JP2018080982A - Communication system, communication method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique with which it is possible to facilitate the derivation of the remaining battery life of an extension unit and help to suppress the consumption of battery power.SOLUTION: An extension unit 1 for detecting a monitoring object is adopted, wherein the extension unit 1 comprises a battery that is a drive source of the extension unit 1, a battery voltage detection function part 11 for detecting the voltage of the battery, a monitoring object detection function part 12 for detecting the monitoring object via a sensor, and a transmission function part 13 for transmitting each detection data detected by the function parts 11 and 12 to a base unit 3 via a communication line. The battery voltage detection function part 11 detects a low-load time voltage in a state where the battery load is relative low and a high-load time voltage in a state where the battery load is relative high. Each detection data of the low-load time voltage and the high-load time voltage is transmitted to the base unit 3, and a standard deviation is calculated by the base unit 3 in the error distribution of differential value of each detection data of the low-load time voltage and the high-load time voltage. The base unit 3 compares the standard deviation with a discretionary threshold in the standard deviation and determines a remaining battery life.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication system, a communication method, and a program. For example, the present invention relates to a communication technique for detecting a monitoring target of various facilities with a slave unit and transmitting the detected detection data to the master unit or the like via a communication line. It is concerned.

  For various types of equipment (for example, power supply equipment, substations, water and sewage facilities, relay stations, equipment on moving bodies, etc.), the monitoring targets of the equipment (for example, changes in the amount of water in the case of tanks for water and sewage facilities) are communication lines. Communication technology for monitoring via remote (such as remote monitoring) has begun to be applied. For example, a communication system having a slave unit that detects a monitoring target via a sensor and a master unit that receives detection data detected by the slave unit via a communication line is known (for example, Patent Documents). 1).

  For example, when it is difficult to supply power in the vicinity of the monitoring target, the monitoring target can be sufficiently monitored by applying a slave unit using a battery as a driving source. In addition, the slave unit is not always in a startup state, but is appropriately started up according to a case where a monitoring target is detected or the detected detection data is communicated (for example, a periodic startup state using a timer or the like). In other cases, for example, the battery power consumption is suppressed by performing control so as to enter a sleep state such as operation with low power consumption. When the remaining battery level falls below a predetermined threshold value, for example, it is possible to determine that the battery requires maintenance (charging, replacement, etc.).

  As a method for deriving the remaining battery level, a continuous communication operation by the slave unit (in Patent Document 1, “continuous reception operation” for collecting a beacon signal for obtaining a transmission or reception opportunity) is performed. Then, a voltage in a state where a constant current load is applied to the battery (hereinafter simply referred to as a constant current load voltage) is measured a plurality of times, and a battery drop voltage is calculated from the measurement result (current value I_BATT26 in Patent Document 1) There is a method in which the voltage V1, V2 is measured while the voltage is flowing and the drop voltage ΔV is calculated).

JP2015-14537A

  As described above, the method of deriving the battery remaining amount by measuring the constant current load voltage a plurality of times during continuous communication operation has the following problems.

  First, in order to measure the constant current load voltage multiple times during communication operation, it is necessary to keep the battery load constant. As a result, it may be difficult to derive the remaining battery level.

  In addition, when the period for measuring the voltage at each constant current load is shorter than the communication operation period, the battery load other than the period is wasted (unnecessary for derivation of the remaining battery capacity), and as a result, the battery power is wasted. There is a risk of consumption. When the period is longer than the communication operation time, for example, a time during which measurement is impossible occurs, and it may be difficult to derive the remaining battery level.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a technology that can contribute to facilitating the derivation of the remaining battery level of the slave unit and the suppression of battery power consumption.

