communication between predetermined communication standards. In this example, a lower network is formed by a first network formed by communication based on the wireless PAN standard between the communication status display relay device 200, and an upper network is formed by a second network formed by communication based on the communication standard using the mobile phone line of the communication status display relay device 200. Further, the wireless mobile phone base station MBS is connected to a predetermined cloud server CS through the Internet line.

[0058] The communication status display relay device 200 displays the communication status with a smartphone device based on the wireless PAN standard via the first communication unit 100c and the communication status with a wireless mobile phone base station MBS based on a communication standard using a mobile phone line via the second communication unit 200d. Thereby, the user of the communication status display relay device 200 can easily confirm the communication status relayed by the communication status display relay device 200 just by checking each communication status displayed by the communication status display relay device 200. That is, when a communication failure occurs, it is possible to easily confirm where there is a problem in the communication based on the wireless PAN standard via the first communication unit 100c and the communication based on the mobile phone communication standard via the second communication unit 200d.

[0059] Configuration of the second communication status display relay device 200 The external configuration of the communication status display relay device 200 is the same as that of the communication status display relay device 100 in the first embodiment (see FIG. 2).

[0060] The internal configuration of the communication status display relay device 200 will be described using the configuration diagram shown in FIG. 7. The communication status display relay device 200 includes a CPU 200a, a memory 200b, a first communication unit 100c, a second communication unit 200d, a display unit 100e, and a power supply unit 100f.

[0061] The CPU 200a performs processing based on an operating system (OS), a communication status display relay program, and other applications recorded in the memory 200b. The memory 200b provides a working area for the CPU 200a. The memory 200b records and holds the OS, a communication status display relay program, and other applications and various data.

[0062] The second communication unit 200d connects to other communication devices belonging to the second network, for example, a wireless mobile phone base station MBS, using the mobile phone communication standard. In the communication status display relay device 200, 4G / LTE (Long Term Evolution) is used as the mobile phone communication standard.

[0063] Operation of the Third Communication Status Display Relay Device 200

[0064] Based on the communication status display relay program, the CPU 200a of the communication status display relay device 200 executes communication status display processing and communication relay processing. In the following, a communication device that belongs to the first network and with which the communication status display relay device 200 communicates based on the wireless PAN standard is a smartphone, and a communication device that belongs to the second network and with which the communication status display relay device 200 communicates based on the mobile phone communication standard is a wireless mobile phone base station MBS. The communication status display processing will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG. 8.

[0065] 1. Initial Settings In the communication status display relay device 200, the first communication unit 100c functions as an observer in BLE, and another communication device that communicates using BLE, such as a smartphone, functions as a broadcaster. Therefore, the communication status display relay device 200 does not store and hold information regarding the communication device corresponding to the broadcaster.

[0066] On the other hand, when the CPU 200a connects to a new communication device belonging to the second network, such as a cloud server, via the second communication unit 200d, it acquires setting information set at that time, such as identification information of the cloud server's ID and name, security information such as a public key, an IP address, and a MAC address (Media Access Control address), and stores and holds them in the memory 100b as second connection information. In this embodiment, "WAN" is set as the identification information of the cloud server.

[0067] 2. Communication Status Display Processing When powered on, CPU 200a scans a smartphone corresponding to a broadcaster via the first communication unit 100c and connects to the scanned smartphone (S801). CPU 200a determines the communication status with each smartphone belonging to the first network (S803). As the communication status, for example, "good", "acceptable", and "no connection" are determined. Here, the communication status "good" indicates a communication status where communication can be performed in an ideal state, the communication status "acceptable" indicates a communication status where communication can be performed but is not ideal, and the communication status "no connection" indicates a state where no communication can be performed with any smartphone. Note that, for example, the data loss rate, response time, number of retry attempts, number of smartphones that can communicate, etc. are used to determine the communication status.

[0068] CPU 200a calculates the number of smartphones that can be connected via the first communication unit 100c (S804).

