Sensor management system, sensor management device, sensor management method, and program

Abstract

A sensor management system includes: a terminal device (2); a template-information storage portion (135) that stores template information selected by a user in the past in association with sensor identification information of each of the corresponding sensors (3); and a recommended-template selection portion (118) that, when template-recommendation request information including the sensor identification information of the sensor (3) used by the user and transmitted from the terminal device (2) is acquired, selects template information having the highest frequency to be selected from the template information corresponding to at least one of the sensor identification information included in the template-recommendation request information stored in the template-information storage portion.

Description

Sensor management system, sensor management device, sensor management method and program

[0001] The present invention relates to a sensor management system, a sensor management device, a sensor management method, and a program.

[0002] A cloud computing system has been proposed that includes: means for collecting measurement data in different formats transmitted from multiple measurement sources that are distributed to each process within a manufacturing site and measure the quality status of each process; means for converting the collected measurement data in different formats into measurement data in a common format; means for receiving the measurement data in the common format transmitted from each of the sites and accumulating and processing it in a measurement database; means for aggregating and analyzing the accumulated measurement data in the common format for each site; and means for displaying the results of the aggregation and analysis processing and transmitting the display processing results to a viewer's terminal in response to a display request from the viewer's terminal (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-142247

[0004] In the system described in Patent Document 1, there is a demand for appropriately suppressing the monitoring of the measurement data measured by the measurement source for each process by displaying the measurement data on the viewer's terminal in an appropriate display format depending on the type of measurement source used.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above reasons, and aims to provide a sensor management system, a sensor management device, a sensor management method, and a program that can appropriately set measurement values ​​measured by sensors based on trends in their display mode.

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, a sensor management system according to the present invention includes: a terminal device; a template information storage unit that stores template information indicating a display manner on the terminal device of measurement values ​​obtained by measurements using a sensor group composed of at least one sensor previously selected by a user, in association with sensor group identification information that identifies each corresponding sensor group composed of the at least one sensor; and a recommended template selection unit that, upon receiving template recommendation request information transmitted from the terminal device, the template information storage unit selects the most frequently selected template information from the template information corresponding to the sensor group identification information that identifies a sensor group including at least one of the combinations of at least one sensor that constitute the sensor group identified by the sensor group identification information included in the template recommendation request information.

[0007] According to the present invention, when the recommended template selection unit acquires the above-described template recommendation request information transmitted from the terminal device, the recommended template selection unit selects template information that is most frequently selected from template information stored in the template information storage unit and corresponding to sensor group identification information that identifies a sensor group including at least one of the combinations of at least one sensor that constitutes the sensor group identified by the sensor group identification information included in the acquired template recommendation request information. This allows a user, when monitoring measurement values ​​measured by at least one sensor, to select a template based on the trend of templates selected for the at least one sensor that the user intends to use, making it easier for the user to monitor measurement values ​​measured by the sensors using an appropriate template.

[0008] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a sensor management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the sensor management system according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the sensor management system according to an embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a protocol storage unit according to an embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a format storage unit according to an embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a template storage unit according to an embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a sensor information storage unit according to an embodiment. FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of a device management system according to an embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen image displayed on the display unit of a terminal device according to an embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen image displayed on the display unit of a terminal device according to an embodiment. FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of a device management system according to an embodiment. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a dashboard image for temperature and humidity management displayed on the display unit of a terminal device according to an embodiment. ２ 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of concentration management. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of a sensor management process executed by a cloud server according to an embodiment. FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of a sensor management process executed by a cloud server according to an embodiment.

[0009] A sensor management system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The sensor management system according to the embodiment includes a terminal device, a template information storage unit that stores template information indicating display modes of measurement values ​​obtained by measurements taken using at least one sensor previously selected by a user, in association with sensor identification information that identifies each of the at least one sensor, a recommended template selection unit that, upon receiving template recommendation request information transmitted from the terminal device that includes sensor identification information that identifies each of the at least one sensor used by the user and requests the transmission of template information indicating templates recommended for selection, selects the most frequently selected template information from the template information stored in the template information storage unit that corresponds to at least one of the sensor identification information included in the template recommendation request information, and a recommended template notification unit that generates template notification information including the selected template information and transmits the template notification information to the terminal device.

[0010] 1, the sensor management system according to this embodiment includes a cloud server 1 and a terminal device 2 that is owned by a user and that can communicate with the cloud server 1 via a wide area network NW1 such as the Internet. The cloud server 1 can communicate with sensors 3 via the wide area network NW1 and a gateway device 8, and functions as a sensor management device that manages measurement information acquired from the sensors 3 and the settings of the sensors 3. The sensors 3 and the gateway device 8 can also communicate with each other via a local area network NW2. The local area network NW2 is, for example, a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) or a wired LAN.

[0011] The sensor 3 may be, for example, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a CO ２These sensors include sensors such as sensors, pressure sensors, human presence sensors, and position sensors. Each time a preset measurement value notification time arrives for notifying the cloud server 1 of a measurement value, the sensor 3 generates measurement value notification information addressed to the cloud server 1, including measurement value information indicating the measurement value obtained by measurement, and transmits the generated measurement value notification information to the cloud server 1 via the gateway device 8. The measurement value notification time is set to arrive periodically, for example, every few minutes.

