Data management device, data management method and program

Abstract

To provide a data management device that realizes an environmental information service system that can at least respond to a specific need.SOLUTION: A data management device includes: a first storage unit that stores hardware user information data where a user of hardware for measuring information about an environment of a predetermined space is associated with a usage period during which the user can use the hardware; a collection unit that collects measurement data including measurement values of information about the environment from the hardware; and a storage unit that stores, during the usage period, measurement data collected from the hardware used by the user corresponding to the usage period in a second storage unit as measurement data owned by the user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a data management device , De The present invention relates to a data management method and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Environmental information such as temperature and humidity inside agricultural greenhouses is closely related to the growth and disease of agricultural crops. For this reason, technologies for providing users with environmental information inside facilities such as agricultural greenhouses have been used for some time. For example, Non-Patent Document 1 describes a system in which temperature, humidity, and other data measured by sensors installed at multiple points inside an agricultural greenhouse are collected by a device called a data transmitter, and the temperature, humidity, and other data are stored on a cloud server and provided to users as environmental information. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0003] [Non-Patent Document 1] Fermier Monitor, a multi-point temperature and humidity visualization system, available on the Internet<URL:https: / / www.ntt-tx.co.jp / products / fermier / > Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, conventional technologies have had difficulty in meeting various real-world needs. For example, it has been difficult to address needs such as the desire to distinguish between owners of hardware such as sensors and data transmitters and users of that hardware, the desire to share data representing environmental information with others, and the desire to compare and confirm environmental information within multiple facilities in geographically distant locations on a three-dimensional map. Therefore, there is a demand for an environmental information providing system that can address at least one of these needs.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above points, and aims to realize an environmental information providing system that can at least meet specific needs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A data management device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a first memory unit that stores hardware user information data that associates a user of hardware for measuring information about the environment of a specified space with a usage period during which the user can use the hardware, a collection unit that collects measurement data from the hardware including measurement values ​​of information about the environment, and a storage unit that stores the measurement data collected from the hardware used by the user corresponding to the usage period during the usage period in a second memory unit as measurement data owned by the user. In addition, a data sharing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a third memory unit that stores measurement data including measurement values ​​of information regarding the environment of a specified space, and environmental information data that associates the owner of the measurement data with a user who has specified authority over the measurement data; a determination unit that, when the measurement data is shared with a user other than the owner, determines whether to process specific information among the specified information visualized on a UI when visualizing the measurement values ​​included in the measurement data based on specified conditions including conditions regarding the authority; and a provision unit that provides a UI that visualizes the measurement values ​​included in the measurement data and the specified information, and if it is determined that the specific information should be processed, the provision unit provides a UI that visualizes the processed specific information. In addition, a visualization device according to one aspect of the present disclosure has a fourth memory unit that stores measurement data including measurement values ​​of information regarding the environment of a specified space, and a visualization unit that visualizes the measurement values ​​included in the measurement data on a three-dimensional map, and when visualizing measurement values ​​of information regarding the environments of multiple spaces, the visualization unit visualizes the measurement values ​​on the three-dimensional map so as to shorten the distances between the multiple spaces while maintaining the relative positional relationships between the multiple spaces. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] It is possible to realize an environmental information providing system that can at least meet specific needs. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of an environmental information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the environmental information providing device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 3] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process for registering GW information and GW user information. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing when a certain period of time remains until the expiration of the usage period. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a process for creating house interior information. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process for providing house information. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the actual positional relationship of sensors. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of relative display of sensors. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

[0010] <Needs for conventional technology> For example, the prior art described in the above-mentioned Non-Patent Document 1 and the like has the following needs (1) to (3).

[0011] (1) It is desirable to distinguish between the owners of hardware such as sensors and data transmitters and the users of that hardware.

[0012] (2) I want to share data representing environmental information (hereinafter referred to as "environmental information data") with others.

[0013] (3) I want to compare and check environmental information within multiple facilities (e.g., agricultural greenhouses) located in geographically distant locations on a 3D map.

[0014] However, for example, the conventional technology described in the above-mentioned Non-Patent Document 1 does not assume that the hardware owner and the user are different, and when managing the hardware separately from the user, the setup work is complicated or difficult. On the other hand, for example, there is a certain need for a service in which a business operator lends sensors, data transmitters, etc. to farmers, etc., and in order to realize this, it is necessary to meet the need (1) above.

[0015] Furthermore, for example, the prior art described in Non-Patent Document 1 above does not anticipate sharing environmental information data with others, and does not take into account anonymization, etc., which is necessary when sharing environmental information data with others. On the other hand, there is a certain need for services that allow users to receive anonymized environmental information data from others, or to provide their own anonymized environmental information data to others in order to improve or enhance the growing environment of agricultural crops, for example, and in order to realize such services, it is necessary to address the need in (2) above.

[0016] Furthermore, for example, the prior art described in Non-Patent Document 1 above does not anticipate the need to compare and check environmental information within multiple facilities in geographically distant locations on a three-dimensional map, making such checking cumbersome. On the other hand, for example, there are farmers who own multiple agricultural greenhouses in geographically distant locations, so there is a certain need for a service that allows environmental information within these multiple agricultural greenhouses to be compared and checked on a three-dimensional map, and in order to realize this, it is necessary to address the need in (3) above.

[0017] Therefore, in the following embodiment, an environmental information providing system 1 that can meet the above needs (1) to (3) will be described. Note that, although the following describes an environmental information providing system 1 that can meet all of the above needs (1) to (3), the environmental information providing system 1 may also be one that can meet only some of the above needs (1) to (3), for example.

[0018] Hereinafter, the data transmitter will be referred to as a "GW device" or "gateway device", and as an example, the sensor will be considered to be hardware attached to the GW device. In other words, the owner of the hardware refers to the owner of the GW device (data transmitter), and the user of the hardware refers to the user of the GW device (data transmitter). However, this is just an example, and the sensor may not be attached to the GW device, and the owner of the sensor may be different from the owner of the GW device.

