WIRELESS COMMUNICATION MONITORING SYSTEM, WIRELESS COMMUNICATION MONITORING METHOD, AND MONITORING DEVICE

A wireless communication monitoring system for monitoring a hardware failure of a wireless communication unit of a wireless communication device using a remote monitoring control device, in which the wireless communication device transmits or receives a predetermined radio signal to or from a monitoring device added or attached to the host device to perform a life and death check for checking an operation, and the remote monitoring control device detects a hardware failure of the wireless communication unit of the wireless communication device on the basis of a result of the life and death check received from the wireless communication device. This makes it possible to detect a failure that cannot be detected from information obtained from a device state request to a wireless communication device of the related art.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a technology for detecting a failure in a wireless communication unit of a wireless communication device using a monitoring device.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, in a wireless communication system, an operation of wireless communication devices is monitored and detection of a failure is performed. For example, in a wireless local area network (LAN) system, the simple network management protocol (SNMP) for collecting a life and death check using a ping command (a check as to whether the wireless LAN access point is operating normally) or a detailed device status is used in order for a wireless LAN controller to monitor an operation of a wireless LAN access point (see NPL 1 and NPL 2, for example).

CITATION LIST

Non Patent Literature

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

Since a ping in the related art is performed from the wireless LAN controller to a LAN interface of the wireless LAN access point, there is a problem that an abnormality in a wireless section including a wireless communication circuit cannot be detected. Further, the SNMP can monitor for a hardware failure, traffic flow rate information, or the like by acquiring a management information base (MIB) for checking various types of status information defined in the device, but hardware failure not reflected in the MIB cannot be detected.

However, even when there is a hardware failure that cannot be detected by the MIB, a failure can be detected in some cases when a normal wireless LAN access point is installed separately from a wireless LAN access point in which the failure has occurred on the same floor of an office. For example, it is possible to detect features such as unnaturally low traffic only at a wireless LAN access point in which a failure has occurred and indirectly detect a hardware failure by monitoring and comparing traffic flow rates of main signals of wireless LAN access points.

However, in a case in which there is only one device per site, as in a public wireless LAN access point deployed in a convenience store, a hardware failure that cannot be detected by the MIB cannot be subjected to indirect detection as described above. Further, there is a problem that, when no main signal traffic flows through the access point, it is impossible to distinguish between whether radio waves of a wireless LAN are not transmitted due to a hardware failure of the wireless communication unit and whether the hardware is normal but there are simply no users.

An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication monitoring system, a wireless communication monitoring method, and a monitoring device capable of detecting a failure that cannot be detected only with information obtained from a device state request to a wireless communication device as in the related art, by adding or attaching a monitoring device to a wireless communication device and performing a life and death check between the wireless communication device and the monitoring device.

Solution to Problem

The present invention is a wireless communication monitoring system for monitoring for a hardware failure of a wireless communication unit of at least one wireless communication device using a remote monitoring control device, wherein the wireless communication device transmits or receives a predetermined radio signal to or from a monitoring device added or attached to the host device to perform a life and death check for checking an operation, and the remote monitoring control device performs a determination of a failure including a hardware failure of the wireless communication unit of the wireless communication device on the basis of a device state response of the wireless communication device including a result of the life and death check received from the wireless communication device.

Further, the present invention is a wireless communication monitoring method for monitoring for a hardware failure of a wireless communication unit of at least one wireless communication device using a remote monitoring control device, wherein the wireless communication device transmits or receives a predetermined radio signal to or from a monitoring device added or attached to the host device to perform a life and death check for checking an operation, and the remote monitoring control device performs a determination of a failure including the hardware failure of the wireless communication unit of the wireless communication device on the basis of a device state response of the wireless communication device including a result of the life and death check received from the wireless communication device.

Further, the present invention provides a monitoring device including: a power generation unit added or attached to a wireless communication device and configured to generate power required for an operation using radio waves radiated from the wireless communication device; a wireless communication unit configured to perform wireless communication with the wireless communication device; and a monitoring control unit configured to return a response signal when a predetermined life and death check signal for checking the presence or absence of an operation is received from the wireless communication device via the wireless communication unit.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

With the wireless communication monitoring system, the wireless communication monitoring method, and the monitoring device according to the present invention, it is possible to detect a failure that cannot be detected only with information obtained from a device state request to a wireless communication device as in the related art, by adding or attaching a monitoring device to a wireless communication device and performing a life and death check between the wireless communication device and the monitoring device.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of a wireless communication monitoring system, a wireless communication monitoring method, and a monitoring device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG.1illustrates an example of a wireless communication monitoring system100according to the present embodiment. InFIG.1, the wireless communication monitoring system100includes a wireless communication device101(1), a wireless communication device101(2), . . . , a wireless communication device101(n), a monitoring device104(1), a monitoring device104(2), . . . , a monitoring device104(n), and a remote monitoring control device102. Here, in description common to n wireless communication devices (n is a positive integer) from the wireless communication device101(1) to the wireless communication device101(n), (number) at an end of the reference sign is omitted and the wireless communication device is described as a wireless communication device101. The monitoring devices104(1) to104(n) are similarly described.

InFIG.1, n wireless communication devices101and the remote monitoring control device102can communicate with each other via a network103.

