WO2017046998A1

WO2017046998A1 - Communication device and communication system

Info

Publication number: WO2017046998A1
Application number: PCT/JP2016/003651
Authority: WO
Inventors: 矢島　正一; 新倉　英生; 石橋　秀則
Original assignee: ソニー株式会社
Priority date: 2015-09-16
Filing date: 2016-08-08
Publication date: 2017-03-23

Abstract

This communication device is provided with a cover, a first communication unit and a power supply unit. The cover has a hollow shape which extends in a uniaxial direction from a first end towards a second end. The first communication unit is housed in a first unit casing arranged inside the cover along the aforementioned uniaxial direction, and communicates with a first device mounted on an organism. The power supply unit is housed in a second unit casing arranged inside of the cover along the uniaxial direction and supplies power to the first communication unit.

Description

Communication apparatus and communication system

This technology relates to a communication device that can be installed outdoors, for example, and a communication system using the communication device.

A technique is known in which a small communication device is attached to livestock such as cattle, and an individual identification signal or the like is transmitted from the communication device by wireless communication or the like (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This document describes a reader that receives an individual identification signal from a communication device.

JP 2012-60972 A

On the other hand, when such a reader is installed in a livestock facility, it may be installed outdoors. In that case, a communication device that can communicate with a small communication device mounted on livestock or the like and can be easily installed even in places where power facilities are not available is desired.

In view of the circumstances as described above, an object of the present technology is to provide a communication device that can be easily installed even outdoors where power facilities are not provided, and a communication system using the communication device.

In order to achieve the above object, a communication device according to an embodiment of the present technology includes a cover, a first communication unit, and a power supply unit.
The cover has a hollow shape extending along a uniaxial direction from the first end toward the second end.
The first communication unit is accommodated in a first unit casing installed inside the cover along the uniaxial direction, and communicates with a first device attached to a living body.
The power supply unit is housed in a second unit casing installed inside the cover along the uniaxial direction, and supplies power to the first communication unit.

A communication system according to another embodiment of the present technology includes a transmission device attached to a living body and a communication device.
The communication device includes a cover, a first communication unit, and a power supply unit.
The cover has a hollow shape extending along a uniaxial direction from the first end toward the second end.
The first communication unit is accommodated in a first unit casing installed inside the cover along the uniaxial direction, and communicates with the transmission device.
The power supply unit is housed in a second unit casing installed inside the cover along the uniaxial direction, and supplies power to the first communication unit.

As described above, according to the present technology, there is provided a communication device that can be easily installed even outdoors where power facilities are not provided, and a communication system using the communication device.
Note that the effects described here are not necessarily limited, and may be any of the effects described in the present disclosure.

It is a typical figure showing a schematic structure of a livestock management system of a 1st embodiment of this art. It is a figure which shows typically the relationship between each domestic animal and an area | region. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of each apparatus contained in the livestock management system shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the livestock management system shown in FIG. 1, and the flow of a process. It is a figure which shows the example of 1 structure of the area | region attribute information database memorize | stored in the attribute information storage part of the livestock management system shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of 1 structure of the management object information database of the area | region memorize | stored in the attribute information storage part of the livestock management system shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of the registration process of the livestock management system shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting screen of a parameter displayed on the display part of the terminal device shown in FIG. It is a table | surface which shows an example of the result of the stay determination and area | region determination which were displayed on the said display part. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a positional relationship between each area and a communication device according to Modification 1-1. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the livestock management system which concerns on modification 1-2. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the livestock management system which concerns on the modification 1-3. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a livestock management system according to Modification 1-4. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating another schematic configuration of a livestock management system according to Modification 1-4. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the livestock management system which concerns on the modified example 1-4. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a transmission apparatus according to Modification 1-5. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a functional structure of the livestock management system in the modification 1-5. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the livestock management system which concerns on the modification 1-6. It is a typical figure showing a schematic structure of a livestock management system concerning a 2nd embodiment of this art. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of each apparatus contained in the livestock management system shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the said livestock management system, and the flow of a process. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of the input process of the area | region attribute information in the said livestock management system. It is a figure which shows an example of the input screen of the area | region attribute information displayed on the display part of the terminal device shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of the input process of the attribute information of the said livestock management system. It is a figure which shows an example of the registration screen which receives selection of area | region attribute information displayed on the display part of the said terminal device. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the livestock management system which concerns on modification 2-1, and the flow of a process. It is a figure which shows the example of a transition of the registration screen which concerns on the modification 2-3. It is a schematic side view which shows the communication apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this technique. It is a side view which shows a communication apparatus. It is sectional drawing which looked at the communication apparatus of FIG. 29 from the X-axis direction. It is a disassembled perspective view of the communication apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 32 is a perspective view of a third unit housing shown in FIG. 31. A is a plan view of the third unit casing, and B is a bottom view of the third unit casing. It is an expanded sectional view of the A section of FIG. It is a side view of the 1st unit housing | casing shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the 1st unit housing | casing shown in FIG. FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view of the second unit housing shown in FIG. 31. FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view of the third unit housing shown in FIG. 31. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the communication system using the said communication apparatus.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present technology will be described with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment: Stay Monitoring Process>
[Overview of livestock management system]
The livestock management system according to the present embodiment is a system that can be used by, for example, livestock farmers and employees (users) of livestock facilities, and performs a stay monitoring process for monitoring an area where livestock stays in the livestock facility. Configured to be possible.
In the following description, staying in a certain area means that livestock exists in the area for a predetermined time or more. Although the predetermined time is not particularly limited, for example, it is several minutes to several hours.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a livestock management system according to a first embodiment of the present technology.
As shown in the figure, the livestock management system 100 includes a plurality of transmission devices 1 (

transmission devices

1a, 1b, 1c), a plurality of communication devices 2 (

communication devices

2a, 2b), a server device 3, and a terminal device. 4.
The plurality of

transmission devices

1a, 1b, 1c are respectively attached to the plurality of domestic animals A1, A2, A3.
Examples of livestock A1, A2, A3 include industrial animals such as beef cattle, dairy cows, pigs, horses, sheep, goats, poultry and pet animals such as dogs, cats, rabbits, etc. Show.
The areas R1 and R2 shown in the figure are areas where the livestock A1, A2 and A3 can stay, for example, in the livestock facility, and are areas registered in advance by the user using, for example, livestock management application software described later. Specific examples of the area may include a barn, a grazing farm, a milking box / parlor, etc., partitioned in a barn. In the figure, an example is shown in which livestock A1 and A2 stay in the region R1, and livestock A3 stays in the region R2.
Among the “regions”, regions where livestock can stay and are subject to stay monitoring determination for each of the livestock A1, A2, and A3 are referred to as “target regions”.

The transmission device 1 is attached to livestock and transmits an individual identification signal associated with the livestock. Livestock shall mean individual livestock.
The individual identifier is an identifier that can identify livestock, and may be an individual identifier that is unique to the transmission device 1 or an individual identifier that can identify the transmission device 1 such as an individual identification number of livestock that will be described later. Also good.
The individual identification signal includes an identifier and is a signal transmitted from the transmission device 1.
The individual identification signal may include information other than the identifier. For example, the individual identification signal may include information on the amount of power generation to be described later, information on the attribute of the transmission device 1, information combining these, and the like.
The

transmission devices

1a, 1b, and 1c can be configured as tags that can be attached to the domestic animals A1, A2, and A3, respectively.
The transmission device 1 is attached to the ears of the domestic animals A1, A2, A3, for example. However, from the viewpoint of reducing the possibility of the transmitter 1 coming off due to the action of the livestock A1, A2, A3 rubbing the body against a fence or the like, and the collision between the livestock, attachment to the ear is preferable to the neck or foot.
In addition, the livestock A1, A2, and A3 may not be equipped with a function such as communication, and may be equipped with a wearing tool in which information for identifying an individual such as an individual identification number is described. The above-mentioned wearing tool worn on the ear is referred to as an ear tag. As an example, the ear tag has a resin plate on which an individual identification number and its barcode are printed.
In addition, the individual identification number referred to here is a general-purpose number assigned by, for example, a national or livestock management organization.
In addition, the transmission apparatus 1 may have the individual identification number of a domestic animal, the individual identifier of the transmission apparatus 1, etc. on the surface of the housing | casing mentioned later, and may also serve as the function of an ear tag.

The plurality of communication devices 2 are devices different from the transmission device 1, receive the individual identification signal transmitted from the transmission device 1, add predetermined information to the received individual identification signal, and add to the server device 3. Send. That is, the communication device 2 of the present embodiment functions as a device for receiving an individual identification signal.
The network N can be, for example, the Internet or a local area network.
The communication device 2 may be a dedicated communication device as shown in FIG. Alternatively, a portable information terminal different from the terminal device 4 may be used. In the example shown in the figure, the communication device 2 is attached to a fence or the like arranged in a livestock facility.

In the present embodiment, the plurality of communication devices 2 may be positioned corresponding to the regions R1 and R2, as shown in FIG.
The communication device 2 being “located in the target region” means that the communication device 2 is located in and around the target region, for example, near the entrance of the target region and the fence (boundary) of the target region. Including being inside the target area.
In the present embodiment, there may be a plurality of patterns in the relationship between the communication device 2 and the regions R1 and R2. For example, as shown in the figure, (i) there may be a plurality of regions, and one communication device 2 may correspond to each region (see FIG. 2). Further, (ii) there may be a plurality of areas, and a plurality of communication devices 2 may correspond to each area (see FIG. 10), and (iii) only one area and one communication apparatus 2 is provided in each area (Iv) There may be only one area, and a plurality of communication devices 2 may correspond to each area.

The server device 3 is a server device on the network N. In this embodiment, the server device 3 is a device different from the transmission device 1 and the communication device 2, and is an information processing device that receives an individual identification signal transmitted from the communication device 2. Predetermined information may be added by the communication device 2 to the individual identification signal received by the server device 3. The server device 3 may be configured by one information processing device or may be configured by a plurality of information processing devices.
The server device 3 can provide a livestock management service to the terminal device 4 via the network N. For example, the server device 3 is equipped with livestock management application software (hereinafter abbreviated as “livestock management application”), and executes processing based on the software.
The server device 3 may provide a livestock management application to the terminal device 4 or the like in the form of a web application, or may distribute the livestock management application to the terminal device 4 and cause the terminal device 4 to install the application.

The terminal device 4 is an information processing device operated by a user who manages a plurality of livestock A1, A2, A3, and is configured to be able to communicate with the server device 3 on the network N. The terminal device 4 includes, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a digital camera, a wearable device, a PC (Personal Computer), and the like.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the relationship between each domestic animal and the area. The livestock A1 and A2 indicated by white circles belong to the cattle herd A which is a group of livestock, and the livestock A3 indicated by a circle including diagonal lines belongs to the cattle herd B which is a group of livestock.
As shown in FIG. 2A, for example, livestock A1, A2, and A3 belong to a group of a cow group A, a cow group A, and a cow group B, respectively. The herd group A is a group consisting of cows that have appetite and milk, for example. The herd group B is a group that consists of cows that have appetite and milk, for example.
On the other hand, the region R1 and the region R2 are different regions such as a barn and a pasture, and are partitioned by a fence and other structures. Alternatively, the regions R1 and R2 may be virtual regions.
Usually, livestock of the same group stay in the same area because the same management is required. For this reason, typically, each area | region and each group respond | correspond one-to-one, and a group name can be commonly used as a name of an area | region.

In FIG. 2A, livestock A1, A2 of cattle herd A stays in region R1, and livestock A3 of cattle herd B stays in region R2. For this reason, each domestic animal A1, A2, A3 stays in an appropriate area | region.
On the other hand, in FIG. 2B, livestock A2 stays in area R1, and livestock A3, A1 stays in area R2. In this case, the livestock A1 that should originally be managed in the area R1 is lost in the area R2, and it is necessary to return to the area R1 in order to manage it appropriately.

In the example shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an example of three livestock is shown for the sake of explanation, but a livestock farmer can manage tens to thousands or more of livestock. Further, the group of livestock is not limited to the example of two groups, and a large number of groups can be managed. In such a case, it is difficult to grasp the livestock lost to the inappropriate group.
According to the livestock management system 100 of the present embodiment, it is possible to monitor the area where livestock is staying and manage the livestock easily.

[Hardware configuration of livestock management system]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of each device included in the livestock management system 100.

(Transmitter)
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the transmission device 1 includes a power supply unit 11, a control unit 12, and a communication unit 13. The transmission device 1 further includes a housing (not shown) that houses the power supply unit 11, the control unit 12, and the communication unit 13, and a mounting mechanism (not shown) for mounting the housing on livestock. The mounting mechanism may be configured integrally with the housing.
“Mounting” as used herein refers to mounting directly on a living body and / or non-living body with a mounting tool or the like, and mounting indirectly on an object to which the living body and / or non-living body is mounted. Including. As an example in which the housing is directly attached to a living body or the like, for example, the user may be able to attach the housing to the livestock by sandwiching the ears of the livestock between the housing and other objects using a wearer. As an example in which the casing is indirectly attached to a living body or the like, the casing may have a hole for a belt, and the casing may be attached to a domestic animal by passing a belt that is turned around the neck of the domestic animal through the hole. As another example in which the housing is mounted indirectly on a living body or the like, the housing has a structure for mounting a mounting component for mounting, and the livestock is connected via a mounting component that is directly mounted on livestock. It may be attached to.

The power supply unit 11 is configured to be able to supply power to the control unit 12 and the communication unit 13, and includes, for example, a power generation unit 111, a power storage unit 112, and a power control unit 113.

The power generation unit 111 generates electric power according to the surrounding environment. The power generation unit 111 may generate power using, for example, energy based on at least one of light, heat, vibration, radio waves including a far electromagnetic field and a near electromagnetic field, and a specific organic substance and inorganic substance. Good. The power generation unit 111 may generate power using a plurality of the above-described energies. The power generation method may be any of electrostatic type, electromagnetic type, inverse magnetostrictive type, piezoelectric type and the like.
The power generation unit 111 may generate power using light (for example, an indoor light bulb or sunlight).
The power generation unit 111 may be a thermoelectric conversion element that generates power using a temperature difference (heat) (for example, a power generation by the Seebeck effect or the Thomson effect, a thermoelectron power generation unit 111, or a thermomagnetic power generation). Such a power generation unit 111 generates power using, for example, the temperature difference between the body temperature of the livestock and the outside air temperature.
The power generation unit 111 may be an enzyme battery (also referred to as a bio battery) that generates power using sugar.
The power generation unit 111 uses one of LCR (inductance, capacitance, reactance) components, or a combination thereof, and capacitive coupling or electromagnetic coupling by a capacitor, a capacitor, an antenna, a rectenna, and the like. It may be a thing.
The power generation unit 111 may perform near electromagnetic field power generation, that is, generate power using energy obtained by bringing the transmission device close to a predetermined device. As the near electromagnetic field power generation method, a known method such as a magnetic field resonance method, an electromagnetic induction method, an electric field coupling method, an electric field resonance method, or the like can be applied.
As the power generation unit 111, a known power generation unit 111 other than the exemplified power generation unit can be applied.

The power storage unit 112 is used depending on the purpose such as storing the power generated by the power generation unit 111. The power generated by the power generation unit 111 is stored in the power storage unit 112 and used as power for operating the communication unit 13.
The power storage unit 112 includes various secondary batteries such as a lithium ion secondary battery, an electric double layer capacitor, a lithium ion capacitor, a polyacenic organic semiconductor (PAS) capacitor, and a nanogate capacitor (“nanogate”). Are registered trademarks of Nanogate Aktiengesellschaft, ceramic capacitors, film capacitors, aluminum electrolytic capacitors, tantalum capacitors, and the like. Depending on the purpose, a combination of these power storage units 112 may be used.

