JP2005277833A - Parent communication device, child communication device, communication system and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology of assigning a channel between communication apparatuses compatible with communication standards of different versions. <P>SOLUTION: A master communication unit comprises: a channel group table 5A for storing a plurality of channel groups; a wireless communication means 9A making communication through a designated communication channel; a channel designation means 7A for designating the communication channel for communication to the wireless communication means 9A from the channel group selected from the channel group table 5A; a communication unit identification information detection means 10A for detecting communication unit identification information of a slave communication unit 16B from a message received by the wireless communication means 9A; and a control means for assigning a channel group from the channel group table 5A to the slave communication unit 16B on the basis of the communication unit identification information detected by the communication unit identification information detection means 10A. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a parent communication device, a child communication device, a communication system, and a program for performing data communication using radio waves, and particularly to a home network at home.

  Conventionally, this type of communication device has been described below (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 11 shows a conventional communication device described in Patent Document 1. In FIG. As shown in FIG. 11, the wireless communication means 1 for performing wireless communication with other communication devices, the external device connection means 2 for detecting the input of a signal from the outside, and the signal from the external device connection means 2 are received. It comprises a control means 3 for designating a channel group used in the wireless communication means 1 and an external device 4 such as a setting device for communicating with the external device connection means 2.

When a channel group is designated to perform wireless communication between communication devices, an external device 4 such as a setting device is connected to the external device connection means 2. Then, channel group information for wireless communication is transmitted from the external device 4 to the control unit 3 via the external device connection unit 2. The control means 3 receives the channel group information, and thereafter performs wireless communication using the communication channels constituting the received channel group using the wireless communication means 1.
JP 2001-126178 A

  However, considering the case where the communication apparatus 1 and the communication apparatus 2 which are two communication apparatuses communicate (register) in the conventional configuration, the corresponding channel groups of the communication apparatus 1 and the communication apparatus 2 are common. The worker only needs to connect the external device and transmit the channel group information to be used to each of the communication device 1 and the communication device 2, but the version of the communication standard corresponding to the communication device 1 and the communication device 2 is Because they are different, the corresponding channel groups may be different.

  For example, the communication device 1 corresponds to the version 1 communication standard as shown in FIG. 6, and therefore corresponds to the channel groups A to S, and the communication device 2 corresponds to the version 2 communication standard. Therefore, when it corresponds to channel groups: A to F, the worker connects the external device to the communication device 1 and the communication device 2, acquires version information from each, and communicates from the acquired version information. It is determined that the device 1 corresponds to the channel groups: A to S, and the communication device 2 corresponds to the channel groups: A to F, and is a common channel group for the communication devices 1 and 2. It is necessary to select a channel group to be used from F and transmit channel group information.

  Therefore, the work is complicated, and it is easy for an operator to make a setting error. Further, the work content acquisition time and the work time become long, so that the installation property is deteriorated.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and it is not necessary for the operator to determine what channel group should be set depending on the version, so that the setting does not cause an error and the work content It is an object of the present invention to provide a master communication device, a slave communication device, a communication system, and a program excellent in installability that can shorten the acquisition time and work time of the computer.

  In order to solve the conventional problem, a parent communication device of the present invention includes a channel group table that stores a plurality of channel groups, a wireless communication unit that performs communication using a specified communication channel, and a wireless communication unit. Channel specifying means for specifying a communication channel for performing communication from a channel group selected from the channel group table, and communication apparatus identification for detecting communication apparatus identification information of a child communication apparatus from a message received by the wireless communication means Control means for allocating a channel group used for communication with the child communication device from the channel group table to the child communication device based on the information detection means and the communication device identification information detected by the communication device identification information detection means With.

  Accordingly, the control unit allocates a channel group from the channel group stored in the channel group table to the child communication device based on the communication device type information such as the version information detected by the communication device identification information detection unit. .

  In the parent communication device, the child communication device, the communication system, and the program thereof according to the present invention, what channel group should be set by the operator depending on the version of the communication standard supported by the communication device, the type of communication device, etc. To provide a parent communication device, a child communication device, a communication system, and a program thereof that do not require determination and that do not cause a setting error, and that can shorten the learning time of work contents and the work time. it can.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, the control unit in the parent communication device is configured to select a channel group from the channel group table to the child communication device based on communication device type information such as version information detected by the communication device identification information detection unit. By assigning, it is not necessary for the operator to determine what channel group should be set depending on the version of the communication standard supported by the communication device, the type of communication device, etc. In addition, it is possible to provide a master communication device excellent in installation property capable of shortening the learning time of work contents and the work time.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in particular, in the parent communication device of the first aspect of the present invention, a worker is provided with channel group storage means for storing a plurality of channel groups for each child communication device based on the communication device identification information. Because there is no need to determine what channel group should be set depending on the communication standard version or type of communication device supported by the communication device, there is no mistake in setting and learning of the work contents It is possible to provide a master communication device with excellent installability capable of reducing time and work time.