[0012] When the gateway device 8 acquires measurement value notification information transmitted from the sensor 3, it performs encapsulation processing to make the measurement value notification information conform to the communication protocol used for communication with the cloud server 1, and transmits the encapsulated measurement value notification information to the cloud server 1. Furthermore, when the gateway device 8 acquires setting notification information (described below) transmitted from the cloud server 1, it performs decapsulation processing to remove header information included in the acquired setting notification information for transmitting the setting notification information from the cloud server 1 to the gateway device 8, and transmits the decapsulated setting notification information to the sensor 3. Here, examples of communication protocols used for communication between the cloud server 1 and the gateway device 8 include REST, MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport), sigfox, LoRa, etc.

[0013] The terminal device 2 is, for example, a desktop personal computer. As shown in FIG. 2 , the terminal device 2 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201, a main memory 202, an auxiliary memory 203, a display 204, an input unit 205, a communication unit 206, and a bus 209 connecting these components to one another. The main memory 202 includes volatile memory such as RAM (Random Access Memory) and is used as a work area for the CPU 201. The auxiliary memory 203 is nonvolatile memory such as semiconductor flash memory and stores programs for the CPU 201 to execute various processes. The display 204 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic electroluminescence (EL) display. The input unit 205 is an input device such as a keyboard. The communication unit 206 is connected to the wide area network NW1 and transmits information transferred from the CPU 201 to the cloud server 1 via the wide area network NW1 and transfers information acquired from the cloud server 1 via the wide area network NW1 to the CPU 201. The communication unit 206 communicates with the cloud server 1 based on a communication protocol such as HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) or MQTT.

[0014] The CPU 201 reads out the programs stored in the auxiliary storage unit 203 into the main storage unit 202 and executes them, thereby functioning as a display information acquisition unit 211, a display control unit 212, a protocol / format notification unit 213, a template notification unit 214, a recommended template acquisition unit 215, and a setting notification unit 216, as shown in Fig. 3. The auxiliary storage unit 203 shown in Fig. 2 also has a display information storage unit 231 that stores display information necessary for forming a dashboard image to be displayed on the display unit 204, and a setting storage unit 232 that stores setting information indicating the settings of the sensor 3 input by the user via the input unit 205, as shown in Fig. 3.

[0015] When the user performs a dashboard image display operation via input unit 205 to display a dashboard image on display unit 205, display information acquisition unit 211 accepts the dashboard image display operation and generates display information request information requesting cloud server 1 to transmit display information for forming the dashboard image. This display information request information includes user identification information that identifies the user. Here, the dashboard image is an image that displays measurement values ​​measured by sensor 3 in a display format conforming to a template indicated by template information, which will be described later. Then, display information acquisition unit 211 transmits the generated display information request information to cloud server 1 to acquire display information transmitted from cloud server 1, and stores the acquired display information in display information storage unit 231.

[0016] When the user performs a dashboard image display operation via input unit 205 to display a dashboard image on display unit 205, display control unit 212 accepts the dashboard image display operation and forms a dashboard image using the display information stored in display information storage unit 231. Then, display control unit 212 causes display unit 204 to display the formed dashboard image.

[0017] When the user performs a protocol setting operation via input unit 205 to specify a communication protocol to be used for communication between sensor 3 and cloud server 1, protocol / format notifying unit 213 accepts the protocol setting operation and generates protocol notification information including protocol information indicating the communication protocol to be used for communication between sensor 3 and cloud server 1. Then, protocol / format notifying unit 213 transmits the generated protocol notification information to cloud server 1. Furthermore, when the user performs a format setting operation via input unit 205 to specify a format of measurement value information of sensor 3, protocol / format notifying unit 213 accepts the format setting operation and generates format notification information including format information indicating the format of the measurement value of sensor 3. Then, protocol / format notifying unit 213 transmits the generated format notification information to cloud server 1.

[0018] When the user performs a template selection operation via input unit 205 to select a template indicating the display format of a dashboard image to be displayed on display unit 204, template notification unit 214 accepts the template selection operation and generates used template notification information that includes template information indicating the selected template, sensor group identification information that identifies the sensor group used by the user, and user identification information. Then, template notification unit 214 transmits the generated used template notification information to cloud server 1.

[0019] When the user performs a recommended template display operation via the input unit 205 to display types of recommended templates on the display unit 204, the recommended template acquisition unit 215 accepts the recommended template display operation and generates template recommendation request information that includes sensor group identification information that identifies a sensor group configured including at least one sensor 3 used by the user, and requests transmission of template information indicating templates that are recommended for selection by the user. The recommended template acquisition unit 215 also transmits the generated template recommendation request information to the cloud server 1, thereby acquiring recommended template notification information that includes information on templates that are recommended for selection, transmitted from the cloud server 1. The recommended template acquisition unit 215 then notifies the display control unit 212 of the template information included in the acquired recommended template notification information. At this time, the display control unit 212 uses the notified template information to form a recommended template notification image that notifies the user of the recommended template, and displays the recommended template on the display unit 204.

[0020] When the user performs a sensor setting change operation via the input unit 205 to input setting information indicating the changed setting content of the sensor 3 in order to change the setting content of the sensor 3, the setting notification unit 216 accepts the sensor setting change operation and generates setting notification information including setting information indicating the changed setting content of the sensor 3. Then, the setting notification unit 216 transmits the generated setting notification information to the cloud server 1.

[0021] Returning to FIG. 2 , the cloud server 1 includes a CPU 101, a main memory unit 102, an auxiliary memory unit 103, a communication unit 106, a timer unit 108, and a bus 109 connecting the various units, and functions as a sensor management device that manages the sensors 3. The CPU 101 is, for example, a multi-core processor. The main memory unit 102 is made up of volatile memory and is used as a work area for the CPU 101. The auxiliary memory unit 103 is made up of large-capacity non-volatile memory and stores programs for realizing various functions of the cloud server 1. The communication unit 106 is connected to the wide area network NW1. The timer unit 108 has, for example, a real-time clock and times the time when measurement value notification information is acquired from the sensors 3.