The power control unit 113 transitions between a standby state and an output state for supplying power to the communication unit 13 and the control unit 12 according to the power supplied from the power generation unit 111. Thereby, when the power generation amount by the power generation unit 111 becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined amount, it is possible to transmit the individual identification signal.
The power control unit 113 is configured by, for example, an integrated circuit (IC) composed of one element or a plurality of elements. Examples of the IC used for the power supply unit 113 include a switching element such as a transistor, a diode, a reset IC, a regulator IC, a logic IC, and various arithmetic circuits. The circuit configuration inside the IC can be changed as appropriate as long as the function of the power control unit 113 can be realized. In addition, the power control unit 113 preferably has a configuration capable of storing the state by holding the state after the transition, but may have a configuration incapable of storing the state due to reset or the like and not storing the state.
In addition, the power generated in the power generation unit 111 may be supplied to the power control unit 113 after being appropriately boosted or reduced.

The control unit 12 controls transmission of the communication unit 13 and includes a processor and a memory. The control unit 12 of the present embodiment can be configured as an MCU (Micro Control Unit).
The processor used for the control unit 12 executes control on the communication circuit. Examples of the processor include an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) and a CPU (Central Processing Unit). As the processor, MPU is more preferable because of the processing amount of the communication unit 13 and the request for downsizing in the transmission apparatus 1.

The communication unit 13 transmits an individual identification signal including an individual identifier using the power supplied from the power supply unit 11.
The individual identification signal of the present embodiment may include information on the amount of power generated according to the surrounding environment. The information on the power generation amount may include a transmission or reception pattern of an individual identification signal based on the power generation amount generated according to the surrounding environment, or may include a numerical value of the power generation amount. The individual identification signal may further include information indicating the type of power generation. The information indicating the type of power generation includes, for example, information indicating whether the power generation source performed by the communication unit 13 is one of light, temperature difference, radio wave, or a combination thereof.
As the individual identifier, an individual identifier unique to the transmission apparatus 1 assigned in advance is typically used. This makes it possible to identify livestock in a one-to-one correspondence with livestock equipped with the transmission device 1. The individual identifier may be an individual identifier assigned each time as long as the livestock can be identified.
The communication unit 13 includes a communication circuit and an antenna for communicating with the communication device 2 and the like.
Communication performed by the communication circuit of the communication unit 13 may be wireless or wired. Further, a single wireless module may be used, a plurality of types may be used, or a plurality of types of composite modules may be used. The wireless communication may be a communication method using electromagnetic waves or infrared rays, communication using an electric field, or communication using sound waves. Specific communication methods include “Wi-Fi (registered trademark)”, “Zigbee (registered trademark)”, “Bluetooth (registered trademark)”, “Bluetooth Low Energy”, “ANT (registered trademark)”, “ANT +” (Registered trademark), “EnOcean (registered trademark)”, and other communication systems using a band of several hundred MHz (megahertz) to several GHz (gigahertz) can be exemplified. Near field communication such as NFC (Near Field Communication) may be used.
Near field communication refers to near field type wireless communication of, for example, several cm to 1 m. For example, in addition to NFC, a communication system using RFID (Radio Frequency Identifier) such as ISO / IEC 14443, a communication system such as infrared communication Can be mentioned.

(Communication device)
The communication device 2 includes a control unit 21, a first communication unit 22, and a second communication unit 23. The signal receiving unit 104 is realized by the first communication unit 22 of the communication device 2.
The control unit 21 executes control of the first communication unit 22 and the second communication unit 23, and is realized by, for example, an MPU or CPU. The processor used for the communication unit 42 executes control for each communication circuit. Examples of the processor include an MPU and a CPU.
A memory for storing device information for identifying the communication device 2 is connected to the processor of the control unit 21, and these processor and memory may constitute an MCU (Micro Control Unit).
Furthermore, device information for identifying the communication device 2 may be stored in the memory of the control unit 21.
The device information is information related to the communication device 2 and includes, for example, an identifier (ID) of the communication device 2 and information about attributes of the communication device 2.
The individual identifier here may be an identifier unique to the communication apparatus 2 or an identifier set by the user.

The first communication unit 22 is configured to be able to communicate with the communication unit 13 of the transmission device 1. The first communication unit 22 includes, for example, a first communication system communication circuit and an antenna. Examples of the first communication method include a communication method using electromagnetic waves and infrared rays, a communication method using electric fields, a wireless communication method using sound waves, and a wired communication method.

The second communication unit 23 includes a communication circuit and an antenna of a second communication method different from the first communication method. In the present embodiment, the second communication unit 23 is connected to the network N and can communicate with the server device 3. Composed. The second communication method is a communication method connectable to the network N, such as a communication method using a wireless LAN (IEEE802.11, etc.) such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or a 3G or 4G network for mobile communication. Can be applied.
When the second communication unit 23 applies a communication method such as WiFi, the second communication unit 23 can be connected to the network N via a predetermined access point.

Note that the communication device 2 may appropriately include communication circuits other than those described above.

(Server device)
The server device 3 includes a control unit 31, a storage unit 32, and a communication unit 33.
The control unit 31 is a processor realized by a CPU, and comprehensively controls each unit of the server device 3. The control unit 31 executes predetermined processing in accordance with a control program stored in the storage unit 32.
The storage unit 32 includes, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory) in which a program executed by the control unit 31 is stored, a RAM (Random Access Memory) used as a work memory when the control unit 31 executes processing, and the like. Have Furthermore, the storage unit 32 may include a nonvolatile memory such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and a flash memory (SSD; Solid State Drive).
The communication unit 33 is connected to the network N and configured to be able to communicate with the terminal device 4. The communication unit 33 can be connected to the network N through a hardware network interface such as a wireless LAN (IEEE802.11 or the like) such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or a wired LAN.
In addition to the above-described configuration, the server device 3 may have a configuration such as a display unit or an input operation unit as necessary.

(Terminal device)
The terminal device 4 includes a control unit 41, a storage unit 42, a first communication unit 43, a second communication unit 44, a display unit 45, and an input operation unit 46. The terminal device 4 further includes a housing (not shown) that houses a control unit 41, a storage unit 42, a first communication unit 43, a second communication unit 44, a display unit 45, and an input operation unit 46. Have The housing is configured to be portable by the user, for example.
The control unit 41 is a processor realized by a CPU, and comprehensively controls each unit of the terminal device 4. The control unit 41 executes predetermined processing according to the control program stored in the storage unit 42.
The storage unit 42 includes a ROM, a RAM, a nonvolatile memory, and the like.
The first communication unit 43 is configured to be able to communicate with a communication method different from that of the second communication unit 43. The first communication unit 43 has a configuration capable of wireless communication such as communication using electromagnetic waves and infrared rays and communication using electric fields. The first communication unit 43 may be capable of close proximity wireless communication used in a communication distance of about several cm to 1 m such as NFC.
The second communication unit 44 is connected to the network N and configured to be able to communicate with the server device 3. Specifically, the second communication unit 44 connects to the network N using a wireless LAN (IEEE802.11 or the like) such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or a 3G or 4G network for mobile communication. Communication with the server device 3 is possible.
The display unit 45 is realized by a display element such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an organic EL (Electroluminescence) panel. The display unit 45 may include a D / A conversion circuit in addition to the display element.
The input operation unit 46 is, for example, a touch panel, a keyboard, a pointing device such as a mouse, and other input devices. When the input operation unit 46 is a touch panel, the touch panel can be integrated with the display unit 45.
In addition to the above configuration, the terminal device 4 may include a battery, a camera, a microphone, a speaker, and the like (not shown).

[Functional structure of livestock management system]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the livestock management system 100 and the flow of processing.

As shown in FIG. 4, the livestock management system 100 includes a signal transmission unit 101, a signal reception unit 102, a position determination unit 103, a data acquisition unit 104, a stay determination unit 105, an area determination unit 106, and an output. Unit 107 and attribute information storage unit 108.
Among these configurations, in the present embodiment, the signal transmission unit 101 is realized by the communication unit 13 of the transmission device 1.
The signal receiving unit 102 is realized by the first communication unit 22 of the communication device 2.
The position determination unit 103 is realized by the control unit 21 of the communication device 2.
The data acquisition unit 104, the stay determination unit 105, and the area determination unit 106 are realized by the control unit 31 of the server device 3.
The attribute information storage unit 108 is realized by the storage unit 32 of the server device 3.
The output unit 107 is realized by the control unit 41 of the terminal device 4.

The plurality of signal transmission units 101 each transmit an individual identification signal including an individual identifier associated with a domestic animal. Then, the signal receiving unit 102 of the communication device 2 receives these individual identification signals.

The position determination unit 103 determines whether or not the individual identification signal transmitted from the transmission device 1 satisfies the first condition for the transmission device 1 to be located in the target region.
The first condition is that (1) signal strength information when received by one or more communication devices 2 located in the target area is added to the individual identification signal transmitted from the transmission device 1 The condition that the signal intensity of the individual identification signal belongs to the first intensity range may be included. Further, (1) may include a condition that (1a) the signal strength of the individual identification signal is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. In (1), the position determination unit 103 can perform a determination process for the first condition using a received signal strength indication (RSSI) of the individual identification signal.
Since the signal strength is known to have a correlation with the communication distance, the distance between the transmission device 1 and the communication device 2 at the time of transmission can be estimated by referring to the signal strength. Therefore, the position determination unit 103 can specify an individual identification signal from the transmission device 1 within a predetermined distance range from the communication device 2 based on the condition (1). An individual identification signal from the transmission device 1 within a predetermined distance from 2 can be specified.
Further, the first condition is that (2) the information about the transmission position obtained by GPS or the like is added to the individual identification signal transmitted from the transmission device 1 (see Modification 1-5 described later) ), A condition that the transmission position is located in the target region may be included. Under the condition (2), the position determination unit 103 can determine the position of the transmission device 1 with higher accuracy.
The first condition may be (3) other conditions, and the condition (4) may be a condition obtained by combining a plurality of conditions (1) to (3).

The data acquisition unit 104 acquires data on a plurality of individual identification signals transmitted from the transmission device 1 that transmits an individual identification signal attached to a domestic animal and associated with the domestic animal. The data acquisition unit 104 acquires data of a plurality of individual identification signals that are the basis of determination by the stay determination unit 105, and supplies necessary data to the stay determination unit 105.
The “plurality of individual identification signals” may be a plurality of individual identification signals transmitted from the same transmission apparatus 1, or may be a plurality of individual identification signals transmitted from different transmission apparatuses 1.
The data about a plurality of individual identification signals here are, for example, (A) an individual identifier included in the individual identification signal, (B) device information of the communication device 2, and (C) a target area related to a plurality of individual identification signals. Information of signal strength when received by one or a plurality of communication devices located in (1), (D) determination result by position determination unit 103, (E) information of reception time of individual identification signal in communication unit 2, and (F ) Other information may be included, and a plurality of pieces of information may be included.
As for the reception time information of (E), for example, even when the control unit 21 of the communication device 2 has a clock circuit and a time stamp of the time when the individual identification signal is received is added to the individual identification signal. Good. Alternatively, the control unit 13 of the transmission device 1 may include a clock circuit, and a time stamp at the time when the individual identification signal is transmitted may be added to the individual identification signal. In the latter case, the transmission time is handled as the reception time.
“Data acquisition” by the data acquisition unit 104 may be, for example, reading data received during a predetermined time and stored in the storage unit 32, or data by controlling the communication unit 33. May be received. By reading the data received and temporarily stored for a predetermined time, the stay determination unit 105 can execute the stay determination process based on the data received within a certain period of time. The data acquisition unit 104 may acquire data related to a preset number of individual identification signals.
The data acquisition unit 104 may acquire data on a plurality of individual identification signals determined to satisfy the first condition. The terminal device 4 may transmit only the data of a plurality of individual identification signals determined to satisfy the first condition to the server device 3, or transmit all the individual identification signals that have been determined, and obtain data. The unit 104 may select and acquire data based on the determination result.

The stay determination unit 105 determines whether the livestock is staying in the target area corresponding to the individual identification signal based on the data regarding the plurality of individual identification signals. In the present embodiment, the stay determination unit 105 determines whether or not the data about the plurality of signals determined to satisfy the first condition satisfies the second condition for the livestock to stay in the target area. .
The “target region corresponding to the individual identification signal” indicates a target region where the transmission apparatus 1 is located and a target region corresponding to a communication method of an individual identification signal described later in Modification 1-6.
As the second condition, the following conditions (1) to (4) can be applied.

First, the second condition is as follows: (1) When the data includes information on the reception times of a plurality of individual identification signals in one communication device 2 located in the target area, A condition regarding the reception time may be included. Based on the condition (1), the stay determination unit 105 can determine that livestock is located in the target region over a time range that satisfies the condition of “stay”. Thus, according to the condition (1), when a plurality of individual identification signals are received by one communication device 2 corresponding to a certain area (one communication apparatus 2 corresponding to each area (i) ( In the case of the pattern iii), stay determination is possible. Of course, the present invention is also applicable to cases where a plurality of individual identification signals are received by a plurality of communication devices 2 corresponding to a certain area (in the case of patterns (i) and (iii) corresponding to a plurality of communication apparatuses 2 in each area) Is possible.
The condition (1) regarding the reception time may be, for example, a condition that (1a) the reception times of a plurality of individual identification signals extend over a predetermined time determined to be staying. Alternatively, (1b) may be a condition that the reception times of a plurality of individual identification signals are equal to or higher than a predetermined frequency, or (1c) may be a condition based on an algorithm generated by machine learning. (1d) Other conditions that can be determined to be staying may be used. The condition (1e) may be a condition obtained by combining a plurality of conditions (1a) to (1d).

Alternatively, the second condition is (2) when the data includes information on the signal strength of each of the plurality of individual identification signals received by the plurality of communication devices 2 located in the target region. Conditions for the signal strength of each signal may be included. Thereby, it is possible to estimate the position of the transmission device 1 when transmitting the individual identification signal.
For example, (2a) the condition that the signal intensity of each of the plurality of individual identification signals is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, and (2b) the average value of the signal intensity of each of the plurality of individual identification signals is predetermined. (2c) The condition that the lowest signal strength among a plurality of individual identification signals is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold, and (2d) The standard deviation of the plurality of individual identification signals is less than or equal to a predetermined value. Or the like. The “predetermined threshold” in (2a) may be the same threshold as the signal intensity threshold in the position determination process, or may be a different threshold (for example, a higher threshold).
According to the conditions (2a) to (2d), any one of data relating to a plurality of individual identification signals received by one communication device 2 and data relating to a plurality of individual identification signals received by a plurality of communication devices 2 Stay determination is possible.
For example, when a plurality of individual identification signals are received by one communication apparatus 2, by applying the conditions (2a) to (2d), the communication apparatus 2 of the transmission apparatus 1 within the individual identification signal reception time can be applied. Average distance, longest distance, distance variation, etc. can be considered.
Further, when a plurality of individual identification signals are received by a plurality of communication devices 2, by applying the conditions (2a) to (2d), the average distance from the plurality of communication devices 2 of the transmission device 1 at a certain time It is possible to consider conditions such as longest distance and distance variation.
In addition to the conditions (2a) to (2d), the second condition may include (2e) a condition regarding the position of the transmission device estimated based on the signal strengths of a plurality of individual identification signals. In particular, when a plurality of individual identification signals are received by a plurality of communication devices 2 corresponding to a certain area (in the case of patterns (ii) and (iv) corresponding to a plurality of communication apparatuses 2 in each area), the accuracy is higher. The position of the transmitter 1 can be estimated well (details will be described later).
Further, the second condition may be a condition based on an algorithm generated by (2f) machine learning.