[0069] CPU 200a displays the communication status of each smartphone on the display unit 100e (S805). When displaying the communication status of each communication device, the number of smartphones that can be connected via the first communication unit 100c and the communication status are associated and displayed. Also, CPU 200a displays the communication status of each communication device in color-coded form, that is, using colors associated with the communication status. As the colors associated with the communication status, for example, the communication status "good" is colored blue, the communication status "acceptable" is colored yellow, and the communication status "no connection" is colored red.

[0070] CPU 200a connects to a wireless mobile phone base station MBS belonging to the second network based on the mobile phone communication standard via the second communication unit 200d (S807). CPU 200a determines the communication status with the wireless mobile phone base station MBS belonging to the second network (S809). As the communication status, similar to the first network, it is determined as "good", "acceptable", and "no connection".

[0071] The CPU 200a displays the communication status of the wireless mobile phone base station MBS belonging to the second network on the display unit 100e (S811). When displaying the communication status of the wireless mobile phone base station MBS, the specific information of the wireless mobile phone base station MBS, for example, the ID and the communication status, are associated and displayed in a color display associated with the communication status.

[0072] Other processes are the same as those of the communication status display relay device 100 in the first embodiment.

[0073] 3. Communication relay process On the other hand, similar to a general communication relay device, when the CPU 200a acquires predetermined data from the smartphone based on the wireless PAN standard via the first communication unit 100c, it relays the acquired data to the wireless mobile phone base station MBS via the second communication unit 200d. Similarly, when the CPU 200a acquires data from the wireless mobile phone base station MBS based on the mobile phone communication standard via the second communication unit 200d, it relays the acquired data to the smartphone based on the wireless PAN standard via the first communication unit 100c.

[0074] 4. Display of communication status FIGS. 9A and 9B show an example of a state in which the communication status display relay device 200 displays the communication status of each communication device on the display unit 100e. Here, the communication status of the communication with the smartphone belonging to the first network based on the wireless PAN standard via the first communication unit 100c is displayed at the lower part of the display unit 100e, and the communication status of the communication with the wireless mobile phone base station MBS belonging to the second network based on the mobile phone communication standard via the second communication unit 200d is displayed at the upper part of the display unit 100e, respectively.

[0075] In FIG. 9A, the display associated with the blue background of "Person: 4" at the lower part of the display unit 100e indicates that there are "4" smartphones that can communicate based on the wireless PAN standard via the first communication unit 100c, and each communication is being performed in an ideal state. On the other hand, the display associated with the blue background of "WAN: Good" at the upper part of the display unit 100e indicates that the communication with the wireless mobile phone base station MBS of the specific information "WAN" based on the mobile phone communication standard via the second communication unit 200d is being performed in an ideal state.

[0076] Therefore, the user of the communication status display relay device 200 can identify the number of smartphones connected via the first communication unit 100c just by checking the display on the display unit 100e of the communication status display relay device 200. Also, it can be confirmed that the communication between the smartphones connected via the first communication unit 100c and the communication status display relay device 200, and the communication between the wireless mobile phone base station MBS connected via the second communication unit 200d and the communication status display relay device 200 are good.

[0077] In FIG. 9B, the display associated with the red background of "WAN: Disconnected" at the upper part of the display unit 100e indicates that the communication with the wireless mobile phone base station MBS of the specific information "WAN" belonging to the second network based on the mobile phone communication standard via the second communication unit 200d is disconnected. On the other hand, the display associated with the blue background of "Person: 3" at the lower part indicates that there are "3" smartphones connected based on the wireless PAN standard via the first communication unit 100c, and the communication is being performed in an ideal state.

[0078] Therefore, the user of the communication status display relay device 100 can identify that the reason why information cannot be obtained from the smartphone with the specific information "No. 104" is the communication failure between the wireless mobile phone base station MBS with the specific information "WAN" and the communication status display relay device 200 just by checking the display on the display unit 100e of the communication status display relay device 100. Thus, there is no need to check the communication with the smartphone belonging to the first network via the first communication unit 100c. That is, the user can identify the cause in a short time.

