Patent Publication Number: US-2021174667-A1

Title: Sensing device, device management apparatus for sensing device, device selecting method, and device managing method

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present technology relates to a sensing device. Specifically, the present technology relates to a sensing device including a sensor, a device management apparatus for the sensing device, and a processing method performed by the sensing device and the device management apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     With the advent of the Internet of Things (IoT) era, IoT devices each equipped with a wireless communication function are rapidly becoming widespread. As an applied example of such IoT devices, there has been proposed, for example, a disaster prevention system including a plurality of terminals each of which observes with a sensor and transmits sensor information related to the observation by wireless communication and a control apparatus that predicts a disaster on the basis of the sensor information (refer to, for example, Patent Document 1). 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Document 
     
         
         Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-091440 
       
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Problems to be Solved by the Invention 
     In the above conventional technology, the plurality of terminals (IoT devices) each having a sensor function is installed and collects sensor information. An increase in such IoT devices in the future results in complicated management for the individual IoT devices. For example, flexible management is required in movement after installation of the IoT devices. 
     The present technology is created in view of such a situation, and an object of the present technology is to flexibly manage devices in an installation state and control the devices appropriately. 
     Solutions to Problems 
     The present technology has been made in order to solve the above issues. According to a first aspect of the present technology, provided are a sensing device and a method of selecting the sensing device, the sensing device including: a sensor configured to measure an ambient environment to generate a measurement signal; a selection control unit configured to control a selection state of the sensing device in response to the measurement signal; and a notification unit configured to issue a notification that the sensing device has been selected in a case where the selection state indicates that the sensing device has been selected. Therefore, provided is the effect of selecting the sensing device in response to the measurement signal from the sensor and issuing the notification that the sensing device has been selected. 
     Furthermore, in this first aspect, along with the notification, the notification unit may further issue a notification of identification information for identifying the sensing device. Therefore, provided is the effect of identifying the selected sensing device by an apparatus that has received the notification. 
     Furthermore, in this first aspect, the identification information may include a device type of the sensing device. Therefore, provided is the effect of identifying the device type of the selected sensing device by the apparatus that has received the notification. 
     Furthermore, in this first aspect, the identification information may include a group to which the sensing device belongs. Therefore, provided is the effect of identifying the group to which the selected sensing device belongs by the apparatus that has received the notification. 
     Furthermore, in this first aspect, the selection control unit may cause, in a case where the measurement signal gives an instruction for selection of the sensing device, the selection state to transition such that the selection state indicates that the sensing device has been selected; and may cause, in a case where the measurement signal gives an instruction for deselection of the sensing device, the selection state to transition such that the selection state indicates that the sensing device has not been selected. Therefore, provided is the effect of selecting or deselecting the sensing device in response to the measurement signal from the sensor. 
     Furthermore, in this first aspect, further included may be a selection-state-information holding unit configured to hold the selection state. Therefore, provided is the effect of holding the selection state by the sensing device. 
     Furthermore, in this first aspect, further included may be a selection-acceptance-state holding unit configured to hold a selection-acceptance state indicating whether or not an instruction for changing the selection state of the sensing device is acceptable, in which the selection control unit may change the selection state only in a case where the selection-acceptance state indicates that the instruction for the changing is acceptable. Therefore, provided is the effect of improving the security in selection. 
     Furthermore, in this first aspect, further included may be a selection-acceptance-state changing unit configured to change the selection-acceptance state in accordance with an external instruction. Therefore, provided is the effect of externally controlling whether or not the selection is acceptable. 
     Furthermore, in this first aspect, the sensor may serve as an optical sensor, and may generate the measurement signal indicating that an instruction for selection of the sensing device has been given, in response to reception of light having a predetermined wavelength. Therefore, provided is the effect of selecting the sensing device with the light. 
     Furthermore, in this first aspect, the sensor may serve as a vibration sensor, and may generate the measurement signal indicating that an instruction for selection of the sensing device has been given, in response to reception of vibration having a predetermined frequency. Therefore, provided is the effect of selecting the sensing device with the vibration. 
     Furthermore, according to a second aspect of the present technology, provided are a device management apparatus and a device managing method for the device management apparatus, the device management apparatus including: a device-selection instruction unit configured to instruct at least part of a plurality of sensing devices each having a sensor to select the corresponding sensing device, with a signal measurable by the sensor; a device-selection-notification receiving unit configured to receive a notification from the selected sensing device among the plurality of sensing devices; and a management control unit configured to manage information regarding the selected sensing device, on the basis of the notification. Therefore, provided is the effect that the sensor of the sensing device selects the sensing device with the measurable signal and receives the notification from the sensing device. 
     Furthermore, in this second aspect, the notification may include identification information for the selected sensing device, and the management control unit may manage the identification information for the selected sensing device. Therefore, provided is the effect of identifying the selected sensing device. 
     Furthermore, in this second aspect, further included may be a device-list holding unit configured to hold information regarding the selected sensing device. Therefore, provided is the effect of flexibly managing the selected sensing device. 
     Effects of the Invention 
     According to the present technology, it will exhibit excellent effects that devices in an installation state can be flexibly managed and controlled appropriately. Note that the effects described herein are not necessarily limited, and thus any of the effects described in the present disclosure may be applicable. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary overall configuration of a sensing system in an embodiment of the present technology. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of an IoT device  100  in the embodiment of the present technology. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of a device management apparatus  200  in the embodiment of the present technology. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary field configuration of a device list held in a device-list holding unit  240  in the embodiment of the present technology. 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary processing procedure of the IoT device  100  in the embodiment of the present technology. 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary processing procedure of the device management apparatus  200  in the embodiment of the present technology. 
         FIG. 7  is a sequence diagram illustrating exemplary overall processing of the sensing system in the embodiment of the present technology. 
         FIG. 8  is a sequence diagram illustrating a modification of the overall processing of the sensing system in the embodiment of the present technology. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a specific example of a plurality of IoT devices  100  and the device management apparatus  200  in the embodiment of the present technology. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates an exemplary selection instruction with a lighting as a device-selection instruction unit  220  in the embodiment of the present technology. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates an exemplary deselection instruction with the lighting as the device-selection instruction unit  220  in the embodiment of the present technology. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates an exemplary selection instruction for a group A with the lighting as the device-selection instruction unit  220  in the embodiment of the present technology. 
         FIG. 13  illustrates an exemplary selection instruction for a group B with the lighting as the device-selection instruction unit  220  in the embodiment of the present technology. 
         FIG. 14  illustrates an exemplary mixed disposition of IoT devices different in types in the embodiment of the present technology. 
         FIG. 15  illustrates an exemplary selection instruction by irradiation with red light from the device-selection instruction unit  220  in the embodiment of the present technology. 
         FIG. 16  illustrates an exemplary selection instruction by irradiation with blue light from the device-selection instruction unit  220  in the embodiment of the present technology. 
     