The wireless communication device101is connected to a wireless terminal such as a smartphone, and the wireless terminal can access other wireless terminals, the Internet, or the like via the wireless communication device101and the network103.

The remote monitoring control device102monitors a device state of the n wireless communication devices101via the network103and detects a failure.

The network103is configured of, for example, network devices compatible with Internet Protocol (IP), and devices connected to the network103can communicate with each other.

The monitoring device104is added or attached to each of the n wireless communication devices101, and performs predetermined wireless communication with wireless communication devices101to which the monitoring device104has been the added or attached, so that a failure in a wireless communication unit (a wireless communication unit201to be described below) in the wireless communication device101can be detected. Further, in the present embodiment, the monitoring device104can obtain power for an operation from radio waves when the wireless communication device101performs wireless communication.

Thus, the wireless communication monitoring system100according to the present embodiment can monitor the device state of at least one wireless communication device101and detect a failure of the wireless communication device101using the remote monitoring control device102. In particular, in the present embodiment, it is possible to detect a hardware failure of the wireless communication unit of the wireless communication device101, which was difficult to detect a failure using a MIB of the SNMP for acquiring a device state as in the related art, by using the monitoring device104.

FIG.2illustrates an example of a wireless communication monitoring system700of a comparative example. InFIG.2, the wireless communication monitoring system700includes wireless communication devices701(1) to701(n) and a remote monitoring control device702, and communicates via a network703.

Here, the wireless communication device701, the remote monitoring control device702, and the network703in the comparative example correspond to the wireless communication device101, the remote monitoring control device102, and the network103inFIG.1, respectively. However, since the remote monitoring control device702of the comparative example performs failure detection using MIB of SNMP for acquiring the device state as in the related art, it is difficult to detect a hardware failure of the wireless communication unit of the wireless communication device701. There is a problem that, for example, when no main signal traffic flows through the wireless communication device701, it is impossible to distinguish between whether radio waves are not transmitted due to a hardware failure of the wireless communication unit and whether the hardware of the wireless communication unit is normal but there are simply no users.

On the other hand, in the wireless communication monitoring system100according to the present embodiment illustrated inFIG.1, since it is possible to check whether or not the wireless communication unit of the wireless communication device101is operating by performing predetermined wireless communication between the monitoring device104added or attached to the wireless communication device101and the wireless communication device101, it is possible to detect the hardware failure of the wireless communication unit. A specific detection method will be described below in detail.

FIG.3illustrates an example of the wireless communication device101. InFIG.3, the wireless communication device101includes a wireless communication unit201, a main signal processing unit202, and a monitoring control unit203.

The wireless communication unit201performs wireless communication with a wireless terminal connected to the host device. For example, the wireless communication unit201converts a radio frame input from the main signal processing unit202into a radio signal and transmits the radio signal to the wireless terminal, and converts a radio signal received from the wireless terminal into a radio frame and outputs the radio frame to the main signal processing unit202. Further, the wireless communication unit201can check whether or not a normal operation is performed (life and death check) by performing predetermined wireless communication with the monitoring device104added or attached to the host device.

The main signal processing unit202includes input and output terminals for the main signal traffic, and performs input and output of the main signal traffic with another device connected via the network103. For example, the main signal processing unit202converts the main signal traffic input from the network103into a radio frame, outputs the radio frame to the wireless communication unit201, converts the radio frame input from the wireless communication unit201into main signal traffic, and outputs the main signal traffic to the network103.

The monitoring control unit203faces the remote monitoring control device102, and the remote monitoring control device102performs a setting and control, and the like on each unit in the host device. Further, the monitoring control unit203notifies the remote monitoring control device102of information such as acquisition of the device state of the host device and collection and management of alarm information (warnings or the like) within the host device. Here, a signal transmitted and received between the monitoring control unit203and the remote monitoring control device102is referred to as a monitoring control signal. The monitoring control unit203includes a monitoring control signal input and output terminal, and inputs or outputs the monitoring control signal to and from the remote monitoring control device102via the network103. For example, the monitoring control unit203receives the monitoring control signal via the network103, and performs setting, control, and the like on the wireless communication unit201, the main signal processing unit202, and the wireless communication unit201on the basis of the monitoring control signal. Further, the monitoring control unit203transmits information obtained from the respective units of the wireless communication device101such as the wireless communication unit201and the main signal processing unit202to the remote monitoring control device102via the network103using the monitoring control signal. In particular, in the present embodiment, the monitoring control unit203performs life and death check communication with the monitoring device104added or attached to the host device using the wireless communication unit201, and transmits the device state response including a result of the life and death check to the remote monitoring control device102.

Thus, in the wireless communication monitoring system100according to the present embodiment, the wireless communication device101performs a life and death check with the monitoring device104added or attached to the host device, and transmits a device state including the result of the life and death check to the remote monitoring control device102. This makes it possible for the remote monitoring control device102to detect the failure including the hardware failure of the wireless communication unit of the wireless communication device101.