  A communication system, a communication method, and a program according to the present invention can contribute to the solution of the above-described problems. As one aspect of the communication system, at least one slave unit that detects a monitoring target and a slave unit are included. A communication system including a master unit that receives detected data via a wireless line, wherein the slave unit is a battery that is a drive source of the slave unit, and a battery voltage detection function that detects a voltage of the battery , A monitoring target detection function unit that detects a monitoring target via a sensor, and a transmission function unit that transmits detection data detected by the battery voltage detection function unit and the monitoring target detection function unit to the parent device via a wireless line The battery voltage detection function unit detects a low load voltage when the battery load is relatively low and a high load voltage when the battery load is relatively high. Detection data sent from the slave unit A reception function unit for receiving via a line, and a calculation function unit for calculating a standard deviation in an error distribution of a difference value between detection data of a low load voltage and a high load voltage. .

  Further, in the communication system, the slave unit is driven by alternately repeating the startup state and the sleep state, and the low-load voltage is transmitted when the battery voltage detection function unit of the slave unit is in the startup state and the monitoring target detection function unit and the transmission The function unit is detected in the sleep state, and the high load voltage is detected when the battery voltage detection function unit of the slave unit is activated and at least one of the monitoring target detection function unit and the transmission function unit is activated. It may be done. In addition, the parent device may further include a comparison determination function unit that compares the standard deviation with an arbitrary threshold value in the standard deviation to determine the remaining battery level.

  As one aspect of the communication method, a communication system including at least one slave unit that detects a monitoring target using a battery as a driving source and a master unit that receives detection data detected by the slave unit via a wireless line A low-load voltage detection step in which the slave unit detects a low-load voltage when the battery load is relatively low, and a monitoring target in which the slave unit detects a monitoring target via a sensor. A detection step, a high load voltage detection step in which the slave unit detects a high load voltage when the battery load is relatively high, and a low load voltage detection step, a monitoring target detection step, and a high load in the slave unit A transmission step of transmitting each detection data detected in the hourly voltage detection step to the parent device via a wireless line; a reception step of receiving the detection data transmitted from the child device via the wireless line; Master machine is low negative A calculating step of calculating a standard deviation in the error distribution of the differential values of the respective detection data voltage and high load voltage time, comprising the.

  Further, in the communication method, the slave unit is driven by alternately repeating the startup state and the sleep state, and the low load voltage detection step is detected in a state where the monitoring target detection step and the transmission step of the slave unit are not executable. The high load voltage detection step may be detected in a state where at least one of the monitoring target detection step and the transmission step of the slave unit can be executed. Further, the master unit may further include a comparison determination step for comparing the standard deviation and an arbitrary threshold value in the standard deviation to determine the remaining battery level.

  Note that, as an aspect of the above-described communication system, it is also possible to configure as a program that causes a computer to function.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to contribute to facilitating derivation of the remaining battery level of the slave unit and suppression of battery power consumption.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining a communication system 10 as an example of the present embodiment. The schematic block diagram for demonstrating the internal structural example of the subunit | mobile_unit 1. FIG. The schematic block diagram for demonstrating the function structural example of the subunit | mobile_unit 1 and the main | base station 3 (A is the subunit | mobile_unit 1, B is the main | base station 3). The voltage difference characteristic view with respect to the time change calculated by the calculation process of the calculation function part 32. The standard deviation characteristic figure with respect to the time change computed from the voltage difference characteristic of FIG. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Schematic explanatory drawing for demonstrating an example of the communication method by the communication system 10 (A is a subunit | mobile_unit 1, B is a main | base station).

  The communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention is completely different from the method of calculating the battery drop voltage and deriving the battery remaining amount during the period of continuous communication operation as in the conventional method.

  That is, in this embodiment, in the slave unit that detects the monitoring target, the battery that is the drive source of the slave unit, the battery voltage detection function that detects the voltage of the battery, and the monitoring target detection that detects the monitoring target via the sensor A function provided with a function and a transmission function for transmitting each detection data detected by the battery voltage detection function and the monitoring target detection function to the parent device via a communication line is applied. The battery voltage detection function detects a low load voltage when the battery load is relatively low and a high load voltage when the battery load is relatively high. Each detection data of the low load voltage and the high load voltage is transmitted to the master unit by the transmission function, and the master unit is standard in the error distribution of the difference value between the low load voltage and the high load voltage detection data. Allow deviations to be calculated. Thereby, the battery remaining amount can be derived.