Further, the second condition may be (3) other conditions, or may be a condition obtained by combining a plurality of conditions (1) to (3) as the condition (4). .

Furthermore, the stay determination unit 105 identifies one of the plurality of regions as the target region based on the attribute information about the attribute of the communication device 2 associated with the device information of each of the plurality of individual identification signals. It may be determined whether the livestock stays in the target area specified based on the plurality of individual identification signals.
For example, in the patterns (i) and (ii) having a plurality of areas, there is a possibility that a plurality of individual identification signals acquired by the data acquisition unit 104 may be transmitted from the communication device 2 corresponding to the plurality of areas. is there. Therefore, the stay determination unit 105 transmits from the communication device 2 corresponding to which region the individual identification signal regarding the data is transmitted from the device information of the communication device 2 included in the data and the stored attribute information of the communication device 2. The identified area can be processed as the target area.

The attribute information storage unit 108 stores data about attribute information.
The attribute information storage unit 108 stores the device information for identifying the communication device 2 that has received each of the plurality of individual identification signals and the region attribute information of the communication device 2 identified by the device information in association with each other.
The area attribute information may include, for example, information about one area corresponding to the position of the communication device 2 among a plurality of areas. Further, the area attribute information includes information on the group of livestock managed in the area corresponding to the position of the communication device 2, information on the relative position of the communication device 2 or the area in the livestock facility, the communication apparatus 2 or the area. Absolute position information (latitude, longitude, etc.) may be included.
The attribute information storage unit 108 may store one area attribute information for the device information, or may store a plurality of attribute information.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the region attribute information database stored in the attribute information storage unit 108. “ID” shown in the figure is the identifier of the communication device 2 included in the device information, the communication device of ID001 is the communication device 2a shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the communication device of ID002 is the communication device 2b shown in FIG. It shall correspond. In the area attribute information database shown in FIG. 5, two area attribute information of “name” and “description” are stored in association with one communication device 2.
For example, “fence of cattle herd A” shown in the figure means “an area partitioned by a fence for managing cattle herd A” and represents an area R1 in FIG. 1 and FIG.
Similarly, “fence of cattle herd B” shown in the same figure shall indicate the region R2 of FIG. 1 and FIG.
That is, it can be seen from the database shown in FIG. 5 that the communication device 2a is installed at the entrance of the region R1, and the communication device 2b is installed at the entrance of the region R2.

The attribute information storage unit 108 further stores the individual identifier and the management target information of the area for the attribute of the transmission device 1 identified by the individual identifier in association with each other.
The area management target information may include information about the area corresponding to the livestock to which the transmission device 1 is attached. Such information about the area may be, for example, information on a group of livestock managed in a certain area, or information such as the name of the area.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the management target information database for the area stored in the attribute information storage unit 108.
The “cow ID” shown in the figure is an individual identifier of the transmission device 1, and the “registered cow group” indicates a group to which livestock corresponding to each cow ID belongs.
For example, livestock in which “registered cattle herd” is registered as cattle herd A is managed in a region R1 corresponding to “cow herd A fence” shown in FIG. Livestock in which “registered cattle herd” is registered as cattle herd B is managed in an area R1 corresponding to “cow herd B fence” shown in FIG.

When it is determined that the livestock stays in the target area, the area determination unit 106 determines the determined target area and the plurality of individual identification signals based on the management target information of the area stored in the attribute information storage unit 108. It is determined whether or not the area corresponding to the livestock to which the transmission apparatus of the transmission source is attached matches.
Taking the livestock A2 of FIG. 2B as an example, if it is determined that the livestock A2 stays in the region R2 as the target region, the region determination unit 106 stores the region R2 in association with the cattle herd A to which the livestock A2 belongs. It is determined whether or not the area matches. In this case, since the area stored in association with the herd A is the area R1, they do not match. Therefore, it is necessary to inform the user of the determination result and move livestock A2.

The output unit 107 can appropriately output the determination result of the region determination unit 106 to the display unit 25 of the terminal device 4 and / or a speaker (not shown).

[Operation example]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of registration processing of the livestock management system 100.
In this operation example, an example will be described in which an individual identification signal is transmitted to the communication device 2b from the transmission device 1a attached to the livestock A1 in FIG.
In the figure, the processing of ST101 to ST104 is executed by the transmission device 1, the processing of ST201 to ST206 is executed by the communication device 2, the processing of ST301 to ST306 is executed by the server device 3, and ST401 to ST401 The process of ST402 is executed by the terminal device 4.

First, when a predetermined condition is satisfied (ST101), the transmission device 1a transmits an individual identification signal including an individual identifier for identifying the transmission device 1a (ST102). The predetermined condition here may be, for example, a condition that the power generation amount by the power generation unit 111 is equal to or greater than a predetermined power generation amount. Alternatively, it may be a condition that the request individual identification signal of the individual identification signal is received from the communication device 2, the terminal device 4, or the like.
The signal reception unit 102 of the communication device 2 receives the transmitted individual identification signal (ST201), and the position determination unit 103 determines that the individual identification signal transmitted from the transmission device 1 is located in the target area of the transmission device 1. It is determined whether or not the first condition is satisfied (ST202). In this operation example, the first condition includes, for example, the above condition (1a), that is, the condition that the signal strength of the received individual identification signal is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. This “predetermined threshold value” may be set by machine learning, data acquired in advance by the terminal device 4 or the server device 3, or may be set by the user.
Accordingly, for example, referring to FIG. 1, it can be determined that the transmission device 1a is located at a predetermined distance or less from the communication device 2, and the livestock A1 wearing the transmission device 1a is near the entrance of the region R1. It is possible to determine whether or not it is located at.

When it is determined that the individual identification signal satisfies the first condition (Y in ST202), the communication device 2 transmits data about the individual identification signal to the server device 3. In this operation example, this data includes (A) the individual identifier included in the individual identification signal, (B) device information of the communication device 2 and (C) one or more of the individual identification signals located in the target region. Contains signal strength information when received by the communication device. Further, (D) a determination result by the position determination unit 103 may be included.
When it is determined that the first condition is not satisfied (N in ST302), the communication device 2 may receive another individual identification signal without transmitting data (ST304).

On the other hand, when the predetermined condition is satisfied again (ST103), transmitting apparatus 1a transmits an individual identification signal including an individual identifier for identifying transmitting apparatus 1a (ST104).
Then, similarly to ST201 to ST203, communication device 2b receives the transmitted individual identification signal (ST204), determines whether or not the individual identification signal satisfies the first condition (ST205), and determines the individual identification. Data about the signal is transmitted (ST206).
Note that the communication device 2B may transmit data for a plurality of individual identification signals collectively, instead of transmitting data for each individual identification signal as shown in FIG.

Server device 3 receives the transmitted data, and acquires data for a plurality of individual identification signals determined by data acquisition section 104 to satisfy the first condition (ST301). For example, the data acquisition unit 104 acquires data of each individual identification signal received within a predetermined time and temporarily accumulated in the storage unit 32.
Subsequently, stay determination section 105 determines whether or not the acquired data satisfies the second condition for livestock staying in the target area (ST302). In this operation example, “a plurality of individual identification signals” are a plurality of individual identification signals transmitted from one transmission device 1a.
First, the stay determination unit 105 identifies one of the plurality of regions as the target region based on the region attribute information of the communication device 2b associated with the device information of each of the plurality of individual identification signals.
For example, the stay determination unit 105 specifies the target region as “cow herd B” (region R2) from the ID “002” of the communication device 2b based on the region attribute information database shown in FIG.
The stay determination unit 105 determines whether or not the acquired data satisfies the second condition for the livestock to stay in the target area specified based on the plurality of individual identification signals.
The second condition includes, for example, (1) a condition regarding the reception time of each of the plurality of individual identification signals. The condition (1) may be any of the above conditions (1a) to (1e). The second condition may further include (2) a condition regarding the signal strength of each of the plurality of individual identification signals. The condition (2) may be any of the conditions (2a) to (2f), but may be the conditions (2a) to (2d), for example.

Further, in this operation example, parameters such as a threshold value used for each process and a data acquisition time interval by the data acquisition unit 104 can be set by the user. In this case, for example, a parameter such as a threshold is set based on an input operation from the input operation unit 46 of the terminal device 4.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a parameter setting screen displayed on the display unit 45 of the terminal device 4.
A data acquisition interval input field 451 shown in the figure is a field for inputting a data acquisition time interval by the data acquisition unit 104. The RSSI threshold value input field 452 is a field for inputting a signal strength threshold value at the time of position determination processing by the position determination unit 103. The RSSI threshold value input field 453 is a field for inputting a signal strength threshold value at the time of determination processing by the stay determination unit 105. The clear button 454 is a button for deleting the input value, and the registration button 455 is a button for determining the input value.
Furthermore, in addition to the example shown in the figure, the parameter setting screen may include an approximate distance threshold value input field in addition to the RSSI threshold value input field or instead of the RSSI threshold value input field. The approximate distance threshold value input field is, for example, a field for inputting a threshold value of an approximate distance (for example, X [m]) between the communication device 2 and the transmission device 1 corresponding to RSSI. Thereby, the user can prescribe | regulate the distance of the transmitter 1 and the communication apparatus 2 more intuitively than the value of RSSI itself.

Subsequently, when it is determined that the second condition is satisfied (Y in ST302), the region determination unit 106 determines the target region determined based on the information stored in the attribute information storage unit 108 and a plurality of individuals. It is determined whether or not the area corresponding to the livestock to which the transmission device 1 that is the transmission source of the identification signal is attached coincides (ST303).
For example, the area determination unit 106 refers to the management object information database of the area illustrated in FIG. 6 and searches for an area corresponding to the individual identifier transmitted from the transmission device 1a.
For example, when the individual identifier of the transmission device 1a is ID01000313, the registered cattle herd is cattle herd A. Thereby, the area determination unit 106 determines that the “cow group A” does not correspond to the determined “cow group B” and the areas do not match.

Subsequently, the server device 3 transmits the determination results of the stay determination unit 105 and the region determination unit 106 to the terminal device 4 (ST304). For example, the server device 3 may transmit the determination result based on a transmission request from the terminal device 4 or may automatically transmit the determination result to the terminal device 4.

The terminal device 4 receives the transmission result transmitted from the server device 3 (ST401), and the output unit 107 outputs, for example, the determination result to the display unit 45 (ST402).
FIG. 9 is a table showing an example of the stay determination and area determination results displayed on the display unit 45.
The “cow ID” and “registered cattle herd” shown in the figure are the same items as those stored in the area management object information database shown in FIG. 6, and are examples of individual identifiers and area management object information. Indicates. “Current cattle herd” indicates a target area in which each livestock is determined. Note that “being monitored” indicates that the livestock management system 100 is executing processing. Further, a button or the like on which the user can perform an input operation for starting or stopping the process may be displayed on the screen.
Referring to the figure, for example, in the livestock of ID01000313 equipped with the transmission device 1a, the registered cattle herd does not match the current cattle herd. In this case, for example, a character color or a background color different from other cells is applied to the cell indicating the “current cattle herd” of the ID01000313, and the visibility of the cell is improved. Thereby, it is possible to more reliably notify the user of livestock not managed in an appropriate area.

According to this operation example, first, the position determination unit 103 determines whether or not the individual identification signal transmitted from the transmission device 1a is transmitted from within a predetermined distance range of the communication device 2b. Subsequently, the stay determination unit 105 of the server device 3 determines whether the individual identification signal determined to have been transmitted from the vicinity is transmitted from the vicinity of the same communication device 2b for a predetermined time or more. Thereby, it is possible to determine whether or not the livestock A1 wearing the transmission device 1a has stayed in the vicinity of the communication device 2b for a predetermined time or more. That is, it is possible to determine that the user is not only passing through the vicinity of the communication device 2b but is staying in an area corresponding to the position of the communication device 2b.
Moreover, since the stay determination part 105 can identify the target area | region which is staying based on the area | region attribute information of the communication apparatus 2b which received the individual identification signal, it is a livestock facility which has the area | region which manages several livestock. It can also be applied to.

As mentioned above, according to this embodiment, not only the position at the time of transmission of the individual identification signal of the transmission apparatus 1 but also analysis of the transmission position over time, etc., and the presence or absence of stay in the target area in each domestic animal is determined. be able to. Thereby, it can be automatically determined whether each livestock is staying in the area to be managed, and management of a large number of livestock can be facilitated.
Further, according to the present embodiment, the processing of the position determination unit 103 with relatively low processing cost is executed by the communication device 2, and only the data related to the individual identification signal that satisfies the determination condition is transmitted to the server device 3. Thereby, while being able to reduce the processing load of the communication apparatus 2, the server apparatus 3 can perform a more detailed analysis using the data of the several individual identification signal. Further, it is not necessary to transmit data about all the individual identification signals to the server device 3, and the cost related to the communication processing can be reduced.

[Modification of this embodiment]
Hereinafter, modifications of the present embodiment will be described. In addition, about the structure similar to the above-mentioned embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

(Modification 1-1: Modification in the case where the correspondence pattern between the communication device and the area is (ii))
In the above-described operation example, the correspondence pattern between the communication device and the region has been described as (i) a plurality of regions, and one communication device 2 corresponds to each region. However, (ii) there are a plurality of regions. A case of a pattern in which a plurality of communication devices 2 correspond to each area will be described.
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating the positional relationship between each area and the communication device 2 according to Modification 1-1.
In the figure, livestock A1 to A3 are managed in a plurality of areas R1 and R2 of the livestock facility, as in FIG.

Communication devices

2a and 2b are arranged at the entrance of the region R1, and communication devices 2c and 2d are arranged at the entrance of the region R2.

Also in this modification, there is a possibility that a plurality of individual identification signals acquired by the data acquisition unit 104 are transmitted from the communication devices 2a to 2d corresponding to the plurality of regions R1 and R2.
Therefore, the stay determination unit 105 sets one of the plurality of regions R1 and R2 as the target region based on the region attribute information of the communication devices 2a to 2d associated with the device information of each of the plurality of individual identification signals. It may be determined whether or not the livestock stays in the target area specified based on the plurality of individual identification signals. The identification of the target area can be performed in the same manner as in the above operation example.
In addition, the stay determination unit 105 determines whether or not the second condition for the livestock to stay in the target region specified based on the plurality of individual identification signals is specified after the target region is specified.
In the present modification, the second condition includes (2) a condition regarding the signal strength of each of the plurality of individual identification signals. The condition (2) may be any of the conditions (2a) to (2f). For example, (2e) transmission estimated based on the signal strength of a plurality of individual identification signals It can be a condition for the position of the device.
In addition to the condition (2), the second condition may include (1) a condition regarding the reception time of each of the plurality of individual identification signals, or (3) other conditions. The condition (4) may be a condition obtained by combining a plurality of conditions (1) to (3).