FIG.4illustrates an example of a wireless communication device101′.FIG.4illustrates another example of the wireless communication device101described with reference toFIG.3, and the wireless communication device101in the other example differs from the wireless communication device101that the wireless communication device101in the other example includes a signal distribution unit204. InFIG.4, since the wireless communication unit201, the main signal processing unit202, and the monitoring control unit203have the same functions as blocks denoted by the same reference signs inFIG.3, repeated description will be omitted. In the wireless communication device101ofFIG.3, the main signal traffic input and output terminal and the monitoring control signal input and output terminal are provided separately, whereas in the wireless communication device101′ ofFIG.4, the main signal traffic input and output terminal and the monitoring control signal input and output terminal are integrated into one input and output terminal, and both the main signal and the monitoring control signal are input or output to or from the one input and output terminal. The signal distribution unit204determines a signal input from the one input and output terminal, and performs signal distribution so that the signal is output in the main signal processing unit202when the signal is the main signal traffic, and outputs the monitoring control signal to the monitoring control unit203when the signal is the monitoring control signal.

InFIG.4, the main signal traffic transmitted from the main signal processing unit202is output from the signal distribution unit204to the network103, and the monitoring control signal transmitted from the monitoring control unit203is output from the signal distribution unit204to the network103. Here, a configuration of the wireless communication device101′ illustrated inFIG.4includes only one input and output terminal, for example, like an access point of a wireless LAN, and corresponds to a system in which both the main signal and the monitoring control signal are mixed in the input and output terminal.

FIG.5illustrates an example of the monitoring device104according to the present embodiment. The monitoring device104is added or attached to the wireless communication device101and used, as described with reference toFIG.1. A method for addition or attachment to the wireless communication device101may be any method that is commonly used, such as a hook, screw, and adhesive.

InFIG.5, the monitoring device104includes a wireless communication unit301, a signal processing unit302, a monitoring control unit303, and a power generation unit304.

The wireless communication unit301converts a radio frame output from the signal processing unit302into radio waves, transmits the radio frame to the wireless communication device101, converts a radio wave received from the wireless communication device101into a radio frame, and outputs the radio frame to the signal processing unit302. For example, the wireless communication unit301performs wireless communication with the added or attached wireless communication device101, and transmits a response signal to the wireless communication device101when receiving a life and death check signal (such as a ping signal) from the wireless communication device101.

The signal processing unit302converts the transmission signal output from the monitoring control unit303into a radio frame, outputs the radio frame to the wireless communication unit301, and converts the radio frame input from the wireless communication unit301into a reception signal. For example, the signal processing unit302receives a radio frame including a life and death check signal received from the wireless communication device101by the wireless communication unit301, converts the radio frame into a life and death check signal, and outputs the life and death check signal to the monitoring control unit303. On the other hand, the signal processing unit302converts a life and death check response signal output from the monitoring control unit303into a radio frame, and outputs the radio frame to the wireless communication unit301. Further, the signal processing unit302converts the information transmitted or received to or from the wireless communication device101by the monitoring control unit303into a radio frame as necessary, such as when establishing a link with the wireless communication device101, and transmits or receives the radio frame using the wireless communication unit301.

The monitoring control unit303inputs or outputs monitoring control information to and from the wireless communication unit301and the signal processing unit302and manages the monitoring control information, and performs communication with the monitoring control unit203of the wireless communication device101that is an addition or attachment destination. Specifically, when the monitoring control unit303receives a life and death check request from the wireless communication device101, the monitoring control unit303performs processing for returning the life and death check response to the wireless communication device101, or processing for link establishment with the wireless communication device101, for example.

The power generation unit304receives radio waves emitted by the wireless communication device101that is an addition or attachment destination, to generate power used for the monitoring device104to transmit the radio waves, and supplies the power to each unit within the host device. This makes it possible for the monitoring device104according to the present embodiment to operate without being supplied with power from the outside, and to communicate with the wireless communication device101. For example, the power generation unit304can be realized by a resonance circuit that converts the radio waves emitted by the wireless communication device101into power, a capacitor that stores the generated power, and the like. The monitoring device104can communicate in the same way as a wireless terminal or the like using radio waves used for communication by the wireless communication device101, and can also be considered as one of wireless terminals fixed to the wireless communication device101to which a communication destination has been added or attached.

Thus, the monitoring device104is added or attached to the wireless communication device101, and can perform life and death check with the wireless communication device101. The wireless communication device101obtains a result of life and death check with the monitoring device104and transmits the device state including a result of the life and death check to the remote monitoring control device102. This makes it possible for the remote monitoring control device102to detect the hardware failure of the wireless communication unit201of the wireless communication device101.

FIG.6illustrates an example of a monitoring sequence of the wireless communication monitoring system100according to the present embodiment. The sequence inFIG.6is executed by the remote monitoring control device102, the monitoring control unit203of the wireless communication device101, and the monitoring control unit303of the monitoring device104.

In step S101, in order to monitor the n wireless communication devices101that are management targets, the remote monitoring control device102requests the monitoring control unit203of each wireless communication device101for information on the device state one by one (device state request).

In step S102, the monitoring control unit203of each wireless communication device101that has received the device state request from the remote monitoring control device102performs the life and death check on the monitoring control unit303of the monitoring device104.

In step S103, the monitoring control unit303of the monitoring device104returns a response to the life and death check to the wireless communication device101when the monitoring control unit303receives the life and death check from the wireless communication device101.

