Patent Publication Number: US-2020304653-A1

Title: Data collection system and data collection method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-051381 filed Mar. 19, 2019. 
     BACKGROUND 
     (i) Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a data collection system and a data collection method. 
     (ii) Related Art 
     Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (Translation of PCT Application) No. 2018-507451 discloses an Internet of things (IoT) system including an IoT hub. Using the IoT system, a user may produce a library program code with a software development kit (SDK) provided and implements the code on the IoT hub. The user may thus provide systems supporting a variety of IoT devices. 
     An image forming apparatus forming an image may be used as an edge server in a system. On each of network-unconnected devices deployed around the image forming apparatus, a manufacturer of the device may develop data collection hardware or software on a per device basis in the system. Since the configuration of the image forming apparatus having a variety of functions is complex, the development involves deep knowledge of implementing the system. A larger amount of man-hour is used in development when the image processing apparatus is used as an edge server than when an edge server having another apparatus is used. 
     SUMMARY 
     Aspects of non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure relate to reducing development man-hour more when an image forming apparatus having an image forming unit is used as an edge server than when data collection hardware and software are developed on a per device basis. 
     Aspects of certain non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure overcome the above disadvantages and/or other disadvantages not described above. However, aspects of the non-limiting embodiments are not required to overcome the disadvantages described above, and aspects of the non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure may not overcome any of the disadvantages described above. 
     According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a data collection system. The data collection system includes one or more radio modules that are respectively detachably mounted on devices unconnected to a network and are enabled to transmit, via radio communication, raw data that is obtained by reading a signal from an input and output port of each of the devices, an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image, a hub unit that collects the raw data from the one or more radio modules, and a transmitting unit that transmits the collected raw data, and a central server that collects information generated by the devices by performing a pre-process responsive to each of the devices on the raw data transmitted from the image processing apparatus. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates the entire configuration of a data collection system of an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is an electrical block diagram of an unconnected device and a radio module illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an electrical block diagram of an image forming apparatus in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an electrical block diagram of a central server in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an example of a data structure of module management information in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  diagrammatically illustrates a data flow when the radio module is installed; 
         FIG. 7  diagrammatically illustrates a data flow when raw data is read; and 
         FIG. 8  diagrammatically illustrates a data flow when the raw data is simultaneously transmitted. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A data collection system  10  of an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure performing a data collection method is described with reference to the drawings. The disclosure is not limited to the exemplary embodiment and may be modified within the range without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Elements of the data collection system may be flexibly combined in a technically consistent fashion. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates the entire configuration of the data collection system  10  of an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. The data collection system  10  provides an image forming service to provide an image bearing object to a user within an installation area Ar and a data collection service to collect and analyze data successively generated within the installation area Ar. 
     The data collection system  10  includes a central server  12 , image forming apparatus  14  serving as an edge server, device group  16  including multiple Internet of things (IoT) devices  18 , and trusting server  20 . The image forming apparatus  14  and the device group  16  are installed in the installation area Ar, such as in an office. The image forming apparatus  14  bilaterally communicates with the central server  12  via a network  22 . Although  FIG. 1  illustrates the single image forming apparatus  14 , multiple image forming apparatuses  14  may be installed in the single installation area Ar. Although  FIG. 1  illustrates the single installation area Ar, another installation area different from the installation area Ar may also be set up. 
     The central server  12  includes one or more server computers over a cloud  24 . The central server  12  collects data from the image forming apparatus  14  serving as an edge server and performs a variety of process to use the data. The central server  12  may be a cloud server or a on-premise server. 
     The image forming apparatus  14  may be a multi-function printer (MFP) that performs at least one of a print function, copy function, scan function, fax function, and data transmission function. The image forming apparatus  14  includes a body function unit  26  that performs functions for the image forming service and an edge server function unit  28  for the data collection service. 