  According to a third aspect of the invention, in particular, in the parent communication device of the second aspect of the invention, the control means allocates a channel group including at least one common communication channel with the communication channel stored in the channel group storage means. As a result, the number of communication channels when waiting for reception is reduced, so that the reception current can be reduced. In addition, since the length of the preamble portion of the wireless message can be shortened, the time required for communication can be shortened.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in particular, in the parent communication device of the first aspect of the invention, there is provided channel group storage means for storing channel groups for communicating with the child communication device, and the control means stores the channel group storage from the channel group table The communication channel stored in the means is assigned at least one channel group including a common communication channel, and the channel group storage means stores only one channel group including the common communication channel, thereby receiving Since the number of communication channels during standby is further reduced, it is possible to further reduce the current during standby for reception and shorten the time required for communication.
Further, since a function for designating a plurality of channel groups is not necessary, the memory capacity for storing the channel groups can be reduced. Moreover, even if only a newly assigned channel group is specified for reception, a message from a child communication device to which the original channel group is assigned can be received using a common communication channel (at least the original channel group can be received). One of the communication channels is included in the newly assigned channel group, and the child communication device transmits at the time of retransmission, so that at least the re-transmission text transmitted from the child communication device is received. Can do).

  In a fifth aspect of the invention, in particular, in any one of the second to fourth aspects of the invention, the control means transmits a channel group change message for changing the channel group to the child communication device, and the child communication device By changing the channel group to the channel group stored in the channel group storage means, for example, the number of communication channels when waiting for reception is reduced, so that the reception current can be reduced. In addition, since the number of communication channels is reduced, the length of the preamble part at the time of wireless message transmission can be shortened, so that the time required for communication can be shortened. In addition, when communication is performed using only a common communication channel, communication can be performed on all communication channels by changing the channel group, so that communication reliability can be improved.

  In the sixth aspect of the invention, the control means in the child communication device determines the channel group from the channel group information included in the response message for the transmission of the communication device identification information, so that the operator can use the communication standard that the communication device supports. Since it is not necessary to determine what channel group should be set according to differences in version, communication device type, etc., setting errors do not occur and work content acquisition time and work time can be shortened. Therefore, it is possible to provide a child communication device with excellent installability.

  In a seventh aspect of the invention, particularly in the child communication device of the sixth aspect of the invention, the control means receives a channel group change message for changing the channel group from the parent communication device, and the channel group information of the channel group change message Based on the above, by changing the channel group stored in the channel group storage means, it is possible to perform communication using the optimum channel group for communication. In particular, when communication is performed only on a common communication channel, communication can be performed on all communication channels by changing the channel group, so that communication reliability can be improved.

  According to an eighth aspect of the invention, in particular, in the child communication device of the sixth aspect of the invention, the control unit transmits a message to the parent communication device using a common communication channel stored in the channel group storage unit, and transmits the message. If successful, a channel group inquiry message for inquiring a channel group is transmitted, and the channel group stored in the channel group storage means is changed based on channel group information included in a response message to the channel group inquiry message. As a result, communication can be performed by automatically selecting the optimum channel group for communication, thereby improving communication reliability.

  In a ninth aspect of the invention, the control means A in the parent communication device assigns a channel group from the channel group table to the child communication device based on the communication device identification information detected by the communication device identification information detection means A. Thus, the operator does not need to determine what channel group should be set depending on the version of the communication standard supported by the communication device, the type of communication device, etc. Thus, it is possible to provide a communication system with excellent installability capable of shortening the acquisition time of work contents and the work time.

  In a tenth aspect of the invention, in particular, in the communication system of the ninth aspect of the invention, the control means A transmits a channel group change message for changing the channel group to the child communication device, and the channel group of the child communication device. Is changed to the channel group stored in the channel group storage means, for example, the number of communication channels when waiting for reception is reduced, so that the reception current can be reduced. In addition, since the number of communication channels is reduced, the length of the preamble part at the time of wireless message transmission can be shortened, so that the time required for communication can be shortened.

  In an eleventh aspect of the invention, in particular, in the communication system of the tenth aspect of the invention, the control means A transmits a channel group change message for changing a channel group to the child communication device using the common communication channel. Then, when the child communication device that has received the channel group change message changes the channel group, if communication is performed only on a common communication channel, communication can be performed on other than the common communication channel, Communication reliability can be improved.