In step S104, the monitoring control unit203of the wireless communication device101transmits information such as the held device state of the host device or alarm, including the result of the life and death check with the monitoring device104(presence or absence of a response), to the remote monitoring control device102(the device state response).

Here, when the monitoring control unit203of the wireless communication device101receives a life and death check response from the monitoring device104, the monitoring control unit203recognizes that the life and death check with the monitoring device104has succeeded.

The above-described sequence is similarly executed for the n wireless communication devices101from the wireless communication device101(1) to the wireless communication device101(n).

The remote monitoring control device102collects the device state of each wireless communication device101including the result of the life and death check with the monitoring device104added or attached to each wireless communication device101from the n wireless communication devices101. In the present embodiment, since the remote monitoring control device102performs failure detection using the result of life and death check with the monitoring device104added or attached to the wireless communication device101, it is possible to detect the failure including the hardware failure of the wireless communication unit201of the wireless communication device101. For example, a determination can be made that the hardware failure is likely to occur in the wireless communication unit201of the wireless communication device101when there is no life and death check response from the monitoring device104, although the wireless communication device101can be determined to be normal due to no failure being detected in a method (ping or SNMP) of the related art.

As described above, in the wireless communication monitoring system100according to the present embodiment, the wireless communication device101performs life and death check with the monitoring device104added or attached to the host device, and notifies the remote monitoring control device102of the device state of the host device including the result of the life and death check. The remote monitoring control device102can detect the failure including the hardware failure of the wireless communication unit201of the wireless communication device101, on the basis of the device state of the host device including the result of the life and death check.

FIG.7illustrates an example of a monitoring sequence of wireless communication monitoring system700of the comparative example. The remote monitoring control device702requests the monitoring control unit (corresponding to the monitoring control unit203inFIG.3) of each wireless communication device701for the information on the device state one by one in order to monitor the n wireless communication devices701that are management target (S701: device state request). The monitoring control unit of each wireless communication device701that has received the device state request responds with information such as the held device state or alarm (S702: device state response).

Thus, in the wireless communication monitoring system700of the comparative example, since the device state request transmitted from the remote monitoring control device702to the wireless communication device701in step S701, and only the device state response returned from the wireless communication device701to the remote monitoring control device702in step S702are performed, there is a problem that it is difficult to detect a failure that cannot be acquired as the device state.

On the other hand, in the monitoring sequence of the wireless communication monitoring system100according to the present embodiment illustrated inFIG.6, it is possible to detect the hardware failure of the wireless communication unit201by performing the life and death check with monitoring device104added or attached to the wireless communication device101to check whether the wireless communication unit201of the wireless communication device101is operating.

(Example of Application to Wireless LAN)

Next, an example in which the wireless communication monitoring system100according to the embodiment described above is applied to a wireless LAN will be described.

FIG.8illustrates a configuration example of a wireless LAN monitoring system100aaccording to the present embodiment. The wireless LAN monitoring system100aillustrated inFIG.8is an example in which the wireless communication monitoring system100described inFIG.1is replaced with a wireless LAN.

InFIG.8, the wireless LAN monitoring system100aincludes a wireless LAN access point101a(1), a wireless LAN access point101a(2), a wireless LAN access point101a(n), a monitoring device104a(1), a monitoring device104a(2), a monitoring device104a(n), and a wireless LAN controller102a, and these can communicate with each other via a network103a. Here, in description common to n access points (n is a positive integer) from the wireless LAN access point101a(1) to the wireless LAN access point101a(n), (number) at an end of the reference sign is omitted and the access point is described as a wireless LAN access point101a. The monitoring devices104a(1) to104a(n) are similarly described.

InFIG.8, the wireless LAN controller102acommunicates with the n wireless LAN access points101avia the network103aand acquires the device information including the result of life and death check with the n monitoring devices104aadded or attached to the n wireless LAN access points101aThis makes it possible for the wireless LAN controller102ato detect the hardware failure of the wireless LAN access point101a.

InFIG.8, the wireless LAN access point101ahas a DHCP server function, and can issue an IP address to a terminal (a wireless terminal such as smartphones) connected to the wireless LAN access point101a.

Further, the monitoring device104ais one of the terminals connected to the wireless LAN access point101a, but an IP address is not issued to the monitoring device104aby the DHCP server, and a predetermined fixed IP address is assigned. This is intended to prevent an IP address from being unable to be issued to a new monitoring device104aand, as a result, the life and death check (ping) from the wireless LAN access point101ato the monitoring device104afrom being unable to be performed when the monitoring device104ais replaced due to a fault or the like in a situation in which the DHCP server has run out of IP addresses.

Successful life and death check (ping) to the monitoring device104afrom the wireless LAN access point101amay mean that each block of the wireless LAN access point101arelated to ping is normal and, in particular, radio waves of the wireless LAN are normally transmitted and received.

Further, when the wireless LAN access point101acannot detect the failure even though a wireless communication unit (the wireless communication unit201ato be described below) of the wireless LAN access point101afails and radio waves are not transmitted, the response to the device state request using SNMP is only returned as normal, and thus, the failure as described above cannot be detected in the case of the related art. However, in the wireless LAN monitoring system100aaccording to the present embodiment, since a failure determination is actually performed including the result of the life and death check (ping) to the monitoring device104ausing radio waves of the wireless LAN, it is possible to detect the failure as described above.