[0019] In the following description, the facility in which the sensor is installed is assumed to be an agricultural greenhouse, as an example. However, this is only an example, and the facility in which the sensor is installed is not limited to an agricultural greenhouse. The facility in which the sensor is installed may be, for example, a building or facility for growing or cultivating agricultural crops. The sensor may also be installed outdoors, such as in a farm field.

[0020] <Example of overall configuration of Environmental Information Providing System 1> An example of the overall configuration of an environmental information providing system 1 according to this embodiment is shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the environmental information providing system 1 according to this embodiment includes an environmental information providing device 10, a sensor 20, a GW device 30, a GW owner terminal 40, and a GW user terminal 50. The environmental information providing device 10 and the GW device 30 are communicatively connected via a communication network 60 including, for example, the Internet. Similarly, the environmental information providing device 10 and the GW owner terminal 40 are communicatively connected via the communication network 60. Similarly, the environmental information providing device 10 and the GW user terminal 50 are communicatively connected via the communication network 60.

[0021] The environmental information providing device 10 is a computer or computer system such as a general-purpose server. The environmental information providing device 10 manages data representing gateway information, including the owner of the gateway device 30 (hereinafter also referred to as "gateway information data"), and data representing gateway user information, including the user of the gateway device 30 and the usage period (hereinafter also referred to as "gateway user information data"). The environmental information providing device 10 also collects sensor data from sensors 20 installed in the agricultural greenhouse via the gateway device 30 and creates environmental information data for the agricultural greenhouse from the sensor data. Furthermore, the environmental information providing device 10 anonymizes part of the environmental information data for the agricultural greenhouse when sharing the data, and provides a UI (user interface) that visualizes environmental information for multiple agricultural greenhouses located in geographically distant locations on a three-dimensional map in a manner that allows easy comparison.

[0022] The environmental information refers to information about the environment inside the agricultural greenhouse, such as the temperature, vapor pressure deficit, humidity, amount of water in the soil, amount of solar radiation, CO2 concentration, etc. Hereinafter, the environmental information inside the agricultural greenhouse will also be referred to as "house information."

[0023] The sensor 20 is a sensor device installed in an agricultural greenhouse and senses information for obtaining environmental information or the environmental information itself. The sensor 20 transmits sensor data obtained by sensing to the environmental information providing apparatus 10 via the GW device 30. At this time, the sensor 20 may transmit the sensor data to the GW device 30 using any wireless standard or wireless communication method, and the wireless standard or wireless communication method may be, for example, LPWA (Low Power Wide Area). By using LPWA for wireless communication between the sensor 20 and the GW device 30, a power supply and network wiring for the sensor 20 are not required, and communication costs are also not required, making it possible to easily install the sensor 20 in the agricultural greenhouse. However, the sensor 20 may also be able to directly transmit the sensor data obtained by sensing to the environmental information providing apparatus 10.

[0024] The sensor 20 may be, for example, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a soil moisture sensor, a sunlight sensor, a CO2 concentration sensor, or a sensor configured with two or more of these sensors.

[0025] The GW device 30 collects sensor data from the sensors 20 and transmits it to the environmental information providing apparatus 10. The GW device 30 corresponds to the "data transmitter" described in Non-Patent Document 1 above.

[0026] Here, a GW device 30 and a plurality of sensors 20 that transmit sensor data to the GW device 30 are installed inside the agricultural greenhouse. The number and installation positions of the sensors 20 installed inside the agricultural greenhouse vary depending on the size, shape, etc. of the agricultural greenhouse, but for example, it is conceivable to install the sensors 20 uniformly at predetermined intervals in the space inside the agricultural greenhouse.

[0027] In the example shown in Fig. 1, farm A has an "agricultural house (building 1)," an "agricultural house (building 2)," and an "agricultural house (building 3)," and a plurality of sensors 20 are installed in each of these agricultural houses. Also, farm A is installed with a GW device 30 that collects sensor data from the plurality of sensors 20 installed in each of the agricultural houses (building 1) to (building 3).

[0028] Similarly, in the example shown in Fig. 1, farm B has an "agricultural house" in which a plurality of sensors 20 are installed. Also, farm B has installed therein a GW device 30 that collects sensor data from the plurality of sensors 20 installed in the agricultural house.

[0029] Hereinafter, it is assumed that the owner of the hardware (sensor 20 and GW device 30) and the user of the hardware are different persons, and the owner of the hardware will also be referred to as the "GW owner" and the user of the hardware as the "GW user." For example, in the example shown in FIG. 1, it is assumed that the owner and the user of the sensor 20 and GW device 30 installed in farm A are different persons. Similarly, in the example shown in FIG. 1, it is assumed that the owner and the user of the sensor 20 and GW device 30 installed in farm B are different persons.

[0030] The GW owner terminal 40 is a terminal used by a GW owner. The GW owner can use the GW owner terminal 40 to register GW information of the GW device 30 that he or she owns in the environmental information providing device 10, and can also register GW user information related to the user of the GW device 30 in the environmental information providing device 10. Note that the GW owner terminal 40 can be, for example, a PC (personal computer), a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a wearable device, or the like.

[0031] The GW user terminal 50 is a terminal used by a GW user. The GW user can use the GW user terminal 50 to check environmental information (i.e., information about the inside of the GW user's own agricultural greenhouse) represented by environmental information data created from sensor data collected by the GW device 30 used by the GW user. The GW user can also use the GW user terminal 50 to share environmental information data about the user's own agricultural greenhouse with others and check environmental information data about other people's agricultural greenhouses. This allows the GW user to, for example, perform optimal environmental control (e.g., temperature adjustment by heating and cooling) for agricultural crops being grown or cultivated in the user's own agricultural greenhouse.

