Component unit monitoring system and component unit monitoring method

• US 20060106577A1
• Filed: 10/28/2005
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Hatakeyama, Kouichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,589,624 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/183
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2402 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting mechanical aspects of the tags, e.g. related to locking E05B73/0017; RFID readers G06K7/00; RFID tags G06K19/00; access control systems G07C9/00; anti-theft control in point of sale systems G07G3/003; security seals G09F3/03
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/007 Details of data content structure of message packets; data protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence

Abstract

A component unit monitoring system includes at least one independently installable component unit, a system management controller, a wireless transmission and reception controller for controlling communications between the system management controller and a first wireless link, and a wireless IC tag connected to the wireless transmission and reception controller through the first wireless link, for acquiring status information of the component unit. The wireless IC tag sends status information representing an installation history and a status value of the component unit to the system management controller through the first wireless link. The system management controller analyzes the received status information and sends an analytic result through the first wireless link to the wireless IC tag. The wireless IC tag stores the analytic result as a history of chronological data.

Claims

1. A component unit monitoring system comprising:

at least one independently installable component unit;

a system management controller;

a wireless transmission and reception controller connected to said system management controller, for controlling communications between said system management controller and a first wireless link; and

a wireless IC tag mounted on said component unit, for acquiring status information of said component unit;

wherein said wireless IC tag is connected to said wireless transmission and reception controller through said first wireless link for sending said status information through said first wireless link to said system management controller;

said system management controller analyzes the status information received from said wireless IC tag and sends an analytic result through said first wireless link to said wireless IC tag; and

said wireless IC tag stores the analytic result received from said system management controller as a history of chronological data.

2. A component unit monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein said system management controller and said wireless IC tag are energizable by respective different power supplies.

3. A component unit monitoring system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a component control device connected between said component unit and said wireless IC tag;

wherein said system management controller sends a first request signal for acquiring the status information of said component unit to said wireless IC tag through said first wireless link;

said wireless IC tag sends a second request signal to said component control device in response to said first request signal;

said component control device acquires said status information from said component unit in response to said second request signal and sends said status information to said wireless IC tag; and

said wireless IC tag sends the status information received from said component control device to said system management controller.

4. A component unit monitoring system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a component control device connected between said component unit and said wireless IC tag;

wherein said component control device periodically acquires said status information from said component unit and sends said status information to said wireless IC tag; and

said wireless IC tag periodically sends the status information received from said component control device to said system management controller.

5. A component unit monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein said status information includes component information representing a type of said component unit, and said system management controller holds said component information received from said wireless IC tag in association with an identifier of said component unit as configurational information.

6. A component unit monitoring system according to claim 5, further comprising:

an external wireless module for acquiring said configurational information from said system management controller through a second wireless link.

7. A component unit monitoring system according to claim 6, wherein said external wireless module is connected to said wireless IC tag through said second wireless link for acquiring said history of chronological data from said wireless IC tag.

8. A component unit monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein said history of chronological data comprises an installation history of chronological information regarding a system to which said component unit was connected;

said status information includes said installation history;

said system management controller refers to said installation history, and, if said component unit is newly connected to said system, sends system information representing said system to said wireless IC tag; and

said wireless IC tag updates said installation history based on said system information.

9. A component unit monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein said history of chronological data comprises a fault history of chronological fault information of said component unit;

said status information includes a status value representing a status of said component unit;

said system management controller holds a threshold for determining whether said component unit is suffering a fault or not, compares said status value received from said wireless IC tag with said threshold, and, if it is judged that said component unit is suffering a fault from a comparison result, sends fault information to said wireless IC tag; and

said wireless IC tag updates said fault history based on said fault information.

10. A method of monitoring a component unit in a system having at least one independently installable component unit, a wireless IC tag mounted on said component unit, and a system management controller for communicating with said wireless IC tag through a first wireless I, comprising the steps of:

(a) controlling said wireless IC tag to acquire status information of said component unit and send the acquired status information to said system management controller through said first wireless link;

(b) controlling said system management controller to analyze the status information received from said wireless IC tag and return an analytic result through said first wireless link to said wireless IC tag; and

(c) controlling said wireless IC tag to store the analytic result returned from said system management controller as a history of chronological data.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said step (a) is carried out in response to a first request signal received from said system management controller through said first wireless link.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein said step (a) is periodically carried out.

13. A method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of:

controlling an external wireless module to acquire the status information of said component unit from said system management controller or said wireless IC tag through a second wireless link, and hold or display the acquired status information.