Communication checker, communication-state detection system and method for checking communication state

• US 8,611,236 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2008
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Mukaigawa, Shinichi, Nakamura, Akihiko, Fujikawa, Eiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANWAR, MOHAMMAD S
• Application Number:
  US12/060,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20080247328A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,086 Days
• Field of Search: 370/252, 370/329, 370/337
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A simple-structure communication checker capable of detecting the communication state of devices communicating in different communication methods is provided. The communication checker includes an SLPR communication detector that detects the communication state through the SLPR service and a FOMA communication detector that detects the communication state through the FOMA service.

Claims

1. A communication checker comprising:

a first detector for detecting the communication state in a first wireless communication method; and

a second detector for detecting the communication state in a second wireless communication method, said second wireless communication method being different from said first wireless communication method;

wherein

said communication checker checks the communication state at a site where a master unit that communicates with a plurality of slave units and a management server is planned to be installed,

said master unit and said plurality of slave units communicate with each other in said first wireless communication method, while said master unit and said management server communicate with each other in said second wireless communication method,

said communication checker communicates with said plurality of slave units and said management server, and

said management server is provided separately from said plurality of slave units.

2. The communication checker according to claim 1, wherein

said first wireless communication method is the specified low power radio service, and said second wireless communication method is a wireless service using a cellular phone communication network.

3. The communication checker according to claim 1, wherein

said communication checker is incorporated in said master unit.

4. The communication checker according to claim 1, further comprising

an automatic communication-state checker for automatically checking the communication states and manners with said plurality of slave units and said management server.

5. The communication checker according to claim 1, wherein said communication checker checks the communication state by measuring an electric field strength of radio waves emitted by each of said plurality of slave units.

6. The communication checker according to claim 1, wherein said communication checker checks the communication state by transmitting an inquiry signal each of said plurality of slave units, and determining whether or not responses are received from each of said plurality of slave units based on said inquiry signal.

7. A communication-state detection system using a communication checker having a first detector for detecting the communication state in a first wireless communication method and a second detector for detecting the communication state in a second wireless communication method, said second wireless communication method being different from said first wireless communication method, wherein

said communication checker checks the communication state at a site where a master unit that communicates with a plurality of slave units and a management server is planned to be installed,

said master unit and said plurality of slave units communicate with each other in said first wireless communication method, while said master unit and said management server communicate with each other in said second wireless communication method, and

wherein said management server stores the communication states which are detected by said communication checker, between said plurality of slave units and said master unit communicating in said first wireless communication method,

said communication-state detection system comprising:

a network accessible via said second wireless communication method; and

a mobile terminal accessible to said network, wherein

said mobile terminal can access to said management server via said network to check the communication states between said plurality of slave units and said master unit communicating in said first wireless communication method,

wherein said communication checker communicates with said plurality of slave units and said management server, and

wherein said management server is provided separately from said plurality of slave units.

8. The communication-state detection system according to claim 7, wherein

said communication checker detects only the communication state in said first wireless communication method and said second wireless communication method, and

said mobile terminal has a display to display the communication state in said first wireless communication method and said second wireless communication method.

9. A method for checking communication states at a site where a master unit communicating with a plurality of slave units and a management server is planned to be installed, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting the communication state with the slave units in a first wireless communication method by a communication checker at a site where said master unit is planned to be installed;

detecting the communication state with said management server in a second wireless communication method by said communication checker at a site where said master unit is planned to be installed, said second wireless communication method being different from said first wireless communication method;

checking the communication state at a site where a master unit that communicates with a plurality of slave units and a management server is planned to be installed;

performing, by said master unit and said plurality of slave units, communication with each other in said first wireless communication method; and

performing, by said master unit and said management server, communication with each other in said second wireless communication method,

wherein said communication checker communicates with said plurality of slave units and said management server, and

wherein said management server is provided separately from said plurality of slave units.

10. The method for checking communication states according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

storing the communication states between said plurality of slave units and master unit communicating in said first wireless communication method in said management server, the communication states being detected by said communication checker; and

allowing a mobile terminal to access said management server via a network to check the communication states between said plurality of slave units and master unit communicating in said first wireless communication method.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein said checking step comprises measuring an electric field strength of radio waves emitted by each of said plurality of slave units.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein said checking step comprises:

transmitting an inquiry signal to each of said plurality of slave units; and

determining whether or not responses are received from each of said plurality of slave units based on said inquiry signal.