FIG.9illustrates a configuration example of a wireless LAN monitoring system700aof a comparative example. InFIG.9, the wireless LAN monitoring system700aof the comparative example includes s a wireless LAN access point701a(1), a wireless LAN access point701a(2), a wireless LAN access point701a(n), and a wireless LAN controller702a, and theses can communicate with each other via a network703a.

Here, the wireless LAN access point701a, the wireless LAN controller702a, and the network703ain the comparative example correspond to the wireless LAN access point101a, the wireless LAN controller102a, and the network103ainFIG.8, but it is difficult for the wireless LAN controller702ato detect a hardware failure of a wireless communication unit (not illustrated) of the wireless LAN access point701a. There is a problem that, for example, when no wireless Lan signal flows through the wireless LAN access point701a, it is impossible to distinguish between whether radio waves are not transmitted due to a hardware failure of the wireless communication unit and whether the hardware of the wireless communication unit is normal but there are simply no users.

On the other hand, in the wireless LAN monitoring system100aaccording to the present embodiment illustrated inFIG.8, the wireless LAN access point101aperforms a life and death check using ping on the monitoring device104aadded or attached to the host device. This makes it possible for the wireless LAN controller102ato check whether or not the wireless communication unit of the wireless LAN access point101ais operating, on the basis of the presence or absence of the ping response.

FIG.10illustrates an example of the wireless LAN access point101aaccording to the present embodiment. InFIG.10, the wireless LAN access point101aincludes a wireless communication unit201a, a main signal processing unit202a, a monitoring control unit203a, and a signal distribution unit204a. Here, the wireless communication unit201a, the main signal processing unit202a, the monitoring control unit203a, and the signal distribution unit204acorrespond to the wireless communication unit201, the main signal processing unit202, the monitoring control unit203, and the signal distribution unit204illustrated inFIG.4, and operate in the same manner as the wireless communication device101inFIG.4except that a wireless LAN frame is handled as a radio frame, a DHCP server function is included, and an IP address is issued to a connection terminal.

InFIG.10, the monitoring control unit203aincludes an input and output terminal for the main signal and the monitoring control signal, and transmits or receives the main signal to or from a communication destination device via the network103a, or transmits or receives the monitoring control signal to or from the wireless LAN controller102a. For example, the monitoring control unit203areceives the monitoring control signal via the network103a, and controls the wireless communication unit201a, the main signal processing unit202a, and the signal distribution unit204aon the basis of the monitoring control signal. Further, the monitoring control unit203aperforms a life and death check with the monitoring device104aadded or attached to the host device, and transmits the device state including the result of the life and death check via the network103ato the wireless LAN controller102ausing the monitoring control signal.

Further, the wireless LAN access point101ahas a DHCP server function, and can issue an IP address to a terminal (a wireless terminal such as a smartphone) connected to the wireless LAN access point101a. The monitoring device104ais one of the terminals connected to the wireless LAN access point101a, but an IP address is not issued to the monitoring device104aby the DHCP server, and a predetermined fixed IP address is assigned.

Here, when the monitoring control unit203acannot detect a failure even though the failure occurs in the wireless communication unit201aof the wireless LAN access point101aand radio waves are not transmitted, the wireless LAN controller102aonly returns the response to the device state request using SNMP from the wireless LAN access point101aas normal, and thus, the failure as described above cannot be detected in the case of the related art. However, in the present embodiment, since the wireless LAN access point101aperforms the life and death check (ping) to the monitoring device104ausing actual wireless LAN radio waves and transmits the device state response including the result of the life and death check to the wireless LAN controller102a, the wireless LAN controller102acan detect the failure as described above.

FIG.11illustrates a configuration example of the monitoring device104a. The monitoring device104ais added or attached to the n wireless LAN access points101amonitored and controlled by the wireless LAN controller102a. Here, e an IP address is not issued to the monitoring device104aby the DHCP server of the wireless LAN access point101a, a predetermined fixed IP address is assigned, and the monitoring device104aperforms processing for responding to the life and death check (ping) from the wireless LAN access point101a. The monitoring device104aestablishes a link with the wireless LAN access point101afor communication.

InFIG.11, the monitoring device104aadded or attached to the wireless LAN access point101aincludes a wireless communication unit301a, a signal processing unit302a, a monitoring control unit303a, and a power generation unit304a. Here, the wireless communication unit301a, the signal processing unit302a, the monitoring control unit303a, and the power generation unit304acorrespond to the wireless communication unit301, the signal processing unit302, the monitoring control unit303, and the power generation unit304inFIG.5, respectively, operates as in the monitoring device104ofFIG.5except that a wireless LAN frame is handled as a radio frame. Hereinafter, portions different fromFIG.5will be described.

The wireless communication unit301aconverts the wireless LAN frame output from the signal processing unit302ainto radio waves, transmits the radio waves to the wireless LAN access point101a, converts the radio waves received from the wireless LAN access point101ainto a wireless LAN frame, and outputs the wireless LAN frame to the signal processing unit302a. For example, the wireless communication unit301aperforms wireless communication with the added or attached wireless LAN access point101a, and returns a response to the wireless LAN access point101awhen the wireless communication unit301areceives the life and death check (ping) from the wireless LAN access point101a. When the ping is not received, no response is returned.

