Expansion board, data collection system, data collection method, and program

Abstract

An expansion board (100) is provided with a first communication interface, a second communication interface, a third communication interface, and a control unit (114). The first communication interface is configured to be connectable to a first terminal device and enables communication with the first terminal device. The second communication interface is configured to be connectable to a second terminal device and enables communication with the second terminal device. The third communication interface is configured to be connectable to a network and enables communication with an apparatus on the network. The control unit (114) controls the first communication interface, the second communication interface, and the third communication interface to perform communication. The control unit (114) communicates with the apparatus on the network, collects data from the apparatus, and transmits the collected data to the first terminal device. If the communication with the first terminal device is disconnected, the control unit (114) transmits the collected data to the second terminal device.

Description

Expansion board, data collection system, data collection method, and program

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an expansion board, a data collection system, a data collection method, and a program.

[0002] Industrial networks are used to connect devices, including input devices, output devices, and controllers, using their own communication standards. In order to analyze data collected from devices on an industrial network using a terminal device with high processing power, such as a personal computer, an expansion board is required to connect the terminal device to the industrial network.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes an interface device including a PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) interface, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface, and a system controller that controls the PCIe interface and the USB interface. The interface device can selectively switch the connection between the PCIe interface or the USB interface and the system controller.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-226457

[0005] According to the device described in Patent Document 1, two types of communication interfaces are implemented in a personal computer via a single communication path, and it is possible to switch between the two types of communication interfaces. However, if the communication connected to the personal computer is cut off, there is a problem in that communication cannot be continued using either communication interface.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of such problems, and aims to provide an expansion board, a data collection system, a data collection method, and a program that can ensure connection redundancy and maintain a connection between a terminal device and an industrial network.

[0007] To achieve the above object, an expansion board according to the present disclosure includes a first communication interface, a second communication interface, a third communication interface, and a control unit. The first communication interface is configured to be connectable to a first terminal device and enables communication with the connected first terminal device. The second communication interface is configured to be connectable to a second terminal device and enables communication with the connected second terminal device. The third communication interface is configured to be connectable to a network and enables communication with devices on the network. The control unit controls the first communication interface, the second communication interface, and the third communication interface to perform communication. The control unit communicates with devices on the network, collects data from the devices, and transmits the collected data to the first terminal device, and, when communication with the first terminal device is disconnected, transmits the collected data to the second terminal device.

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an expansion board, a data collection system, a data collection method, and a program that can ensure connection redundancy and continue the connection between a terminal device and an industrial network.

[0009] A block diagram showing the configuration of a data collection system according to an embodiment. A perspective view showing the configuration of an expansion board according to an embodiment. A block diagram showing the configuration of an expansion board according to an embodiment. A flowchart showing an example of data collection processing executed by an expansion board according to an embodiment. A flowchart showing another example of data collection processing executed by an expansion board according to an embodiment. A block diagram showing the configuration of a data collection system according to a modified example.

[0010] A data collection system 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. Identical or corresponding parts in the figures are designated by the same reference numerals. The data collection system 1 according to the embodiment is a system that collects data from devices on an industrial network and stores the data redundantly in multiple terminal devices.

[0011] 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a data collection system 1 according to an embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the data collection system 1 includes an expansion board 100 connected to an industrial network 400 and collecting data, a terminal device 200 connected to the expansion board 100 via PCIe, and a terminal device 300 connected to the expansion board 100 via USB.

[0012] The expansion board 100 is a device connected to the industrial network 400 and collects data on the industrial network 400. The expansion board 100 is connected to the terminal device 200 via a PCIe interface 201 provided in the terminal device 200. The expansion board 100 communicates with the terminal device 200 via driver software 202 installed in the terminal device 200. The expansion board 100 communicates with devices connected to the industrial network 400 and collects data based on communication setting information set via the driver software 202 installed in the terminal device 200.

[0013] The expansion board 100 is connected to the terminal device 300 via a USB interface 301 provided in the terminal device 300. The expansion board 100 communicates with the terminal device 300 via driver software 302 installed in the terminal device 300.

[0014] The terminal device 200 is a first terminal device that receives and stores data collected by the expansion board 100. The terminal device 200 includes a PCIe interface 201 that is connected to the expansion board 100, and driver software 202 that enables communication with the expansion board 100 and setting communication setting information for the expansion board 100 is installed on the terminal device 200. The terminal device 200 may include a processing device, a storage device, and an interface, but these are not shown in the figure. The terminal device 200 may be, but is not limited to, a personal computer.