[0022] The CPU 101 loads the programs stored in the auxiliary storage unit 103 into the main storage unit 102 and executes them, thereby functioning as a measurement value acquisition unit 111, a conversion unit 112, a display information generation unit 113, a display information notification unit 114, a protocol acquisition unit 115, a format acquisition unit 116, a template acquisition unit 117, a recommended template selection unit 118, a template notification unit 119, a setting notification acquisition unit 120, and a sensor setting unit 121, as shown in Fig. 3. The auxiliary storage unit 103 shown in Fig. 2 also includes a protocol storage unit 131, a pre-conversion measurement value storage unit 132, a format storage unit 133, a post-conversion measurement value storage unit 134, a template information storage unit 135, a display information storage unit 136, and a setting storage unit 137, as shown in Fig. 3. As shown in FIG. 4A, the protocol memory unit 131 stores protocol information indicating the communication protocol for communication between the cloud server 1 and the sensor 3 in association with sensor information including sensor identification information that identifies the sensor 3 and sender identification information that identifies the gateway device 8 that is the sender of the encapsulated measurement value notification information.

[0023] The pre-conversion measurement value storage unit 132 stores measurement value information indicating the measurement value measured by the sensor 3 in association with the corresponding sensor information. The format storage unit 133 stores format information indicating the format of the measurement value information of the sensor 3 in association with the sensor information of the corresponding sensor 3, as shown in FIG. 4B , for example. Here, the format information includes, for example, format information indicating the format of the measurement value information, storage location information indicating the storage location of the measurement value in the measurement value information, JSON key information if the measurement value information corresponds to JSON, and type information indicating the type of the measurement value. In the example shown in FIG. 4B , the measurement value information acquired from the sensor 3 corresponding to the sensor information IDS[0] is in the format of a hexadecimal string, the storage start position is the first byte, the portion corresponding to four bytes from there is the storage position, and the type is "BIN10." In this case, if the measurement value information indicates "010C01F91E," this indicates that the measurement value is "010C" expressed in the "BIN10" format. Furthermore, the measurement value information acquired from the sensor 3 corresponding to the sensor information IDS[1] is in the format of a hexadecimal string, with the storage start position at the third byte and the portion corresponding to the next four bytes as the storage location, and the type being "BCD10." In this case, if the measurement value information indicates "01010C33," this indicates that the measurement value is "010C" expressed in the "BCD10" format. Furthermore, the measurement value information acquired from the sensor 3 corresponding to the sensor information IDS[2] is in the format of a JSON string, with the portion following the string "temperature:" as the storage location and the type being "CHAR." In this case, if the measurement value information indicates "temperature:26.8," this indicates that the measurement value is "26.8" expressed in the "CHAR" format.

[0024] Returning to FIG. 3 , the converted measurement value storage unit 134 stores the converted measurement value information, which is obtained by converting measurement value information indicating measurement values ​​measured by the sensor 3 into a common format using the above-mentioned format information, in association with the corresponding sensor information. The template information storage unit 135 stores template information indicating the display mode of measurement values ​​of the sensor 3 previously selected by a user, in association with sensor group identification information identifying a sensor group consisting of at least one corresponding sensor 3 and user identification information of the user of the sensor 3, as shown in FIG. 5A , for example. The example shown in FIG. 5A indicates that a user identified by user identification information IDU[0] who uses a sensor group identified by sensor group identification information IDG[0] selected template information DAT[0], DAT[1], DAT[2], and DAT[i]. The sensor information storage unit 138 stores the sensor information of at least one sensor 3 constituting each sensor group in association with user identification information and sensor group identification information identifying the sensor group, as shown in FIG. 5B , for example. 5B shows that a sensor group consisting of sensors 3 corresponding to sensor information DAS[0], DAS[1], and DAS[2] is identified by group identification information IDG[0]. Here, the sensor group identification information assigned to each sensor group can be preset by, for example, an administrator who operates the sensor management system.

[0025] 3 , the display information storage unit 136 stores display information included in a dashboard image displayed on the display unit 204 of the terminal device 2, which is generated based on the template information and the converted measurement value information, in association with the user identification information. The setting storage unit 137 stores setting information indicating the setting contents of the sensor 3 in association with the sensor information of the sensor 3 to be set. Here, when setting information for performing the same setting on multiple sensors 3 exists, the setting storage unit 137 stores the setting information in association with the sensor information of each of the multiple sensors 3.

[0026] The measurement value acquisition unit 111 identifies protocol information corresponding to the sender of the measurement value notification information to be acquired from the protocol information stored in the protocol storage unit 131. Then, when the measurement value acquisition unit 111 acquires the above-mentioned measurement value notification information transmitted from the sensor 3 using the communication protocol indicated by the identified protocol information, it extracts measurement value information included in the acquired measurement value notification information. Then, the measurement value acquisition unit 111 stores the extracted measurement value information in the pre-conversion measurement value storage unit 132 in association with the sensor information of the sensor 3 that is the destination of the measurement value request information.

[0027] The converter 112 identifies sensor information corresponding to measurement value information to be converted into a predetermined common format from the measurement value information stored in the pre-conversion measurement value storage unit 132. The converter 112 also identifies format information corresponding to the identified sensor information from the format information stored in the format storage unit 133. The converter 112 then converts the identified measurement value information into the aforementioned common format based on the identified format information. The converter 112 stores the measurement value information whose format has been converted in the converted measurement value storage unit 134.