  In the twelfth aspect of the invention, in particular, in any one of the first to fifth aspects of the invention, the communication device identification information is a flag indicating a function specific to the child communication device included in the header part of the wireless message. Since there is no need to newly add communication device identification information in the control information area of the header section of the wireless message, this free area can be used effectively for other purposes.

  In the thirteenth aspect of the invention, in particular, in any one of the sixth to eighth aspects of the invention, the communication device identification information is a flag indicating a function specific to the child communication device included in the header of the wireless message. Since there is no need to newly add communication device identification information in the control information area of the header section of the wireless message, this free area can be used effectively for other purposes.

  The fourteenth invention is a program for causing a computer to execute at least a part of the functions of the parent communication device in any one of the first to fifth inventions. Since it is a program, hardware resources such as a CPU (microcomputer), RAM, ROM, storage device, I / O, etc., electrical information equipment, a computer, a server, etc. cooperate to at least one of the parent communication devices of the present invention. The part can be easily realized. Also, program distribution and installation can be simplified by recording on a recording medium or distributing a program using a communication line.

  The fifteenth invention is a program for causing a computer to execute at least a part of the functions of the child communication device in any one of the sixth to eighth inventions. Since it is a program, hardware resources such as a CPU (microcomputer), RAM, ROM, storage device, I / O, etc., electrical information equipment, computer, server, etc. cooperate to provide at least one child communication device of the present invention. The part can be easily realized. Also, program distribution and installation can be simplified by recording on a recording medium or distributing a program using a communication line.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a parent communication device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a child communication device.

  In FIG. 1, the parent communication device 14A has a channel group table 5A storing a plurality of channel groups, and a channel group storage means for storing channel groups assigned to the child communication devices for communication from the channel group table 5A. 6A, channel designation means 7A for designating a communication channel for communication from the channel group stored in the channel group storage means 6A, and wireless communication via the antenna 8A using the channel designated by the channel designation means 7A Wireless communication means 9A for performing communication, communication device identification information detection means 10A for detecting communication device identification information of the slave communication device 16B from a message received by the wireless communication means 9A, and communication detected by the communication device identification information detection means 10A Based on the device identification information, Control unit 11A for assigning a channel group for performing communication to the child communication device from the data group table 5A, external device connection unit 12A as a connection unit with an external device, and home appliances connected to the external device connection unit 12A It is comprised with the apparatus 13A.

  On the other hand, the slave communication device 16B in FIG. 2 is a communication device identification information storage unit 15B that stores identification information such as version information of its own device, and a channel group storage unit that stores a channel group assigned by the parent communication device 14A. 6B, channel designation means 7B for designating a communication channel for performing communication from the channel group stored in the channel group storage means 6B, and wireless communication via the antenna 8B using the channel designated by the channel designation means 7B. A wireless communication means 9B for performing communication and a control means 11B for transmitting a message including version information stored in the communication device identification information storage means 15B and determining a channel group from channel group information included in a response message for the message. External that is a connection means with external equipment A vessel connection means 12B, is composed of a home device 13B to be connected to the external device connecting unit 12B.

  FIG. 3 shows a system example using the parent communication device and the child communication device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 3, a block constituted by the controller 17 and the parent communication device 14A is a home controller, and a block constituted by the child communication device 16B and the sensor 18 is a network-compatible device controlled by the home controller.

  Although not shown in FIG. 3, the home controller has a touch panel, and the sensor 18 can be controlled by pressing a button on the touch panel. The parent communication device 14A constituting the home controller and the child communication device 16B connected to the sensor 18 are connected by, for example, a protocol using a specific low power radio wave in the 496 MHz band or the 429 MHz band (because the frequency is relatively low). Because the communication coverage area is large, it is possible to cover almost the entire house without using repeaters.)

  The parent communication device 14A or the child communication device 16B in FIG. 3 corresponds to the parent communication device 14A and the child communication device 16B in FIG. The controller 17 in FIG. 3 corresponds to the home appliance 13A in FIG. 1, and the sensor 18 in FIG. 3 corresponds to the home appliance 13B in FIG.

  Here, the message structure transmitted and received between the parent communication device 14A and the child communication device 16B in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 4, (1) shows the entire data format configuration. In (1) of FIG. 4, section (a) is called a preamble portion, and (bit synchronization signal 1 + frame synchronization signal 1 + data signal 1) is used in order to correspond to a reception system that waits by sequentially scanning a plurality of channels as reception channels. The block is repeatedly transmitted N times as one block. For example, when the receiving side sequentially scans and waits for three channels, two blocks are required for each channel, and thus the block is repeated six times in the section (a).

  The section (b) is called an information part. The section (c) is a signal indicating the end of transmission, but may not be present.

  The detailed configuration of data 1 is shown in (2) of FIG. The detailed configuration of data 2 is shown in (3) of FIG.