The signal processing unit302aconverts the transmission signal output from the monitoring control unit303ainto a wireless LAN frame, outputs the wireless LAN frame to the wireless communication unit301a, and converts the wireless LAN frame input from the wireless communication unit301ainto a reception signal. For example, the signal processing unit302areceives the wireless LAN frame in which the ping signal received from the wireless LAN access point101aby the wireless communication unit301ais stored, converts the wireless LAN frame into a ping signal, and outputs the ping signal to the monitoring control unit303a. On the other hand, the signal processing unit302aconverts the ping response signal output from the monitoring control unit303ainto a wireless LAN frame, and transmits the wireless LAN frame from the wireless communication unit301ato the wireless LAN access point101a. Further, the signal processing unit302aconverts information transmitted or received between the monitoring control unit303aand the wireless LAN access point101ainto the wireless LAN frame, and transmits the wireless LAN frame using the wireless communication unit301awhen necessary, such as when establishing a link with the wireless LAN access point101a.

The monitoring control unit303ainputs or outputs the monitoring control information to or from the wireless communication unit301aand the signal processing unit302aand manages the information, and performs communication with the added or attached monitoring control unit203aof the wireless LAN access point101a. Specifically, when a ping request is received from the wireless LAN access point101a, the monitoring control unit303aperforms processing for returning a ping response to the wireless LAN access point101aor processing such as establishment of a link with the wireless LAN access point101a. The monitoring control unit303aholds a predetermined IP address, which is used as a transmission source address of the wireless LAN frame processed by the signal processing unit302a.

Since the power generation unit304ais the same as the power generation unit304described with reference toFIG.5, repeated description will be omitted.

Thus, in the wireless LAN monitoring system100aaccording to the present embodiment, the monitoring device104ais added or attached to the wireless LAN access point101a, and performs the life and death check using ping with the wireless LAN access point101a. Since the wireless LAN access point101atransmits the device state including the result of the life and death check to the wireless LAN controller102a, the wireless LAN controller102acan detect the hardware failure of the wireless communication unit201aof the wireless LAN access point101a.

FIG.12illustrates an example of a monitoring sequence of the wireless LAN monitoring system100aaccording to the present embodiment. The sequence ofFIG.12is executed by the wireless LAN controller102a, the monitoring control unit203aof the wireless LAN access point101a, and the monitoring control unit303aof the monitoring device104a.

Here, the monitoring sequence of the wireless LAN monitoring system100aillustrated inFIG.12is basically the same as the monitoring sequence of the wireless communication monitoring system100described with reference toFIG.6. Hereinafter, portions different fromFIG.6will be described.

In step S101a, the wireless LAN controller102arequests the monitoring control unit203aof each wireless LAN access point101afor information on the device state by SNMP one by one in order to monitor the n wireless LAN access points101athat are management targets (device state request).

In step S102a, the monitoring control unit203aof each wireless LAN access point101athat has received the device state request using SNMP from the wireless LAN controller102atransmits a ping for performing a life and death check to the IP address assigned to the monitoring control unit303aof the monitoring device104ain advance. The transmitted ping passes through the wireless communication unit201afrom the main signal processing unit202aof the wireless LAN access point101a, is transmitted as the radio waves of the wireless LAN, is received by the wireless communication unit301aof the monitoring device104a, and reaches the monitoring control unit303aof the monitoring device104avia the signal processing unit302a.

In step S103a, when the monitoring control unit303aof the monitoring device104areceives the ping from the wireless LAN access point101a, the monitoring control unit303areturns a response to the ping to the wireless LAN access point101a. The ping response transmitted from the monitoring control unit303aof the monitoring device104ais converted into a wireless LAN frame by the signal processing unit302a, and transmitted as the radio waves of the wireless LAN from the wireless communication unit301ato the wireless LAN access point101a. The ping response received by the wireless communication unit201aof the wireless LAN access point101areaches the monitoring control unit203avia the main signal processing unit202a. The wireless LAN access point101athat has received the ping response recognizes that the life and death check of the monitoring device104ahas succeeded.

In step S104a, the monitoring control unit203aof the wireless LAN access point101atransmits SNMP MIB information such as held device state of the host device or alarm, including the result of ping with the monitoring device104a((presence or absence of the response or success and failure of the life and death check), to the wireless LAN controller102ain response to the device state request in step S101a(corresponding to the device state response inFIG.6). Here, the wireless LAN access point101aincludes a memory for managing the SNMP MIB information. The memory is the same as that of the wireless LAN access point701aof the comparative example to be described below.

Then, the above-described sequence is similarly executed for the n wireless LAN access points101afrom the wireless LAN access point101a(1) to the wireless LAN access point101a(n).

The wireless LAN controller102acollects device state of each wireless LAN access point101a, including the result with ping with the monitoring device104aadded or attached to each of the n wireless LAN access points101a. The wireless LAN controller102adetects a failure including the hardware failure of the wireless communication unit201aof the wireless LAN access point101a, on the basis of the device state of each wireless LAN access point101aincluding the result of ping with the monitoring device104aadded or attached to the wireless LAN access point101a. This makes it possible to detect the hardware failure of the wireless communication unit201aof the wireless LAN access point101a, which was difficult to detect only with the SNMP MIB information.