  According to the present embodiment, in the detection of the low load voltage and the high load voltage of the battery, the continuous communication operation as in the conventional method is unnecessary, and the battery load is kept constant. It becomes unnecessary. In addition, as in the conventional method, there is no useless load applied to the battery in derivation of the remaining battery capacity, and there is no time during which the desired measurement cannot be performed. Furthermore, the detected data of the low load voltage and the load voltage detected (for example, periodically detected) are not used (computation processing, etc.) in the slave unit, but are first transmitted to the master unit, Is used to calculate the standard deviation from the error distribution of the difference value of each detection data.

  Therefore, the detection of the low load voltage and the high load voltage of the battery according to the present embodiment is easier than the case of measuring the constant current load voltage a plurality of times as in the conventional method, for example, and the battery power consumption It can be said that it can contribute to restraint. In particular, in the configuration in which the slave unit performs wireless communication, a large amount of battery power may be consumed. For example, it may be possible to suppress battery power consumption by performing an intermittent communication operation (for example, about several milliseconds). However, if the configuration of this embodiment is further applied, it is possible to contribute by suppressing the consumption of the battery power.

  According to a general point of view, when the remaining battery level is derived using the low load voltage and the high load voltage as described above, the discharge characteristics of the battery are first determined by the low load voltage and the high load voltage. A method of calculating and deriving the remaining battery capacity from the discharge characteristics can be considered. However, in this general method, due to factors such as individual differences in the battery, application environment (temperature environment, etc.), communication load, etc., there is a risk that an error is likely to occur in the calculation of discharge characteristics, and the accuracy of derivation of the remaining battery level may be reduced. is there.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the standard deviation is calculated from the error distribution of the difference values between the detection data of the low load voltage and the high load voltage, and the remaining battery level can be derived based on the standard deviation. There is a possibility that the influence of the error as in the general method described above can be suppressed, and that it is possible to contribute to an improvement in the accuracy of deriving the remaining battery level.

  The communication system of this embodiment calculates the standard deviation from the error distribution of the difference value between the detection data of the low load voltage and the high load voltage in the base unit, and derives the remaining battery level based on this standard deviation. If it does, it can design by applying technical common sense of various fields (for example, the field of communication technology applied to various facilities) as appropriate, and examples thereof include the following.

<< Application example of communication system according to this embodiment >>
An example of the present embodiment will be described based on the communication system 10 shown in FIGS. First, as shown in FIG. 1, the communication system 10 is a monitoring target (for example, in the case of a water and sewage facility) of equipment (for example, a power supply facility, a substation, a water and sewage facility, a relay station, or a facility on a moving body) that is not illustrated. And at least one slave unit 1 for detecting a change in the amount of water) and the detection data (for example, low load voltage, high load voltage, each detection data to be monitored) detected by the slave unit 1 through the communication line 2 And a base unit 3 that receives the data and performs arithmetic processing.

  In the handset 1, various forms can be applied as long as the detection data detected by the handset 1 can be transmitted to the base unit 3 via the communication line 2. The slave unit 1 may be disposed at a position where the monitoring target can be detected (detected via a sensor) and the detected detection data can be transmitted to the master unit 3. In addition, when there are a plurality of monitoring targets, it is possible to arrange the slave units 1 corresponding to each monitoring target.

  A specific example of the slave unit 1 has an internal configuration as shown in FIG. 2 and is driven by alternately repeating a start state and a sleep state (for example, a start state and a sleep state via a timer function or the like). It is possible to apply one that can be driven alternately in an arbitrary cycle. 2 has a configuration including an antenna 41 for communication (for example, for wireless communication), a communication unit 42, a CPU unit 43 as a central processing unit, a sensor 44, and a battery 45. The CPU unit 43 includes a ROM (read only memory) 43a, a RAM (random access memory) 43b, and an A / D converter 43c.