The condition (2e) will be described with reference to the region R1 in FIG.
As described above, there is a correlation between signal strength and communication distance. For this reason, when each

communication apparatus

2a, 2b acquires the information of the signal strength about the individual identification signal from the transmission apparatus 1a with which the domestic animal A1 is equipped, respectively, for example, the transmission apparatus 1a and each of the

communication apparatuses

2a, 2b The distances L1 and L2 between the two can be calculated. Thereby, the position of the transmitter 1a, that is, the position of the livestock A1 can be calculated in the manner of triangulation.
Using this calculation method, for example, as the condition (2e), the condition that the position of the transmission device 1a calculated by the plurality of

communication devices

2a and 2b is the region R11 away from the entrance in the region R1 is applied. can do. The region R11 may be, for example, a region separated by a predetermined distance or more from each of the

communication devices

2a and 2b arranged at the entrance of the region R1, or a region separated by a predetermined distance or more from the entrance of the region R1. Also good. Thereby, it can be determined that the livestock A1 is reliably staying in the region R1.

(Modification 1-2: Modification in the case where the correspondence pattern between the communication device and the area is (iii))
The correspondence pattern between the communication device and the region may be a pattern corresponding to (iii) one region described above, and one communication device 2 corresponding to each region. This pattern (iii) is, for example, a pattern having only the region R1 or the region R2 in FIG.
In this modification, since there is one target area to be determined, the stay determination unit 105 can execute the determination on the second condition without executing the process of specifying the area.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the livestock management system 100 according to Modification 1-2.
As shown in the figure, a livestock management system 100 according to this modification includes a signal transmission unit 101, a signal reception unit 102, a position determination unit 103, a data acquisition unit 104, a stay determination unit 105, and an output unit. 107. Since the livestock management system 100 does not execute the process of determining the area, the livestock management system 100 does not have to include the area determination unit 106 and does not need to consider the correspondence between the communication device 2 and the area. The information storage unit 108 may not be provided.
The second condition used for the determination by the stay determination unit 105 includes at least (1) a condition regarding the reception time of each of the plurality of individual identification signals. The condition (1) may be any of the conditions (1a) to (1e).
The second condition may include a condition regarding the signal intensity of each of the plurality of individual identification signals in (2), (3) may be other conditions, and the condition (4) , (1) to (3) may be combined with a plurality of conditions.
Moreover, the output part 107 can output the determination result of the stay determination part 105, and can notify a user about whether each domestic animal is staying in one target area.
Thereby, it can be determined only whether each domestic animal is staying in the target area, and the system configuration can be further simplified.

(Modification 1-3: Modification in the case where the correspondence pattern between the communication device and the area is (iii))
The correspondence pattern of the communication device 2 and the area may be a pattern in which the above-mentioned (iv) only one area corresponds to a plurality of communication apparatuses 2 in each area. This pattern (iv) is, for example, a pattern having only the region R1 or the region R2 in FIG.
Also in this modified example, since there is one target area to be determined, the stay determination unit 105 can execute the determination on the second condition without executing the process of specifying the area.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the livestock management system 100 according to Modification 1-3.
As shown in the figure, a livestock management system 100 according to this modification includes a signal transmission unit 101, a signal reception unit 102, a position determination unit 103, a data acquisition unit 104, a stay determination unit 105, and an output unit. 107 and an attribute information storage unit 108. Since the livestock management system 100 does not execute the process of determining the area, the area determination unit 106 may not be provided.
The second condition used for the determination by the stay determination unit 105 includes at least (2) a condition regarding the signal strength of each of the plurality of individual identification signals. The condition (2) may be any of the conditions (2a) to (2f), but as described in Modification 1-1, for example, (2e) a plurality of individual identifications A condition for the position of the transmitter estimated based on the signal strength of the signal may be used.
The second condition may include a condition regarding the reception time of each of the plurality of individual identification signals in (1), (3) may be other conditions, and the condition (4) , (1) to (3) may be combined with a plurality of conditions.
Moreover, the output part 107 can output the determination result of the stay determination part 105, and can notify a user about whether each domestic animal is staying in one target area.

(Modification 1-4: Modification of system configuration)

As illustrated in FIG. 13, the livestock management system 100 may include a first communication device 2A and a second communication device 2B instead of the communication device 2. The first communication device 2A receives the individual identification signal transmitted from the transmission device 1, and transmits the individual identification signal to the second transmission device 2B. The second communication device 2B receives the individual identification signal transmitted from the first communication device 2A, and transmits data about the individual identification signal received via the network N to the server device 3.
The first communication device 2A functions as a reception device similar to the communication device 2, and the second communication device 2B functions as a relay device.
The first communication device 2A and the second communication device 2B may have the same hardware configuration as the communication device 2 described above.
For example, the communication between the first communication device 2A and the second communication device 2B may use the first communication unit 22 or another communication circuit.
Furthermore, the livestock management system 100 may have three or more communication devices 2.

As another configuration example, as illustrated in FIG. 14, the communication device 2 adds predetermined information to the received individual identification signal, and transmits the individual identification signal to which the predetermined information is added to the terminal device 4. May be.
The predetermined information includes, for example, (a) device information of the communication device 2, (b) information on signal strength when received by one or more communication devices located in the target region, and (c) target region. (D) Other information, or a combination of the information (a) to (d) may be used.
In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 15, the position determination unit 103 may be realized by the control unit 41 of the terminal device 4.

As another configuration example, an example in which the communication device 2 and the terminal device 4 are separated is shown. However, for example, the function of the communication device 2 may be realized by the terminal device 4.
For example, when executing the stay monitoring process, the terminal device 4 is arranged at a position corresponding to the target area to function as the communication device 2, and after the stay monitoring process is completed, the determination result is output by the terminal device 4. The
When the terminal device 4 is a PC or the like, the terminal device 4 may be always installed at a position corresponding to the target area. In the case where the terminal device 4 is a portable information terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet, the terminal device 4 may be arranged at a position corresponding to the target area only during the stay monitoring process and moved after the stay monitoring process.

As yet another configuration example, the livestock management system 100 includes at least one information processing device (in the above example, the terminal device 4 or the server device 3) that includes at least the data acquisition unit 104 and the stay determination unit 105 described above. As a management device. That is, as the transmission device, the communication device, and the like, a widely used device or a device that is not controlled by the management device can be applied.

(Modification 1-5: Modification of Transmitter)
The transmission device 1 is not limited to the above-described configuration.
For example, as illustrated in FIG. 16, the transmission device 1 may include a sensor unit 14 that acquires information about the surrounding environment.
The signal transmission unit 101 of the transmission device 1 transmits the sensor data from the sensor unit 14 together with the individual identifier, and the communication device 2, the server device 3, the terminal device 4 and the like can receive and utilize the sensor data.
The sensor unit 14 may be a position information sensor such as GPS. The sensor unit 14 can also function as a position information acquisition unit that acquires position information of the transmission device 1. Thereby, the position determination part 103 and / or the stay determination part 105 can perform a determination process using this position information.
The sensor unit 14 may include a livestock vital sensor for outputting livestock vital data, such as an activity sensor such as a vibration sensor or an acceleration sensor, a body temperature sensor, or the like. Thereby, the control unit 31 or the like of the server device 3 can store the received sensor data in the attribute information storage unit 108 in association with the individual identifier. The output unit 107 may display the sensor data information to the user together with the determination result of the stay monitoring process, for example, or may output the sensor data in response to the user's request.
Further, the sensor unit 14 may include a sensor capable of measuring data related to climate such as temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind speed, and atmospheric pressure.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the livestock management system 100 in Modification 1-5. As shown in the figure, in the livestock management system 100, the position determination unit 103 may be realized by the control unit 31 of the server device 3. In this case, all the individual identification signals can be transmitted to the server device 3 without filtering the individual identification signals received by the communication device 2. With such a configuration, the server device 3 can also use sensor data of an individual identification signal having a low signal strength (RSSI), and can also perform position determination with high accuracy.

(Modification 1-6: Modification without Position Determination Unit)
FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the livestock management system 100 in Modification 1-6. As shown in the figure, the livestock management system 100 may be configured without the position determination unit.

In this case, for example, the signal receiving unit 102 may have a directivity for receiving the individual identification signal, and may be configured to receive only the individual identification signal transmitted from the direction within the target region. Thereby, the data acquisition part 104 can acquire the data about the several individual identification signal transmitted from the transmitter 1 of the position with which the livestock was mounted | worn and corresponding to the object area | region. The signal receiving unit 102 configured as described above can be realized by adjusting the directivity of the antenna of the first communication unit 22 and the like.

Alternatively, the data acquisition unit 104 may acquire data on the individual identification signal transmitted from the transmission device 1 by the communication method corresponding to the target area. In this case, the communication unit 13 of the transmission device 1 has a plurality of communication circuits of different communication methods, and is configured to be able to switch communication methods inside and outside the target area. For example, the communication unit 13 is switched to a communication method capable of short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) and infrared communication within the target region, and a communication method (for example, a longer communication distance outside the target region (for example, (Communication system using radio waves in a frequency band of about several hundred MHz). The switching method of the communication unit 13 in the transmission device 1 is not particularly limited, and may be switched based on an external individual identification signal, or may be switched based on information such as a sensor mounted in the transmission device 1. .
In this example, the signal receiving unit 102 of the communication device 2 is configured to be able to receive an individual identification signal based on a communication scheme corresponding to the target area, and not to be able to receive an individual identification signal based on a communication scheme not corresponding to the target area. The Thereby, the signal receiving part 102 can receive only the individual identification signal transmitted from the transmitter 1 located in the target region.
Further, after the signal receiving unit 102 receives the individual identification signal regardless of the communication method, only the individual identification signal of the communication method corresponding to the target area may be transmitted to the server device 3.

(Modification 1-7: Modification of Output Unit)
The output unit 107 is not limited to the configuration realized by the terminal device 4.
For example, the output unit 107 may be realized by the communication device 2. In this case, the communication device 2 includes a light emitting diode (LED), a speaker, a display device, and the like that can be turned on, and the output unit 107 is realized by these configurations. In this example, the server device 3 can transmit an individual identification signal for output instruction to the output unit 107 of the communication device 2 via the network N or the like.
For example, if the target area where livestock stayed for which the stay monitoring process has been performed does not match the area registered in the attribute information storage unit 108, the communication device 2 (output unit 107) at the position corresponding to the target area The user can be notified by turning on. Alternatively, the communication device 2 (output unit 107) may output a sound such as an alarm sound or an announcement. In addition, the communication device 2 (output unit 107) may display on the display device that an inappropriate group of livestock has been lost, identification information of the livestock, or the like.

Alternatively, the output unit 107 may be realized by the transmission device 1. In this case, the transmission device 1 includes LEDs, speakers, and the like that can be turned on, and the output unit 107 is realized by these configurations. In this example, the server device 3 can transmit the individual identification signal of the output instruction to the output unit 107 of the transmission device 1 via the communication device 2.
For example, if the target area where the livestock where the stay monitoring process has been performed does not match the area registered in the attribute information storage unit 108, the transmission device 1 (output unit 107) to which the livestock is attached is turned on. By doing so, the user can be notified. Alternatively, the communication device 2 (output unit 107) may output an alarm sound.

(Modification 1-8: Modification in which processing is executed based on individual identification signals from a plurality of transmission devices)
The data acquisition unit 104 may acquire data on a plurality of individual identification signals transmitted from the plurality of transmission devices 1, and the stay determination unit 105 may execute a stay determination process based on this data.
For example, the stay determination unit 105 can acquire information on the positions of the plurality of transmission devices 1 (livestock) at a certain point in time based on the plurality of individual identification signals whose positions are determined by the position determination unit 103. Furthermore, the stay determination unit 105 can analyze the movement history of the plurality of transmission devices 1, that is, the behavior history of the plurality of domestic animals, by analyzing the plurality of individual identification signals transmitted from the respective transmission devices at different times. . Thereby, it can be determined based on the movement of other livestock whether each livestock is staying in the target area.

(Modification 1-9: Other Modifications)
The stay monitoring process of the present embodiment can be applied not only to a livestock management system but also to a human monitoring system.
That is, the monitoring system includes at least a stay determination unit, and the stay determination unit is data about a plurality of individual identification signals transmitted from a transmission device that is attached to the subject and is located in a target region where the subject can stay. Based on the above, it is determined whether or not the target person stays in the target area.
Specifically, the target area may be a living room of the target person, a facility where the target person may stay, an area in the facility where the target person stays, and the like.
Thereby, it is possible to determine the staying place of an elderly person suffering from or suspected of having dementia, a child who may be lost, and the like, and the safety of the elderly person and the child can be ensured.
Furthermore, the person watching system can confirm the authority of the terminal device when outputting the determination result, and can output a limited result according to the authority. Thereby, it is possible to sufficiently disclose information to family members and related persons, and it is possible to prevent the result of the system from being used with an unauthorized intention.

In addition, as described above, since “livestock” in this technology includes pets raised as pets, the livestock management system according to the present technology can manage pets, search for pets whose whereabouts are lost, etc. Can be applied to.

<Second Embodiment: Device Registration Process>
FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a livestock management system according to the second embodiment of the present technology.
As shown in the figure, the livestock management system 200 includes a plurality of transmission devices 1 that respectively transmit individual identification signals, a plurality of communication devices 2 that respectively receive individual identification signals from the plurality of transmission devices 1, and these The server apparatus 3 which performs a process based on the individual identification signal received by the communication apparatus 2, and the terminal device 4 used by a user are provided.
Moreover, in the following description, about the structure similar to the above-mentioned embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

For example, when the processing based on the individual identification signal transmitted from the livestock is executed as in the first embodiment, the transmission device 1 that transmitted the individual identification signal and the communication device 2 that received the individual identification signal Information may be needed. For this reason, it may be time-consuming to register information about each device during or after the introduction of the transmission device 1 or the communication device 2.
Therefore, an object of the present embodiment is to provide a livestock management system and a livestock management method capable of easily registering devices in addition to the above-described problems.
In addition, the “device” here refers to a device capable of communicating an individual identification signal in a local range in the livestock facility, and includes, for example, the transmission device 1 and the communication device 2.
Further, “identification information” in the following description is a collective term for identification information for identifying a device, including the individual identifier of the transmission device 1 described in the above embodiment and the device information of the communication device 2. . Similarly, “attribute information” is a collective term for information on device attributes, including area management target information of the transmission apparatus 1 and area attribute information of the communication apparatus 2.

[Hardware configuration of livestock management system]
FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of each device included in the livestock management system 200. The livestock management system 200 differs from the livestock management system 100 described in FIG. 2 in that the communication device 2 further includes a third communication unit 24.

The third communication unit 24 of the communication device 2 includes a communication circuit and an antenna of a communication method different from the first and second communication methods described above, and can communicate with the first communication unit 43 of the terminal device 4. Composed.
The third communication unit 24 is configured to be capable of short-range wireless communication, and has a configuration capable of wireless communication such as communication using electromagnetic waves or infrared rays, or communication using an electric field. The first communication unit 43 may be capable of near field communication such as NFC.

[Functional structure of livestock management system]
FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the livestock management system 200 and the flow of processing.

As illustrated in FIG. 21, the livestock management system 200 includes a reception unit 110, an identification information transmission unit 111, an identification information reception unit 112, an identification information acquisition unit 113, a registration unit 114, and an attribute information storage unit 108. .
Among these configurations, in the present embodiment, the identification information transmission unit 111 is realized by the third communication unit 24 of the communication device 2.
The identification information receiving unit 112 is realized by the first communication unit 43 of the terminal device 4.
The reception unit 110, the identification information acquisition unit 113, and the registration unit 114 are realized by the control unit 41 of the terminal device 4.
The attribute information storage unit 108 is realized by the storage unit 32 of the server device 3.