     The IoT device  18  supports a function of generating data when a variety of functions implemented on the image forming apparatus  14  are performed and supports a communication function to wiredly or wirelessly transmit generated data. The IoT device  18  may be a stationary device installed in the installation area Ar (such as a computer, a communication device, office apparatus, lighting device, air-conditioning device, or measuring device) or a portable device carried into the installation area Ar (such as a laptop, tablet, smart phone, or wearable device). The image forming apparatus  14  including the body function unit  26  may be considered to be the IoT device  18 . 
     The IoT device  18  may be one or more standalone devices (hereinafter referred to as unconnected devices  30 ) that are unconnected to any network and operates standalone. The unconnected device  30  has a radio module  40  that wirelessly communicates with the image forming apparatus  14  and thus operates as the IoT device  18 . A data collection service provider may lend the radio module  40  to an manufacturer or distributor of the IoT device  18  and thus provides a “collection agency service” to collect data by using the data collection system  10 . 
     The trusting server  20  is owned by a truster of the collection agency service (for example, the manufacturer or distributor of the unconnected device  30 ) and is enabled to acquire data from the central server  12  via the network  22 . The trusting server  20  thus acquires information (device generation information  112  described below with reference to  FIG. 4 ) generated by the unconnected device  30 . 
       FIG. 2  is an electrical block diagram of the unconnected device  30  and the radio module  40  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The unconnected device  30  may include a variety of devices installed around the image forming apparatus  14  and may include a shredder, air-conditioning device, and/or illumination device. The radio module  40  is a versatile module and may be mounted on a variety of devices different in terms of function and application. 
     The unconnected device  30  includes a central processing unit (CPU)  31 , memory  32 , drive unit  33 , moving unit  34 , and sensor  35 . The elements in the unconnected device  30  are electrically connected to each other via an input and output port  36 . If the unconnected device  30  is a shredder, the drive unit  33  is an electric motor that rotates in response to a control signal from the CPU  31 , the moving unit  34  is a rotary cutter, and the sensor  35  is a revolution sensor that measures a rotational speed of the rotary cutter. 
     The radio module  40  includes a general-purpose input and output (GPIO) terminal  41 , radio controller  42 , antenna  43 , and non-volatile memory  44 . The GPIO terminal  41  is connectable with the input and output port  36  of the unconnected device  30 . The radio controller  42  performs a variety of control operations to perform radio communications by using the antenna  43 . The non-volatile memory  44  stores multiple pieces of identification (ID) information used to provide the collection agency service. The radio modules  40  are respectively detachably attached to the unconnected devices  30  and are enabled to transmit, via radio communication, raw data obtained by reading a signal from the input and output port  36  of the unconnected device  30 . 
     The radio module  40  mounted on the unconnected device  30  performs generic attribute (GATT) profile communication with the image forming apparatus  14 . The GATT profile communication is performed by using a profile that is defined by a GATT profile or GATT. 
     The GATT profile includes one or more services (hereinafter referred to as GATT service) and characteristic associated with each GATT service (hereinafter referred to as GATT characteristic). The GATT service and the GATT characteristic are respectively tagged with universally unique identifiers (UUIDs). The UUIDs of the GATT service and GATT characteristic are unique values stored on the memory  44 . 
     The identification information of the radio module  40  (hereinafter referred to as a “module ID”) is stored in a data region of a first GATT characteristic. The module ID is ID information that is produced by successively linking the identification information of a pre-process (process ID) and a sub ID whose addition is optional. The process ID may be a value stored on the memory  44 . The sub ID may be set by setting a jumper pin on the GPIO terminal  41 . 
     Raw data read from the unconnected device  30  via the input and output port  36  and the GPIO terminal  41  (for example, a control signal from the CPU  31  or a measurement signal from the sensor  35 ) is stored in a data region of a second GATT characteristic. One or more UUIDs may be assigned to the second GATT characteristic. An amount data transmittable via one session of communication is increased by increasing the number of UUIDs. 
       FIG. 3  is an electrical block diagram of the image forming apparatus  14  in  FIG. 1 . The image forming apparatus  14  includes a controller  50 , storage device  52 , image forming device  54 , and user interface (UI)  56 , network communication unit  58 , and radio communication unit  60 . 