[0032] 1 is an example, and other configurations may be used. For example, if each sensor 20 installed in each agricultural greenhouse on a farm can directly transmit sensor data to the environmental information providing device 10, the farm does not need to have a GW device 30 installed. In the example shown in FIG. 1, one GW device 30 is installed on each farm, but if the farm is large, for example, two or more GW devices 30 may be installed.

[0033] <Example of functional configuration of environmental information providing device 10> FIG. 2 shows an example of the functional configuration of the environmental information providing device 10 according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the environmental information providing device 10 according to this embodiment includes a gateway information registration unit 101, a gateway user information registration unit 102, a usage period determination unit 103, a notification unit 104, a sensor data collection unit 105, a house interior information creation unit 106, and a house interior information providing unit 107. Each of these units is realized, for example, by a processor such as a central processing unit (CPU) executing one or more programs installed in the environmental information providing device 10. The environmental information providing device 10 according to this embodiment also includes a gateway information storage unit 108, a gateway user information storage unit 109, a house interior information storage unit 110, and a house management information storage unit 111. Each of these storage units can be realized using an auxiliary storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD). However, at least one of the above-described storage units may be realized by a storage device such as a database server connected to the environmental information providing device 10 via a communication network.

[0034] The GW information registration unit 101 executes various processes for registering GW information in the environmental information providing device 10. That is, the GW information registration unit 101 creates GW information data and stores it in the GW information storage unit 108. The GW information data is data in which at least a GW ID and a GW owner ID are associated with each other, and is expressed in a format such as (GW ID, GW owner ID). Here, the GW ID is set with information for identifying the GW device 30 in the environmental information providing system 1. As the GW ID, for example, a unique name generated in the environmental information providing system 1, a manufacturing specific number of the GW device 30, an IP (Internet Protocol) address, a MAC (Media Access Control) address, etc. can be used. Furthermore, as the GW owner ID, information (user ID) for identifying the GW owner in the environmental information providing system 1 is set. As the GW owner ID, for example, a unique name generated in the environmental information providing system 1, an email address, a telephone number, etc. of the GW owner can be used.

[0035] Note that various information other than the GW ID and the GW owner ID may be associated with the GW information data. For example, attribute information of the GW device 30 (for example, model name, etc.) may be associated with the GW information data.

[0036] The GW user information registration unit 102 executes various processes for registering GW user information in the environmental information providing device 10. That is, the GW user information registration unit 102 creates GW user information data and stores it in the GW user information storage unit 109. The GW user information data is data in which at least a GW ID, a GW user ID, and a usage period are associated with each other, and is expressed in a format such as (GW ID, GW user ID, usage period). Here, the GW ID is set with information for identifying the GW device 30 within the environmental information providing system 1. The GW user ID is set with information (user ID) for identifying the GW user within the environmental information providing system 1. As the GW user ID, for example, a unique name generated within the environmental information providing system 1, an email address or telephone number of the GW user, or the like can be used. Furthermore, the usage period includes a start date and time and an end date and time as a period during which the GW user can use the GW device 30 indicated by the GW ID. However, if the usage period is unlimited, an end date and time need not be set.

[0037] Note that various information may be associated with the GW user information data in addition to the GW ID, the GW user ID, and the usage period. For example, the operation authority of the GW user for the GW device 30 may be associated with the GW user information data, or the access authority or operation authority of the GW user or a specific person other than the GW user for the sensor data collected via the GW device 30 or the environmental information data created from the sensor data may be associated with the GW user information data.

[0038] The usage period determination unit 103 determines whether or not the GW user information storage unit 109 contains GW user information data for which the usage period is within a certain period of time until its expiration.

[0039] When it is determined that GW user information data whose usage period is within a certain period of time until expiration exists in the GW user information storage unit 109, the notification unit 104 notifies the owner and user of the GW device 30 identified by the GW ID included in the GW user information data of this fact.

[0040] The sensor data collection unit 105 collects sensor data from the GW device 30 and assigns the GW user ID of the GW user using the GW device 30 to the sensor data. In other words, the sensor data collection unit 105 collects sensor data from each sensor 20 via the GW device 30 and assigns the GW user ID of the GW device 30 to the sensor data. However, a GW user ID preset in the GW device 30 may be assigned to the sensor data, and the sensor data collection unit 105 may collect the sensor data assigned the GW user ID. Sensor data is data in which at least a house ID, date and time, a sensor ID, and a sensor value are associated with each other, and is expressed in a format such as (house ID, date and time, sensor ID, sensor value). Here, the house ID is set with information that identifies the agricultural house. As the house ID, for example, a unique name within the environmental information providing system 1 can be used. The date and time when the sensor 20 performed sensing is set as the date and time. The sensor ID is set with information that identifies the sensor 20 within the environmental information providing system 1. For example, a unique name generated within the environmental information providing system 1, a manufacturing number of the sensor 20, etc. can be used as the sensor ID. The sensor value is set with the value of a predetermined physical quantity sensed by the sensor 20.

[0041] It should be noted that the sensor data includes multiple sensor values ​​when multiple pieces of environmental information are sensed by one sensor 20. For example, when temperature and humidity are sensed by one sensor 20, the sensor data of the sensor 20 includes the temperature value and the humidity value as sensor values.

[0042] Furthermore, the sensor 20 may transmit sensor data including a house ID to the GW device 30, or the sensor data transmitted by the sensor 20 may not have a house ID set therein, and the GW device 30 may set a house ID for the sensor data. Alternatively, the sensor data transmitted by the GW device 30 may not have a house ID set therein, and the environmental information providing device 10 may set a house ID for the sensor data. In the following, for simplicity, the description will be given assuming that the sensor data includes a house ID.