  The data 1 includes a receiving device identification code indicating a destination and a partial wireless system identification code that is a part of a wireless system identification code for identifying whether the system belongs to itself. The partial radio system identification code is a radio system identification code divided into three parts.

  Data 2 includes a wireless system identification code and a transmission device identification code indicating a transmission source. Whether it is a message of the system to which it belongs is determined by a wireless system identification code, and whether it is a broadcast is determined by a certain bit of the control code 1 and the pattern of the receiving device identification code.

  The control code 2 of the data 2 describes a plurality of pieces of communication device identification information for identifying various types of information related to transmission / reception of the transmission source. For example, when communication device identification information as shown in FIG. 5 is assigned and (b14, b13, b12) is (0, 0, 0), the version of the communication standard supported by the communication device is version 1. (0, 0, 1) indicates that the version is 2. Corresponding channel groups for each version, as shown in FIG. 6, version 1 corresponds to channel groups A to F, and version 2 corresponds to channel groups A to S (where, The control code 2 is 16 bits, and b14 indicates the 14th bit).

  Hereinafter, as an example, a method in which the parent communication device 14A, which is version 2 whose channel group communicates with another child communication device in the L group, further assigns group A to the child communication device 16B which is version 1 Will be described with reference to FIGS.

  STEP 1 in FIG. 7: The control means 11A in the parent communication device 14A is input from the switch (not shown) of the parent communication device 14A or the controller 17 or transmitted from the controller 17 via the external device connection means 12A ( a1) When a registration processing request message is received, a transition is made to a registration mode for assigning a channel group to the child communication device 16B. Then, a channel group for system setting used in the registration mode from the channel group table 5A (a message that the parent communication device 14A and the child communication device 16B do not notify the controller 17 and the sensor 18 of the message information and is completed only by the radio unit) Is selected and acquired, and a channel group for system setting is set for the channel specifying means 7A.

  Then, the channel designation means 7A waits for reception on the communication channel included in the channel group for system setting using the antenna 8A and the wireless communication means 9A. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the channel group for system setting is composed of three communication channels of 26ch, 46ch, and 6ch, so that these three communication channels are sequentially carrier sensed to transmit a radio message. I wait.

  STEP 2: The control means 11B in the child communication device 16B is input from the switch (not shown) of the child communication device 16B or the sensor 18, or transmitted from the sensor 18 via the external device connection means 12B (a2) Registration When the processing request message is received, the mode shifts to a registration mode in which a message for requesting assignment of a channel group or the like is transmitted.

  STEP 3: The control unit 11B in the child communication device 16B acquires version information from the communication device identification information storage unit 15B, sets the version information in a message to be transmitted, and transmits the version information to the parent communication device 14A.

  Specifically, the temporary device identification code is used as the own device address, and (b14, b13, b12) of the control code 2 shown in FIG. 5 for the parent communication device 14A indicates that the version of the own device is 1 (0 , 0, 0) and (b3, b2) as (0, 1): Setting message (system setting message at the time of registration, etc., normal message is set in normal communication) 4 (3), “Transmission data block: None” is transmitted (information transmission (1)).

  At this time, the control unit 11B selects and acquires a system setting channel group to be used in the registration mode from the channel group table 5B, and sets it in the channel designation unit 7B. Then, the channel specifying means 7B transmits information transmission (1) using the communication channel for system setting using the wireless communication means 9B and the antenna 8B.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the channel group for system setting is composed of three communication channels of 26 ch, 46 ch, and 6 ch. These three communication channels are communication channels in which carrier sense is performed sequentially and there is no carrier. Send. After transmission, the control means 11B sets a channel group for system setting in the channel designation means 7B, and the channel designation means 7B sequentially senses these three communication channels and waits for a response message.

  STEP 4: The control means 11A in the parent communication device 14A receives the information transmission (1) transmitted by the child communication device 16B via the antenna 8A and the wireless communication means 9A, and receives it using the communication device identification information detection means 10A. It is detected from the version information (b14, b13, b12) = (0, 0, 0) of the control code 2 that the slave communication device 16B is version 1.

  Then, a channel group to be allocated is selected from the A to F groups which are channel groups supported by version 1 from the communication channel group table (5A) shown in FIG. 6 (for example, A group). The assigned channel group A is stored in the channel group storage means 6A.

  Then, the temporary device identification code is designated as the destination address, and (b3, b2) of the control code 2 shown in FIG. 5 is set as (0, 1): setting message, for example, assigned channel group information (for example, A group (0, 0, 0, 0, 1)) is put in the data portion and transmitted to the slave communication device 16B via the antenna 8A and the wireless communication means 9A (information transmission (2)).

