Sensor net system and sensor node

• US 20080068156A1
• Filed: 07/12/2007
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Hayakawa, Miki, Shimokawa, Isao, Watanabe, Kazuki, Muro, Keiro, Ogushi, Minoru
• Application Number:
  US11/826,163
• Publication Number:
  US 20080068156A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.22
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

In order to realize the joining with the legitimate devices for joining with a limited number of operations for terminal devices for which small dimension and low power consumption are required, in the radio communication system according to the present invention, a ReJoin Command for instructing the sensor node to join with other PANs is provided, and by the use of this command, it is possible to change the joining of the sensor node joined with an unintended PAN to another intended PAN. In addition, for joining with the PAN to which it is joined is disjoined, repeated attempts are to be made to join with the PAN.

Claims

1. A Sensor Net System comprising an intermediate device joined with a sensor node and a server joined with said intermediate device, said server comprising:

a record unit for recording the relationship of joining between said nodes to be joined and the network to which said intermediate device belongs;

a display unit for displaying said relationship of joining;

an input unit for accepting changes in said relationship of joining;

a command issue unit for issuing a rejoining command based on said judgment; and

a transmission and reception unit for transmitting said issued commands to the intermediate device joined with said a sensor node,

wherein upon receiving said command, said sensor node shuts down the joining with said intermediate device, searches the network specified in said command and joins with the intermediate device belonging to the network searched.

2. The Sensor Net System according to claim 1,

wherein said sensor node searches communicable networks and chooses any one of the searched networks, and

wherein joins with said intermediate device belonging to said chosen network.

3. The Sensor Net System according to claim 1,

wherein in case of failures for the predetermined number of times or more to join with said intermediate device to be joined, said sensor node repeatedly tries to join with said intermediate device until the joining is completed with the same.

4. The Sensor Net System according to claim 1,

wherein said command issue unit issues the first Allow Join command including the allow join information for allowing joining with some intermediate devices constructing said network and issues the second Allow Join command including the information of not allowing joining with the intermediate devices other than those mentioned above,

wherein said intermediate device, upon receipt of said allow joint command, switches the allow join state based on the instruction of said Allow Join command, and

wherein said sensor node trying to join with said network joins with any one of the intermediate devices having received said first Allow Join command.

5. The Sensor Net System according to claim 1,

wherein said command issue unit issues a Deep Sleep Mode command, and

wherein the sensor node, upon receipt of said deep sleep command, operates in the Deep Sleep Mode in which sleep time is set longer.

6. The Sensor Net System according to claim 1, wherein said server display unit displays the relationship of joining among said server constructing said sensor net, said intermediate device and said sensor node in the layer structure.

7. The Sensor Net System according to claim 1,

wherein said server further comprises a judgment unit for judging whether the relationship of joining between said sensor node and network that has been notified exists or not based on the relationship of joining recorded as mentioned above, and

wherein, when said judgment unit has judged it as inappropriate, said command issue unit issues a ReJoin Command to said sensor node.

8. The Sensor Net System according to claim 1,

wherein said Sensor Net System shares said network with other communication systems, and comprises further a management device, and

wherein said management device manages the allocation of frequencies between said Sensor Net System and said other systems.

9. The Sensor Net System according to claim 2,

wherein the priority for various network candidates is decided by using said radio field intensity in said network search, and said Join operations are executed based on said priority.

10. A sensor node joined with intermediate devices in a Sensor Net System including a server and a plurality of intermediate devices managed by said server, said sensor node comprising:

a communication unit for communicating by radio with said intermediate devices;

a display unit;

an input instruction unit; and

a control unit for controlling said different units,

wherein said sensor node searches networks through said communication unit,displays the retrieved networks in said display unit, and joins with the intermediate devices belonging to the chosen network through said input instruction unit, and

wherein, upon receipt of the ReJoin Command issued by said server between the network and said sensor node through said communication unit, said control unit shuts down the joining with said intermediate devices, searches the intermediate devices belonging to the network designated in the command and joins with the retrieved intermediate devices.

11. The sensor node according to claim 10,

wherein said control unit interrupts the joining with said intermediate devices according to the instructions received through said input instruction means.