     The image forming device  54  includes a reading unit  62 , print unit  63 , and fax unit  64 . The reading unit  62  generates image data by reading a paper sheet. The print unit  63  outputs a printed material in accordance with the image data. The fax unit  64  transmits or receives fax. For example, the UI unit  56  includes a touch panel and hardware buttons and receives an input operation performed by a user. 
     The network communication unit  58  performs network communication with external devices including the central server  12 . The radio communication unit  60  performs radio communication with external devices including the IoT device  18 . The “radio communication” include not only radio communication performed using a radio wave but also spatial optical communication using free-space optics (specifically including infrared communication and visible light communication). For example, standards with which the radio communication complies may be Bluetooth low energy (BLE). 
     The controller  50  includes a processor  50   p  and memory  50   m  and controls the elements of the image forming apparatus  14  in coordination. The processor  50   p  is an arithmetic device including a CPU or a micro-processing unit (MPU). The memory  50   m  is a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium. 
     The storage device  52  includes a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid-state drive (SSD) and stores a variety of data handled by the image forming apparatus  14 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , a data group  66  that is a mass of data collected from the device group  16  is stored on the storage device  52 . 
       FIG. 4  is an electrical block diagram of the central server  12  in  FIG. 1 . The central server  12  includes a server communication unit  100 , server controller  102 , and server memory  104 . 
     The server communication unit  100  is a communication interface that transmits or receives an electrical signal to or from an external device. The central server  12  may thus exchange a variety of data with the image forming apparatus  14  or the trusting server  20  via the network  22  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     The server controller  102  includes an arithmetic device including a CPU or MPU. By reading and executing a program stored on the server memory  104 , the server controller  102  functions as a collection management unit  106  and a data processor  108 . The collection management unit  106  manages the radio module  40  that transmits raw data. The data processor  108  performs a variety of pre-processes on the raw data of the unconnected device  30 . 
     The server memory  104  is a non-transitory computer readable recording medium. Referring to  FIG. 4 , the server memory  104  stores module management information  110  used to manage the radio module  40  and device generation information  112  indicating the raw data that has undergone a desired pre-process. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an example of the data structure of the module management information  110  in  FIG. 4 . The module management information  110  is data in a table format that indicates correspondence relationship of a module ID, date of registration, collection plan, and multi-function apparatus ID. The module ID is identification information including the process ID and sub ID as previously described with reference to  FIG. 2 . The date of registration indicates date and time on which a registration process of the radio module  40  that is newly installed has been completed. The collection plan indicates scheduling for a “read” request and a “send” request. The multi-function apparatus ID indicating the identification information of the image forming apparatus  14  may be a serial number or a management number that is separately assigned thereto. 
     The configuration of the data collection system  10  of the exemplary embodiment has been described above. The process performed by the data collection system  10  is described with reference to BLE communication. The process is divided into three phases, namely, phase  1  performed when the radio module  40  is installed, phase  2  performed when the raw data is read, and phase  3  performed when the raw data is simultaneously transmitted. 
       FIG. 6  diagrammatically illustrates a data flow when the radio module  40  is installed. The processor  50   p  in the image forming apparatus  14  reads a program for a data collection service from the memory  50   m  and executes the program, thereby functioning as a first processor  70  and a second processor  72 . Each of the first processor  70  and second processor  72  may be a software product (such as plugin) commonly used by multiple radio modules  40 . As described later, the radio communication unit  60  and the first processor  70  function as a hub unit  74  that collects data from one or more radio modules  40 . The network communication unit  58  and second processor  72  function as a transmitting unit  76  that transmits the collected raw data to outside. 
     Step S 01 : Prior to the installation, the process ID corresponding to the unconnected device  30  is written and thus stored on the memory  44  in the radio module  40 . The user installs the radio module  40  on the input and output port  36  (see  FIG. 2 ) in the unconnected device  30 . The radio module  40  then starts simultaneously transmitting advertisement packets including UUID indicating the collection agency service (This operation corresponds to an “advertise mode”). 