[0028] When the display information generation unit 113 acquires the display information request information transmitted from the terminal device 2, the display information generation unit 113 generates, in response to the acquisition, display information to be included in a dashboard image displayed on the display unit 204 of the terminal device 2, including the converted measurement value information, based on the template information and the converted measurement value information. Specifically, when the display information request information is acquired, the display information generation unit 113 extracts user identification information included in the acquired display information request information, identifies template information corresponding to the extracted user identification information from the template information stored in the template storage unit 135, and identifies sensor information corresponding to the extracted user identification information from the sensor information stored in the sensor information storage unit 138. The display information generation unit 113 then generates display information based on the identified template information and the measurement value information corresponding to the identified sensor information stored in the converted measurement value storage unit 134. The display information generation unit 113 calculates parameters different from the measurement values ​​corresponding to each of the multiple sensors 3 based on the measurement values ​​measured by the multiple sensors 3, and generates display information including the calculated parameters. An example of the parameter is a thermal index such as a discomfort index calculated from the temperature and humidity measured by the sensor 3. Then, the display information generation unit 113 stores the generated display information in the display information storage unit 136 in association with user identification information that identifies the user of the terminal device 2 and is included in the acquired display information request information. The display information notification unit 114 identifies display information stored in the display information storage unit 136 that corresponds to the user identification information included in the acquired display information request information, and transmits the identified display information to the terminal device 2.

[0029] When the protocol acquisition unit 115 acquires protocol notification information transmitted from the terminal device 2, it extracts protocol information, sensor information, and sender identification information that identifies the gateway device 8, included in the acquired protocol notification information, and stores the extracted pieces of information in association with each other in the protocol storage unit 131. When the format acquisition unit 116 acquires format information transmitted from the terminal device 2, it extracts format information and sensor information included in the acquired format notification information, and stores the extracted pieces of information in association with each other in the format storage unit 133. When the template acquisition unit 117 acquires the above-mentioned used template notification information transmitted from the terminal device 2, it extracts template information, sensor group identification information, and user identification information included in the acquired used template notification information, and stores the extracted pieces of information in association with each other in the template information storage unit 135.

[0030] When the recommended template selection unit 118 receives the template recommendation request information transmitted from the terminal device 2, it selects the template information that is most frequently selected from the template information stored in the template information storage unit 135 and that corresponds to the sensor group identification information included in the template recommendation request information. Here, for example, the recommended template selection unit 118 first selects, from the template information stored in the template information storage unit 135, a combination of template information that corresponds to sensor group identification information that matches the sensor group identification information included in the template recommendation request information. Then, from the selected combinations of template information, the recommended template selection unit 118 selects the combination of template information that is most frequently selected. Furthermore, if the template information stored in the template information storage unit 135 does not include a combination of template information that corresponds to sensor group identification information that matches the sensor group identification information included in the template recommendation request information, the recommended template selection unit 118 identifies at least one combination of sensor information stored in the sensor information storage unit 138 that corresponds to the sensor group identification information, and identifies sensor group identification information that corresponds to a sensor group that matches a part of the identified combination of sensor information. The recommended template selection unit 118 then selects a combination of template information that corresponds to the specified sensor group identification information. From the selected combinations of template information, the recommended template selection unit 118 then selects the combination of template information that is selected most frequently. The template notification unit 119 generates template notification information including the template information selected by the recommended template selection unit 118, and sends this to the terminal device 2.

[0031] When the setting notification acquisition unit 120 acquires setting notification information transmitted from the terminal device 2, the setting notification acquisition unit 120 associates the sensor information and setting information included in the acquired setting notification information with each other and stores them in the setting storage unit 137. Furthermore, when the setting notification acquisition unit 120 acquires setting notification information including sensor information for each of the multiple sensors 3 and setting information indicating the same setting content to be performed on the multiple sensors 3, the setting notification acquisition unit 120 extracts the sensor information and setting information for each of the multiple sensors 3 included in the acquired setting notification information, associates them with each other, and stores them in the setting storage unit 137. The sensor setting unit 121 identifies protocol information stored in the protocol storage unit 131 that corresponds to the sensor information of the sensor 3 stored in the setting storage unit 127, and transmits the setting information associated with the sensor information of the sensor 3 stored in the setting storage unit 137 to the sensor 3 corresponding to the sensor information, using the communication protocol indicated by the identified protocol information. In addition, the sensor setting unit 121 identifies protocol information stored in the protocol memory unit 131 and corresponding to each of the sensor information of the multiple sensors 3 stored in the setting memory unit 137, and transmits the setting information corresponding to the combination of sensor information of the multiple sensors 3 stored in the setting memory unit to each of the multiple sensors 3 using the communication protocol indicated by the identified protocol information.

[0032] Next, the operation of the sensor management system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9. First, as shown in FIG. 6, when a user performs a protocol setting and format setting preparation operation via the input unit 205 of the terminal device 2, the terminal device 4 forms a setting screen image for performing protocol setting and format setting and displays it on the display unit 204 (step S1). Here, the terminal device 4 displays, for example, a setting screen image GA1 for format setting, as shown in FIG. 7A, on the display unit 204. The setting screen image GA1 includes, for example, five input field images B11, B12, B13, B14, and B15, and button images BU11 and BU12. The input field image B11 represents an input field for specifying the "format item name" to be set in the format. The input field images B12 and B13 represent input fields for entering the "starting digit" and "number of characters" to specify the storage location of the measurement value in the measurement value information. Furthermore, input field image B14 represents an input field for specifying the type of measurement value included in the measurement value information, and input field image B15 represents an input field for specifying the observation item corresponding to the measurement value information. Button image BU11 is selected when confirming the input content, and button image BU12 is selected when clearing the input content corresponding to input field images B11, B12, B13, B14, and B15.