The accepting unit 110 accepts an input operation from the user. For example, the reception unit 110 receives information input from the input operation unit 26 of the terminal device 4.
The accepting unit 110 accepts, for example, input information on the attribute of the device to be described later.

In the present embodiment, the attribute information storage unit 108 stores a plurality of pieces of attribute information regarding attributes of devices such as the communication device 2 and the transmission device 1.
The plurality of attribute information here refers to a plurality of attribute information corresponding to one device. For example, when the “device” is the communication device 2, the attribute information storage unit 108 stores a plurality of area attribute information regarding the attributes of the communication device 2. If the “device” is the communication device 1, the attribute information storage unit 108 stores management target information of a plurality of areas regarding the attributes of the transmission device 1.
The plurality of attribute information includes information before being associated with the identification information and associated attribute information.
In the present embodiment, the plurality of attribute information may be information based on a user input operation received by the receiving unit 110. Moreover, what was memorize | stored by default may be used, and the thing input by the trader who manages the server apparatus 3 may be used.
The attribute information may include information about one area corresponding to the position of the device among the plurality of areas. The attribute information includes information on a group of livestock managed in an area corresponding to the position of the equipment, information on the relative position of the equipment or the area in the livestock facility, and information on the absolute position of the equipment or the area ( Latitude, longitude, etc.) and other device descriptions.

The identification information transmission unit 111 transmits device identification information. When the “device” is the communication device 2, the identification information transmission unit 111 transmits, for example, device information of the communication device 2.
The identification information receiving unit 112 receives the device identification information transmitted from the identification information transmission unit 111, for example, device information.
The identification information may include an individual identifier as described above. The identification information may include information on the absolute position of the device acquired by GPS or the like, and may include information for identifying other devices. Alternatively, the identification information may include a plurality of pieces of information described above.
The transmission timing of the identification information is not particularly limited. For example, a transmission request may be transmitted from the terminal device 4 side having the identification information receiving unit 112 to the communication device 2 having the identification information transmission unit 111 unit. In this case, the transmission request may be transmitted by an input operation by the user.
Or you may make the terminal device 4 and the communication apparatus 2 change to a receivable state and a transmission state, respectively by input operation by a user.
Further, the identification information receiving unit 112 may receive device information transmitted by proximity wireless communication. Near-field wireless communication refers to near-field wireless communication of, for example, about several centimeters to 1 m, and examples include a communication method using RFID such as NFC and ISO / IEC 14443, and a communication method such as infrared communication.

The identification information acquisition unit 113 acquires the transmitted identification information. The identification information acquisition unit 113 acquires device information transmitted from the communication device 2, for example.
In the present embodiment, the identification information acquisition unit 113 acquires device information transmitted from the communication device 2 by proximity wireless communication.

The registration unit 114 registers the acquired identification information and the attribute information of the device selected from the plurality of attribute information in association with each other as registration information. When the “device” is the communication device 2, the registration unit 114 can register the acquired device information and region attribute information selected from the plurality of region attribute information in association with each other as registration information.
The attribute information may be selected by a user input operation via the reception unit 110. Alternatively, when the information on the absolute position is included as the identification information, the registration unit 114 can check the information on the absolute position of the device stored as the attribute information and select information that matches or is close to the information. .
Thereby, the attribute information storage unit 108 of the present embodiment associates the identification information for identifying the device that has received each of the plurality of individual identification signals with the attribute information of the device identified by the identification information, and stores it as registration information. can do. For example, the attribute information storage unit 108 associates the device information that identifies the communication device 2 that has received each of the plurality of individual identification signals with the attribute information of the communication device 2 that is identified by the device information, and stores it as registration information. .

[Operation example]
Next, an operation example of attribute information (region attribute information) input processing and device registration processing in device registration of the communication device 2 will be described.
In any of the operation examples, as an example, the server device 3 provides an example of providing a livestock management application to the terminal device 4 in the form of a web application. The livestock management application may be provided in the form of a local application that is installed in the terminal device 4 and communicates with the server device 3.

(Attribute information input process)
FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of region attribute information input processing of the livestock management system 200.
In the figure, the processing of ST501 to ST504 is executed by the terminal device 4, and the processing of ST601 to ST604 is executed by the server device 3.

First, the terminal device 4 in which the livestock management application is activated requests the server device 3 to execute a program in the application and transmit an area attribute information input screen (ST501). The terminal device 4 may request transmission based on a user input operation or the like via the input operation unit 26.

Server device 3 receives a transmission request or the like (ST601), and transmits an area attribute information input screen to terminal device 4 (ST602).
Terminal apparatus 4 receives the region attribute information input screen and displays the screen on display unit 45 (ST502).
FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an example of an input screen for region attribute information displayed on the display unit 45 of the terminal device 4.
In the input screen G1, an attribute information input field 456a and an attribute information input field 456b are displayed. For example, the name of an area corresponding to the position of the communication device 2 can be input in the attribute information input field 456a. In the attribute information input field 456b, descriptions of the area, the communication device 2, and the like can be freely described according to the user's needs.
The user can transmit the input information by tapping or clicking the registration button 456c after inputting attribute information in these

input fields

456a and 456b.
In the input screen G1, attribute information 457a already stored in the attribute information storage unit 108 is displayed as “name” and “description”.
In addition, registration status information 457b is displayed on the input screen G1. The tab “Registered” in the registration status information 457b indicates that the attribute information is already associated with the identification information and stored in the attribute information storage unit 108 as registration information. A tab “unregistered” represents attribute information that is stored as attribute information but is not associated with identification information.

The receiving unit 110 of the terminal device 4 receives an input operation of region attribute information via the

input fields

456a and 456b shown in FIG. 23 (ST503), and transmits the input region attribute information to the server device 3 (ST504). .

The server device 3 receives the region attribute information (ST603), and stores the region attribute information in the attribute information storage unit 108 (ST604).
The following device registration processing is executed using the area attribute information stored in this way.

(Device registration process)
FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of attribute information input processing of the livestock management system 200.
In the figure, the processing of ST701 to ST706 is executed by the terminal device 4, the processing of ST801 to ST804 is executed by the server device 3, and the processing of ST901 to ST904 is executed by the communication device 2.

First, the terminal device 4 in which the livestock management application is activated requests the server device 3 to execute a program in the application and transmit a registration screen (ST701). The terminal device 4 may request transmission based on a user input operation or the like via the input operation unit 26.
The registration screen here is a screen displayed on the terminal device 4 when executing the device registration process, and may be a screen for inducing a transmission request for device information, for example. In addition, the server device 3 may transmit a plurality of registration screens that can be displayed in the device registration process to the terminal device 4 or transmit a necessary registration screen every time a request from the terminal device 4 is received. May be.

Server apparatus 3 receives a transmission request or the like (ST801), and transmits a registration screen to terminal apparatus 4 (ST802).
Terminal apparatus 4 receives the registration screen and displays the screen on display unit 45 (ST702).

Subsequently, the terminal device 4 requests transmission of device information to the communication device 2 that desires device registration in accordance with the guidance of the registration screen. In this operation example, device information is communicated by proximity wireless communication. For this reason, in this step, the user who operates the terminal device 4 brings the terminal device 4 close to the communication device 2 that desires device registration.
The communication device 2 receives the transmission request (ST901), and accordingly transmits device information by proximity wireless communication (ST902).

The identification information receiving unit 112 of the terminal device 4 receives the device information, and the identification information acquiring unit 113 acquires the identification information (ST704). Then, registration unit 114 accepts selection of region attribute information from the user (ST705).
FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating an example of a registration screen that is displayed on the display unit 45 of the terminal device 4 and accepts selection of region attribute information.
On the registration screen G2, a plurality of area attribute information 458a to 458e stored in the attribute information storage unit 108 are displayed as options. In addition, registration buttons 459a to 459e are displayed corresponding to the region attribute information 458a to 458e, respectively.
The user taps or clicks the region attribute information registration buttons 459a to 459e corresponding to the communication device 2 that has received the device information from the displayed plurality of region attribute information 458a to 458e.

Subsequently, registration section 114 associates the acquired device information with the area attribute information of communication device 2 selected from the plurality of area attribute information, and registers it as registration information (ST706).
And the terminal device 4 transmits this registration information to the server apparatus 3 (ST707).
Server device 3 receives the registration information (ST803), and attribute information storage section 108 stores the registration information in which the device information is associated with the attribute information of communication device 2 identified by the device information (ST804). .
The attribute information storage unit 108 can overwrite the registration information when the device information is already associated with other area attribute information. That is, the attribute information storage unit 108 cancels the association between the device information and the region attribute information, and stores the device information and the selected region attribute information in association with each other.

According to this embodiment, the user receives the identification information from the device installed in the livestock facility using the terminal device 4, and selects appropriate attribute information from the attribute information stored in advance. Device registration can be done easily. Thereby, for example, the trouble of inputting identification information such as a complicated individual identifier of the communication device 2 can be saved, and the device can be easily registered.

[Modification of this embodiment]
(Modification 2-1: Modification for further executing stay monitoring process)
The device registration process according to the present embodiment can be executed as preparation for the stay monitoring process according to the first embodiment. Thereby, the device information and area attribute information of the communication device 2, the individual identifier of the transmission device 1, the area management target information, and the like used for the stay monitoring process can be stored in the attribute information storage unit 108 in advance.
Therefore, the livestock management system 200 may be able to perform the stay monitoring process according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration and processing flow of the livestock management system 200 according to Modification 2-1. In the figure, a two-dot chain line indicates a process flow in the stay monitoring process, and a solid line indicates a process flow in the device registration process of the present embodiment.
As shown in the figure, the livestock management system 200 includes a signal transmission unit 101, a signal reception unit 102, a position determination unit 103, a data acquisition unit 104, a stay determination unit 105, an area determination unit 106, and an output. Unit 107, attribute information storage unit 108, reception unit 110, identification information transmission unit 111, identification information reception unit 112, identification information acquisition unit 113, and registration unit 114.
The signal transmission unit 101, the signal reception unit 102, the position determination unit 103, the data acquisition unit 104, the stay determination unit 105, the region determination unit 106, the output unit 107, and the attribute information storage unit 108 It is the structure which functions in the stay monitoring process demonstrated in 1 embodiment.
In addition, the reception unit 110, the identification information transmission unit 111, the identification information reception unit 112, the identification information acquisition unit 113, the registration unit 114, and the attribute information storage unit 108 function in the device registration process according to the present embodiment. It is the structure to do.
According to this modification, it is possible to easily execute the device registration process necessary for the stay determination process.

(Modification 2-2: Modification of device registration other than communication device)
In the above operation example, an example of device registration of the communication device 2 has been shown, but device registration may be performed for the transmission device 1.
In this case, the registered identification information can be an individual identifier that can identify the transmission device 1, and the registered attribute information can be management target information of an area for the attribute of the transmission device 1.
The attribute information storage unit 108 stores management target information of a plurality of areas for the transmission device 1.
The identification information transmission unit 111 is realized by the communication unit 13 of the transmission device 1 and transmits an individual identifier.
The identification information acquisition unit 113 acquires the individual identifier transmitted from the transmission device 1.
The registration unit 114 associates the acquired individual identifier with the management target information of the area selected from the management target information of the plurality of areas and registers it as registration information.
The attribute information storage unit 108 stores registration information in which the individual identifier is associated with the management target information of the area of the transmission device 1 identified by the individual identifier.

Further, the attribute information storage unit 108 stores an area management object information database for storing area management object information about the transmission apparatus 1 and an area attribute information database for storing area attribute information about the communication apparatus 2. It may be. Thereby, the apparatus registration process of both the transmission apparatus 1 and the communication apparatus 2 can be performed as an apparatus.

Furthermore, as shown in Modification 1-4, when the livestock management system 200 includes the first communication device 2A and the second communication device 2B, the first communication device 2A and the second communication device The device registration process can be executed with each 2B as “device”.

(Modification 2-3: Modification of the operation of the registration unit)
When the user tries to execute device registration processing for a device whose identification information has been registered, the registration unit 114 may notify the user to that effect.
FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating a transition example of the registration screens G21 and G22 according to Modification 2-3.
On the registration screen G21, a plurality of attribute information 458a to 458e stored in the attribute information storage unit 108 are displayed as options. In the plurality of attribute information 458a to 458e, whether or not it is stored as registration information in the attribute information storage unit 108 is also displayed. In the example of the figure, the

attribute information

458a, 458c, 458e is displayed as “registered”.
When the registration screen G21 is displayed, a request for device information is transmitted from the terminal device 4 to the registered communication device 2 (S1). Thereby, for example, the message M1 is displayed on the registration screen G21. The message M1 may be displayed, for example, “This device has already been registered as the breast feeding machine B. Do you want to cancel the registration?”
When the user approves this message M1 (S2), the screen transitions to a registration screen G22. If the user does not approve (S3), message 1 is deleted and the screen returns to registration screen G21.
On the registration screen G22, attribute information registration buttons 459a to 459e corresponding to the attribute information 458a to 458e are displayed. The

registration buttons

459a, 459c, and 459e corresponding to the attribute information “registered” are described as “overwrite registration”.
In the registration screen G22, when the user taps or clicks the

registration buttons

459a, 459c, and 459e described as “overwrite registration”, the registration unit 114 selects the acquired identification information and the attribute selected from the plurality of attributes. Information may be associated and overwritten as registered information. In this case, you may return to the registration screen G21 (S4).
Alternatively, when the user taps or clicks the

registration buttons

459a, 459c, and 459e described as “overwrite registration” on the registration screen G22, a confirmation message M2 may be further displayed (S6). The message M2 can be displayed, for example, “Other device has already been registered, but do you want to overwrite it?”.
When the user approves this message M2 (S7), the screen transitions to the registration screen G22. If the user does not approve (S8), the message M2 is deleted and the screen returns to the registration screen G22.
When the registration screen G21 is displayed, if a request for identification information is transmitted from the terminal device 4 to the unregistered communication device 2 (S9), the registration screen G22 is not displayed without displaying the message M1. You may transition to.

This modification allows the user to be notified of the registration status of the device during registration, thereby preventing registration errors.

As another example of the operation of the registration unit 114, the registration information may be deleted based on a user input operation or the like. Thereby, registration information can be appropriately deleted for the removed device and the like, and confusion can be prevented.

(Modification 2-4: Modification of system configuration and functional configuration)
The livestock management system 200 may be configured not to include the transmission device 1 when only the device registration process of the communication device 2 is executed.
The livestock management system 200 may be configured not to include the communication device 2 when only the device registration process of the transmission device 1 is executed.

Further, the livestock management system 200 may include a plurality of terminal devices 4 connected to the server device 3 via the network N. In this case, the receiving unit 110 may be realized by a plurality of terminal devices 5. For example, the attribute information input operation may be performed by one terminal device 5, and the attribute information selection operation in the device registration process may be performed by another terminal device 4.

The registration unit 114 or the identification information acquisition unit 113 and the registration unit 114 are not limited to the example realized by the control unit 41 of the terminal device 4, and may be realized by the control unit 31 of the server device 3.

Further, the attribute information storage unit 108 may be realized by the storage unit 42 of the terminal device 4 instead of the server device 3. In this case, the livestock management system 200 can be configured not to include the server device 3.