     Step S 02 : The first processor  70  in the image forming apparatus  14  reads a service UUID included in the advertisement packet received from the radio module  40  and detects the presence of the radio module  40  that is able to provide the collection agency service (This operation corresponds to a “scan” mode). The first processor  70  then requests the radio module  40  enabled to provide the collection agency service to connect to the image forming apparatus  14  and starts the GATT communication with the image forming apparatus  14 . 
     Step S 03 : In response to a command from the first processor  70  (specifically, a read command for UUID of the first GATT characteristic), the radio module  40  transmits to the image forming apparatus  14  a value responsive to the first GATT characteristic (namely, the module ID). 
     Step S 04 : The first processor  70  reads the module ID from the data from the radio module  40  and notifies the second processor  72  of the newly acquired module ID. 
     Step S 05 : The second processor  72  in the image forming apparatus  14  performs control to generate a notification message including the module ID notified by the first processor  70  and the multi-function apparatus ID of the image forming apparatus  14  and to transmit the notification message to the central server  12 . 
     Step S 06 : The server controller  102  in the central server  12  receives the notification message from the image forming apparatus  14  and adds the ID information to the module management information  110 . In this way, the newly installed radio module  40  is registered as a module enabled to collect the raw data. In this way, the installation of the radio module  40  is complete. 
       FIG. 7  diagrammatically illustrates the data flow when the raw data is read. 
     Step S 11 : The second processor  72  in the image forming apparatus  14  performs control to periodically or non-periodically generate an enquiry message including the multi-function apparatus ID and transmit the enquiry message to the central server  12 . 
     Step S 12 : The server controller  102  in the central server  12  identifies a module ID associated with the multi-function apparatus ID and serving as a read target by referencing a collection plan of the module management information  110 . The server controller  102  performs control to generate a read request message including the module ID and the multi-function apparatus ID and to transmit the request message to the image forming apparatus  14  having the multi-function apparatus ID. 
     Step S 13 : After receiving the read request message from the central server  12 , the second processor  72  in the image forming apparatus  14  makes the read request to the first processor  70  and notifies the first processor  70  of the module ID included in the request message. 
     Step S 14 : The first processor  70  in the image forming apparatus  14  connects to the radio module  40  having the module ID in accordance with operations similar to steps S 01  and S 02  in  FIG. 6 . 
     Step S 15 : The first processor  70  issues a read command for UUID of the second GATT characteristic to the radio module  40  having connection established. 
     Step S 16 : In response to a command from the first processor  70 , the radio module  40  transmits to the image forming apparatus  14  the value responsive to the second GATT characteristic (namely, the raw data indicated by a signal from the unconnected device  30 ). 
     Step S 17 : The first processor  70  acquires the raw data indicated by a data string of the second GATT characteristic by issuing the read command with the UUID of the second GATT characteristic specified. The first processor  70  transfers to the second processor  72  the acquired raw data with the module ID associated therewith. 
     Step S 18 : The second processor  72  accumulates as the data group  66  the raw data transferred from the first processor  70 . The reading of the raw data is thus successively performed. 
     In response to the request from the central server  12 , the image forming apparatus  14  collects the raw data from the radio module  40 . The collection method of the raw data is not limited to this method. For example, the first processor  70  in the image forming apparatus  14  may issue to the radio module  40  a “notify” command for the UUID of the second GATT characteristic. The first processor  70  thus reads the raw data in response to a notification from the radio module  40  when the raw data is modified and the first processor  70  thus collects the raw data. 
       FIG. 8  diagrammatically illustrates a data flow when the raw data is simultaneously transmitted. 
     Step S 21 : The second processor  72  in the image forming apparatus  14  performs control to periodically or non-periodically generate an enquiry message including the multi-function apparatus ID and transmit the enquiry message to the central server  12 . 
     Step S 22 : The server controller  102  in the central server  12  identifies a module ID associated with the multi-function apparatus ID and serving as a send target by referencing the collection plan of the module management information  110 . The server controller  102  performs control to generate a send request message including the module ID and the multi-function apparatus ID and transmit the request message to the image forming apparatus  14  having the multi-function apparatus ID. 