[0033] Alternatively, the terminal device 4 displays, on the display unit 204, a setting screen image GA2 for format setting, as shown in FIG. 7B . The setting screen image GA2 includes, for example, four input field images B21, B22, B23, and B24, and button images BU11 and BU12. The input field image B21 represents an input field for specifying a "format item name" that is the target of format setting, and the input field image B22 represents an input field for inputting a "JSON key" that specifies the storage location of a measurement value expressed in JSON format. The input field image B23 represents an input field for specifying the type of measurement value included in the measurement value information, and the input field image B24 represents an input field for specifying an observation item corresponding to the measurement value information.

[0034] Returning to FIG. 6 , when the user performs the aforementioned protocol setting operation and formatting operation via the input unit 205 of the terminal device 2, the terminal device 4 generates protocol notification information and format notification information (step S2). Here, the format setting operation is, for example, an operation in which the user selects button image BU11 via the input unit 205 while the terminal device 4 is displaying setting screen images GA1 and GA2 as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B . The generated protocol notification information and format notification information are then transmitted from the terminal device 2 to the cloud server 1 (step S3). Meanwhile, upon acquiring the protocol notification information, the cloud server 1 extracts the protocol information, sensor information, and sender identification information identifying the gateway device 8 from the acquired protocol notification information, associates the extracted information with each other, and stores the associated information in the protocol storage unit 131. Furthermore, upon acquiring the format information, the cloud server 1 extracts the format information and sensor information from the acquired format notification information, and associates the extracted information with each other and stores the associated information in the format storage unit 133 (step S4).

[0035] Thereafter, when the user performs the aforementioned template selection operation via input unit 205 of terminal device 2, terminal device 4 generates the aforementioned used template notification information (step S5). The generated used template notification information is then transmitted from terminal device 2 to cloud server 1 (step S6). Meanwhile, upon acquiring the used template notification information, cloud server 1 extracts the template information, sensor group identification information, and user identification information included in the acquired used template notification information, and stores the extracted information in the template information storage unit 135 in association with each other (step S7).

[0036] When the measurement value notification time arrives, the sensor 3 generates measurement value notification information including the measurement value information obtained by the measurement (step S8).The generated measurement value notification information is then transmitted from the sensor 3 to the cloud server 1 (step S9).

[0037] Meanwhile, when the cloud server 1 acquires the measurement value notification information, it extracts the measurement value information included in the acquired measurement value notification information and stores the extracted measurement value information in the pre-conversion measurement value storage unit 132 in association with the sensor information of the sensor 3 to which the measurement value request information was sent (step S10). Thereafter, the cloud server 1 identifies sensor information corresponding to the measurement value information to be converted into a common format from the measurement value information stored in the pre-conversion measurement value storage unit 132, and identifies format information corresponding to the identified sensor information from the format information stored in the format storage unit 133. Then, the cloud server 1 converts the identified measurement value information into the common format based on the identified format information, and stores the converted measurement value storage unit 134 (step S11).

[0038] Next, when the user performs the dashboard image display operation via the input unit 205 of the terminal device 2, the terminal device 4 generates the display information request information (step S12), and the generated display information request information is transmitted from the terminal device 2 to the cloud server 1 (step S13). Meanwhile, upon receiving the display information request information, the cloud server 1 generates the display information based on the template information and the converted measurement value information (step S14). Here, the cloud server 1 stores the generated display information in the display information storage unit 136 in association with the user identification information included in the received display information request information. Subsequently, the display information stored in the display information storage unit 136 is transmitted from the cloud server 1 to the terminal device 2 associated with the user identification information corresponding to the display information (step S15).

[0039] On the other hand, when the terminal device 2 acquires the display information, as shown in FIG. 8 , the terminal device 2 forms a dashboard image using the acquired display information and displays it on the display unit 204 (step S16). Here, the terminal device 4 causes the display unit 204 to display, for example, a dashboard image GA3 as shown in FIG. 9A . The dashboard image GA3 includes a measurement value display box image GA31 that displays the measurement values ​​measured by each sensor 3 and a graph image GA32 that shows the progress of the discomfort index, which is a parameter calculated from the measurement values ​​of the sensors 3. The dashboard image GA3 also includes a template name display image TN1 that shows the name of the selected template. Alternatively, the terminal device 4 causes the display unit 204 to display, for example, a dashboard image GA4 as shown in FIG. 9B . The dashboard image GA4 includes a graph image GA41 that shows the progress of the measurement values ​​of the sensors 3 and a template name display image TN2 that shows the name of the selected template.

[0040] Returning to FIG. 8 , when the user subsequently performs an operation to display recommended templates including the sensor information via the input unit 205 of the terminal device 2, the terminal device 4 generates the template recommendation request information (step S17), and the generated template recommendation request information is transmitted from the terminal device 2 to the cloud server 1 (step S18). Meanwhile, upon acquiring the template recommendation request information, the cloud server 1 selects the template information that is most frequently selected from the template information stored in the template information storage unit 135 and that corresponds to the sensor group identification information included in the template recommendation request information (step S19). Next, the cloud server 1 generates template notification information including the selected template information (step S20), and the generated template notification information is transmitted from the cloud server 1 to the terminal device 2 (step S21). Meanwhile, upon acquiring the recommended template notification information, the terminal device 2 forms the recommended template notification image using the template information included in the acquired recommended template notification information, and displays it on the display unit 204 (step S22).