Thus, in the wireless LAN monitoring system100aaccording to the present embodiment, the wireless LAN access point101aperforms the life and death check using ping with the monitoring device104aadded or attached to the host device, and notifies the wireless LAN controller102aof the device state of the host device including the ping result. The wireless LAN controller102acan detect the failure including the hardware failure of the wireless communication unit201aof the wireless LAN access point101aon the basis of the device state including the ping result.

Here, in the description ofFIG.12, a timing of the ping performed on the monitoring control unit303aof the monitoring device104aby the monitoring control unit203aof the wireless LAN access point101ais a time when the device state request from the wireless LAN controller102ahas been received. That is, the timing when the device state request is received is a trigger for ping transmission. However, the monitoring control unit203aof the wireless LAN access point101amay regularly transmit a ping to perform the life and death check of the monitoring device104aregardless of whether or not there is a device state request from the wireless LAN controller102aas illustrated inFIG.12. In this case, the wireless LAN access point101acan appropriately notify the wireless LAN controller102aof a result of no ping response. When there is a ping response, the monitoring device104amay not transmit the result of the ping response to the wireless LAN access point101a.

FIG.13illustrates an example of a monitoring sequence of a wireless LAN monitoring system700aof a comparative example. InFIG.13, the wireless LAN controller702aexecutes the following processing for a specific wireless LAN access point701a.

The wireless LAN controller702arequests the wireless LAN access point701afor the device state using SNMP in order to ascertain the device state of the wireless LAN access point701a(S701a).

The wireless LAN access point701a, which receives the device state request using SNMP, extracts information corresponding to the requested device state from the SNMP MIB information (memory750a) managed by the wireless LAN access point701a, and returns the information to the wireless LAN controller702a(S702a). Here, the wireless LAN access point701aincludes a memory750afor managing the SNMP MIB information.

The wireless LAN access point701aregularly inputs or outputs the monitoring control information between the monitoring control unit and each block within the host device, and continuously updates the SNMP MIB information so that the information is always the latest information. Here, also in the wireless LAN access point101aaccording to the present embodiment described above, the monitoring control unit203regularly inputs or outputs the monitoring control information between the wireless communication unit201and the main signal processing unit202, and continues to update the SNMP MIB information so that the information is always the latest information.

The wireless LAN controller702amonitors all the wireless LAN access points701aby executing the above processing for all the wireless LAN access points701a.

In the related art, monitoring using SNMP capable of acquiring further detailed device status is used together in order to detect an abnormality of the wireless LAN access point701atogether with the life and death check (ping) to the wireless LAN access point701a.

Since the hardware failure or traffic flow information can be monitored by acquiring the MIB for checking various types of status information defined in the device using SNMP, it is possible to remotely detect the hardware failure reflected in the MIB.

However, it is difficult to detect hardware failure that is not reflected in the MIB. For example, when no main signal traffic flows through the wireless LAN access point101a, it is impossible to distinguish between whether the radio waves of the wireless LAN are not transmitted due to the hardware failure and whether the hardware is normal but there are simply no users.

Thus, the wireless LAN monitoring system700aof the comparative example cannot detect the hardware failure in some cases.

On the other hand, in the wireless LAN monitoring system100aaccording to the present embodiment described with reference toFIG.12, since the monitoring device104ais added or attached to the wireless LAN access point101aand the life and death check using ping is performed between the wireless LAN access point101aand the monitoring device104a, it is possible to also detect the failure as described above on the basis of the device state response including the result of the ping response. For example, when the radio waves of the wireless LAN are not transmitted due to the hardware failure of the wireless communication unit201aof the wireless LAN access point101a, there is no ping response from the monitoring device104a, and thus, a determination can be made that the hardware failure is likely to occur. When the hardware is normal and there are simply no users, there is the life and death check response, and thus, a determination can be made that the wireless communication unit201aof the wireless LAN access point101ais normal.

Thus, the wireless LAN monitoring system700aof the comparative example differs from the wireless LAN monitoring system700ain that the device state including the result of the life and death check using ping is transmitted to the wireless LAN controller102a. In the wireless LAN monitoring system100aaccording to the present embodiment described with reference toFIG.12, processing of transmitting the device state request using SNMP or MIB information stored in a memory of the wireless LAN access point101ato the wireless LAN access point101ais performed, similar to the comparative example inFIG.13.

FIG.14illustrates an example of failure isolation processing in the wireless LAN monitoring system100a. This isolation processing is executed by the wireless LAN controller102a. The wireless LAN controller102aaccording to the present embodiment can also be realized by a computer and a program, and the program can be recorded on a recording medium or can be provided through a network. The same applies to the remote monitoring control device102described inFIG.1.

FIG.14illustrates processing when the wireless LAN access point101afails to perform the ping life and death check on the monitoring device104a, that is, when there is no ping response from the monitoring device104a. The failure of the monitoring device104ais also assumed here. Further, it is assumed that the IP address of the monitoring device104ais fixed and does not fall within an IP address range issued by the DHCP server of the wireless LAN access point101a. Here, inFIG.14, the wireless LAN access point101ais abbreviated as AP, and the monitoring device104ais abbreviated as MD.