[0043] The house interior information creation unit 106 creates data representing house interior information (hereinafter also referred to as "house interior information data") from the sensor data collected by the sensor data collection unit 105 and stores the data in the house interior information storage unit 110. The house interior information data is data in which at least a date and time, a house ID, a sensor ID, and an environmental information value are associated with each other, and is expressed in a format such as (date and time, house ID, sensor ID, environmental information value). Here, the date and time is set to the date and time included in the sensor data or the date and time when the house interior information data was created. The house ID is set to the house ID. The sensor ID is set to the sensor ID included in the sensor data. The environmental information value is set to the sensor value included in the sensor data or the value of the environmental information represented by a value calculated from this sensor value. In this case, the house interior information data may include only one environmental information value or may include multiple environmental information values.

[0044] Examples of environmental information represented by sensor values ​​include temperature and humidity. On the other hand, examples of environmental information represented by calculated values ​​calculated from sensor values ​​include saturation deficit. This is because saturation deficit is generally calculated from temperature and humidity. However, if the sensor 20 is capable of sensing saturation deficit, the saturation deficit becomes the sensor value.

[0045] Furthermore, the environmental information represented by a calculated value calculated from the sensor value may be, for example, an aggregated value or a statistical value (for example, an average value, a maximum value, a minimum value, etc.) of the environmental information values ​​contained in the sensor data for a certain time span.

[0046] Furthermore, for example, if sensors 20 are grouped within the same agricultural greenhouse, the greenhouse information data may include a group ID indicating information identifying the group to which the sensor 20 belongs. For example, if multiple types of crops are grown in the same agricultural greenhouse, it is conceivable to group the sensors 20 installed in each area or space where the same type of crop is grown. This makes it possible to group the sensors 20 that sense environmental information of the area or space where the same type of crop is grown, for each type of crop.

[0047] In addition to this, for example, when crops with a plurality of growth conditions are grown in the same agricultural greenhouse, it is also possible to group the sensors 20 installed in each area or space where crops with the same growth condition are grown. Alternatively, the sensors 20 installed in each predetermined area or space may simply be grouped.

[0048] If the sensor data does not include a house ID, the house internal information creation unit 106 can refer to the house management information data described below, identify the house ID from the sensor ID included in the sensor data, and then create the house internal information data.

[0049] In response to a request for greenhouse information, the greenhouse information providing unit 107 provides greenhouse information data stored in the greenhouse information storage unit 110. At this time, the greenhouse information providing unit 107 also provides, for example, a UI that allows the user to easily understand the greenhouse environmental information represented by the greenhouse information data. Furthermore, when sharing greenhouse information data (i.e., environmental information data for an agricultural greenhouse), the greenhouse information providing unit 107 anonymizes some of the information before providing it. Furthermore, when providing greenhouse information data representing environmental information for multiple agricultural greenhouses located in geographically distant locations, the greenhouse information providing unit 107 also provides a UI that visualizes the greenhouse information data in a manner that allows easy comparison on a three-dimensional map.

[0050] The GW information storage unit 108 stores the GW information data created by the GW information registration unit 101.

[0051] The GW user information storage unit 109 stores the GW user information data created by the GW user information registration unit 102.

[0052] The house interior information storage unit 110 stores the house interior information data created by the house interior information creation unit 106 .

[0053] The house management information storage unit 111 stores house management information data. The house management information data is data in which at least a user ID, a house ID, and a location are associated with each other, and is expressed in a format such as (GW user ID, house ID, location). Here, the GW user ID is set with information that identifies a user who owns, manages, or uses an agricultural house within the environmental information providing system 1. The house ID is set with information that identifies the agricultural house within the environmental information providing system 1. For example, a name that is unique within the environmental information providing system 1 can be used as the house ID. For the location, information that indicates the location of the agricultural house identified by the house ID is set. For example, the latitude, longitude, altitude, etc. of the agricultural house can be used as the location.

[0054] In addition to the GW user ID, house ID, and location, various other information may be associated with the house management information data. For example, the sensor ID of the sensor 20 set in the agricultural house may be associated. In addition to this, for example, any attribute information related to the agricultural house (such as the shape and size of the agricultural house, the name of the cultivated crops, etc.) may be associated.

[0055] <Process of registering GW information and GW user information> Hereinafter, the process of registering GW information and GW user information will be described while referring to FIG. 3.

[0056] Step S101: In response to the GW information registration request transmitted from the GW owner terminal 40, the GW information registration unit 101 creates GW information data and stores it in the GW information storage unit 108. Here, the GW information registration request includes information necessary for creating GW information (such as GWID, GW owner ID, etc.). Thereby, the GW information representing the GW device 30 and its owner etc. is registered in the environmental information providing device 10.

[0057] However, the GW information registration request may be transmitted from the GW device 30. In this case, since the GW information registration request does not include the GW user ID, GW information data with the GW user ID not set by the GW information registration unit 101 is created, and then the GW user ID is set by the GW owner terminal 40.

[0058] In addition, in the GW information data, for example, the user ID of a user who can refer to the in-house information data created from the sensor data collected via the GW device 30 of the GWID included in this GW information data may be set. For example, for the GW user who uses this GW device 30, the user ID of a person who gives some advice or the like regarding the cultivation of crops or the operation of the agricultural house (hereinafter, such a person is also referred to as an "agricultural guidance person") may be set. <00,00221> In addition to the GW information registration request, the GW owner terminal 40 may be able to transmit a GW information transfer request for changing the GW owner ID of the GW information data stored in the GW information storage unit 108. Furthermore, the GW owner terminal 40 may be able to transmit a GW information deletion request for deleting the GW information data stored in the GW information storage unit 108.

[0060] The above step S101 is not essential for executing the next step S102. For example, when GW information data is already stored in the GW information storage unit 108 and GW user information is to be registered for the GW device 30 of the GWID included in this GW information data, the above step S101 does not need to be executed.