(Modification 2-6: Modification of hardware configuration)
Although the communication apparatus 2 has been described as including the third communication unit 24, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the communication device 2 does not have the third communication unit 24, the identification information transmission unit 111 of the communication device 2 is realized by the first communication unit 22 and / or the second communication unit 23, and the identification information is It may be transmitted by the first communication unit 22 and / or the second communication unit 23.
Further, the communication device 2 may not have the third communication unit 24, and the terminal device 4 may function as a reader that can read a barcode, an apparatus identifier, and the like added to the communication device 2. In this case, the terminal device 4 does not have an identification information receiving unit, and a camera (not shown) can capture these barcodes and identifiers and acquire the captured information as identification information. The barcode and the device identifier may be printed directly on the communication device 2 or may be printed on a tag or the like attached to the communication device 2. The barcode may be a two-dimensional barcode such as a QR code (registered trademark).

(Modification 2-7: Other Modifications)
The device registration process of the present embodiment can be applied not only to a livestock management system but also to a human watching system.
That is, the watching system includes at least an attribute information storage unit, an identification information acquisition unit, and a registration unit.
The attribute information storage unit stores a plurality of attribute information including attribute information of the transmission device attached to the subject.
The identification information acquisition unit acquires the identification information of the transmission device attached to the subject.
The registration unit associates the acquired identification information with the attribute information selected from the plurality of attribute information and registers it as registration information.
Also, in the watching system, device registration processing may be possible for a communication device located in the target area.
As a result, it is possible to register attribute information such as elderly persons suffering from or suspected of having dementia and children who may be lost, and safety of elderly persons and children can be ensured. .
Furthermore, the person watching system can confirm the authority of the terminal device when outputting the determination result, and can output a limited result according to the authority. Thereby, it is possible to sufficiently disclose information to family members and related persons, and it is possible to prevent the result of the system from being used with an unauthorized intention.

<Third Embodiment: Configuration of Communication Device>
In each of the above embodiments, it has been described that the communication device may be installed at a position corresponding to an area provided in the livestock facility.
When installed in livestock facilities, it may be installed outdoors and is susceptible to the effects of weather such as rain, wind and snow. Moreover, when installing in several places, the structure with easy installation is desired.
Therefore, in addition to the above-described problems, the present embodiment aims to provide a communication device that has high durability against the influence of weather and can be easily installed.

[Schematic configuration of communication device]
FIG. 28 is a schematic side view showing a communication device 300 according to the third embodiment of the present technology. In the figure, an X axis, a Y axis, and a Z axis indicate three axial directions that are orthogonal to each other. Indicates a planar direction. The Z-axis direction corresponds to “uniaxial direction” in the present embodiment.
The communication device 300 can be applied as the communication device 2 (including the first and

second communication devices

2A and 2B) described in the first and second embodiments.
As shown in the figure, the communication device 300 includes a main body part 310, an attachment part 320, and a cap part 330.
The main body 310 extends along the Z-axis direction from the first end 310a toward the second end 310b.
The attachment portion 320 is for installing the communication device 300 connected to the first end portion 310 a of the main body portion 310. In this embodiment, the attachment part 320 is comprised so that attachment to the front-end | tip of the rod-shaped structure G extended in a Z-axis direction is possible.
The cap part 330 is connected to the second end part 310b.
That is, the communication device 300 is configured in a rod shape extending along the Z-axis direction as a whole, and can be attached to the tip of the structure G.
With such a configuration, the communication device 300 can have a configuration with a low fluid resistance and strong against wind, rain, snow, and the like. In addition, the communication device 300 can be easily installed by being attached to the tip of the structure G.

The rod-shaped structure G is composed of, for example, a wooden or resin pile, a metal rod, or the like. The cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the Z-axis direction of the structure G is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a circle, an ellipse, a polygon, or other shapes.
Moreover, the structure G can use what is generally marketed, and what has already been used in livestock facilities etc. Here, it is assumed that the structure G is a pile that is widely used in livestock facilities. As an example, such a pile has a height of about 1 to 1.5 m (length in the Z-axis direction), a circular cross section perpendicular to the Z-axis direction, and a diameter of about 50 to 100 mm. possible.

[Configuration of mounting part]
29 is a side view showing the communication device 300, and FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view of the communication device 300 shown in FIG. 29 as viewed from the X-axis direction.
As shown in these drawings, in the present embodiment, the attachment portion 320 includes a connection portion 321 connected to the first end portion 310a of the main body portion 310 and an opening portion 322 that opens in the Z-axis direction.
The connection part 321 is configured to be able to attach a cover 313 of the main body part 310 described later, and may be formed in a part of the opening part 322.
The opening 322 is configured to be able to insert the tip of the structure G, for example. The opening 322 can be appropriately designed so as to conform to the tip shape of the structure G, but is configured in a cylindrical shape, for example. With such a configuration, the attachment portion 320 can be easily attached to the tip of the structure G.
Furthermore, the attachment part 320 may have a plurality of screws 323 that can be fastened to the structure G. Thereby, the connection with the structure G can be strengthened, and the drop-off from the structure G of the communication apparatus 300 can be prevented.
Moreover, the attachment part 320 is comprised by the said structure at the cylindrical shape as a whole. The cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the Z-axis direction of the attachment portion 320 may be substantially the same shape as the cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the Z-axis direction of the main body portion 310. Thereby, the whole communication apparatus 300 can be comprised in the column shape which has substantially the same cross-sectional structure, and fluid resistance can be reduced. Therefore, durability against wind and the like can be reduced.

[Composition of cap part]
As shown in FIG. 29 and FIG. 30, the cap portion 330 includes a top portion 331 protruding in the Z-axis direction, a tapered surface 332 formed from the top portion 331 toward the second end portion 310b in the present embodiment, And a connection portion 333 connected to the second end portion 310b.
The top portion 331 may have a sharp structure, but as shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, the top portion 331 may have a flat surface having an area smaller than the cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the Z-axis direction of the connection portion 333. Or the top part 331 may be comprised by the convex surface, for example, may be formed continuously from the taper surface 332. The non-sharp top 331 can ensure safety in the event of a livestock collision.
In the present embodiment, the tapered surface 332 is configured as a peripheral surface of a truncated cone. Or the taper surface 332 may be comprised by the some flat surface like the surrounding surface of a truncated pyramid, and may be comprised by the some curved surface.
By having the tapered surface 332, moisture such as rain and snow, organic matter, and the like attached to the cap portion 330 can be dropped downward in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). Thereby, it is possible to prevent the main body 310, particularly the cover 313, from being stained. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the efficiency of solar power generation of the power generation unit 315a described later.
For example, the connection portion 333 is configured to be able to connect a cover 313 (described later) of the main body portion 310. As an example, a slit into which an end portion (second end portion 310b) of the cover 313 can be inserted. It may be formed.
In addition, the cross-sectional area perpendicular to the Z-axis direction of the connecting portion 333 is configured to be larger than the cross-sectional area (area of the region surrounded by the cover 313) perpendicular to the Z-axis direction of the main body 310 described later. In the example of the present embodiment, the diameter of the cross section perpendicular to the Z-axis direction of the connection portion 333 is configured to be larger than the diameter of the cross section perpendicular to the Z-axis direction of the main body portion 310. Thereby, the main body 310 can be further prevented from being soiled.

[Configuration of main unit]
FIG. 31 is an exploded perspective view of the communication device 300.
Referring to these drawings, the main body 310 includes a first unit casing 311a, a second unit casing 311b, a third unit casing 311c, a fourth unit casing 311d, and a cover 313. And have. The first to fourth unit housings 311a to 311d are all installed inside the cover 313 along the Z-axis direction.
The first to fourth unit housings 311a to 311d are each configured in a cylindrical shape having an axial direction along the Z-axis direction, and each unit housing is connected to an adjacent unit housing in a uniaxial direction. In the present embodiment, the first to fourth unit housings 311a to 311d have the same shape.
That is, the fourth unit housing 311d is connected to the third unit housing 311c in the Z-axis direction, the third unit housing 311c is connected to the second unit housing 311b in the Z-axis direction, The second unit housing 311b is connected to the first unit housing 311a in the Z-axis direction.
By connecting a plurality of unit casings formed in a cylindrical shape in the Z-axis direction, the main body 310 has a configuration extending along the Z-axis direction as a whole.

The cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the Z-axis direction of the second unit housing 311b and the third unit housing 311c is, for example, the same as the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the Z-axis direction of the first unit housing 311a. The Thereby, the whole peripheral surface of the main-body part 310 can be comprised with a smooth surface with few unevenness | corrugations. Therefore, the fluid resistance of the main body 310 can be further reduced, and compatibility with the shape of the cover 313 can be enhanced.
Furthermore, this cross-sectional shape can be circular in the present embodiment, and the entire peripheral surface of the main body 310 can be configured with a smooth surface with less unevenness.
Moreover, the cost of storage and packing can also be suppressed by comprising in a column shape as a whole in this way.

Adjacent unit casings 311a to 311d, for example, the first unit casing 311a and the second unit casing 311b are connected via a connector 312 that can be attached and detached in the Z-axis direction. The connectors 312 have the same shape as will be described later.

The cover 313 has a first end portion 310a and a second end portion 310b, and has a hollow shape extending along the Z-axis direction from the first end portion 310a toward the second end portion 310b. Have. Since the main body 310 has a cover, the durability of the communication device 300 can be further improved.
The hollow shape is configured to accommodate each of the unit casings 311a to 311d. The cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the Z-axis direction of the cover 313 is not particularly limited. For example, the cross-sectional shape may be a circle, an ellipse, or a polygon. Since the cover 313 has a circular cross-sectional shape, the fluid resistance of the main body 310 can be further reduced and the structure can be strong against wind and the like.
The cross-sectional shape of the cover 313 may be configured to correspond to the cross-sectional shape of each of the unit housings 311a to 311d, for example. “Corresponding shape” means, for example, a similar shape larger than the cross-sectional shape of the unit housing. For example, when the cross-sectional shape of each of the unit casings 311a to 311d is circular as in the present embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the cover 313 is configured as a circle having a larger diameter than the circle related to the cross-sectional shape of the unit casing. Thereby, the conformity of the shape with each of the unit casings 311a to 311d can be enhanced.
Alternatively, the cross-sectional shape of the cover 313 may be different from the cross-sectional shapes of the unit housings 311a to 311d, for example. For example, unevenness may be formed on a part of the inner surface of the cover 313. Such unevenness may be used for alignment between unit housings.
In this embodiment, the cover 313 as a whole has translucency, and is made of a translucent material such as resin (polycarbonate, acrylic resin, polyethylene terephthalate, polyurethane, etc.), glass, or the like.
In the present embodiment, both end portions of the cover 313 constitute first and

second end portions

310a and 310b of the main body portion 310, and the attachment portion 320 and the cap portion 330 are connected to each.

32 is a perspective view of the third unit housing 311c, FIG. 33A is a plan view of the third unit housing 311c, and FIG. 33B is a bottom view of the third unit housing 311c.
As described above, since the schematic configuration of the unit casings 311a to 311d is the same in this embodiment, these unit casings are collectively referred to as “unit casing 311”, and the third unit casing 311c is referred to as a unit casing. An example of the body 311 will be described.
The unit housing 311 includes a first connection end 311e, a second connection end 311f, and a cylindrical portion 311g.
The first connection end 311e is formed downward in the Z-axis direction (on the attachment portion 320 side), and is configured as a bottom portion of the unit housing 311, for example.
The second connection end 311f is formed on the upper side in the Z-axis direction (cap section 330 side). That is, the first connection end 311e and the second connection end 311f are arranged to face each other in the Z-axis direction. The second connection end 311f is configured, for example, as a lid on the upper side in the Z-axis direction of the unit housing 311. When the second connection end 311f is configured as a lid, it may be screwed to the cylinder 311g.
The cylindrical portion 311g is formed between the first and second

connection end portions

311e and 311f, and is configured in a cylindrical shape in the present embodiment.
The material of the unit housing 311 is not particularly limited, and for example, metal, resin, or the like can be applied.

The first connection end 311e of each unit casing 311 is configured to be compatible with the second connection end 311f of the other unit casing 311a. For example, the unevenness of the first connection end 311e can be matched with the unevenness of the second connection end 311f and can be closely adhered. As a result, the plurality of unit housings 311a to 311d can be stacked in the Z-axis direction. Therefore, the unit housing 311 can be standardized, the unit housings 311 having various functions can be freely combined according to applications, and the communication device 300 having an appropriate function according to each place can be configured. it can.
The unevenness of the first and second

connection end portions

311e and 311f also includes unevenness due to the shape of

connectors

312a and 312b described later.
With such a configuration, it is easy to assemble the main body 310 and to change the number and arrangement of unit housings.

The first connection end 311e and the second connection end 311f include connectors 312 for electrically connecting the unit casings 311a to 311d (see FIG. 31). These connectors 312 are all configured in the same shape. Thereby, the unit housing | casing 311 can be standardized also from a viewpoint of electrical connection.
The first connection end 311e includes a male connector 312a, and the second connection end 311f includes a female connector 312b.
In the example of FIG. 33, the male connector 312a of the first connection end 311e is connected to the female connector 312b of the second unit housing 311b in the Z-axis direction, and the female connector of the second connection end 311f. The connector 312b is connected to the male connector 312a of the fourth unit housing 311d in the Z-axis direction.
Each of these connectors 312 (312a, 312b) is connected to a substrate disposed in the unit casing 311 and is responsible for electrical connection between the unit casings 311. The electrical connection means that an interface (I / F) of a power system and an I / F for data communication are connected via a connector 312. For example, the power system I / F is configured by a power supply bus, and the data communication I / F is configured by a data communication bus. The power supply bus and the data communication bus are configured as serial buses capable of serial communication, for example, more specifically, as serial buses such as SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) and I ² C (Inter-Integrated Circuit). Can be done.

34 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion A in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 30, in each of the unit casings 311a to 311d (311), circuit boards 314a to 314d (circuit boards 314a to 314d are collectively referred to as circuit boards 314) connected to the connector 312 are arranged. Is done. Electronic components and the like are mounted on the circuit board 314.
As shown in FIG. 34, the male connector 312a includes a first terminal 312c, and the female connector 312b includes a second terminal 312d. The first terminal 312c is electrically connected to the second terminal 312d of the adjacent unit casing 311. The second terminal 312d is also electrically connected to the first terminal 312c of the adjacent unit casing 311. Is done.
Since these first and

second terminals

312c and 312d are both connected to the circuit board 314 (314c), the electronic components of the adjacent unit housings 311 can be electrically connected to each other.

In the circuit boards 314a to 314d accommodated in the unit cases 311a to 311d, electronic components that realize the functions of the power supply unit 315, the first communication unit 316, the communication unit 317, and the communication unit 318, respectively. Is implemented.
That is, the main body 310 further includes a power supply unit 315, a first communication unit 316, a second communication unit 317, and a third communication unit 318.
The power supply unit 315 is accommodated in the first unit housing 311a.
The first communication unit 316 is accommodated in the second unit housing 311b.
The second communication unit 317 is accommodated in the third unit housing 311c.
The third communication unit 318 is accommodated in the fourth unit housing 311d.
In addition, as described above, the first communication unit 316 and the power supply unit 315, the second communication unit 317 and the power supply unit 315, and the third communication unit 318 and the power supply unit 315 are respectively connected via the connector 312. Connected on supply bus. Further, the communication units 316, 317, and 318 are also connected to the data communication bus via the connector 312.