[0041] Furthermore, when the user performs the aforementioned sensor setting change operation via the input unit 205 of the terminal device 2, the terminal device 4 generates the aforementioned setting notification information (step S23), and the generated setting notification information is transmitted from the terminal device 2 to the cloud server 1 (step S24). Meanwhile, upon receiving the setting notification information, the cloud server 1 extracts the sensor information and setting information contained in the received setting notification information, associates the extracted sensor information and setting information with each other, and stores them in the setting storage unit 137 (step S25). Next, the cloud server 1 identifies protocol information stored in the protocol storage unit 131 that corresponds to the sensor information of the sensor 3 stored in the setting storage unit 127, and transmits the setting information associated with the sensor information of the sensor 3 stored in the setting storage unit 137 from the cloud server 1 to the sensor 3 corresponding to the sensor information via the communication protocol indicated by the identified protocol information (step S26). Meanwhile, upon receiving the setting information, the sensor 3 changes its setting based on the acquired setting information (step S27).

[0042] Next, the sensor management process executed by the cloud server 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11 . This sensor management process is initiated, for example, when a program for executing the sensor management process is launched in the cloud server 1. First, the protocol acquisition unit 115 determines whether protocol notification information transmitted from the terminal device 2 has been acquired (step S101). If the protocol acquisition unit 115 determines that protocol notification information has not been acquired (step S101: No), the process of step S103, described below, is executed. On the other hand, if the protocol acquisition unit 115 determines that protocol notification information has been acquired (step S101: Yes), the protocol acquisition unit 115 extracts the protocol information, sensor information, and sender identification information identifying the gateway device 8 from the acquired protocol notification information, and stores the extracted information in the protocol storage unit 131 in association with each other (step S1202). Next, the format acquisition unit 116 determines whether format information transmitted from the terminal device 2 has been acquired (step S103). If the format acquisition unit 116 determines that the format information has not been acquired (step S103: No), the process proceeds to step S105, which will be described later. On the other hand, if the format acquisition unit 116 determines that the format information has been acquired (step S103: Yes), the format acquisition unit 116 extracts the format information and sensor information included in the acquired format notification information, associates the extracted information with each other, and stores them in the format storage unit 133 (step S104).

[0043] Next, the template acquisition unit 117 determines whether it has acquired the previously described used template notification information transmitted from the terminal device 2 (Step S105). If the template acquisition unit 117 determines that it has not acquired used template notification information (Step S105: No), it executes the processing of Step S107, which will be described later. On the other hand, if the template acquisition unit 117 determines that it has acquired used template notification information (Step S105: Yes), it extracts the template information, sensor group identification information, and user identification information included in the acquired used template notification information, and stores the extracted information in the template information storage unit 135 in association with each other (Step S106).

[0044] Thereafter, the measurement value acquisition unit 111 determines whether or not the measurement value notification information described above has been acquired (step S107). If the measurement value acquisition unit 111 determines that the measurement value notification information has not been acquired (step S107: No), the process of step S112 described below is executed. On the other hand, if the measurement value acquisition unit 111 determines that the measurement value notification information has been acquired (step S107: Yes), the measurement value acquisition unit 111 extracts the measurement value information included in the acquired measurement value notification information and stores the extracted measurement value information in the pre-conversion measurement value storage unit 132 in association with the sensor information of the sensor 3 that is the destination of the measurement value request information (step S108).

[0045] Next, the converter 112 identifies sensor information corresponding to the measurement value information to be converted into a preset common format from the measurement value information stored in the pre-conversion measurement value storage unit 132, and also identifies format information corresponding to the identified sensor information from the format information stored in the format storage unit 133. Then, the converter 112 converts the identified measurement value information into the aforementioned common format based on the identified format information, and stores the measurement value information with the converted format in the converted measurement value storage unit 134 (step S109).

[0046] Next, the display information generation unit 113 determines whether or not the display information request information transmitted from the terminal device 2 has been acquired (step S110). If the display information generation unit 113 determines that the display information request information has not been acquired (step S110: No), the process of step S114, which will be described later, is executed. On the other hand, if the display information generation unit 113 determines that the display information request information has been acquired (step S110: Yes), the display information generation unit 113 generates display information to be included in a dashboard image displayed on the display unit 204 of the terminal device 2, including the converted measurement value information, based on the template information and the converted measurement value information. At this time, the display information generation unit 113 stores the generated display information in the display information storage unit 136 in association with user identification information identifying the user of the terminal device 2, which is included in the acquired display information request information. Then, the display information notification unit 114 identifies display information stored in the display information storage unit 136 that corresponds to the user identification information included in the acquired display information request information, and transmits the identified display information to the terminal device 2 (step S111).

[0047] 11 , the recommended template selection unit 118 then determines whether or not it has received the above-mentioned template recommendation request information transmitted from the terminal device 2 (step S112). If the recommended template selection unit 118 determines that it has not received template recommendation request information (step S112: No), it executes the processing of step 115, described below. On the other hand, if it determines that it has received template recommendation request information (step S112: Yes), it selects the template information that is most frequently selected from among the template information stored in the template information storage unit 135 that corresponds to the sensor group identification information included in the template recommendation request information, or from among the template information that corresponds to sensor group identification information whose corresponding sensor information partially matches the sensor information corresponding to the sensor group identification information included in the template recommendation request information (step S113). Next, the template notification unit 119 generates template notification information including the template information selected by the recommended template selection unit 118, and sends the template notification information to the terminal device 2 (step S114).