[0061] Step S102: The GW user information registration unit 102 creates GW user information data in response to the GW user information registration request transmitted from the GW owner terminal 40, and stores the data in the GW user information storage unit 109. Here, the GW user information registration request includes information required to create the GW user information (for example, GW ID, GW user ID, usage period, etc.). As a result, the GW user information indicating the user of the GW device 30, the usage period, etc. is registered in the environmental information providing device 10.

[0062] In the above step S102, the GW ID, GW user ID, and usage period are included in the GW user information registration, but for example, the usage period may not be included and the usage period may be set by the GW user terminal 50.

[0063] Furthermore, for example, provisional registration of GW user information may be performed in the GW owner terminal 40. In this case, the GW user terminal 50 may be notified by a predetermined means (for example, an application, the Web, email, SMS (Short Message Service), etc.) that provisional registration has been performed, and the GW user may approve the provisional registration, thereby performing official registration of the GW user information.

[0064] Furthermore, the GW user information data may be set with, for example, a user ID of a user who can refer to the greenhouse internal information data created from sensor data collected via the GW device 30 of the GWID included in the GW user information data during the usage period included in the GW user information data (a user ID of a user who shares the greenhouse internal information data, such as an agricultural instructor). The user ID of the user who shares the greenhouse internal information data may be set by the GW owner when registering the GW user information, or may be set by the GW user or the GW owner after registering the GW user information.

[0065] By registering the above GW user information in the environmental information providing device 10, for example, the following (a) to (c) are realized.

[0066] (a) A user (GW user) of the GW user ID included in the GW user information can use the GW device 30 of the GW ID included in the GW user information during the usage period included in the GW user information. For example, the GW user can perform various operations (e.g., a usage start operation) on the GW device 30.

[0067] (b) The GW user becomes the owner of the house information data created from the sensor data collected via the GW device 30. Therefore, the GW user has the general rights that a data owner has, such as the right to view and edit this house information data.

[0068] (c) A contract for the use of the GW device 30 is concluded between the GW user and the GW owner of the GW device 30. This contract may be free or paid, but if it is paid, a fee stipulated in the contract will be incurred. This fee may be determined, for example, according to the amount of data transmitted during the usage period and the storage capacity of the information data within the house.

[0069] Regarding (a) above, the GW owner may be set to be unable to operate the GW device 30 during the usage period of the GW user. Regarding (c) above, for example, if the fee is not paid or the GW user violates the terms of use, the GW owner may be set to be able to perform operations such as turning off the power to the GW device 30 or stopping the collection of sensor data, or the GW user may be set to be unable to refer to the house interior information data. However, house interior information data created during a usage period that has already expired may be exempt from the setting to be unable to be referred to, even if the fee has not been paid.

[0070] <Processing when a certain period of time has passed until the expiration of the usage period> The process when a certain period of time remains until the expiration of the usage period will be described below with reference to Fig. 4. Note that the process of step S201 below is repeatedly executed, for example, at predetermined time intervals (for example, every day).

[0071] Step S201: The usage period determination unit 103 determines whether or not the GW user information storage unit 109 contains GW user information data whose usage period is within a certain period of time until it expires.

[0072] If it is not determined in the above step S201 that GW user information data whose usage period is within a certain period of time until expiration exists in the GW user information storage unit 109 (NO in step S201), the process ends. As a result, the process of step S201 is executed again after a predetermined time has elapsed. On the other hand, if it is determined in the above step S201 that GW user information data whose usage period is within a certain period of time until expiration exists in the GW user information storage unit 109 (YES in step S201), the process proceeds to step S202.

[0073] Step S202: The notification unit 104 notifies the GW owner and GW user to be notified by a predetermined means (for example, an application, the Web, email, SMS, etc.) that it is now within a certain period of time until the expiration of the usage period. Here, the GW user to be notified is the user of the GW user ID included in the GW user information data for which it is now within a certain period of time until the expiration of the usage period. Also, the GW owner to be notified is the owner of the GW device 30 of the GW ID included in the GW user information data for which it is now within a certain period of time until the expiration of the usage period. Note that the notification unit 104 may notify only either the GW owner or the GW user, rather than notifying both the GW owner and the GW user. In the following, for simplicity, it is assumed that the above notification is made only to the GW user.

[0074] At the time of the above notification, the GW user may be presented with contract terms such as fees and conditions for extending the usage period. Furthermore, at this time, the fees and conditions of other GW devices 30 that can be used during the same period may be presented. Furthermore, the fees may be presented based on the fees and conditions of other GW devices 30 using a known dynamic pricing technique.

[0075] Here, the GW user who has received the notification can request an extension of the usage period using the GW user terminal 50. At this time, the GW user may be able to input his / her desired fee, conditions, etc. The usage period extension request includes, for example, the GW ID of the GW device 30 whose usage period is to be extended and the GW user ID of the GW user. The usage period extension request may include the end date and time of the extended usage period, and may also include the start date and time of the extended usage period. At this time, the end date and time of the extended usage period may be automatically set to, for example, a date and time a predetermined period after the end date and time of the current usage period. Similarly, the start date and time of the extended usage period may be automatically set to, for example, the date and time immediately after the end date and time of the usage period before extension (for example, if the usage period is in days, the date and time the day after the end date and time of the usage period before extension). Hereinafter, for simplicity, it is assumed that the usage period extension request includes the GW ID, the GW user ID, and the start date and end date and time of the extended usage period.

[0076] Step S203: The GW user information registration unit 102 determines whether or not a request for extension of the usage period has been received from the GW user terminal 50 before the expiration of the usage period.

[0077] If it is determined in step S203 above that a request to extend the usage period has been received from the GW user terminal 50 before the usage period expires (YES in step S203), the process proceeds to step S204. On the other hand, if it is not determined in step S203 above that a request to extend the usage period has been received from the GW user terminal 50 before the usage period expires (NO in step S203), the process proceeds to step S207.

[0078] Step S204: The notification unit 104 notifies the GW owner to be notified that a request for extension of the usage period has been made by a predetermined means (for example, an application, the Web, email, SMS, etc.). Here, the GW owner to be notified is the owner of the GW device 30 of the GWID included in the GW user information data for which a request for extension of the usage period has been made.

[0079] Here, the GW owner who has received the above notification can approve the request for extension of the usage period using the GW owner terminal 40. However, approval of the request for extension of the usage period is not essential, and for example, approval of the request for extension of the usage period may not be required depending on a prior agreement or the like. Also, for example, the GW owner may refer to the fees, conditions, etc. input by the GW user and decide whether to approve. In the following, it is assumed that the GW owner approves the request for extension of the usage period, and information indicating the approval is sent from the GW owner terminal 40 to the environmental information providing device 10.

[0080] Step S205: The GW user information registration unit 102 determines whether or not approval has been received for the request to extend the usage period.

[0081] If it is determined in step S205 above that approval for the request to extend the usage period has not been received (NO in step S205), for example, step S205 is executed again. This causes a wait state until the approval is received. However, for example, if the approval is not received before a predetermined period has elapsed, the notification in step S204 above may be sent to the GW owner again, or the request to extend the usage period may be rejected. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S205 above that approval for the request to extend the usage period has been received (YES in step S205), the process proceeds to step S206.

[0082] Step S206: The GW user information registration unit 102 updates the GW user information data stored in the GW user information storage unit 109 based on the request to extend the usage period. For example, the GW user information registration unit 102 updates the usage period of the GW user information data stored in the GW user information storage unit 109, in which the GW ID and GW user ID included in the request to extend the usage period are set, with the start date and time and end date and time included in the extension request. At this time, the GW user information registration unit 102 also stores the GW user information data before the update as history in a storage unit or the like different from the GW user information storage unit 109. As a result, the usage period of the GW user information data is updated, and the GW user information data before the update is stored as history.

[0083] In the above step S206, the usage period of the GW user information data is updated, but this is not limited to this. For example, new GW user information data may be created using the GW ID, GW user ID, start date and time, and end date and time included in the request to extend the usage period.

[0084] Step S207: The notification unit 104 notifies the GW owner and GW user to be notified that the usage period has expired by a predetermined means (for example, an application, the Web, email, SMS, etc.). Here, the GW user to be notified is the user of the GW user ID included in the GW user information data whose usage period has expired. Also, the GW owner to be notified is the owner of the GW device 30 with the GW ID included in the GW user information data whose usage period has expired. Note that the notification unit 104 may notify only either the GW owner or the GW user, rather than notifying both the GW owner and the GW user.

[0085] Even if the usage period has expired, the ownership of the house information data created from the sensor data collected by the GW device 30 used by the GW user during the usage period remains with the GW user. In other words, the GW user can refer to and operate this house information data even if the usage period has expired.

[0086] <Process for creating house information> The process of creating the house information will be described below with reference to FIG.

[0087] Step S301: The sensor data collection unit 105 collects sensor data from the GW device 30. Note that the GW device 30 may transmit the sensor data to the environmental information providing apparatus 10 every time it receives the sensor data from the sensor 20, or may accumulate the sensor data received from the sensor 20 for a certain period of time or a certain capacity, and then transmit the accumulated sensor data to the environmental information providing apparatus 10 when the time has elapsed or the capacity has been exceeded. Alternatively, the sensor data collection unit 105 may acquire (collect) the sensor data accumulated in the GW device 30 every time a predetermined period of time has elapsed.

[0088] Step S302: The sensor data collection unit 105 assigns the GW user ID of the GW device 30 that collected the sensor data to the sensor data collected in the above step S301. That is, the sensor data collection unit 105 identifies GW user information data from the GW user information storage unit 109 that includes a GW ID indicating the GW device 30 that is the collection source of the sensor data collected in the above step S301 and is within the usage period, and assigns the GW user ID included in the identified GW user information data to the sensor data.

[0089] At this time, the sensor data collection unit 105 may assign the user ID of a user other than the GW user and the user's authority (such as reference authority or operation authority) to the sensor data. For example, if the GW information data in which the GWID is set includes the user ID of a farming instructor or the like and their authority, those user IDs and authorities may be assigned to the sensor data. Similarly, if the GWID is included and the GW user information data within the usage period includes the user ID of a farming instructor or the like and their authority, those user IDs and authorities may be assigned to the sensor data.

[0090] Step S303: The house internal information creation unit 106 creates house internal information data from the sensor data to which the GW user ID was assigned in step S302 above, and stores the data in the house internal information storage unit 110. As a result, the house internal information data to which the GW user ID was assigned is stored in the house internal information storage unit 110.

[0091] If the user ID and authority of a user other than the GW user are assigned to the sensor data in step S302, these user IDs and authorities are also assigned to the house internal information data. This allows access control for those other than the GW user to refer to and operate the house internal information data.

[0092] Hereinafter, the GW user ID, user ID, authority, etc. added to the house internal information data will also be referred to as "additional information." The GW user ID included in the additional information will be referred to as the "data owner ID." Of the user IDs included in the additional information, user IDs other than the GW user ID (data owner ID) will be referred to as "non-owner IDs." As a result, the additional information is expressed in a format such as (data owner ID, {(non-owner ID, authority)}), where {(non-owner ID, authority)} represents a set of pairs of non-owner IDs and authority. Note that additional information may be added to each piece of house internal information data stored in the house internal information storage unit 110, or additional information may be added to table-format data made up of each piece of house internal information data.

[0093] <Processing to provide information inside the house> The process of providing greenhouse interior information will be described below with reference to FIG. 6. Hereinafter, it is assumed that a request for greenhouse interior information is transmitted to the environmental information providing device 10. This request for greenhouse interior information may be transmitted from the gateway user terminal 50 or from a terminal used by the agricultural advisor. The request for greenhouse interior information includes the user ID (hereinafter also referred to as the "provision request user ID") of the user (e.g., gateway user or agricultural advisor) requesting the provision of greenhouse interior information data, and information specifying the greenhouse interior information data to be provided (hereinafter also referred to as "provision target designation information"). Examples of the provision target designation information include, but are not limited to, a house ID, a user ID, a geographical range (e.g., a range of latitude, longitude, and altitude), and the like. Examples of the provision target designation information include, but are not limited to, a combination of a house ID and a period, a combination of a user ID and a period, a combination of a geographical range and a period, a combination of a house ID or a user ID and a geographical range, and the like. The request for greenhouse interior information may also include two or more pieces of provision target designation information. Furthermore, the request for providing in-house information may include, for example, information indicating the output destination of the in-house information data to be provided (hereinafter also referred to as "output destination designation information"), or may include information indicating the type of environmental information to be provided.

[0094] Step S401: The house information providing unit 107 receives a request to provide house information.

[0095] Step S402: The house interior information providing unit 107 identifies the house interior information data to be provided from the house interior information storage unit 110 based on the provision target designation information included in the request for providing house interior information.

[0096] For example, if the provision target designation information is a "house ID," the greenhouse information providing unit 107 identifies greenhouse information data in which the house ID is set as the provision target. Alternatively, if the provision target designation information is a "user ID," the greenhouse information providing unit 107 refers to the house management information data to identify the house ID from the user ID, and then identifies the greenhouse information data in which this house ID is set as the provision target. Alternatively, if the provision target designation information is a "geographical range," the greenhouse information providing unit 107 refers to the house management information data to identify the house IDs of agricultural greenhouses within the geographical range, and then identifies the greenhouse information data in which this house ID is set as the provision target.

[0097] Step S403: The house interior information providing unit 107 determines whether or not there is any house interior information data that needs to be anonymized among the house interior information data identified in the above step S402. For example, the house interior information providing unit 107 determines that, among the house interior information data identified in the above step S402 (hereinafter also referred to as "house interior information data to be provided"), the to-be-provided house interior information data that meets a predetermined condition needs to be anonymized.

[0098] Here, as the above conditions, for example, one or more of the following conditions can be used: processing user conditions, target data conditions, and output conditions.

[0099] ·Processing user conditions When the requesting user ID included in the request for providing house information does not correspond to the data owner ID included in the additional information of the house information data to be provided. This applies when referencing house information data that you do not own (i.e., other people's house information data).

[0100] Target data conditions When the requesting user ID included in the request for house information corresponds to a non-owner ID included in the additional information of the house information data to be provided, and the non-owner ID does not have the authority to operate (or to view). This applies when the user is not the owner and is attempting to view house information data for which the user does not have the necessary authority.

[0101] Output conditions When the request for providing house information includes output destination specification information, and the output destination specified in the output destination specification information is outside the system (for example, a printer, storage, device, etc. outside the system). This corresponds to the case where house information data is output to an external device. In addition to this, the output conditions may also include, for example, "when the resolution when the environmental information values ​​included in the house information data to be provided are visualized as a graph is above a predetermined threshold," "when the output format to the output destination is a certain predetermined format (for example, output to cloud storage without encryption)," etc.

[0102] ·Sharing conditions The user ID with which the provided house information data is shared corresponds to a non-owner ID included in the provided house information data, and the non-owner ID does not have operation authority (or reference authority). This corresponds to cases where the person with whom the provided house information data is shared is not the owner and does not have the necessary authority. As a result, even if the provided house information data is owned by the person, it can be anonymized based on the authority of the person with whom it is shared, mainly when outputting it to the system or outside the system. The user ID of the person with whom it is shared can be included, for example, in a request to provide house information.

[0103] If it is determined in step S403 above that the provided house interior information data includes information within the provided house that needs to be anonymized (YES in step S403), the process proceeds to step S404. On the other hand, if it is not determined in step S403 above that the provided house interior information data includes information within the provided house that needs to be anonymized (NO in step S403), the process proceeds to step S405 without executing step S404.

[0104] Step S404: The house interior information providing unit 107 anonymizes specific information displayed on a UI that visualizes the house interior information represented by the target house interior information data that needs to be anonymized. Examples of the specific information include a user ID displayed on the UI, a user name that identifies the user ID, environmental information values ​​included in the target house interior information data that needs to be anonymized, and scale values ​​on the axis of a graph when these environmental information values ​​are visualized as a graph. Examples of anonymization (processing) methods include replacing a character string representing the specific information with a specific character such as an asterisk (*) or deleting it. Other methods include limiting the scale of the graph displayed on the UI to a specific scale.

[0105] Step S405: The greenhouse information providing unit 107 provides a UI that visualizes the greenhouse interior information represented by the greenhouse interior information data to the requester of the greenhouse interior information provision request. At this time, if anonymization has been performed in the above step S404, a UI in which specific information has been anonymized is provided. As a result, the UI is displayed on the requester of the greenhouse interior information provision request (for example, the GW user terminal 50 or a terminal used by the agricultural advisor).

[0106] When the anonymization in step S404 above is performed, a UI in which specific information is anonymized is provided, but this anonymization may be canceled, for example, by the user of the terminal on which this UI is displayed making a payment, or by the GW user approving the user's request.

[0107] <Aspects for easily comparing environmental information values ​​of each agricultural greenhouse> Below, we will explain how to easily compare the environmental information values ​​of each agricultural greenhouse when providing a UI that visualizes the environmental information values ​​of the sensors 20 of multiple agricultural greenhouses on a three-dimensional map in step S405 above.