(Power supply section)
FIG. 35 is a side view of the first unit housing 311a that houses the power supply unit 315, and FIG. 36 is a cross-sectional view of the first unit housing 311a. The cross section shown in FIG. 36 corresponds to the cross section seen from the AA direction in FIG. 33B (cross section seen from the X-axis direction).
The power supply unit 315 supplies power to the first to third communication units 316 to 318.
The power supply unit 315 includes a power generation unit 315a and a power storage unit 315b.

The power generation unit 315a generates power according to the surrounding environment. The power generation unit 315a may generate power using, for example, energy based on at least one of light, heat, vibration, radio waves including a far electromagnetic field and a near electromagnetic field, and a specific organic substance and inorganic substance. Good. The power generation unit 315a may generate power using a plurality of the above-described energies. The power generation method may be any of electrostatic type, electromagnetic type, inverse magnetostrictive type, piezoelectric type and the like.
The power generation unit 315a may generate power using light (for example, an indoor light bulb or sunlight).
The power generation unit 315a may be a thermoelectric conversion element that generates power using a temperature difference (heat) (for example, a power generation by the Seebeck effect or the Thomson effect, a thermionic power generation element, or a thermomagnetic power generation).
The power generation unit 315a may be an enzyme battery (also referred to as a bio battery) that generates power using sugar.
The power generation unit 315a uses any of LCR (inductance, capacitance, reactance) components, or a combination thereof, and capacitive coupling or electromagnetic coupling by a capacitor, a capacitor, an antenna, a rectenna, etc. It may be a thing.
The power generation unit 315a may be a unit that performs near electromagnetic field power generation, that is, a unit that generates power using energy obtained by bringing the transmission device close to a predetermined device. As the near electromagnetic field power generation method, a known method such as a magnetic field resonance method, an electromagnetic induction method, an electric field coupling method, an electric field resonance method, or the like can be applied.
As the power generation unit 315a, known power generation elements other than those illustrated can be applied.

For example, the power generation unit 315a is configured as a photovoltaic power generator that generates power using ambient light, and includes a solar power generation film 315c.
The photovoltaic power generation film 315c is made of a flexible film, and has a thickness of about 0.01 to 1 mm, for example.
The photovoltaic power generation film 315c is wound around the Z axis, and is wound, for example, along the peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 311g of the first unit housing 311a. Moreover, the solar power generation film 315c may be configured, for example, in a cylindrical shape wound around the entire peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 311g and having an axial direction along the Z-axis direction.
In the case of the power generation unit 315a configured to be capable of solar power generation, the cover 313 includes a translucent region 313a around at least the power generation unit 315a. Thereby, interruption | blocking of sunlight by the cover 313 can be prevented. In the present embodiment, as described above, the entire cover 313 is configured by the translucent region 313a.

The power storage unit 315b is used depending on the purpose such as storing the electric power generated by the power generation unit 315a. The power generated by the power generation unit 315a is stored in the power storage unit 315b and used as power for operating the first communication units 316 to 318.
As the power storage unit 315b, in addition to various secondary batteries such as lithium ion secondary batteries, electric double layer capacitors, lithium ion capacitors, polyacene organic semiconductor (PAS) capacitors, nanogate capacitors (“Nanogate” Actengel shaft shaft), ceramic capacitors, film capacitors, aluminum electrolytic capacitors, tantalum capacitors, and the like. Depending on the purpose, a combination of these may be used.
The power storage unit 315b may be composed of, for example, an olivine type lithium iron phosphate secondary battery. Accordingly, the life of the power storage unit 315b can be extended and the frequency of maintenance can be reduced.

Furthermore, for example, the power supply unit 315 may include a power control unit 315d (not shown in FIG. 35, see FIG. 39) in addition to the power generation unit 315a and the power storage unit 315b.
Similarly to the power control unit 113 of the transmission device 1, the power control unit 315d is configured by, for example, an integrated circuit (IC) including one element or a plurality of elements. Examples of the IC used for the power supply unit 113 include a switching element such as a transistor, a diode, a reset IC, a regulator IC, a logic IC, and various arithmetic circuits. The circuit configuration inside the IC can be changed as appropriate as long as the function of the power control unit 113 can be realized.

Note that the power supply unit 315 can have a configuration without the power generation unit 315a in addition to the above configuration example.
When the power supply unit 315 does not have the power generation unit 315a, the power storage unit 315b may be used as a battery. As such a power storage unit 315b, various primary batteries such as a dry battery, a lithium battery, a mercury battery, and a thermal battery, various secondary batteries such as a lithium ion secondary battery, and the like can be applied.
When the power storage unit 315b is used as a battery, the power supply unit 315 may include a power storage unit 315b and a power control unit 315d (see FIG. 39).

(First communication unit)
FIG. 37 is a cross-sectional view of the second unit housing 311b that houses the first communication unit 316. The cross section shown in FIG. 37 corresponds to the cross section seen from the BB direction in FIG. 33B (cross section seen from the Y-axis direction).
The first communication unit 316 is configured to be able to communicate with the first device.
The first device may be, for example, the transmission device 1 described in the first and second embodiments, or may be another communication device 300, the terminal device 4, or the server device 3.
For example, the first communication unit 316 receives an individual identification signal including an individual identifier of the transmission device 1 (first device).
The first communication unit 316 is configured to be able to communicate using the first communication method.
The first communication method can be appropriately selected depending on the configuration of the first device. As the first communication method, for example, “Wi-Fi (registered trademark)”, “Zigbee (registered trademark)”, “Bluetooth (registered trademark)”, “Bluetooth Low Energy”, “ANT (registered trademark)”, Communication methods such as “ANT + (registered trademark)” and “EnOcean (registered trademark)”, communication methods using radio waves and infrared rays other than the above communication methods, communication methods using electric fields, communication methods using sound waves, 3G and 4G communication method can be cited. The first communication method may be a wireless communication other than the above or a communication method using wired communication.
For example, the first communication unit 316 can perform communication using a communication method using radio waves. For example, the first communication unit 316 can perform communication using a communication method using radio waves in a 920 MHz frequency band. Such a first communication unit 316 enables wireless communication with a first device separated by, for example, several tens of centimeters to several meters.

The first communication unit 316 includes, for example, a communication circuit 316a, an antenna 316b, and an MCU 316c mounted on the circuit board 314b.
The antenna 316b extends, for example, along the Z-axis direction. Thereby, the receiving sensitivity of the antenna 316b in the XY plane can be made uniform.

(Second communication unit)
FIG. 38 is a cross-sectional view of the third unit housing 311 c that houses the second communication unit 317. The cross section shown in FIG. 38 corresponds to the cross section seen from the BB direction in FIG. 33B (cross section seen from the Y-axis direction).
In the present embodiment, the second communication unit 316 is configured to be able to communicate with the first device, and is configured to be capable of wireless communication with a second device different from the first device. The
For example, the second device may be the transmission device 1 described in the first and second embodiments, or may be another communication device 300, the terminal device 4, or the server device 3.
For example, the second communication unit 317 transmits an individual identification signal including the individual identifier of the transmission device 1 (first device) received by the first communication unit 316 to the second device. Further, the second communication unit 317 can transmit the individual identification signal to the second device when the individual identification signal satisfies a predetermined condition. For example, the second communication unit 317 can transmit the individual identification signal to the second device when the reception intensity of the individual identification signal is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold.
In the present embodiment, the second communication unit 317 is configured to be able to perform communication using a second communication method different from the first communication method.
The second communication method can be appropriately selected depending on the configuration of the first device and / or the second device. As the second communication method, for example, “Wi-Fi (registered trademark)”, “Zigbee (registered trademark)”, “Bluetooth (registered trademark)”, “Bluetooth Low Energy”, “ANT (registered trademark)”, Communication methods such as “ANT + (registered trademark)” and “EnOcean (registered trademark)”, communication methods using radio waves and infrared rays other than the above communication methods, communication methods using electric fields, communication methods using sound waves, 3G and 4G communication method can be cited. The second communication method may be a wireless communication other than the above or a communication method using wired communication.
For example, the second communication unit 317 can perform communication using a communication method using Bluetooth Low Energy. Such a second communication unit 317 enables wireless communication with the first device and / or the second device separated by, for example, several centimeters to several tens of centimeters.

The second communication unit 317 includes, for example, a communication circuit 317a, an antenna 317b, and an MCU 317c mounted on the circuit board 314c.

(Third communication section)
In the present embodiment, the third communication unit 318 is configured to be able to communicate with a second device different from the first device. For example, the third communication unit 318 uses the same first communication method as the first communication unit 316. Communication is configured to be possible.
The third communication unit 318 includes, for example, a communication circuit 318a, an antenna 318b, and an MCU 318c mounted on the circuit board 314d (see FIG. 39).
Since the detailed configuration of the third communication unit 318 is the same as that of the first communication unit 316, the description thereof is omitted.

[Configuration example of communication system using communication device]
FIG. 39 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a communication system using the communication device 300.
A communication system 400 illustrated in FIG. 39 includes a transmission device 1, a first communication device 300A, a second communication device 300B, and a terminal device 4.
In this example, the transmission device 1 and the first communication device 300A communicate with each other using the first communication method and the second communication method. The first communication device 300A and the second communication device 300B communicate with each other using the first communication method. The second communication device 300B and the terminal device 4 communicate with each other using the second communication method.
For example, it is assumed that the first communication method is a communication method using radio waves in a frequency band of 920 MHz, and the second communication method is a communication method using Bluetooth Low Energy.
In the figure, communication between devices according to the first communication method is indicated by a solid line, and communication between devices according to the second communication method is indicated by a two-dot chain line.

The transmission device 1 is the transmission device 1 attached to a living body such as livestock or a person described in the first and second embodiments, and includes a power supply unit 11, a control unit 12, a communication unit 13, and a sensor 14. And have.
In this configuration example, the power supply unit 11 includes a power generation unit 111, a power storage unit 112, and a power control unit 113.
The communication unit 13 includes a plurality of communication circuits and antennas. That is, the communication unit 13 includes a first communication circuit 131a, an antenna 131b corresponding to the first communication circuit 131a, a second communication circuit 132a, and an antenna 132b corresponding to the second communication circuit 132a. .
In this configuration example, it is assumed that the first communication circuit 131a can perform communication using the first communication method via the antenna 131b.
In this configuration example, it is assumed that the second communication circuit 132a can perform communication using the second communication method via the antenna 132b.

The first communication device 300A is a configuration example of the communication device 300 described above.
That is, the first communication device 300A includes a power control unit 315,

MCUs

316c, 317c, and 318c, a first communication circuit 316a, a second communication circuit 317a, a third communication circuit 317c, and each communication circuit.

Antennas

316b, 317b, and 318b corresponding to.
The first communication circuit 316a, the antenna 316b, and the MCU 316c constitute a first communication unit 316. In this configuration example, it is assumed that the first communication module 316a can perform communication using the first communication method via the antenna 316b.
The second communication module 317a, the antenna 317b, and the MCU 317c constitute a second communication unit 316. In this configuration example, it is assumed that the second communication module 317a can perform communication using the second communication method via the antenna 317b.
The third communication module 318a, the antenna 318b, and the MCU 318c constitute a third communication unit 318. In this configuration example, it is assumed that the third communication circuit 318a can perform communication using the first communication method via the antenna 318b.
In the first communication device 300A, the “first device” is the transmission device 1, and the “second device” is the second communication device 300B.

The second communication device 300B is a configuration example of the communication device 300 described above.
That is, the second communication device 300B includes a power control unit 315,

MCUs

Antennas

316b, 317b, and 318b corresponding to.
The first communication circuit 316a, the antenna 316b, and the MCU 316c constitute a first communication unit 316. In this configuration example, it is assumed that the first communication circuit 316a can perform communication by the first communication method via the antenna 316b.
The second communication circuit 317a, the antenna 317b, and the MCU 317c constitute a second communication unit 317. It is assumed that the second communication circuit 317a can perform communication using the second communication method via the antenna 317b.
The “first device” in the second communication device 300B is the first communication device 300A, and the “second device” is the terminal device 4.

A communication flow in this configuration example will be described.
The first communication circuit 316 of the first communication device 300A receives the individual identification signal transmitted from the first communication circuit 131a of the transmission device 1.
Similarly, the second communication circuit 317a of the first communication device 300A receives the individual identification signal transmitted from the second communication circuit 132a of the transmission device 1.
On the other hand, the third communication circuit 318a of the first communication device 300A transmits the individual identification signal received from the transmission device 1 to the second communication device 300B.
The first communication circuit 316a of the second communication device 300B receives the individual identification signal transmitted from the first communication device 300A.
Then, the second communication circuit 317a of the second communication device 300B transmits the received individual identification signal to the terminal device 4.

According to this configuration example, since the first communication device 300A has a plurality of communication circuits that can communicate with different communication methods, the individual identification signal from the transmission device 1 can be received by two types of communication methods. . Thereby, for example, an appropriate communication method can be selected according to the positional relationship and environment of the transmission device 1 and the first communication device 300A.
Further, the first communication device 300A includes two

communication circuits

316a and 318a having the same communication method (communication method using radio waves in a frequency band of 920 MHz). Thereby,

different communication circuits

316a and 318a can be used for reception and transmission of the individual identification signal. Therefore, even when a large number of individual identification signals are transmitted and received, communication failure can be prevented.

[Modification of this embodiment]
(Modification 3-1: Modification of hardware configuration)
The hardware configuration of the communication device 300 is not limited to the above example.
For example, the main body 310 of the communication device 300 only needs to include at least the first communication unit 316 and the power supply unit 315, and other hardware configurations can be added as necessary.
According to the present embodiment, since the unit housings are standardized so that they can be stacked, the hardware configuration of the communication device 300 can be easily changed.

For example, the main body 310 may include a sensor unit that is accommodated in the unit housing 311 and acquires information related to the surrounding environment. Thereby, the information about the environment around the communication device 300 can be transmitted to other devices and analyzed, which can be useful for the management of livestock.
As an example, the sensor unit may be able to measure data related to climate such as temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind speed, and atmospheric pressure. Thereby, it becomes possible to acquire and analyze information on the climate around the communication device 300. The sensor unit may include an image sensor and an image processing circuit, and image data may be captured and generated using these image sensors.
Information on the environment generated by the sensor unit is transmitted to other devices such as the terminal device 4 and the server device 3 by at least one of the first to third communication units 316, 317, and 318. The

For example, the main body 310 may have a notification unit attached to the unit housing 311 in addition to the first communication unit 316 and the power supply unit 315. The notification unit can notify the user of the environment around the communication device 300, information on the communication device 300 itself, information from other devices to be communicated, and the like. Specifically, the notification unit may include an LED (Light Emitting Diode) module, a speaker module, a display module, and the like that can be turned on, and may be configured to be notified by a method such as lighting, sound, or display. .
When the main body unit 310 includes the notification unit, for example, the result of the stay monitoring process of the first embodiment can be transmitted to the communication device 300 and notified. Specifically, when it is found that there is livestock mixed in an inappropriate group in the stay monitoring process, the information is transmitted to the communication device 300 at the position corresponding to the area where the livestock is present, and the user is notified. Can do.

(Modification 3-2: Modification of unit housing)
The shape of each unit housing 311 may be different.
For example, the plurality of unit housings 311 have the same first connection end 311e and second connection end 311f, but may have different shapes of cylindrical portions 311g. Also by this, the several unit housing | casing 311 can be laminated | stacked easily.
In this case, the cylindrical portions 311g in the plurality of unit housings 311 may have different lengths in the Z-axis direction. Thereby, the length of an antenna etc. can be adjusted freely. Or the cylinder part 311g in the some unit housing | casing 311 may have a different cross-sectional shape.

The cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the Z-axis direction of the unit casing 311 is not limited to a circle, and may be an ellipse, a polygon, or other symmetric or asymmetric shape.

Further, the adjacent unit casings 311 are not limited to the connection mode in which they are in direct contact with each other, and may be indirectly connected via components for connection.

Furthermore, the shapes of the connectors 312 between the unit housings 311 may all be the same, or at least some of them may be different.

(Modification 3-3: Modification of the main body)
The main body 310 may not have a plurality of unit housings. In this case, for example, the first communication unit 316, the power supply unit 315, and the like may be housed in a housing extending along the uniaxial direction. Further, at least a part of the housing may be realized by the cover 313.
Alternatively, the main body 310 may include five or more unit housings 311.
In this case, the size of the cover 313 can be adjusted so that five or more unit housings 311 can be accommodated.
The combination of unit housings 311 is not limited to the above example.
For example, the main body 310 may include a plurality of power supply units, and may further include a plurality of unit housings 311 that accommodate the power supply units. By having a plurality of power supply units each having a photovoltaic generator, the communication device 300 can obtain larger power. Moreover, redundancy can be improved by having the electric power supply part which has a photovoltaic generator, and the electric power supply part which has a radio wave receiving generator.
Moreover, the main-body part 310 can optimize the structure of an electric power generation part with the installation place of an electric power supply part by having the above module structures. Or the installation place of an electric power supply part can also be adjusted with the structure of an electric power generation part.

Further, the main body 310 may not have the cover 313.
Alternatively, a buffer material or the like may be sandwiched between the main body 310 and the unit housing 311.
The main body 310 may have a dummy unit housing in order to adapt the size of the assembly of the unit housing 311 accommodated in the cover 313 to the cover 313. For example, the dummy unit housing may be configured to be able to perform only electrical connection between adjacent unit housings.

Furthermore, the cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the Z-axis direction may be different depending on the location of the main body 310 as a whole.

(Modification 3-4: Modification of Cap Part)
The cap portion 330 may be a dome shape as a whole or may have other configurations.
Further, the material of the cap part 330 is not particularly limited. For example, by forming the cap portion 330 from an elastic material such as rubber or a highly flexible resin, the cap portion 330 can be configured to have high safety even when it comes into contact with livestock.

(Modification 3-5: Modification of the mounting portion)
If the attachment part 320 is comprised so that attachment to the structure G extended along the Z-axis direction is possible, the structure will not be limited.
For example, the attachment part 320 may be configured in a clip type that can sandwich the tip of the structure G.
Or the attaching part 320 may be comprised by the band etc. which can be wound around the front-end | tip of the structure G. FIG.
Further, the attachment portion 320 may be configured to be able to be strongly bonded to the structure G.

Furthermore, an attachment (mount) that can be attached to a structure other than the structure G may be attached to the attachment portion 320 as necessary. For example, the attachment portion 320 may be attached with an attachment that can be attached to a wall surface, a grid-like fence, or the like.
Alternatively, a hook-shaped attachment may be attached to the attachment portion 320.
By using such an attachment, it can be attached to a structure other than the structure G, and the communication device 300 can be installed in various places. Furthermore, the Z-axis direction of the communication device 300 is not limited to the vertical direction, and may be, for example, a direction (sideways) substantially parallel to the planar direction. Or it can also be used by hanging the attachment part 320 from the ceiling or the like of a barn with a hook-like attachment or the like with the attachment part 320 facing upward in the Z-axis direction.

Further, a seal member that is disposed between the attachment portion 320 and the structure G may be disposed. Thereby, the penetration | invasion of the water | moisture content and organic substance to the main-body part 310 from the opening part 322 of the attaching part 320 can be prevented. Therefore, the durability of the communication device 300 can be further increased.

As mentioned above, although each embodiment of this art was described, this art is not limited only to the above-mentioned embodiment, and it cannot be overemphasized that various changes can be added within the range which does not deviate from the gist of this art. For example, the embodiment of the present technology may be an embodiment in which the embodiments are combined.

In addition, this technique can also take the following structures.
(1) a cover having a hollow shape extending along a uniaxial direction from the first end toward the second end;
A first communication unit that is accommodated in a first unit housing installed inside the cover along the uniaxial direction, and communicates with a first device attached to a living body;
A power supply unit that is housed in a second unit housing installed inside the cover along the uniaxial direction, and that supplies power to the first communication unit, and
The first unit housing and the second unit housing are connected via a connector that is detachable in the uniaxial direction, and the first communication unit and the power supply unit are electrically connected via the connector. Connected communication device.
(2) The communication device according to (1) above,
The power supply unit
A communication device having a power generation unit that generates power according to the surrounding environment.
(3) The communication device according to (2) above,
The power generation unit is a communication device having a photovoltaic generator.
(4) The communication device according to (3) above,
The power generation unit includes a solar power generation film wound around the one axis.
(5) The communication device according to (3) or (4) above,
The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the cover has a translucent region at least around the power generation unit.
(6) The communication device according to any one of (1) to (5) above,
The communication apparatus which further has the attaching part for installing the said communication apparatus connected to the said 1st edge part.
(7) The communication device according to (6) above,
The communication device is configured such that the attachment portion can be attached to a tip of a rod-like structure extending along the uniaxial direction.
(8) The communication device according to (6) or (7) above,
The attachment unit includes a communication device having an opening that opens in the uniaxial direction.
(9) The communication device according to any one of (1) to (8) above,
The communication device configured such that a cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the uniaxial direction of the second unit casing is the same as a cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the uniaxial direction of the first unit casing.
(10) The communication device according to (9) above,
The cross-sectional shape is a communication device configured in a circular shape.
(11) The communication device according to (8) or (10) above,
The first unit housing and the second unit housing are respectively
A first connection end and a second connection end disposed opposite to each other in the uniaxial direction;
A cylindrical portion formed between the first connection end and the second connection end;
The communication device configured such that the first connection end of the second unit casing can be adapted to the second connection end of the first unit casing.
(12) The communication device according to any one of (1) to (11) above,
A communication apparatus, further comprising: a top portion protruding in the uniaxial direction; and a cap portion formed from the top portion toward the second end portion and connected to the second end portion.
(13) The communication device according to any one of (1) to (12) above,
The first communication unit includes a communication device having an antenna extending along the uniaxial direction.
(14) The communication device according to any one of (1) to (13) above,
A communication apparatus further comprising a second communication unit capable of wireless communication with a second device different from the first device.
(15) The communication device according to any one of (1) to (14) above,
The first communication unit can perform communication using the first communication method,
The second communication unit is
A communication apparatus capable of communication by a second communication method different from the first communication method.
(16) The communication device according to (14) or (15) above,
The main body is
The first communication unit receives an individual identification signal including identification information of the first device,
The second communication unit is a communication device that transmits the individual identification signal to the second device.
(17) The communication device according to (16) above,
The second communication unit is a communication device that transmits the individual identification signal to the second device when the reception intensity of the individual identification signal is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold.
(18) The communication device according to any one of (1) to (17),
The living body is a livestock communication device.
(19) The communication device according to any one of (1) to (18),
The living body is a communication device.
(20) a transmission device attached to a living body;
A cover having a hollow shape extending along a uniaxial direction from the first end toward the second end;
A first communication unit housed in a first unit housing installed inside the cover along the uniaxial direction and communicating with the transmission device;
A power supply unit that is housed in a second unit housing installed inside the cover along the uniaxial direction, and that supplies power to the first communication unit, and
The first unit housing and the second unit housing are connected via a connector that is detachable in the uniaxial direction, and the first communication unit and the power supply unit are electrically connected via the connector. A communication system comprising: a communication device connected to the network.
(21) The livestock corresponds to the individual identification signal based on data on a plurality of the individual identification signals transmitted from a transmission device that transmits the individual identification signal that is attached to the livestock and associated with the livestock. A livestock management system comprising a stay determination unit for determining whether or not a person is staying in a target area.
(22) The livestock management system according to (21) above,
A position determination unit that determines whether or not the individual identification signal transmitted from the transmission device satisfies a first condition for the transmission device to be located in the target region;
The stay determination unit determines whether data about the plurality of individual identification signals determined to satisfy the first condition satisfies a second condition for the livestock to stay in the target area. Livestock management system.
(23) The livestock management system according to (22) above,
The data about the individual identification signals of the plurality of individual identification signals includes information on signal strength when the plurality of individual identification signals are received by one or more communication devices located in the target region,
The livestock management system, wherein the first condition includes a condition that a signal intensity of the individual identification signal belongs to a first intensity range.
(24) The livestock management system according to (23) above,
The livestock management system, wherein the first condition includes a condition that a signal intensity of the individual identification signal is a predetermined threshold value or more.
(25) The livestock management system according to any one of (22) to (24),
The data includes information on the reception time of each of the plurality of individual identification signals in one communication device located in the target area,
The livestock management system, wherein the second condition includes a condition regarding a reception time of each of the plurality of individual identification signals.
(26) The livestock management system according to any one of (22) to (25) above,
The data includes signal strength information of each of the plurality of individual identification signals received by a plurality of communication devices located in the target region,
The livestock management system, wherein the second condition includes a condition regarding a signal intensity of each of the plurality of individual identification signals.
(27) The livestock management system according to (26) above,
The livestock management system, wherein the second condition includes a condition regarding a position of the transmitting device estimated based on the signal strength of the plurality of individual identification signals.
(28) The livestock management system according to any one of (21) to (27) above,
The data includes second identification information for identifying a communication device that has received each of the plurality of individual identification signals.
The livestock management system
An attribute information storage unit for storing the second identification information and the first characteristic information about the attribute of the communication device identified by the second identification information in association with each other;
The first characteristic information includes information about a region corresponding to the position of the communication device,
The stay determination unit identifies an area corresponding to the position of the communication device as the target area based on the first characteristic information associated with the second identification information of each of the plurality of individual identification signals. A livestock management system for determining whether or not the livestock stays in the specified target area based on the plurality of individual identification signals.
(29) The livestock management system according to (28) above,
The data includes an individual identifier for identifying a transmission device that is a transmission source of the plurality of individual identification signals,
The attribute information storage unit further stores the individual identifier and the management target information of the area for the attribute of the transmission device identified by the individual identifier,
The management target information of the area includes information about the area corresponding to the livestock wearing the transmission device,
The livestock management system
When it is determined that the livestock stays in the target area, based on the management target information of the area stored in the attribute information storage unit, the determined target area and the transmission source of the plurality of individual identification signals A livestock management system further comprising: a region determination unit that determines whether or not a region corresponding to a livestock to which the transmission device is attached matches.
(30) The livestock management system according to (28) or (29) above,
The attribute information storage unit further stores a plurality of first characteristic information including the first characteristic information of the communication device,
The livestock management system
An identification information acquisition unit that acquires the second identification information transmitted from the communication device;
A registration unit that associates the acquired second identification information with the first characteristic information selected from the plurality of first characteristic information and registers it as registration information; and
The attribute information storage unit stores the second identification information and the selected first characteristic information in association with each other based on the registration information.
(31) The livestock management system according to (30) above,
The livestock management system, wherein the identification information acquisition unit acquires the second identification information transmitted from the communication device by proximity wireless communication.
(32) The livestock management system according to any one of (22) to (31) above,
A transmitting device for transmitting the individual identification signal;
A communication device that is a device different from the transmission device and that receives the individual identification signal transmitted from the transmission device;
The transmission device and the communication device are different devices, including an information processing device that receives the individual identification signal transmitted from the communication device,
The communication device includes the position determination unit,
A livestock management system in which the information processing apparatus includes the stay determination unit.
(33) Receive data on the plurality of individual identification signals transmitted from a transmission device that transmits individual identification signals attached to domestic animals and associated with the domestic animals,
A livestock management method for determining whether or not the livestock is staying in a target area corresponding to the individual identification signal based on the data.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Transmission apparatus 2,300 ... Communication apparatus 4 ... Terminal apparatus 310 ... Main body part 312 ... Connector 313 ... Cover 320 ... Attachment part 330 ...

Cap part

311, 311a, 311b, 311c, 311d ... Unit housing 315 ... Power supply part 316 ... 1st communication part 317 ... 2nd communication part 318 ... 3rd communication part

Claims

A cover having a hollow shape extending along a uniaxial direction from the first end toward the second end;
A first communication unit that is accommodated in a first unit housing installed inside the cover along the one-axis direction and communicates with a first device attached to a living body;
A power supply unit that is housed in a second unit housing installed inside the cover along the uniaxial direction, and that supplies power to the first communication unit;
The first unit housing and the second unit housing are connected via a connector that is detachable in the uniaxial direction, and the first communication unit and the power supply unit are electrically connected via the connector. Connected communication device.
The communication device according to claim 1,
The power supply unit
A communication device having a power generation unit that generates power according to the surrounding environment.
The communication device according to claim 2,
The power generation unit includes a photovoltaic generator.
The communication device according to claim 3,
The power generation unit includes a solar power generation film wound around the one axis.
The communication device according to claim 3,
The cover has a translucent region at least around the power generation unit.
The communication device according to claim 1,
A communication device further comprising a mounting portion connected to the first end for installing the communication device.
The communication device according to claim 6,
The communication device is configured to be attachable to a tip end of a rod-like structure extending along the uniaxial direction.
The communication device according to claim 7,
The attachment unit includes a communication device having an opening that opens in the uniaxial direction.
The communication device according to claim 1,
The communication device configured such that a cross-sectional shape of the second unit housing orthogonal to the uniaxial direction is the same as a cross-sectional shape of the first unit housing orthogonal to the uniaxial direction.
The communication device according to claim 9,
The cross-sectional shape is a communication device configured in a circular shape.
The communication device according to claim 9,
The first unit housing and the second unit housing are respectively
A first connection end and a second connection end disposed opposite to each other in the uniaxial direction;
A cylindrical portion formed between the first connection end and the second connection end;
The communication device configured such that the first connection end of the second unit casing can be adapted to the second connection end of the first unit casing.
The communication device according to claim 1,
A communication device further comprising: a top portion protruding in the uniaxial direction; and a tapered surface formed from the top portion toward the second end portion and connected to the second end portion.
The communication device according to claim 1,
The first communication unit includes a communication device having an antenna extending along the uniaxial direction.
The communication device according to claim 1,
A communication apparatus further comprising a second communication unit capable of wireless communication with a second device different from the first device.
The communication device according to claim 14, wherein
The first communication unit is capable of communication by a first communication method,
The second communication unit is
A communication device capable of communication by a second communication method different from the first communication method.
The communication device according to claim 14, wherein
The first communication unit receives an individual identification signal transmitted from the first device,
The second communication unit is a communication device that transmits the individual identification signal to the second device.
The communication device according to claim 16, wherein
The second communication unit is a communication device that transmits the individual identification signal to the second device when reception intensity of the individual identification signal is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold.
A transmission device attached to a living body;
A cover having a hollow shape extending along a uniaxial direction from the first end toward the second end;
A first communication unit that is housed in a first unit housing installed inside the cover along the uniaxial direction and communicates with the transmission device;
A power supply unit that is housed in a second unit housing installed inside the cover along the uniaxial direction, and that supplies power to the first communication unit;
The first unit housing and the second unit housing are connected via a connector that is detachable in the uniaxial direction, and the first communication unit and the power supply unit are electrically connected via the connector. A communication system comprising: a communication device connected to the network.