     Step S 23 : After receiving the send request from the central server  12 , the second processor  72  in the image forming apparatus  14  extracts the raw data associated with the module ID from the data group  66 . The second processor  72  performs control to simultaneously transmit a collection of the raw data extracted in the module ID and the multi-function apparatus ID associated therewith. 
     Step S 24 : The server controller  102  in the central server  12  receives data from the image forming apparatus  14  and acquires the process ID associated with the data. By performing the pre-process corresponding to the process ID on the raw data, the server controller  102  converts the raw data into the device generation information  112  generated by the unconnected device  30  (for example, in a state controlled by the drive unit  33  or to a measurement value of the sensor  35 ). The transmission and pre-process of the raw data are thus performed. 
     The data collection system  10  thus includes the radio module  40 , image forming device  54 , hub unit  74 , image forming apparatus  14 , and central server  12 . The radio module  40  is detachably mounted on each of the unconnected device  30  not connected to any network and is enabled to transmit via radio communication the raw data that is obtained by reading the signal from the input and output port  36  of the unconnected device  30 . The image forming device  54  forms an image. The hub unit  74  collects the raw data from one or more radio modules  40 . The image forming apparatus  14  includes the transmitting unit  76  that transmits the collected raw data to outside. The central server  12  acquires the device generation information  112  generated by the unconnected device  30  by performing the pre-process responsive to the unconnected device  30  on the raw data transmitted from the image forming apparatus  14 . 
     The data collection method includes mounting the radio module  40  to the input and output port  36  of the unconnected device  30  (step S 01  in  FIG. 6 ), transmitting via radio communication from the radio module  40  the raw data obtained by reading the signal from the input and output port  36  (step S 16  in  FIG. 7 ), collecting with the image forming apparatus  14  the raw data from the one or more radio modules  40  (step S 18 ), transmitting the obtained raw data to the central server  12  (step S 23  in  FIG. 8 ), and acquiring, with the central server  12 , the device generation information  112  by performing the pre-process responsive to the unconnected device  30  on the raw data transmitted from the image forming apparatus  14  (step S 24 ). 
     The hub unit  74  is arranged to collect the raw data from the radio module  40  that is mounted on each of the unconnected devices  30  that are not connected to any network. The data collection software (the first processor  70 ) installed on the image forming apparatus  14  and the radio module  40  implemented on each the unconnected device  30  are made on a common design basis. Since the central server  12  performs the pre-process responsive to the unconnected device  30  on the raw data transmitted from the image forming apparatus  14 , this configuration is free from development of pre-process software (namely, device driver) for the image forming apparatus  14 . Such development typically involves deep knowledge of implementing a device configuration. Man-hour for system development is reduced When the image forming apparatus  14  having the image forming device  54  is used as an edge server than when hardware and software for the data collection are developed for each unconnected device  30 . 
     Each of the radio modules  40  is enabled to store the process ID indicating the identification information of the pre-process and transmits the raw data of the unconnected device  30  with the process ID associated therewith to the image forming apparatus  14 . The image forming apparatus  14  is enabled to store a device ID indicating the identification information of the image forming apparatus  14 . The image forming apparatus  14  transmits to the central server  12  the raw data of the unconnected device  30  with the device ID and the process ID associated therewith. The central server  12  performs the pre-process responsive to the process ID to the raw data transmitted from the image forming apparatus  14 . By storing the process ID appropriate for each of the unconnected devices  30  on the radio module  40  in advance, the process method of the raw data may be shared by the central server  12  and the radio module  40  through checking the process ID. In this way, the processing load on the central server  12  is thus reduced more than when the central server  12  determines a process method by analyzing the raw data. 
     In response to a request from the central server  12 , the image forming apparatus  14  may collect the raw data through the radio communication with the radio module  40 . By causing the central server  12  to be involved in the collection of the raw data, the processing load on the image forming apparatus  14  is reduced more when the image forming apparatus  14  manages the collection plane of the raw data. 
     The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the disclosure for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the disclosure be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.