[0015] The terminal device 300 is a second terminal device that receives and stores data collected by the expansion board 100, similar to the terminal device 200. The terminal device 300 has a USB interface 301 connected to the expansion board 100, and driver software 302 is installed on the terminal device 300, which enables communication with the expansion board 100 and setting of communication setting information on the expansion board 100. The terminal device 300 may include a processing device, a storage device, and an interface, but these are not shown in the figure. The terminal device 300 may be, but is not limited to, a personal computer.

[0016] 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the expansion board 100. As shown in Fig. 2, the expansion board 100 includes an electronic substrate 101 on which electronic components are arranged, a bus interface 102 which is a terminal connected to the terminal device 200, a USB port 103 which is a port conforming to the USB standard, an industrial network port 104 which is a port conforming to the industrial network 400 standard, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) 105 which provides a visual notification to the user by lighting up or blinking, and a mounting portion 106 which is a metal fitting formed so as to be able to be fixed to the housing of the terminal device 200.

[0017] The electronic board 101 is an electronic board on which a circuit, a processing unit, and a storage unit are arranged. The electronic board 101 is placed on the mounting portion 106 and connected to the bus interface 102, the industrial network port 104, the USB port 103, the mounting portion 106, and the LED 105.

[0018] The bus interface 102 is a connection terminal conforming to the PCIe standard and is configured to be connectable to a PCIe slot. The bus interface 102 is connected to a PCIe interface 201 of the terminal device 200.

[0019] The USB port 103 is a USB-standard port that can be connected to a USB-standard terminal, and is connected to the terminal device 300 via a USB cable.

[0020] The industrial network port 104 is a port that conforms to the industrial network 400 standards and is configured to be connectable to a cable or antenna that constitutes the industrial network 400 .

[0021] The LED 105 is a light-emitting element that can light up or blink. The LED 105 lights up or blinks to notify the user that there is an abnormality in the connection between the expansion board 100 and the terminal device 200 or 300.

[0022] The mounting portion 106 is a member on which the electronic board 101, the bus interface 102, the USB port 103, the industrial network port 104, and the LED 105 are arranged, and is formed so as to be fixable to the housing of the terminal device 200 with the bus interface 102 connected to the PCIe interface 201 of the terminal device 200. In other words, the mounting portion 106 is formed so as to be able to be placed at a position corresponding to the PCIe expansion slot of the housing of the terminal device 200. The mounting portion 106 may be made of metal or resin, but is not limited to these.

[0023] Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the expansion board 100. As shown in Fig. 3, the expansion board 100 includes a PCIe communication unit 111 that controls PCIe communication with the terminal device 200, a USB communication unit 112 that controls USB communication with the terminal device 300, an industrial network communication unit 113 that controls communication with the industrial network, and a control unit 114 that collects data and determines abnormalities in the communication or the terminal.

[0024] The PCIe communication unit 111 is connected to a signal line of the bus interface 102 that constitutes the PCIe bus, and controls communication via the PCIe bus. The PCIe communication unit 111 recognizes the terminal device 200 connected via the PCIe bus, and controls communication with the terminal device 200. At least one of the PCIe communication unit 111 and the bus interface 102 constitutes a first communication interface.

[0025] The USB communication unit 112 is connected to a signal line of the USB port 103 that constitutes the USB, and controls communication via the USB. The USB communication unit 112 recognizes the terminal device 300 connected via the USB, and controls communication with the terminal device 300. At least one of the USB communication unit 112 and the USB port 103 constitutes a second communication interface.

[0026] The industrial network communication unit 113 is connected to the signal line of the industrial network port 104 and controls communication via the industrial network 400. The industrial network communication unit 113 recognizes devices on the industrial network 400 and controls communication with the devices on the industrial network 400. At least one of the industrial network communication unit 113 and the industrial network port 104 configures a third communication interface.

[0027] The control unit 114 controls the PCIe communication unit 111, the USB communication unit 112, and the industrial network 400 to communicate with the terminal devices 200, 300, and devices on the industrial network 400. The control unit 114 collects data from devices connected to the industrial network 400 via the PCIe communication unit 111, the USB communication unit 112, and the industrial network 400. The control unit 114 monitors the communication status between the expansion board 100 and the terminal devices 200 and 300, as well as the operating status of the terminal devices 200 and 300, and notifies the user if it determines that an abnormality has occurred. The control unit 114 may be, but is not limited to, a circuit.