  The channel group is a system setting channel group, and the standby time interval (reception cycle) is performed by continuous reception. The wireless system identification code uses all 1s. In addition to the channel group assignment, the control unit 11A also assigns device identification code information, radio system identification code information, channel number information, scramble code information, and reception cycle information (the data 2 of information transmission (2) in FIG. 9). Shows the structure of the data part).

  STEP 5: When the control unit 11B in the slave communication device 16B receives the information transmission (2) via the antenna 8A and the wireless communication unit 9B, the control unit 11B uses the device identification code issued as its own device address, as shown in FIG. Control code 2 (b3, b2) is set to (0, 1): setting message, and the data 2 part is sent to the parent communication device 14A with the reception period of its own device (FIG. 10 shows information transmission (3) The configuration of the data part of data 2 is shown).

  The channel group is a system setting channel group, and the reception cycle is continuous reception (standby). As the wireless system identification code, the wireless system identification code received from the parent communication device 14A is used.

  STEP 6: The control unit 11B in the slave communication device 16B notifies the sensor 18 that the registration mode has been completed by transmitting (c2) a registration end notification to the sensor 18 via the external device connection unit 12B. The channel group assigned from the parent communication device 14A is stored in the channel group storage means 6B.

  Further, the device identification code, the radio system identification code, the number of channels, the scramble code, and the reception cycle are also stored in a storage means (not shown) such as a nonvolatile RAM. In the subsequent communication, the control unit 11B acquires the channel group stored in the channel group storage unit 6B, and sets the acquired channel group in the channel designation unit 7B. Then, the channel designating unit 7B performs communication using the communication channels constituting the set channel group using the antenna 8B and the wireless communication unit 9B.

  Specifically, when the assigned channel group is the A group, the A group is composed of three communication channels of 1ch, 8ch, and 20ch as shown in FIG. (For example, since the communication channel of the intermittent communication band is common to other channel groups, a method of giving priority to the communication channel of the continuous communication band shown in FIG. 6 may be considered).

  STEP 7: When the control means 11A in the parent communication device 14A receives the information transmission (3) via the antenna 8A and the wireless communication means 9A, it informs the controller 17 of the reception cycle of the child communication device 16B by (b1) reception notification. At the same time, (c1) notification that the registration process is completed is also notified by a registration end notification.

  In the subsequent communication, the control unit 11A acquires the channel group stored in the channel group storage unit 6A, specifies the acquired channel group to the channel specifying unit 7A, and the channel specifying unit 7A uses the antenna 8A and the wireless communication. Using the means 9A, communication is performed using the communication channels constituting the set channel group.

  Specifically, when the L group is assigned as a channel group to other child communication devices, and the A group is newly assigned as described above, the A group and the L group are stored in the channel group storage unit 6A. Two channel groups are stored. As shown in FIG. 6, the L group is 6ch, 17ch, and 35ch, and the A group is composed of 1ch, 8ch, and 20ch communication channels. Communicate using.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the control unit 11A newly assigns a channel group from the channel groups stored in the channel group table 5A based on the version information detected by the communication device identification information detection unit 10A. This eliminates the need for the operator to determine what type of channel group should be set according to differences in version and communication device type, so that setting errors do not occur and work content acquisition time and work time are reduced. Can be achieved.

  In the present embodiment, the method of assigning the channel group to the slave communication device 16B whose version 1 is the master communication device 14A which is version 2 has been described. However, both the master communication device 14A and the slave communication device 16B are versioned. 2: When (b14, b13, b12) = (0, 0, 1), the channel group to be assigned to the child communication device 16B by the parent communication device 14A is any channel group from A to S. It doesn't matter.

  In the present embodiment, the parent communication device 14A newly assigns a channel group A to the child communication device 16B, and thereafter the channel group L (6 ch, 17 ch, 35 ch) and the channel group A (1 ch, 8 ch, 20 ch). However, as a method of assigning channel groups, there is a method of assigning a channel group that includes at least one common communication channel and a communication channel constituting the channel group L. .

  For example, when assigning a channel group to add a new version 1 child communication device to a communication system that is already communicating with the child communication device using the channel group L (6 ch, 17 ch, 35 ch), assign it. As the channel group, a channel group F including a common communication channel is assigned (here, 6ch is common to the channel group L and the channel group F). Therefore, the number of channels when waiting for reception is reduced (from 6 channels to 5 channels), and the current when waiting for reception can be reduced. In addition, since the number of channels is reduced, the length of the preamble portion of the wireless telegram can be shortened, so that the time required for communication can be shortened.

  In the present embodiment, the channel group storage unit 6A in the parent communication device 14A has been described as storing a plurality of channel groups. However, the communication channels stored in the channel group storage unit 6A at the time of channel group assignment A method is also conceivable in which at least one channel group including a common communication channel is allocated and only one channel group including a common communication channel is stored in the channel group storage means 6A.