  The antenna 41 is connected to the communication unit 42 and is a communication antenna that transmits and receives communication radio waves in order for the handset 1 to communicate with the base unit 3. The communication unit 42 is connected to the antenna 41, the CPU unit 43, and the battery 45. The communication unit 42 operates under the control of the CPU unit 43 using the battery 45 as a drive source, and the slave unit 1 communicates with the master unit 3. In addition, it is a device capable of performing communication control (for example, control of transmission of detection data, etc.).

  The CPU unit 43 is connected to the communication unit 42, the sensor 44, and the battery 45, and controls the communication unit 42 and the sensor 44 by using the battery 45 as a drive source. It is a device that can control the overall operation. For example, when the slave unit 1 is driven so as to alternately repeat the activation state and the sleep state by giving a predetermined timer function to the CPU unit 43 or the like, each of the function units 11 to 14 described later is appropriately set. It is also possible to operate, and it is possible to suppress the power consumption of the battery 45 as compared with the case where it is driven so as to be always activated.

  The sensor 44 is connected to the CPU unit 43 and is a device capable of acquiring information to be monitored by control from the CPU unit 43. The sensor 44 can be applied in various forms as long as it can detect a desired monitoring target, and is not particularly limited. For example, a change in the amount of water in a water and sewage facility is a monitoring target. For example, a water amount sensor may be applied.

  The battery 45 is connected to the communication unit 42 and the CPU unit 43, and is a power source that supplies current to the devices constituting the slave unit 1 and is a drive source. As long as the battery 45 can supply current as described above, various forms can be applied, and examples include various types such as a rechargeable type and a replaceable type.

  The ROM 43 a is a non-volatile storage device that is provided in the CPU unit 43 and stores programs and data regardless of whether or not current is supplied from the battery 45. The RAM 43b is a storage device that is provided inside the CPU unit 43 and temporarily stores data. The A / D converter 43c is provided in the CPU unit 43, and detects the voltage of the battery 45 by quantification by A / D conversion under the control of the CPU unit 43 using the battery 45 as a driving power source. It is.

  The base unit 3 can apply various forms as long as it can receive the detection data transmitted from the handset 1 via the communication line 2 and can perform arithmetic processing on the detection data. As a specific example, the thing similar to the subunit | mobile_unit 1 (The structure provided with the antenna 41, the communication part 42, CPU part 43, ROM43a, RAM43b etc.) is mentioned, For example, the position (for example, position which can be connected to the power supply in equipment) When installing at a position where a power cable can be connected, etc., a drive source such as a battery is not necessary. However, when a battery other than the figure (for example, the same as the battery 1a) is used as the drive source, there are various types. It is also possible to install at the position. In addition, the master unit 3 is connected to a monitoring computer such as a center server through a communication line (for example, the Internet network, a wired telephone network, a wireless communication network), a relay device (for example, a gateway), etc., not shown in the figure, so It may be configured so that it can.

  Various modes can be applied to the communication line 2 interposed between the slave unit 1 and the master unit 3 as long as data communication between the slave unit 1 and the master unit 3 is possible. One example is the application of a wireless line. The wireless line is not particularly limited, and can be applied as appropriate according to the number of handset 1, and examples thereof include a mesh network, a star network, a cluster tree network, and the like. It is done.

  The communication system 10 as described above includes, for example, those provided with hardware resources of a normal computer (for example, a CPU 43, a main storage device such as a ROM 43a and a RAM 43b, and an auxiliary storage device such as an SSD and an HDD). As a result of the cooperation of such hardware resources and software resources (OS, applications, etc.), the communication system 10 is a child device as shown in the functional configuration example of FIGS. 3A (child device 1) and B (parent device), for example. The battery voltage detection function unit 11, the monitoring target detection function unit 12, the transmission function unit 13, the reception function unit 14, etc. are mounted in the machine 1, and the reception function unit 31, the calculation function unit 32, the recording function unit 33, The comparison determination function unit 34, the transmission function unit 35, and the like are mounted (details of each function unit will be described later).