[0028] The control unit 114 controls the industrial network communication unit 113 to collect industrial network data via the industrial network, and transmits the collected data to the terminal device 200 and the terminal device 300 to store them.

[0029] The following describes the process of collecting data while monitoring access via the PCIe bus by the control unit 114. The control unit 114 monitors the state of communication with the terminal device 200 via the PCIe bus, and when there is access from the terminal device 200 via the PCIe bus to the expansion board 100, the control unit 114 transmits the collected industrial network data to the terminal device 200 via the PCIe bus and causes it to be stored.

[0030] The control unit 114 monitors the communication state with the terminal device 300 connected to the expansion board 100 via USB, and the operating state of the terminal device 300. If the control unit 114 determines that there is an abnormality in the USB communication as a result of monitoring the USB communication state, it notifies the terminal device 200 of a USB communication abnormality. If the control unit 114 determines that there is an abnormality in the operation of the terminal device 300 as a result of monitoring the operating state of the terminal device 300, it notifies the terminal device 200 of a USB-side terminal operation abnormality.

[0031] When the driver software 202 installed in the terminal device 200 receives a USB communication abnormality or a USB-side terminal operation abnormality from the expansion board 100, it notifies the user that there is an abnormality in the USB communication or the operation of the terminal device 300, respectively.

[0032] If there is no access from the terminal device 200 to the expansion board 100 via the PCIe bus, the control unit 114 inquires of the terminal device 200 about whether access is possible. If access to the terminal device 200 is impossible, the control unit 114 determines that there is an abnormality in the PCIe communication and notifies the terminal device 300 of the PCIe communication abnormality. If access to the terminal device 200 is possible, the control unit 114 determines that there is an abnormality in the operation of the terminal device 200 and notifies the terminal device 300 of the PCIe side terminal operation abnormality. An abnormality in the operation of the terminal device 200 may include, but is not limited to, a software abnormality in the terminal device 200.

[0033] When the driver software 302 installed in the terminal device 300 receives a PCIe communication abnormality or a PCIe-side terminal operation abnormality from the expansion board 100, it notifies the user that there is an abnormality in the PCIe communication or the operation of the terminal device 200, respectively.

[0034] The following describes the process of collecting data while monitoring access via USB by the control unit 114. The control unit 114 monitors the state of communication with the terminal device 300 via USB, and when there is access from the terminal device 300 via USB to the expansion board 100, it transmits the collected industrial network data to the terminal device 300 via USB and stores it there.

[0035] The control unit 114 monitors the communication state with the terminal device 200 connected to the expansion board 100 via the PCIe bus, and the operation state of the terminal device 200. If the control unit 114 determines that there is an abnormality in the PCIe communication as a result of monitoring the communication state of the PCIe bus, it notifies the terminal device 300 of a PCIe communication abnormality. If the control unit 114 determines that there is an abnormality in the operation of the terminal device 200 as a result of monitoring the operation state of the terminal device 200, it notifies the terminal device 300 of a PCIe side terminal operation abnormality.

[0036] A method for monitoring PCIe communication and notifying the terminal device 300 of an abnormality may include, but is not limited to, transmitting PCIe AER (Advanced Error Reporting) information to the terminal device 300.

[0037] When the driver software 302 installed in the terminal device 300 receives a PCIe communication abnormality or a PCIe-side terminal operation abnormality from the expansion board 100, it notifies the user that there is an abnormality in the PCIe communication or the operation of the terminal device 200, respectively.

[0038] If the terminal device 300 is not accessing the expansion board 100 via USB, the control unit 114 inquires of the terminal device 300 whether access is possible. If access to the terminal device 300 is not possible, the control unit 114 determines that there is an abnormality in the USB communication and notifies the terminal device 200 of the USB communication abnormality. If access to the terminal device 300 is possible, the control unit 114 determines that there is an abnormality in the operation of the terminal device 300 and notifies the terminal device 200 of the USB-side terminal operation abnormality.

[0039] When the driver software 202 installed in the terminal device 200 receives a USB communication abnormality or a USB-side terminal operation abnormality from the expansion board 100, it notifies the user that there is an abnormality in the USB communication or the operation of the terminal device 300, respectively.

[0040] The control unit 114 performs a process of monitoring PCIe communication and a process of monitoring USB communication in parallel. That is, if there is an abnormality in the PCIe communication or in the PCIe-connected terminal device 200, the control unit 114 notifies the USB-connected terminal device 300, and if there is an abnormality in the USB communication or in the USB-connected terminal device 300, the control unit 114 notifies the PCIe-connected terminal device 200.

[0041] If both PCIe communication and USB communication become inaccessible, that is, if the control unit 114 determines that at least one of a PCIe communication abnormality and a PCIe-side terminal operation abnormality has occurred and at least one of a USB communication abnormality and a USB-side terminal operation abnormality has occurred, the control unit 114 controls the LED 105 to light up or blink, thereby notifying the user that both PCIe communication and USB communication are inaccessible.

[0042] When the driver software 202 of the terminal device 200 and the driver software 302 of the terminal device 300 determine that communication with the expansion board 100 has been disconnected, they notify the user that communication with the expansion board 100 has been disconnected.

[0043] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of data collection processing executed by the expansion board 100. The data collection processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0044] When the data collection process is started, the control unit 114 of the expansion board 100 controls the industrial network communication unit 113 to collect data from the industrial network (step S101).

[0045] After collecting the data from the industrial network, the control unit 114 monitors the status of communication with the terminal device 200 via the PCIe bus and determines whether there is access from the terminal device 200 to the expansion board 100 via the PCIe bus (step S102).

[0046] If it is determined that there is access from the terminal device 200 to the expansion board 100 via the PCIe bus (step S102: YES), the control unit 114 transmits the collected industrial network data to the terminal device 200 via the PCIe bus (step S103).

[0047] When the data on the industrial network is transmitted, the control unit 114 monitors the communication state with the terminal device 300 connected to the expansion board 100 via USB and the operating state of the terminal device 300, and determines whether there is a USB communication abnormality or a USB-side terminal operation abnormality, i.e., whether there is an abnormality on the USB side (step S104). If it is determined that there is no USB communication abnormality or a USB-side terminal operation abnormality (step S104: NO), the process proceeds to step S109.

[0048] If it is determined that there is a USB communication abnormality or a USB-side terminal operation abnormality (step S104: YES), the control unit 114 notifies the terminal device 200 of the USB communication abnormality or the USB-side terminal operation abnormality via the PCIe bus (step S105), and proceeds to step S109.

[0049] If it is determined that there is no access from the terminal device 200 to the expansion board 100 via the PCIe bus (step S102: NO), the control unit 114 determines whether access to the terminal device 200 via the PCIe bus is possible (step S106).

[0050] If it is determined that the terminal device 200 is accessible (step S106: YES), the control unit 114 determines that there is an abnormality in the operation of the terminal device 200, and determines that there is an abnormality in the PCIe-side terminal operation (step S107).

[0051] If it is determined that the terminal device 200 is not accessible (step S106: NO), the control unit 114 determines that there is an abnormality in the PCIe communication, and determines that there is an abnormality in the PCIe communication (step S108).

[0052] When determining that there is a PCIe-side terminal operation abnormality or a PCIe communication abnormality, the control unit 114 determines whether or not an instruction to end data collection has been issued via the terminal device 200 (step S109). If it is determined that there is no instruction to end data collection (step S109: NO), the process returns to step S101.

[0053] If it is determined that an instruction to end data collection has been issued (step S109: YES), the data collection process ends.

[0054] 5 is a flowchart showing another example of the data collection process executed by the expansion board 100. The data collection process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0055] When the data collection process is started, the control unit 114 of the expansion board 100 controls the industrial network communication unit 113 to collect data from the industrial network (step S201).

[0056] After collecting the data from the industrial network, the control unit 114 monitors the state of communication with the terminal device 300 via USB and determines whether there is access to the expansion board 100 from the terminal device 300 via USB (step S202).

[0057] If it is determined that the terminal device 300 is accessing the expansion board 100 via USB (step S202: YES), the control unit 114 transmits the collected industrial network data to the terminal device 300 via USB (step S203).

[0058] When the data on the industrial network is transmitted, the control unit 114 monitors the communication state with the terminal device 200 connected to the expansion board 100 via PCIe and the operation state of the terminal device 200, and determines whether there is a PCIe communication abnormality or a PCIe-side terminal operation abnormality, i.e., whether there is an abnormality on the PCIe side (step S204). If it is determined that there is no PCIe communication abnormality or PCIe-side terminal operation abnormality (step S204: NO), the process proceeds to step S209.

[0059] If it is determined that there is a PCIe communication abnormality or a PCIe side terminal operation abnormality (step S204: YES), the control unit 114 notifies the terminal device 300 of the PCIe communication abnormality or the PCIe side terminal operation abnormality via USB (step S205), and proceeds to step S209.

[0060] If it is determined that the terminal device 300 is not accessing the expansion board 100 via USB (step S202: NO), the control unit 114 determines whether the terminal device 300 is accessible via USB (step S206).

[0061] If it is determined that the terminal device 300 is accessible (step S206: YES), the control unit 114 determines that there is an abnormality in the operation of the terminal device 300, and determines that there is an abnormality in the USB-side terminal operation (step S207).

[0062] If it is determined that the terminal device 300 is not accessible (step S206: NO), the control unit 114 determines that there is an abnormality in the USB communication, and determines that there is an abnormality in the USB communication (step S208).

[0063] When determining that there is a USB-side terminal operation abnormality or a USB communication abnormality, the control unit 114 determines whether or not an instruction to end data collection has been issued via the terminal device 300 (step S209). If it is determined that there is no instruction to end data collection (step S209: NO), the process returns to step S201.

[0064] If it is determined that an instruction to end data collection has been issued (step S209: YES), the data collection process ends.

[0065] By having the above configuration and executing data collection processing, the data collection system according to the embodiment can maintain the connection between the terminal device and the industrial network by connecting the expansion board, which connects to the industrial network, to the terminal device via PCIe and USB, ensuring connection redundancy.

[0066] In the data collection system according to the embodiment, when one of PCIe communication and USB communication is disconnected, the data collection system notifies the terminal device connected via the other communication that the connection has been disconnected, thereby saving data at the time of the disconnection and securing useful data to be used for maintaining the system.

[0067] (Modification) Although the expansion board 100 is connected to the terminal device 200 via the PCIe interface 201 provided in the terminal device 200, this is not limitative. The expansion board 100 may be connected to the terminal device 200 and communicate with the terminal device 200 using other standards, including PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect).

[0068] Similarly, although the expansion board 100 is connected to the terminal device 300 via the USB interface 301 provided in the terminal device 300, this is not limiting. The expansion board 100 may be connected to the terminal device 200 using other standards including PCI to perform communication, or may perform communication using the same PCIe standard as the terminal device 200.

[0069] Although the expansion board 100 has been described as being connected to the terminal device 200 and the terminal device 300, this is not limiting. The expansion board 100 may be connected to a single terminal device 200. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a data collection system 1 according to a modified example. As shown in FIG. 6, the data collection system 1 includes the expansion board 100 and a terminal device 250 that is connected to the expansion board 100 via PCIe and USB. By connecting only one terminal device to the expansion board 100, it is possible to reduce the size of the system.

[0070] Although the expansion board 100 has been described as communicating simultaneously with the PCIe-connected terminal device 200 and the USB-connected terminal device 300, this is not limiting. The expansion board 100 may communicate only with the PCIe-connected terminal device 200, and communicate with the terminal device 200 only when a PCIe communication abnormality or a PCIe-side terminal operation abnormality is detected. The expansion board 100 may communicate only with the USB-connected terminal device 300, and communicate with the terminal device 300 only when a USB communication abnormality or a USB-side terminal operation abnormality is detected. By communicating only with either the terminal device 200 or the terminal device 300, it is possible to prevent consumption of the processing capacity of the other.

[0071] 4 and 5, the data collection process is ended when it is determined that an instruction to end data collection has been issued, but this is not limited to this. If it is determined that at least one of a PCIe communication abnormality and a PCIe side terminal operation abnormality has occurred, and at least one of a USB communication abnormality and a USB side terminal operation abnormality has occurred, the LED 105 may be controlled to notify the user that both PCIe communication and USB communication are inaccessible, and the data collection process may be ended.

[0072] The means and methods for performing various processes in the data collection system according to the embodiments can be realized by either dedicated hardware circuits or a programmed computer. The computer program may be provided by a computer-readable recording medium, such as a flexible disk or a CD-ROM, or may be provided online via a network, such as the Internet. In this case, the program recorded on the computer-readable recording medium is typically transmitted to and stored in a storage unit, such as a hard disk. The program may also be provided as standalone application software, or may be incorporated into the software of a device as a function of the device.

[0073] The present disclosure allows various embodiments and modifications without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments are intended to illustrate the present disclosure and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. That is, the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the claims, not the embodiments. Various modifications made within the scope of the claims and the meaning of equivalent disclosures are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0074] The present disclosure can be used in an expansion board, a data collection system, a data collection method, and a program.

[0075] 1 Data collection system, 100 Expansion board, 101 Electronic board, 102 Bus interface, 103 USB port, 104 Industrial network port, 105 LED, 106 Mounting section, 111 PCIe communication section, 112 USB communication section, 113 Industrial network communication section, 114 Control section, 200, 250, 300 Terminal device, 201 PCIe interface, 202, 302 Driver software, 301 USB interface, 400 Industrial network.

Claims

1. An expansion board configured to be connectable to a first terminal device, having a first communication interface enabling communication with the connected first terminal device, a second communication interface configured to be connectable to a second terminal device and enabling communication with the connected second terminal device, a third communication interface configured to be connectable to a network and enabling communication with devices on the network, and a control unit controlling the first communication interface, the second communication interface, and the third communication interface to perform communication. The control unit communicates with the devices on the network to collect data from the devices and transmits the collected data to the first terminal device. When the communication with the first terminal device is disconnected, the control unit transmits the collected data to the second terminal device.

2. The expansion board according to claim 1, wherein when the communication with the first terminal device is disconnected, the control unit notifies the second terminal device that the communication with the first terminal device has been disconnected, causes the second terminal device to save the collected data, and when the communication with the second terminal device is disconnected, notifies the first terminal device that the communication with the second terminal device has been disconnected and transmits the collected data to the first terminal device for saving.

3. The expansion board according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit transmits the collected data to the second terminal device even when the communication with the first terminal device is not disconnected.

4. The notification to the second terminal device by the control unit that the communication with the first terminal device has been disconnected includes the control unit querying whether access to the first terminal device is possible when the communication with the first terminal device is disconnected. If access is not possible, it is determined that there is an abnormality in the communication via the first communication interface and the second terminal device is informed that there is an abnormality in the communication via the first communication interface. If access is possible, it is determined that there is an abnormality in the operation of the first terminal device and the second terminal device is informed that there is an abnormality in the operation of the first terminal device.

5. The notification to the first terminal device that the communication with the second terminal device by the control unit has been disconnected includes that when the communication between the control unit and the second terminal device is disconnected, the control unit inquires whether access to the second terminal device is possible. If access is impossible, it determines that there is an abnormality in the communication via the second communication interface and transmits to the first terminal device that there is an abnormality in the communication via the second communication interface. If access is possible, it determines that there is an abnormality in the operation of the second terminal device and transmits to the first terminal device that there is an abnormality in the operation of the second terminal device. The expansion board according to claim 2.

6. The first terminal device and the second terminal device are the same terminal device. The expansion board according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The standard of the second communication interface is different from the standard of the first communication interface. The expansion board according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. An expansion board according to any one of claims 1 to 7, a first terminal device capable of communicating with the expansion board via the first communication interface, and a second terminal device capable of communicating with the expansion board via the second communication interface. A data collection system.

9. A data collection method, which is configured to be connectable to a network and communicate with a device on the network via a third communication interface that enables communication with the device on the network to collect data from the device, and transmit the collected data to the first terminal device via a first communication interface that enables communication with the first terminal device configured to be connectable to and connected to the first terminal device. When the communication with the first terminal device is disconnected, the collected data is transmitted to the second terminal device via a second communication interface that enables communication with the second terminal device configured to be connectable to and connected to the second terminal device.

10. A program for causing a computer to communicate with a device on the network via a third communication interface configured to be connectable to the network and enable communication with the device on the network, collect data from the device, and transmit the collected data to a first terminal device via a first communication interface configured to be connectable to and enable communication with the connected first terminal device; and when communication with the first terminal device is disconnected, transmit the collected data to a second terminal device via a second communication interface configured to be connectable to and enable communication with the connected second terminal device.

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