  For example, when a channel group is assigned in order to newly add a child communication device to a communication system that is already communicating with the child communication device using the channel group L (6 ch, 17 ch, 35 ch), the channel group to be assigned is: A channel group F including a common communication channel is assigned.

  At this time, the assigned channel group F is not stored in the channel group storage means 6A, but only the original channel group L is stored. Alternatively, the channel group storage means 6A stores only the assigned channel group F and does not store the original channel group L. As a result, the number of communication channels at the time of reception standby is further reduced, so that it is possible to further reduce the current at the time of reception standby and shorten the time required for communication. Further, since a function for designating a plurality of channel groups is not necessary, the memory capacity for storing the channel groups can be reduced.

  In addition, even if only the newly assigned channel group is specified for reception, a message from the child communication device to which the original channel group is assigned can also be received (at least the 6ch of the original communication channel is newly received). Since the child communication device switches and transmits the communication channel at the time of retransmission, at least the re-transmission text transmitted from the child communication device can be received).

(Embodiment 2)
In the present embodiment, the difference from the first embodiment is that the control unit 11A generates a channel group change message for changing the channel group, and transmits the channel group change message, whereby the channel group storage unit 6A. The channel group stored in is changed.

The channel group storage means 6A in the parent communication device 14A communicates with the channel group F for communicating with the child communication device C (not shown) which is version 1 and with the child communication device 16B which is version 2. Channel group L is stored.
The control unit 11A sets the channel group F and the channel group L in the channel designating unit 7A, so that the channel designating unit 7A uses the communication channels constituting these two channel groups to connect the radio communication unit 9A and the antenna 8A. Via the communication device 16B and the child communication device C.

  A method for migrating the version 2 child communication device 16B whose channel group is the L group to the F group will be described below.

  Step 8 in FIG. 8: The control means 11A of the parent communication device 14A inserts the address of the child communication device 16B of version 2 into the receiving device identification code of (2) in FIG. 4, and for example as message type information in the transmission data block Enter “E2” and “F” which is the channel group information of the change destination, and generate a channel group change message with (b3, b2) of control code 2 shown in FIG. 5 as (0, 1): setting message To do.

  STEP 9: The control means 11A of the parent communication device 14A sets the channel group L in the channel designation means 9A, and the channel designation means 9A uses the communication channels constituting the channel group L to wirelessly communicate with the child communication device 16B. A channel group change message is transmitted via the communication means 9A and the antenna 8A.

  STEP 10: The control unit 11B of the child communication device 16B receives the channel group change message via the antenna 8B and the wireless communication unit 9B, and then, for example, “F2” as a response to the message type information in the transmission data block Is generated, a response message is generated with (b3, b2) of the control code 2 shown in FIG. 5 as (0, 1): setting message, and is sent to the parent communication device 14A. Then, a response message is returned via the wireless communication means 9B and the antenna 8B.

  STEP 11: The control unit 11B in the slave communication device 16B acquires “F” that is the channel group information of the change destination from the transmission data block included in the received channel group change message, and is currently stored in the channel group storage unit 6B. The existing channel group L is changed to channel group F.

  STEP 12: The control means 11A in the parent communication device 14A receives the response message via the antenna 8A and the wireless communication means 9A, and the channel groups F and L currently stored in the channel group storage means 6A are changed to the channel group F only. Change to

  Thereafter, communication is performed in the channel group F between the parent communication device 14A and the child communication device 16B.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the control unit 11A in the parent communication device 14A can transmit the channel group change message, and the channel group stored in the channel group storage unit 6A can be changed.

  In addition, since the control unit 11B in the slave communication device 16B can receive the channel group change message and change the channel group stored in the channel group storage unit 6B, it is possible to perform communication using the optimum channel group for communication. In particular, when communication is performed only on a common communication channel, communication can be performed on all communication channels by receiving a channel group change message transmitted on the common communication channel and changing the channel group. Therefore, communication reliability can be improved.

  In addition, since the number of communication channels is reduced, the length of the preamble part at the time of wireless message transmission can be shortened, so that the time required for communication can be shortened.

  In the present embodiment, the receiving device identification code set in the channel group change message has been described as including the device identification code of the partner communication device, but “FF” indicating broadcast communication is inserted, and the channel Even if a group change message is transmitted by broadcast, it can be similarly implemented.

  In the present embodiment, the method of changing the channel group between the parent communication device 14A and the child communication device 16B using the channel change message has been described. However, the following other methods can be similarly implemented.

  For example, there is a communication system in which communication is performed using the channel group L (6 ch, 17 ch, 35 ch) between the parent communication device 14A and the child communication device 16B of version 2, and the child communication device 16B of version 1 is newly added. 6A, the control unit 11A in the parent communication device 14A is common to version 1 and version 2 shown in FIG. 6 and stored in the channel group storage unit 6A for the child communication device 16B of version 1. Channel group F (6 ch, 18 ch, 33 ch) including a common communication channel is assigned to channel group L (6 ch, 17 ch, 35 ch), and channel group F is stored in channel group storage means 6A. Communicate by designating group F.

  On the other hand, channel group L (6ch, 17ch, 35ch) is stored in the channel group storage unit 6B in the slave communication device 16B, and when a message is transmitted to the parent communication device 14A, the channel group storage unit 6B The communication channels in the stored channel group L are sequentially switched from 35 ch → 17 ch → 6 ch and transmitted. At this time, the parent communication device 14A sequentially switches the communication channels constituting the channel group F and waits for reception (33ch → 18ch → 6ch). Therefore, the transmission of the message addressed to the parent communication device 14A is successful on 6ch which is a common communication channel.

  When the previous message transmission is successful, the control unit 11B in the child communication device 16B generates a channel group inquiry message for inquiring about the channel group of the parent communication device 14A, and performs the parent communication using the wireless communication unit 9B and the antenna 8B. Transmit to the device 14A. On the other hand, in response to the reception of the channel group inquiry message, the control unit 11A in the parent communication device 14A acquires the channel group information currently used for communication from the channel group storage unit 6A, and a response including this channel group information. A message is returned to the child communication device 16B.

  Then, the control unit 11B in the slave communication device 16B acquires the channel group information from the received response message, and if the channel group is different from the channel group stored in the channel group storage unit 6B, the control unit 11B changes the channel group to Since the device 16B can automatically select the optimum channel group for communication and perform communication, the reliability of communication can be improved.

  In addition, as a method for determining whether the message transmission is successful or unsuccessful, it is determined by receiving an ACK signal for the message transmission, or whether a response message returned to the message transmission can be received within a certain time. Possible ways to do this.

  In the first and second embodiments, as a method for the child communication device to know the number of received channels of the parent communication device, a method of putting received channel information in a channel change message, or a method from the child communication device to the parent communication device. A method for inquiring communication channel information can be considered.

  In the first and second embodiments, the communication device identification information has been described as version information included in the control code 2 of the wireless telegram. However, a flag (for example, FIG. (B0): extension bit, (b1): temporary continuous reception function, (b7): transmission power switching, (b10): link connection function, (b11): concealment function 2 is a flag indicating a function that is not supported in version 1), and it is not necessary to newly increase communication device identification information in the control information area of the header part of the wireless message. This area can be used effectively for other purposes. Further, the communication device identification information may be included in the control code 1 shown in FIG.

  In the first or second embodiment, at least a part of each unit can be executed by a computer program. Thus, the function of the communication device can be realized with simple hardware.

  In the first or second embodiment, the channel group is assigned based on the version information. However, the channel group may be assigned based not only on the version information but also on the channel information of the communication apparatus.

  In the first or second embodiment, the home appliance 13B includes a security sensor, an infrared sensor, a glass breakage sensor, a magnet sensor, a shock sensor, a flame sensor, a human body detection sensor, a gas leak sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, and a weight sensor. The same can be done for security devices such as the above.

  As described above, the parent communication device, the child communication device, the communication system, and the program according to the present invention are different even when the corresponding channel group is different due to a difference in the communication standard version or communication device type that the communication device supports. Since it is autonomously set to a channel group that can communicate with each other between the parent communication device and the child communication device, in addition to communication such as home security sensor group, household appliances group, flow rate measurement device group, health equipment group, etc. It can also be applied to wireless data communication applications such as telemetering and telecontrol.

Block diagram of parent communication device in first and second embodiments of the present invention Block diagram of a slave communication device according to Embodiments 1 and 2 of the present invention Communication system diagram using communication apparatus according to first and second embodiments of the present invention Data format diagram transmitted by the communication device according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention Explanatory drawing of the message structure in Embodiments 1 and 2 of the present invention Explanatory drawing of the channel configuration in the prior art and Embodiments 1 and 2 of the present invention Communication sequence diagram of communication system in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Communication sequence diagram of communication system in embodiment 2 of the present invention Explanatory drawing of the message structure in Embodiments 1 and 2 of the present invention Explanatory drawing of the message structure in Embodiments 1 and 2 of the present invention Block diagram of a conventional communication device

Explanation of symbols

5 Channel Group Table 6 Channel Group Storage Unit 7 Channel Specification Unit 9 Wireless Communication Unit 10 Communication Device Identification Information Detection Unit 11 Control Unit 14 Parent Communication Device 15 Communication Device Identification Information Storage Unit 16 Child Communication Device