[0108] For example, when multiple agricultural greenhouses are geographically separated, visualizing the environmental information values ​​of the sensors 20 of these agricultural greenhouses on a three-dimensional map can cause a problem in that it is difficult to grasp the interrelationships between the environmental information values ​​of the agricultural greenhouses. For example, as shown in Figure 7, when agricultural greenhouses (Building 1) to (Building 3) exist and the latitude, longitude, and altitude (i.e., x-coordinate value, y-coordinate value, z-coordinate value) of these agricultural greenhouses are separated, the scale must be increased, making it difficult to compare the environmental information values ​​of each sensor 20 with each other.

[0109] Therefore, in such a case, in step S405, a UI may be provided in which the distances between the agricultural greenhouses are reduced while maintaining the relative positional relationship of the groups of sensors 20 of each agricultural greenhouse. For example, in the example shown in Fig. 7, a UI may be provided in which the distances (Euclidean distances) between the agricultural greenhouses are reduced while maintaining the relative positional relationship between the agricultural greenhouses (Building 1) to (Building 3), as shown in Fig. 8. It should be noted that the degree to which the distances between the agricultural greenhouses are reduced can be determined by various methods. For example, a conceivable method is to reduce the distances between the agricultural greenhouses until the smallest distance between the agricultural greenhouses falls below a predetermined threshold.

[0110] This makes it possible to easily compare environmental information of multiple agricultural greenhouses located in geographically distant locations on a three-dimensional map. The UI provided in step S404 above may, for example, filter and visualize environmental information values ​​by type of sensor 20, or filter and visualize environmental information values ​​by type of crop. Furthermore, for example, a slider for specifying time may be provided, allowing the user to specify the date and time of the environmental information values ​​to be visualized using this slider.

[0111] As a variation of the above, it is also possible to visualize environmental information values ​​on a two-dimensional map instead of a three-dimensional map. For example, it is possible to set (project) the reference point in the height direction of the environmental information of each agricultural greenhouse onto the same plane, and visualize the environmental information values ​​on a two-dimensional map within that plane. That is, it is possible to ignore the reference altitude (height / altitude) of each agricultural greenhouse, degenerate only the height direction position, and set the reference on the same plane, and visualize the three-dimensional environmental information on a two-dimensional map within this plane. However, both two-dimensional and three-dimensional are merely examples, and more generally, environmental information values ​​may be visualized in a map space of two or more dimensions (including four-dimensional space or spaces with more dimensions).

[0112] <Supplementary information> The environmental information providing device 10 in the above embodiment may be called, for example, a "data management device," a "data sharing device," or a "visualization device."

[0113] The above embodiment is primarily directed to agriculture, where crops are cultivated, but this is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to agriculture as long as it provides environmental information over a spatial range using sensors. For example, the above embodiment can be similarly applied to fields such as livestock farming, dairy farming, fishing, and industry.

[0114] The present invention is not limited to the above-described specifically disclosed embodiments, and various modifications, changes, and combinations with known technologies are possible without departing from the scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0115] 1. Environmental Information System 10 Environmental information provision device 20 sensors 30 GW equipment 40 GW owner terminal 50 GW user terminals 60 Communication Network 101 GW Information Registration Department 102 GW User Information Registration Department 103 Usage period determination section 104 Notification Department 105 Sensor data collection unit 106 House Information Creation Department 107 House Information Department 108 GW information storage section 109 GW user information storage section 110 House information storage unit 111 House management information storage unit

Claims

1. a first storage unit that stores hardware owner information data that associates hardware for measuring information about the environment of a predetermined space with owners of the hardware; a second storage unit that stores hardware user information data that associates a user of the hardware with a usage period during which the user can use the hardware; a collection unit that collects measurement data including measurement values ​​of information about the environment from the hardware; a storage unit that stores measurement data collected from hardware used by a user corresponding to the usage period during the usage period in a third storage unit as measurement data owned by the user; a notification unit that notifies predetermined information to an owner and a user of the hardware when the expiration date of the usage period is within a certain period of time; A data management device having:

2. The notification unit The data management device according to claim 1 , further comprising: notifying the user of contract conditions for extending the usage period.

3. an updating unit that updates a usage period included in the hardware user information data of the user in accordance with the contract based on the contract conditions; a providing unit that provides the measurement data stored in the third storage unit in a manner that the measurement data can be referenced or manipulated in response to a request from a user who owns the measurement data or a person who has authority over the measurement data; The data management device according to claim 2 , further comprising:

4. a first storage step of storing hardware owner information data in a first storage unit, the hardware owner information data correlating hardware for measuring information about the environment of a predetermined space with an owner of the hardware; a second storage step of storing, in a second storage unit, hardware user information data associating a user of the hardware with a usage period during which the user can use the hardware; a collection step of collecting measurement data from the hardware, the measurement data including measurements of information about the environment; a third storage step of storing measurement data collected from hardware used by the user corresponding to the usage period during the usage period in a third storage unit as measurement data owned by the user; a notification procedure for notifying predetermined information to the owner and user of the hardware when a certain period of time has elapsed until the expiration of the usage period; A data management method performed by a computer.

5. a first storage step of storing hardware owner information data in a first storage unit, the hardware owner information data correlating hardware for measuring information about the environment of a predetermined space with an owner of the hardware; a second storage step of storing, in a second storage unit, hardware user information data associating a user of the hardware with a usage period during which the user can use the hardware; a collection step of collecting measurement data from the hardware, the measurement data including measurements of information about the environment; a third storage step of storing measurement data collected from hardware used by the user corresponding to the usage period during the usage period in a third storage unit as measurement data owned by the user; a notification procedure for notifying predetermined information to the owner and user of the hardware when a certain period of time has elapsed until the expiration of the usage period; A program that causes a computer to execute the following.

Images