  Various setting values (for example, a threshold value α described later, a setting time of a timer function, etc.) and detection values (for example, a low load voltage and a high load voltage of the battery 45 described later) related to the functional units 11 to 14 and 31 to 35, Detection data, monitoring target detection data, etc.), calculated values (eg, standard deviation, etc.), etc., for example, various registers that serve as an interface between hardware resources and software resources (in the case of the slave unit 1, for example) It is possible to handle the storage (including temporary storage) and storage of a storage unit (not shown) or a storage device (not shown) that is applied to the internal memory of the CPU unit 43, and a detailed description thereof. Are omitted as appropriate.

  When the handset 1 is in the activated state, the battery voltage detection function unit 11 detects the voltage of the battery 45, and the low load voltage when the load of the battery 45 is relatively low, and the load of the battery 45 Is detected so that it can be digitized by A / D conversion of the A / D converter 43c. The low load voltage will be larger than the high load voltage.

  The state in which the load of the battery 45 is relatively low is, for example, that the handset 1 is changed from a sleep state to an activated state, the battery voltage detection function unit 11 is activated, and a function unit other than the battery voltage detection function unit 11 is in a sleep state. (For example, the monitoring target detection function unit 12 and the transmission function unit 13 are in a sleep state immediately after the slave unit 1 is in an activated state), and a state in which the battery power consumption of the battery 45 is suppressed is exemplified.

  The state in which the load of the battery 45 is relatively high is, for example, that the handset 1 is changed from the sleep state to the activated state, the battery voltage detection function unit 11 is activated, and functions other than the battery voltage detection function unit 11 Some are in an activated state (for example, at least one of the monitoring target detection function unit 12 and the transmission function unit 13 is in an activated state), and the battery 45 consumes a relatively large amount of battery power (detects a low load voltage). More states). As a specific example of the state in which the load of the battery 45 is relatively high, after the low voltage is detected by the battery voltage detection function unit 11, the monitoring target detection function unit 12 (described later) selects the monitoring target in the activated state. The state which can be detected, and the state which can transmit detection data with respect to the main | base station 3 with the transmission function part 13 in a starting state are mentioned.

  The monitoring target detection function unit 12 detects the monitoring target via the sensor 44, and detects the monitoring target information so as to be digitized (dataized). The transmission function unit 13 transmits each detection data detected by the battery voltage detection function unit 11 and the monitoring target detection function unit 12 to the base unit 3 via the communication line 2. The reception function unit 14 receives, for example, desired command data (command data for driving the slave unit 1 as desired) transmitted from the master unit 3 via the communication line 2.

  When the parent device 3 is in the activated state, the reception function unit 31 receives the detection data transmitted from the child device 1 via the communication line 2. The calculation function unit 32 performs a desired calculation process on the detection data received by the reception function unit 31. As one of the arithmetic processes, there is an arithmetic process for calculating a difference value between detection data of a low load voltage and a high load voltage and calculating a standard deviation based on an error distribution of the difference value ( Details of this calculation process will be described later).

  The recording function unit 33 records the detection data received by the reception function unit 31, the standard deviation result calculated by the calculation function unit 32, and the like. The comparison determination function unit 34 compares the standard deviation calculated by the calculation function unit 32 with an arbitrary threshold value in the standard deviation to determine whether the battery 45 needs to be maintained. The threshold value can be appropriately set according to the purpose of the communication system 10, the characteristics of the battery 45, and the like, and is not particularly limited. The transmission function unit 35 transmits, for example, command data for driving the slave unit 1 as desired to the slave unit 1 via the communication line 2.