In step S201, when there is no response to the ping to the monitoring device104aadded or attached to the wireless LAN access point101a, the wireless LAN controller102aexecutes the processing from step S202and subsequent steps to perform a failure determination.

In step S202, the wireless LAN controller102achecks the number of IP addresses issued by the DHCP server with respect to terminals (wireless terminals such as smartphones) under the control of the wireless LAN access point101athat did not receive a ping response. When the number of IP addresses issued by the DHCP server is 0, processing of step S204is executed, and when the number is 1 or more, processing of step S203is executed. When the number of IP addresses issued by the DHCP server is 0, some failure occurs in the wireless LAN access point101aor a failure (a fault or the like) in the monitoring device104ais suspected.

In step S203, since the number of issued IP addresses is 1 or more, the wireless LAN controller102acan know that a terminal other than the monitoring device104ahas normally received the IP address issued from the wireless LAN access point101a, and determine that the wireless LAN access point101ais operating normally. However, since there is no ping response from the monitoring device104a, the wireless LAN controller102adetermines that some failure including a fault of the monitoring device104ais likely to occur.

In step S204, the wireless LAN controller102achecks the association (link establishment information) of the wireless LAN access point101athat did not respond to the ping, and checks the number of successful associations (link has been established). Here, the wireless LAN access point101amanages MAC addresses of the associated wireless LAN terminals. When the number of associated MAC addresses is 0, processing of step S205is executed, and when the number is 1 or more, processing of step S206is executed.

In step S205, the wireless LAN controller102adetermines that a failure is likely to occur in the wireless communication unit201aof the wireless LAN access point101a. Specifically, the wireless LAN controller102adetermines that the wireless communication unit201aof the wireless LAN access point101ais likely to be unable to transmit or receive the radio waves of the wireless LAN and that the hardware failure of the wireless communication unit201ais suspected.

In step S206, the wireless LAN controller102achecks whether or not the MAC address of the monitoring device104ais included in the associated MAC address. When the MAC address of the monitoring device104ais included in the associated MAC address, the processing of step S207is executed, and when the MAC address is not included, the processing of step S208is executed.

In step S207, the wireless LAN controller102adetermines one of the following.Failure of the monitoring device104aFailure in the DHCP server function of the wireless LAN access point101a

That is, the wireless LAN access point101adetermines a failure of the monitoring device104aor a failure of the DHCP server function when an IP address is not issued despite association completion, there are one or more associated MAC addresses, and the MAC address of the monitoring device104ais included in the MAC addresses.

In step S208, the wireless LAN controller102adetermines that there is one of the following.Failure of the monitoring device104aFailure in the DHCP server function of the wireless LAN access point101aThe wireless LAN access point101ais normal, but an encryption setting of the terminal is likely to be erroneous (that is, a likelihood of a setting error or a data error due to noise, or the like, which is not a hardware failure)

Thus, in the present embodiment, the wireless LAN access point101ahas a function of the DHCP server, and notifies the wireless LAN controller102aof the result (presence or absence of the response) of the life and death check using ping to the monitoring device104aadded or attached to the wireless LAN access point101a, wireless LAN link establishment history information (the number of associations) between the host device and monitoring device104a, and IP address issuing history information (number of IP addresses) of the DHCP server.

The wireless LAN controller102acan combine the result of the life and death check notified from the wireless LAN access point101a, the link establishment history information, and the IP address issuing history information to isolate a failure location including the hardware failure of the wireless communication unit201aof the wireless LAN access point101a. Accordingly, the wireless LAN monitoring system100aaccording to the present embodiment can detect the failure including hardware failure of the wireless communication unit301aof the wireless LAN access point101a, which are difficult to detect with related art.

Other Application Examples

The wireless communication monitoring system100according to the present embodiment can be applied to a mobile phone base station device in which the number of terminals fluctuates, or can be applied to a base station device in satellite communication, as application examples other than the wireless LAN system described with reference toFIGS.11to14.

As described above in the embodiment, in the wireless communication monitoring system100according to the present embodiment, the monitoring device104is added or attached to the wireless communication device101, and the result of the life and death check to the monitoring device104from the wireless communication device101is included in the device state response of the related art, in addition to a monitoring method for the wireless communication device701of the related art in which a remote monitoring control device702of the related art issues a device state request to the wireless communication device701. This makes it possible for the remote monitoring control device102to detect a failure that does not appear in information obtained from the device state request and to detect a failure that is difficult to detect in the related art.

In particular, when the wireless communication monitoring system100according to the present embodiment is applied to a wireless LAN system, not only acquisition of the device state of the wireless LAN access point101ausing SNMP, but also the life and death check (ping) between the wireless LAN access point101aand the monitoring device104ais performed by using the radio waves of the wireless LAN. Accordingly, when the ping fails even though the wireless LAN access point appears to be operating normally in the SNMP MIB, the wireless LAN controller102acan determine that the failure including the hardware failure of the wireless communication unit201aof the wireless LAN access point101ais likely to occur.

As described above in each embodiment, with the wireless communication monitoring system, the wireless communication monitoring method, and the monitoring device according to the present invention, it is possible to detect a failure that cannot be detected from information obtained from a device state request to a wireless communication device of the related art, by adding or attaching the monitoring device to the wireless communication device, and performing the life and death check between the wireless communication device and the monitoring device.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST