Sensor manager device, computer program for controlling sensor manager device, computer-readable storage medium containing computer program, and method controlling sensor manager device

• US 7,406,401 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2002
• Issued: 07/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Ota, Shunji, Oyagi, Masayuki, Otsuki, Yoshiyuki, Fukushima, Yoshihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Wachsman; Hal D
• Assistant Examiner(s): O MALLEY, MARY CATHERINE
• Application Number:
  US10/491,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20040249590A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,128 Days
• Field of Search: 702 79- 80, 702176-178, 702187-189, 718102-106
• US Class Current: 702/188
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/005 Solid-state data loggers
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/02 Automatically-operated arrangements

Abstract

A sensor network controller (4) includes: a sensor interface (44) receiving sensing data transmitted from sensors (5); a data write section (150) writing the received sensing data and sensing time information indicating a sensing time of the sensing data in association with each other to a memory section (42); the memory section (42) storing the sensing data and the sensing time information; a first data processing section (144) generating sensing data which is at the timing designated by a client on the basis of the sensing data and the sensing time information stored in the memory section (42); and a data output section (148) outputting the generated sensing data to the client. The client is enabled to acquire sensing data in accordance with a request even if the scheme by which the sensors convey sensing data does not match with the scheme by which the client makes a request for sensing data.

Claims

1. A sensor manager device receiving sensing data transmitted from one or more sensors and providing data based on the sensing data to an external client,

said sensor manager device comprising:

a data receiver section receiving sensing data transmitted from each of the sensors;

a data write section writing the received sensing data, sensing time information indicating a sensing time of the sensing data, and a unique sensor ID of the sensor transmitting the sensing data, in association with one another to a memory section;

the memory section storing the sensing data, the sensing time information, and the sensor ID;

a signal input section receiving a sensing data request signal transmitted from the client;

a request recognizing section recognizing a scheme of the sensing data request signal and a type of a sensor designated by the client;

a data acquiring instruction section determining a sensing data acquiring process on the basis of the recognized scheme of the sensing data request signal and the recognized type of sensor designated even if the recognized scheme and the recognized type do not match, and providing a data acquiring process instruction corresponding to the determined sensing data acquiring process;

a data processing section generating based on the data acquiring process instruction from the data acquiring instruction section, in cases where the designated sensor automatically performs sensing and transmits sensing data and that the scheme of the sensing data request signal is a scheme in which the client designates a timing and requests sensing data acquired by the designated sensor, the sensing data which is provided, by the sensor designated by the client, at the timing designated by the client, on the basis of the sensing data, the sensing time information, and the sensor ID stored in the memory section; and

a data output section outputting the sensing data generated by the data processing section to the client.

2. The sensor manager device as set forth in claim 1, wherein

the data processing section interpolates the sensing data which is at the timing designated by the client on the basis of the sensing data and the sensing time information stored in the memory section.

3. The sensor manager device as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said sensor manager device manages multiple sensors and records types into which the sensors are categorized as to sensing data transmission method.

4. A sensor manager device receiving sensing data transmitted from one or more sensors and providing data based on the sensing data to an external client,

said sensor manager device comprising:

a data receiver section receiving sensing data transmitted from each of the sensors;

a memory section storing the received sensing data;

a signal input section receiving a sensing data request signal transmitted from the client;

a request recognizing section recognizing a scheme of the sensing data request signal and a type of a sensor designated by the client;

a data acquiring instruction section determining a sensing data acquiring process on the basis of the recognized scheme of the sensing data request signal and the recognized type of sensor designated even if the recognized scheme and the recognized type do not match, and providing a data acquiring process instruction corresponding to the determined sensing data acquiring process;

a data processing section acquiring based on the data acquiring process instruction from the data acquiring instruction section, in cases where the sensor, when there has occurred a change in a sensing result, transmits sensing data after the change and that the scheme of the sensing data request signal is a scheme in which the client designates a timing and requests sensing data acquired by the sensor, latest sensing data stored in the memory section at the timing designated by the client; and

a data output section outputting the sensing data acquired by the data processing section to the client.

5. A sensor manager device receiving sensing data transmitted from one or more sensors and providing data based on the sensing data to an external client,

said sensor manager device comprising:

a data receiver section receiving sensing data transmitted from each of the sensors;

a memory section storing the received sensing data;

a signal input section receiving a sensing data request signal transmitted from the client;

a request recognizing section recognizing a scheme of the sensing data request signal and a type of a sensor designated by the client;

a data acquiring instruction section determining a sensing data acquiring process on the basis of the recognized scheme of the sensing data request signal and the recognized type of sensor designated even if the recognized scheme and the recognized type do not match, and providing a data acquiring process instruction corresponding to the determined sensing data acquiring process;

a data processing section determining based on the data acquiring process instruction from the data acquiring instruction section, in cases where the sensor automatically performs sensing and transmits sensing data and that the scheme of the sensing data request signal is a scheme in which the client requests sensing data when there has occurred a change in a sensing result produced by the designated sensor, whether there has occurred a change in the sensing data on the basis of the sensing data stored in the memory section, and when it is determined that there has occurred a change, acquiring sensing data after the change; and

a data output section outputting the sensing data acquired by the data processing section to the client.

6. The sensor manager device as set forth in claim 5, wherein

the data processing section periodically determines whether there has occurred a change in the sensing data on the basis of the sensing data stored in the memory section.

7. A sensor manager device receiving sensing data transmitted from one or more sensors and providing data based on the sensing data to an external client,

said sensor manager device comprising:

a signal output section outputting the sensing signal to each of the sensors;

a data receiver section receiving the sensing data transmitted from the sensor;

a memory section storing the received sensing data;

a signal input section receiving a sensing data request signal transmitted from the client;

a request recognizing section recognizing a scheme of the sensing data request signal and a type of a sensor, designated by the client;

a data acquiring instruction section determining a sensing data acquiring process on the basis of the recognized scheme of the sensing data request signal and the recognized type of sensor designated even if the recognized scheme and the recognized type do not match, and providing a data acquiring process instruction corresponding to the determined sensing data acquiring process;

a data processing section determining based on the data acquiring process instruction from the data acquiring instruction section, in cases where the sensor performs sensing and transmits sensing data in accordance with a sensing signal requesting a transmission of the sensing data and that the scheme of the sensing data request signal is a scheme in which the client requests sensing data when there has occurred a change in a sensing result produced by the sensor, whether there has occurred a change in the sensing data on the basis of the sensing data stored in the memory section, and when it is determined that there has occurred a change, acquiring sensing data after the change; and

a data output section outputting the sensing data acquired by the data processing section to the client.

8. The sensor manager device as set forth in claim 7, wherein

the signal output section periodically outputs the sensing signal.

9. A method of controlling a sensor manager device receiving sensing data transmitted from one or more sensors and providing data based on the sensing data to an external client,

said method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving sensing data transmitted from each of the sensors;

(b) writing the received sensing data, sensing time information indicating a sensing time of the sensing data, and a unique sensor ID of the sensor transmitting the sensing data in association with each other to a memory section;

(c) receiving a sensing data request signal transmitted from the client;

(d) recognizing a scheme of the sensing data request signal and a type of a sensor designated by the client;

(e) determining a sensing data acquiring process on the basis of the recognized scheme of the sensing data request signal and the recognized type of sensor designated even if the recognized scheme and the recognized type do not match, and providing a data acquiring process instruction corresponding to the determined sensing data acquiring process;

(f) generating, based on the data acquiring process instruction, in cases where the designated sensor automatically performs sensing and transmits sensing data and that the scheme of the sensing data request signal is a scheme in which the client designates a timing and requests sensing data acquired by the designated sensor, the sensing data which is provided by the sensor designated by the client, at the timing designated by the client, on the basis of the sensing data, the sensing time information, and the sensor ID stored in the memory section; and

(g) outputting the sensing data generated in step (f) to the client.