  In the communication system 10, it is not always necessary to include all the functional units as described above. If the mode can achieve the object of the present invention, a part of the functional units may be omitted as appropriate. Other functional units may be added as appropriate. For example, when the communication line 2 is used only for one-way data communication from the slave unit 1 to the master unit 3 (when communication from the master unit 3 to the slave unit 1 is not performed), the reception function unit 14 and the transmission function unit 35 may be omitted.

<Example of calculation processing by calculation function unit>
The difference value calculated by the calculation process of the calculation function unit 32 can be expressed by, for example, a voltage difference characteristic with respect to time change as shown in FIG. FIG. 4 shows that the slave unit 1 in which the battery 45 having a sufficient remaining battery capacity is installed is driven so that the activated state and the sleep state are alternately repeated at an arbitrary cycle, and each functional unit 11 is activated in the activated state of each cycle. The characteristics when -14 and the like are appropriately operated to detect the low load voltage and the high load voltage are shown.

  Focusing on FIG. 4, it can be read that the difference value is relatively large in each cycle and the remaining battery level is sufficient (for example, the difference value d <b> 1) until the predetermined time elapses after the start of driving of the slave unit 1. Then, after the predetermined time has elapsed, it can be read that the remaining battery level decreases and disappears as the difference value gradually decreases (for example, decreases to the difference value d2) in each cycle (in the figure, the time). The handset 1 cannot communicate at T00).

  Here, when attention is paid to the error distribution in the voltage difference characteristic of FIG. 4, the remaining amount of the battery 45 decreases although the error distribution is relatively large in the cycle in which the remaining amount of the battery 45 is sufficient (for example, the cycle around the difference value d1). Accordingly, it can be read that the error distribution also decreases (for example, a period around the difference value d2). Therefore, when the standard deviation is calculated from the error distribution of FIG. 4 (for example, the standard deviation of the past n times is calculated), it can be seen that, for example, it has a standard deviation characteristic with respect to time change as shown in FIG. That is, according to the standard deviation characteristic as described above, the remaining battery level can be derived while suppressing the influence of the error as in the general method described above, which contributes to the improvement in the accuracy of the remaining battery level. It turns out that it is possible.

  When determining whether or not maintenance (charging, replacement, etc.) of the battery 45 is necessary from the standard deviation as described above, an arbitrary threshold value α relating to the standard deviation is set in advance, and the comparison / determination function unit 34 The standard deviation is compared with the threshold value α. A case where the standard deviation falls below the threshold value α (after the time T01 has elapsed) is determined as a state requiring the maintenance. In the case of FIG. 5, for example, assuming that one cycle in which the slave unit 1 repeats the start state and the sleep state alternately is 10 minutes and the period from the time T01 to T00 is 5000 cycles, the slave unit 1 is in a communication disabled state. About one month before becoming, it is determined that maintenance is required, and it is possible to make it known to a monitor of the communication system 10 or the like.

  There is no particular limitation on the method of making the determination results and the like as described above known to the monitor, but for example, an output device (for example, a display or a printer) that can be recognized by the monitor or the like through perception such as vision or hearing. , A speaker, a lamp, etc.) to appropriately output and make it known.

<< Example of Communication Method by Communication System 10 >>
6A (slave unit 1) and B (base unit 3) show an example of a communication method by the communication system 10, and the communication system is configured by the processes of steps S11 to S17 and S31 to S36 as described below. Ten slave units 1 and 3 are appropriately operated to detect a low load voltage, a high load voltage, a monitoring target, and derive a remaining battery level. In addition, the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted suitably by attaching | subjecting the same code | symbol to the thing similar to FIGS.

  First, in the slave unit 1 of the communication system 10, for example, when waiting without detecting the monitoring target or detecting the voltage of the battery 45, a timer function (for example, a timer function in the slave unit 1) is activated by the standby step S <b> 11. Then, it waits in the sleep state until an arbitrary set time set in the timer function elapses. Thereby, the power consumption of the battery 45 is suppressed.

  After the set time of the timer function has elapsed, the battery voltage detection function unit 11 among the function units 11 to 14 of the slave unit 1 is first activated in the low load voltage detection step S12, and the battery 45 is in a low load state. The voltage is detected (detected by digitizing by A / D conversion of the A / D converter 43c). In the stage of this low load voltage detection step S12, the other functional units 12 to 14 remain in the sleep state, and in the slave unit 1, the subsequent monitoring target detection step S13 and the transmission step S15 are not executable. That is, it can be said that the battery voltage detection function unit 11 detects the low load voltage of the battery 45.

  Next, in the monitoring object detection step S13, the monitoring object detection function unit 12 is activated and detects (numerically detects) the monitoring object via the sensor 44. After that, in the high load voltage detection step S14, the battery voltage detection function unit 11 detects the high load voltage of the battery 45 (it is detected as a numerical value by A / D conversion of the A / D converter 43c). In the stage of the high load voltage detection step S14, the transmission function unit 13 may be in an activated state. That is, at the stage of the high load voltage detection step S14, at least one of the preceding monitoring target detection step S13 and the subsequent transmission step S15 is executable, and the battery voltage detection function unit 11 It can be said that the high load voltage is detected.

  Next, in transmission step S15, the transmission function unit 13 in the activated state transmits each detection data detected in the above-described steps S12 to S14 to the parent device 3 via the communication line 2. In the reception step S16, the reception function unit 14 is activated, and receives, for example, desired command data (command data for driving the slave unit 1 as desired) transmitted from the master unit 3 via the communication line 2. To do. Then, in the standby / end determination step S17, it is determined in the slave unit 1 whether to wait again without detecting the monitoring target or the voltage of the battery 45 or to end the driving. If the standby is determined, the process returns to the standby step S11 again, and monitoring is continued, for example, by appropriately performing the above-described steps S12 to S17. The operation time from step S12 to S17 varies depending on the characteristics of the communication system 10, but can be performed in a short time (for example, several milliseconds).

  In the base unit 3 of the communication system 10, for example, when waiting without requiring data communication with the handset 1, a timer function (for example, a timer function in the base unit 3) is activated in the standby step S 31. The apparatus waits in the sleep state until an arbitrary set time set in the timer function elapses. After the set time of the timer function elapses, the reception function unit 31, the recording function unit 33 and the like are activated by the reception step S32, and the detection data transmitted from the slave unit 1 is received via the communication line 2. The recording function unit 33 appropriately records. Then, in the calculation step S33, the calculation function unit 32 is activated, and the difference value between the detection data of the low load voltage and the high load voltage recorded by the recording function unit 33 is calculated, and the error distribution of the difference value is calculated. The standard deviation (standard deviation as shown in FIG. 5) is calculated based on the above and recorded by the recording function unit 33.

  Next, in the comparison determination step S34, the comparison determination function unit 34 is activated, and the standard deviation recorded by the recording function unit 33 is compared with an arbitrary threshold value α in the standard deviation to maintain the battery 45. Determine the necessity of charging, replacement, etc. It is determined that maintenance is required, and as described above, processing that is made known to the monitor of the communication system 10 via the output device or the like is executed (detailed processing description is omitted).

  Next, in transmission step S35, the transmission function unit 35 is activated, and for example, command data for driving the slave unit 1 as desired is transmitted to the slave unit 1 via the communication line 2. Then, in the standby / end determination step S36, it is determined in the parent device 3 whether to wait again without requiring data communication with the child device 1 or to end the driving. If the standby is determined, the process returns to the standby step S31 again, and monitoring is continued, for example, by appropriately performing the above-described steps S32 to S36. The operation time from step S32 to S36 varies depending on the characteristics of the communication system 10, but can be performed in a short time (for example, several milliseconds).