[0079] [Other Embodiments] (1) First communication unit, second communication unit: In the aforementioned Example 1, the first communication unit 100c communicates based on the wireless PAN standard, and the second communication unit 100d communicates based on the wireless LAN standard. Also, in the aforementioned Example 2, the second communication unit 200d communicates based on the mobile phone communication standard. However, as long as the communication is based on the communication standard that meets the necessary conditions, it is not limited to the exemplified ones. For example, the LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) standard, wireless PAN standard, wireless LAN standard, and mobile phone communication standard can be appropriately selected for communication. As the LPWA standard, for example, LoRa, SIGFOX (trademark), eMTC (enhanced Machine Type Communication), or NB-IoT (Narrow Band IoT) may be used. As the wireless PAN standard, for example, Zigbee (trademark) may be used.

[0080] Also, not only wireless communication but also wired communication based on the Ethernet standard or MobBus standard may be used for communication.

[0081] (2) Internal Structure of Communication Status Display Relay Device: In the aforementioned Example 1, it was assumed to have two communication units, namely the first communication unit 100c and the second communication unit 100d. However, it may also have three or more communication units. In this case, any two of them can be selected and used to relay communication with each other. The selection of any two communication units may be manual or automatic. When the selection of communication units is automatically performed, it may be appropriately selected according to conditions such as time.

[0082] For example, when the communication status display relay device has three wireless communication units and three wired communication units, one wireless communication unit can be used for connecting IoT devices based on the wireless PAN standard, another wireless communication unit can be used for connecting smartphones based on the wireless PAN standard, and yet another communication unit can be used for communication based on the mobile phone communication standard. Also, one wired communication unit can be used for connecting peripheral devices based on the Modbus standard, another wired communication unit can be used for program update and power supply via USB (Universal Serial Bus) based on the communication standard in USB, and yet another wired communication unit can be used for receiving physical information based on the communication standard in the I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) bus. This can simplify the configuration that was conventionally prone to complex wiring and settings.

[0083] (3) Display of Communication Status: In the aforementioned Example 1, the communication status display relay device 100 was assumed to sequentially display the communication status of the communication devices for which connection was assumed. However, it may also display all communication devices simultaneously. Also, it may display a plurality of selected communication devices simultaneously.

[0084] Furthermore, an additional switch can be arranged, and by operating the switch by the user, the communication status of the target communication device can be sequentially displayed. Additionally, when there are a large number of target communication devices, the screen can be switched by the user's switch operation or the like to display a list of the target communication devices and communication logs.

[0085] (4) Color display of communication status: In the aforementioned Example 1, the communication status was displayed by color-coding it into blue, yellow, and red, but it is not limited to the exemplified ones. For example, it may be color-coded in two gradations according to density. Also, instead of three colors, it may be color-coded into two colors, four colors, or more.

[0086] Furthermore, assuming there are multiple IoT devices connected by the first communication unit, if all of them can communicate within 24 hours, it is displayed in blue, and the displayed color is changed according to the number of IoT devices that cannot communicate. When the number of IoT devices that cannot communicate exceeds a predetermined number, it may be set to a predetermined color, for example, yellow, so that the number of IoT devices that cannot communicate can be recognized only by color.

[0087] (5) Judgment of communication status: In the aforementioned Example 1, the communication status was divided into three categories: "good", "acceptable", and "no connection", but it is not limited to the exemplified ones as long as it indicates the communication status. For example, it may be divided into four categories: "excellent", "good", "acceptable", and "no connection".

[0088] Also, in the aforementioned Example 1, the specific information of each communication device and the communication status were displayed on the display unit 100e, and in the aforementioned Example 2, the number of communication devices that can communicate was displayed on the display unit 100e. However, when it comes to the radio wave intensity, defect rate, and / or a detection device that can detect predetermined information of each communication device, the detection information (such as temperature and human emotion information) detected by the detection device may be displayed. Furthermore, information of the communication device itself (such as software version information, owner information, device temperature, abnormality, etc.) may be displayed.