Claims (15)

Prior to communication, a parent communication device assigns a channel group composed of a plurality of communication channels to a child communication device, and designates the assigned channel group to perform wireless communication. A channel group table for storing data, a wireless communication means for performing communication on a designated communication channel, and a communication channel for performing communication from the channel group selected from the channel group table to the wireless communication means. Based on channel designation means, communication apparatus identification information detection means for detecting communication apparatus identification information of a child communication apparatus from a message received by the wireless communication means, and communication apparatus identification information detected by the communication apparatus identification information detection means The channel group table for the slave communication device. Parent communication and control means for assigning a channel group used for communication with the terminal communication device from Le. 2. The parent communication device according to claim 1, further comprising channel group storage means for storing a plurality of channel groups assigned to each child communication device from the channel group table. 3. The parent communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control means assigns a channel group including at least one common communication channel with the communication channel stored in the channel group storage means. Channel group storage means for storing a channel group for communicating with the slave communication device is provided, and the control means includes at least one communication channel and a communication channel stored in the channel group storage means from the channel group table. 2. The parent communication device according to claim 1, wherein a channel group is allocated, and the channel group storage unit stores only one channel group including the common communication channel. The control means transmits a channel group change message for changing a channel group to the child communication device, and changes the channel group of the child communication device to a channel group stored in a channel group storage means. 5. The parent communication device according to any one of 2 to 4. Prior to communication, a channel group composed of a plurality of communication channels is allocated from the parent communication device to the child communication device, and the communication of the own device is performed in the child communication device that performs wireless communication by designating the allocated channel group. A communication device identification information storage means for storing device identification information; a wireless communication means for performing communication through a designated communication channel; and a communication channel for performing communication from a designated channel group to the wireless communication means. A channel designating unit for designating and a message including the communication device identification information stored in the communication device identification information storage unit are transmitted, and channel group information included in a response message for the message is used for communication with the parent communication device. A slave communication device comprising control means for assigning a channel group to be used. Channel group storage means for storing a channel group for communicating with the parent communication device, the control means receives a channel group change message transmitted to change the channel group from the parent communication device, and the channel group The child communication device according to claim 6, wherein the channel group stored in the channel group storage means is changed based on channel group information included in a change message. Channel group storage means for storing a channel group including a communication channel common to other channel groups, and the control means sends a message to a parent communication device using the common communication channel stored in the channel group storage means. When the transmission of the message is successful, a channel group inquiry message for inquiring a channel group is transmitted, and stored in the channel group storage means based on the channel group information included in the response message to the channel group inquiry message The child communication device according to claim 6, wherein the changed channel group is changed. It is composed of a parent communication device and a child communication device, and prior to communication, the parent communication device assigns a channel group composed of a plurality of communication channels to the child communication device, and designates the assigned channel group. In the communication system that performs wireless communication, the parent communication device is configured to transmit a channel group table A that stores a plurality of channel groups, a wireless communication unit A that performs communication using a designated communication channel, and the wireless communication unit A. Channel designation means A for designating a communication channel for communication from the channel group selected from the channel group table A, and communication device identification information of the child communication device is detected from the message received by the wireless communication means A. Detected by the communication device identification information detection means A and the communication device identification information detection means A Control means A for allocating a channel group to be used for communication with the child communication device from the channel group table A to the child communication device based on the communication device identification information, and the child communication device has its own device The communication apparatus identification information storage means B that stores the communication apparatus identification information of, the wireless communication means B that communicates on the designated communication channel, and the wireless communication means B communicate from the designated channel group Channel designation means B for designating a communication channel for transmission, and a message including the communication device identification information stored in the communication device identification information storage means B, and communication with the parent communication device from a response message to the message And a control means B for determining a channel group used for the communication system. The control means A in the parent communication device transmits a channel group change message for changing the channel group to the child communication device, and the channel group stored in the channel group storage means A is the channel group of the child communication device. The communication system according to claim 9, wherein the communication system is changed to: The control means A in the parent communication device allocates a channel group including at least one common communication channel with the communication channel stored in the channel group storage means A from the channel group table A, and uses the common communication channel, The communication system according to claim 10, wherein a channel group change message for changing a channel group is transmitted to a child communication device, and the child communication device that has received the channel group change message changes the channel group. The parent communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the communication device identification information is a flag indicating a function specific to the child communication device included in a header part of the wireless message. The child communication device according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the communication device identification information is a flag indicating a function specific to the child communication device included in the header part of the wireless message. The program for making a computer perform at least one part of the function of the parent communication apparatus of any one of Claims 1-5. The program for making a computer perform at least one part of the function of the child communication apparatus of any one of Claims 6-8.

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