10. A method of controlling a sensor manager device receiving sensing data transmitted from one or more sensors and providing data based on the sensing data to an external client,

said method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving sensing data transmitted from each of the sensors;

(b) writing the received sensing data to a memory section;

(c) receiving a sensing data request signal transmitted from the client;

(d) recognizing a scheme of the sensing data request signal and a type of a sensor designated by the client;

(e) determining a sensing data acquiring process on the basis of the recognized scheme of the sensing data request signal and the recognized type of sensor designated even if the recognized scheme and the recognized type do not match, and providing a data acquiring process instruction corresponding to the determined sensing data acquiring process;

(f) acquiring, based on the data acquiring process instruction, in cases where the sensor, when there has occurred a change in a sensing result, transmits sensing data after the change and that the scheme of the sensing data request signal is a scheme in which the client designates a timing and requests sensing data acquired by the sensor, latest sensing data stored in the memory section at the timing designated by the client; and

(g) outputting the sensing data acquired in step (f) to the client.

11. A method of controlling a sensor manager device receiving sensing data transmitted from sensors and providing data based on the sensing data to an external client,

said method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving sensing data transmitted from the sensors;

(b) writing the received sensing data to a memory section;

(c) receiving a sensing data request signal transmitted from the client;

(d) recognizing a scheme of the sensing data request signal and a type of a sensor designated by the client;

(e) determining a sensing data acquiring process on the basis of the recognized scheme of the sensing data request signal and the recognized type of sensor designated even if the recognized scheme and the recognized type do not match, and providing a data acquiring process instruction corresponding to the determined sensing data acquiring process;

(f) determining, based on the data acquiring process instruction, in cases where the sensor, automatically performs sensing and transmits sensing data and that the scheme of the sensing data request signal is a scheme in which the client requests sensing data when there has occurred a change in a sensing result produced by the designated sensor, whether there has occurred a change in the sensing data on the basis of the sensing data stored in the memory section, and when it is determined that there has occurred a change, acquiring sensing data after the change; and

(g) outputting the sensing data acquired in step (f) to the client.

12. A method of controlling a sensor manager device receiving sensing data transmitted from sensors and providing data based on the sensing data to an external client,

said method comprising the steps of:

(a) outputting the sensing signal to the sensors;

(b) receiving the sensing data transmitted from the sensors;

(c) writing the received sensing data to a memory section;

(d) receiving a sensing data request signal transmitted from the client;

(e) recognizing a scheme of the sensing data request signal and a type of a sensor designated by the client;

(f) determining a sensing data acquiring process on the basis of the recognized scheme of the sensing data request signal and the recognized type of sensor designated even if the recognized scheme and the recognized type do not match, and providing a data acquiring process instruction corresponding to the determined sensing data acquiring process;

(g) determining, based on the data acquiring process instruction, in cases where the sensor performs sensing and transmits sensing data in accordance with a sensing signal requesting a transmission of the sensing data and that the scheme of the sensing data request signal is a scheme in which the client requests sensing data when there has occurred a, change in a sensing result produced by the sensor, whether there has occurred a change in the sensing data on the basis of the sensing data stored in the memory section, and when it is determined that there has occurred a change, acquiring sensing data after the change; and

(h) outputting the sensing data acquired in step (g) to the client.

13. A computer readable storage medium containing a computer program for controlling a sensor manager device receiving sensing data transmitted from one or more sensors and providing data based on the sensing data to an external client, the computer program, when executed by a computer causing the computer to perform a method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving sensing data transmitted from each of the sensors;

(b) writing the received sensing data, sensing time information indicating a sensing time of the sensing data, and a unique sensor ID of the sensor transmitting the sensing data in association with each other to a memory section;

(c) receiving a sensing data request signal transmitted from the client;

(d) recognizing a scheme of the sensing data request signal and a type of a sensor designated by the client;

(e) determining a sensing data acquiring process on the basis of the recognized scheme of the sensing data request signal and the recognized type of sensor designated even if the recognized scheme and the recognized type do not match, and providing a data acquiring process instruction corresponding to the determined sensing data acquiring process;

(f) generating, based on the data acquiring process instruction, in cases the designated sensor automatically performs sensing and transmits sensing data and that the scheme of the sensing data request signal is a scheme in which the client designates a timing and requests sensing data acquired by the designated sensor, the sensing data which is provided by the sensor designated by the client, at the timing designated by the client, on the basis of the sensing data, the sensing time information, and the sensor ID stored in the memory section; and

(g) outputting the sensing data generated in step (f) to the client.