[0089] Also, according to the communication status, errors such as a failure of the communication device itself may be acquired from each communication device and displayed as the communication status. In this case, by operating a screen, a switch, etc. by an operator who noticed the error, it may be switched to another screen to display an error log, etc.

[0090] (6) Power receiving and supplying terminal 100U: In the aforementioned First Embodiment and Second Embodiment, power is received and supplied from the outside via the power receiving and supplying terminal 100U. However, a predetermined power supply source such as a button battery, a dry battery, or a solar cell may be used.

[0091] (7) Internal configuration of the communication status display relay device: In the aforementioned First Embodiment, the communication status display relay device 100 executes communication status display processing and communication relay processing using the CPU 100a and the like. However, it is not limited to the exemplified ones as long as it executes each process. For example, each process may be executed using a dedicated logic circuit. The same applies to the Second Embodiment.

[0092] (8) Communication status display processing: In the aforementioned First Embodiment, the flowchart of FIG. 4 was shown as the communication status display processing. However, it is not limited to the exemplified flowchart as long as it can display the communication status with each communication device. The same applies to the Second Embodiment.

Industrial Applicability

[0093] The communication status display relay device according to the present invention can be used, for example, in a factory or the like where a predetermined communication device is arranged.

Explanation of Signs

[0094] 100 Communication status display relay device 100a CPU 100b Memory 100c First communication unit 100d Communication unit 100d Second communication unit 100e Display unit 100f Power supply unit 100H Housing 100S Power switch 100B Operation button 100U Power receiving and supplying terminal 200 Communication status display relay device 200a CPU 200b Memory 200d Second Communication Unit RT Wireless LAN Router CS Cloud Server MBS Wireless Mobile Phone Base Station

Claims

A communication status display relay device that relays communication based on a first communication standard, which is a communication standard used as a wireless PAN, and communication based on a second communication standard, which is a communication standard used as a wireless LAN, comprising: A first communication unit that communicates with other communication devices based on the first communication standard; A second communication unit that communicates with other communication devices that communicate based on the second communication standard; A relay unit that relays the communication in the first communication unit and the communication in the second communication unit to each other; A communication status display control unit that displays the communication status of the communication based on the first communication standard and the communication status of the communication based on the second communication standard; A communication status display relay device having the above.

2. In the communication status display relay device according to Claim 1, The communication status display control unit: Displays the communication status of the communication based on the first communication standard and the communication status of the communication based on the second communication standard on the same screen; A communication status display relay device characterized by the above.

3. In the communication status display relay device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, The communication status display control unit: Displays the communication status of all the communication devices that communicate based on the first communication standard and all the communication devices that communicate based on the second communication standard; A communication status display relay device characterized by the above.

4. In the communication status display relay device according to Claim 3, The communication status display control unit: Displays the communication status in different colors according to the communication status; A communication status display relay device characterized by the above.

5. In the communication status display relay device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, The communication status display control unit: Displays the number of the communication devices that communicate based on the first communication standard and / or the communication devices that communicate based on the second communication standard; Displays the status of the device and the detection information of the device; A communication status display relay device characterized by the above.

6. In the communication status display relay device according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, The communication status display control unit: Displays information about the communication devices that communicate based on the first communication standard and / or the communication devices that communicate based on the second communication standard; A communication status display relay device characterized by the above.

7. In the communication status display relay device according to Claim 6, The communication status display control unit: When the communication device that communicates based on the first communication standard and / or the communication device that communicates based on the second communication standard is a detection device that detects predetermined information, displaying the detected predetermined information, A communication status display relay device characterized by the above.

8. In the communication status display relay device according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, The communication status display control unit, Switching the display by a predetermined operation from the outside, A communication status display relay device characterized by the above.

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