[0048] Next, the setting notification acquisition unit 120 determines whether or not it has acquired setting notification information transmitted from the terminal device 2 (step S115). If the setting notification acquisition unit 120 determines that it has not acquired setting notification information (step S115: No), it executes the process of step S101 again. On the other hand, if the setting notification acquisition unit 120 determines that it has acquired setting notification information (step S115: Yes), it extracts the sensor information and setting information included in the acquired setting notification information, associates the extracted sensor information and setting information with each other, and stores them in the setting storage unit 137 (step S116). Here, when the setting notification acquisition unit 120 acquires setting notification information including sensor information for each of the multiple sensors 3 and setting information indicating the same setting content to be performed on the multiple sensors 3, it extracts the sensor information and setting information for each of the multiple sensors 3 included in the acquired setting notification information, associates them with each other, and stores them in the setting storage unit 137. Thereafter, the sensor setting unit 121 identifies protocol information stored in the protocol storage unit 131 that corresponds to the sensor information of the sensor 3 stored in the setting storage unit 127, and transmits the setting information associated with the sensor information of the sensor 3 stored in the setting storage unit 137 to the sensor 3 corresponding to the sensor information using the communication protocol indicated by the identified protocol information (step S117). Here, the sensor setting unit 121 identifies protocol information stored in the protocol storage unit 131 that corresponds to each piece of sensor information of the multiple sensors 3 stored in the setting storage unit 137, and transmits the setting information associated with the combination of the sensor information of the multiple sensors 3 stored in the setting storage unit to each of the multiple sensors 3 using the communication protocol indicated by the identified protocol information. Next, the processing of step S101 is executed again.

[0049] As described above, in the sensor management system according to this embodiment, when the recommended template selector 118 acquires template recommendation request information sent from the terminal device 2, the recommended template selector 118 selects the template information that is most frequently selected from the template information stored in the template information storage unit 135 and that corresponds to the sensor information included in the acquired template recommendation request information. This allows the user, when monitoring measurement values ​​measured by the sensor 3, to select a template based on the trend of templates selected for the sensor 3 that the user is going to use, making it easier for the user to monitor measurement values ​​measured by the sensor 3 using an appropriate template.

[0050] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, the cloud server 1 may be configured with multiple virtual servers that function as part of the measurement value acquisition unit 111, conversion unit 112, display information generation unit 113, display information notification unit 114, protocol acquisition unit 115, format acquisition unit 116, template acquisition unit 117, recommended template selection unit 118, template notification unit 119, setting notification acquisition unit 120, and sensor setting unit 121. Alternatively, the entire function of the cloud server 1 may be realized by multiple physical servers.

[0051] In the embodiment, an example has been described in which, in the cloud server 1, when the recommended template selection unit 118 selects template information, the template notification unit 119 generates recommended template notification information including the selected template information and transmits it to the terminal device 2; when the terminal device 2 acquires the recommended template notification information, the terminal device 2 forms a recommended template notification image using the template information included in the acquired recommended template notification information and displays it on the display unit 204. However, this is not limiting; for example, when the recommended template selection unit 118 selects template information, it may notify the display information generation unit 113 of the selected template information. Then, the display information generation unit 113 may generate the above-mentioned display information based on the notified template information and post-conversion measurement value information, and the display information notification unit 114 may transmit the display information to the terminal device 2. In this case, the display information generated based on the template information selected by the recommended template selection unit 118 is transmitted to the terminal device 2 without the user having to perform an operation to select template information on the terminal device 2. This allows the terminal device 2 to automatically display on the display unit 204 a dashboard image based on the template information selected by the recommended template selection unit 118.

[0052] Furthermore, the various functions of the cloud server 1 and terminal device 2 according to the present invention may be realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. In this case, the software or firmware may be written as a program, and the program may be stored and distributed on a computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), or an MO (Magneto-Optical Disc). A computer capable of realizing the aforementioned functions may be configured by loading and installing the program on a computer. Furthermore, if the functions are realized by sharing the work between an operating system (OS) and an application, or by cooperation between the OS and an application, only the parts other than the OS may be stored on the recording medium.

[0053] Furthermore, each program may be superimposed on a carrier wave and distributed via a communication network. For example, the program may be posted on a bulletin board system (BBS) on the communication network and distributed via the network. These programs may then be started and executed under the control of the OS in the same way as other application programs, thereby enabling the above-described processing to be performed.

[0054] The present invention allows various embodiments and modifications without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments are intended to illustrate the present invention and do not limit the scope of the present invention. That is, the scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not the embodiments. Various modifications made within the scope of the claims and the meaning of the invention equivalent thereto are considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

[0055] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-108865, filed on June 14, 2023. The entire specification, claims and drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-108865 are incorporated herein by reference.

[0056] The present invention is suitable for use as a sensor management system that provides a service for displaying a dashboard image showing measurement values ​​measured by a sensor on a terminal device.