  The communication system 10 described above does not necessarily have to execute all the processes of steps S11 to S17 and steps S31 to S36, respectively. If the aspect of the present invention can be achieved, a part of each process is appropriately performed. Omitting or adding other processes as appropriate (for example, adding a process for driving the output device to be made known to the monitoring personnel of the communication system 10 when it is determined in the comparison determination step S34 that maintenance is required). May be implemented.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail only for the specific examples described above, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. It is natural that such changes and the like belong to the scope of the claims. For example, the present invention can be configured as a program that causes a computer to function as each of the functional units 11 to 14 and 31 to 35 described above. According to this program, it is possible to cause the computer to execute the processes of steps S11 to S17 and steps S31 to S36 described above. This program is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, MO, HDD, BD-ROM, BD-R, or BD-RE. It can also be stored and distributed. This recording medium is read using a recording medium driving device, and the program code itself realizes the processing of the above embodiment, so that the recording medium also constitutes the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Slave unit 2 ... Communication line 3 ... Master unit 10 ... Communication system 11 ... Battery voltage detection function part 12 ... Monitoring object detection function part 13, 35 ... Transmission function part 14, 31 ... Reception function part 32 ... Calculation function part 33 ... Recording function unit 34 ... Comparison / determination function unit 45 ... Battery

Claims (7)

At least one slave that detects the monitoring target;
A master unit that receives detection data detected by a slave unit via a wireless line;
The handset is
A battery that is a drive source of the slave unit;
A battery voltage detection function unit for detecting the voltage of the battery;
A monitoring target detection function unit for detecting a monitoring target via a sensor;
A transmission function unit that transmits detection data detected by the battery voltage detection function unit and the monitoring target detection function unit to the master unit via a wireless line, and
The battery voltage detection function unit
Low load voltage with relatively low battery load,
Detecting a high load voltage when the battery load is relatively high,
The parent machine
A reception function unit for receiving detection data transmitted from the slave unit via a wireless line;
An arithmetic function unit that calculates a standard deviation in an error distribution of a difference value between each detection data of a low load voltage and a high load voltage. The slave unit is driven by alternately repeating the activation state and the sleep state,
The low load voltage is detected when the battery voltage detection function unit of the slave unit is in the activated state, and the monitoring target detection function unit and the transmission function unit are in the sleep state,
The high load voltage is detected when the battery voltage detection function unit of the slave unit is in an activated state and at least one of the monitoring target detection function unit and the transmission function unit is in an activated state. The communication system described.   The communication system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the master unit further includes a comparison determination function unit that compares the standard deviation and an arbitrary threshold value in the standard deviation to determine the remaining battery level. . At least one slave unit that uses a battery as a drive source to detect a monitoring target;
A communication method using a communication system comprising: a master unit that receives detection data detected by a slave unit via a wireless line;
A low-load voltage detection step in which the slave unit detects a low-load voltage when the battery load is relatively low;
A monitoring target detection step in which the slave unit detects the monitoring target via the sensor;
A high load voltage detection step in which the slave unit detects a high load voltage when the load of the battery is relatively high;
A transmission step in which the slave unit transmits each detection data detected in the low load voltage detection step, the monitoring target detection step, and the high load voltage detection step to the master unit via a wireless line;
A receiving step in which the master unit receives the detection data transmitted from the slave unit via a wireless line;
A communication method, comprising: a calculation step of calculating a standard deviation in an error distribution of a difference value between detection data of a low load voltage and a high load voltage. The slave unit is driven by alternately repeating the activation state and the sleep state,
The low load voltage detection step is detected in a state where the monitoring target detection step and the transmission step of the slave unit are not executable,
5. The communication method according to claim 4, wherein the high load voltage detection step is detected in a state where at least one of the monitoring target detection step and the transmission step of the slave unit is executable.   6. The communication method according to claim 4, further comprising a comparison determination step in which the base unit compares the standard deviation and an arbitrary threshold value in the standard deviation to determine the remaining battery level.   A program causing a computer to function as the communication system according to claim 1.

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