[0057] 1: Cloud server 1: Terminal device, 3: Sensor, 8: Gateway device, 101, 201: CPU, 102, 202: Main memory unit, 103, 203: Auxiliary memory unit, 106, 206: Communication unit, 108: Timekeeping unit, 109, 209: Bus, 111: Measurement value acquisition unit, 112: Conversion unit, 113: Display information generation unit, 114: Display information notification unit, 115: Protocol acquisition unit, 116: Format acquisition unit, 117: Template acquisition unit, 118: Recommended template selection unit, 119: Recommended template notification unit, 120: Setting notification acquisition unit, 121: Sensor setting unit, 131: Protocol storage unit, 132: Pre-conversion measurement value storage unit, 133: Format storage unit, 134: Conversion measurement value storage unit, 135 : template information storage unit, 136, 231: display information storage unit, 137, 232: setting storage unit, 138: sensor information storage unit, 204: display unit, 205: input unit, 211: display information acquisition unit, 212: display control unit, 213: protocol / format notification unit, 214: template notification unit, 215: recommended template acquisition unit, 216: setting notification unit, B11, B12, B13, B14, B21, B22, B23, B24: input field images, BU11, BU12: button images, GA1, GA2: setting screen images, GA3, GA4: dashboard images, GA31: measurement value display box image, NW1: wide area network, NW2: local network, TN1, TN2: template name display images

Claims

1. A sensor management system comprising: a terminal device; a template information storage unit that stores template information indicating a display manner on the terminal device of measurement values ​​obtained by measurement using a sensor group consisting of at least one sensor previously selected by a user, in association with sensor group identification information that identifies each of the corresponding sensor groups consisting of the at least one sensor; and a recommended template selection unit that, upon receipt of template recommendation request information transmitted from the terminal device, the template information storage unit selects, upon receipt of template recommendation request information that includes sensor group identification information that identifies each of the sensor groups consisting of the at least one sensor used by a user, template information that is most frequently selected from among the template information stored in the template information storage unit that corresponds to sensor group identification information that identifies a sensor group including at least one of the combinations of at least one sensor that constitutes a sensor group identified by the sensor group identification information included in the template recommendation request information.

2. A sensor management system as described in claim 1, further comprising: a setting memory unit that stores setting information for performing the same setting on a plurality of said sensors, in correspondence with sensor identification information that identifies each of the plurality of said sensors; a protocol memory unit that stores protocol information indicating a pre-set communication protocol to be used when communicating with the plurality of said sensors, in correspondence with the sensor identification information of each of the plurality of said sensors; a setting notification acquisition unit that, when setting notification information transmitted from the terminal device is acquired, the setting notification information including the sensor identification information of each of the plurality of said sensors and setting information indicating the same setting content to be performed on the plurality of said sensors, extracts the sensor identification information and the setting information included in the acquired setting notification information, associates them with each other, and stores them in the setting memory unit; and a sensor setting unit that identifies the protocol information stored in the protocol memory unit that corresponds to each of the sensor identification information of each of the plurality of said sensors stored in the setting memory unit, and transmits the setting information associated with the sensor identification information of each of the plurality of said sensors stored in the setting memory unit to each of the plurality of said sensors via the communication protocol indicated by the identified protocol information.

3. A sensor management system as described in claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a display information generation unit that calculates parameters different from the measurement values ​​corresponding to each of the multiple sensors based on the measurement values ​​measured by the multiple sensors, and generates display information to be displayed on the terminal device including the calculated parameters; and a display information notification unit that transmits the generated display information to the terminal device.

4. A sensor management system as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: a measurement value acquisition unit that acquires measurement value notification information including measurement value information indicating the measurement value corresponding to each of at least one of the sensors using a preset communication protocol used when communicating with at least one of the sensors, and extracts the measurement value information included in the acquired measurement value notification information; a conversion unit that converts the measurement value information into a preset common format based on format information indicating a measurement value format preset for each of the at least one of the sensors; and a display information generation unit that generates display information to be displayed on the terminal device including the converted measurement value information.

5. A sensor management device comprising: a template information storage unit that stores template information indicating a display manner on a terminal device of measurement values ​​obtained by measurement using a sensor group consisting of at least one sensor selected in the past by a user, in association with sensor group identification information that identifies each of the corresponding sensor groups consisting of the at least one sensor; and a recommended template selection unit that, upon receiving template recommendation request information transmitted from the terminal device, the template information storage unit stores template information corresponding to sensor group identification information that identifies each of the sensor groups consisting of the at least one sensor used by the user, and the template information indicating a template recommended for selection.

6. A sensor management method comprising: a step of storing, in a template information storage unit, template information indicating a display manner on a terminal device of measurement values ​​obtained by measurement using a sensor group consisting of at least one sensor previously selected by a user, in association with sensor group identification information identifying each of the corresponding sensor groups consisting of the at least one sensor; and a step of selecting, when the sensor management device acquires template recommendation request information transmitted from the terminal device, the template information storage unit selecting template information corresponding to sensor group identification information identifying a sensor group including at least one of the combinations of at least one sensor that constitutes the sensor group identified by the sensor group identification information included in the template recommendation request information.

7. A program for causing a computer to function as a recommended template selection unit that, upon receiving template recommendation request information transmitted from a terminal device, including sensor group identification information identifying each sensor group composed of at least one sensor used by a user, and requesting the transmission of template information indicating a template recommended for selection, selects template information that is most frequently selected from template information corresponding to sensor group identification information that identifies a sensor group including at least one of the combinations of at least one sensor that constitutes a sensor group identified by the sensor group identification information included in the template recommendation request information, the template information being stored in a template information storage unit that stores template information indicating a display manner in the terminal device of measurement values ​​obtained by measurement using a sensor group composed of at least one sensor previously selected by a user, in association with sensor group identification information that identifies a corresponding sensor group composed of at least one sensor.

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