    
    
     MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, a mode for carrying out the present technology (hereinafter, referred to as embodiment) will be described. The description will be given in the following order. 
     1. System Configuration 
     2. Operation 
     3. Selection Mode 
     &lt;1. System Configuration&gt; 
     [Overall Configuration] 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary overall configuration of a sensing system in the embodiment of the present technology. 
     This sensing system includes a plurality of IoT devices  100 , a device management apparatus  200 , a base station  300 , and a server  500 . The IoT devices  100  and the base station  300  are connected by wireless communication. The base station  300  and the server  500  are connected via a network  400 . 
     Each of the IoT devices  100  is a sensing device having a wireless communication function and a sensor function. This IoT device  100  transmits a measurement result obtained by a sensor by wireless communication. Note that the IoT device  100  is an exemplary sensing device described in the claims. 
     The base station  300  is a base station that performs wireless communication with the IoT device  100 . This base station  300  performs wireless communication with the IoT device  100  installed within a communication range  301 . This base station  300  connects to the server  500  via the network  400 , and transmits the measurement result from the IoT device  100  to the server  500 . 
     The server  500  is a server that holds the measurement result from the IoT device  100 . This server  500  connects the IoT device  100  via the network  400 , and receives and holds the measurement result from the IoT device  100 . 
     The device management apparatus  200  is a device that manages the IoT device  100 . As will be described later, the device management apparatus  200  gives an instruction for selection or deselection of the IoT device  100 , receives a notification from the IoT device  100 , and creates a device list for managing the IoT device  100  on the basis of the notification. 
     [IoT Device] 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of the IoT device  100  in the embodiment of the present technology. 
     This IoT device  100  includes a selection-acceptance-state changing unit  110 , a selection-acceptance-state holding unit  120 , a selection-state-information holding unit  130 , a sensor  140 , a selection control unit  150 , an identification-information holding unit  160 , and a notification unit  170 . 
     The selection-acceptance-state holding unit  120  holds a selection-acceptance state indicating whether or not the IoT device  100  is in a state of accepting a change of the selection state. This selection-acceptance-state holding unit  120  holds a “selectable state” if the IoT device  100  is in the state of accepting a change of the selection state, or holds a “non-selectable state” if the IoT device  100  is in a state of not accepting a change of the selection state. 
     The selection-acceptance-state changing unit  110  changes the selection-acceptance state held in the selection-acceptance-state holding unit  120 . The selection-acceptance state is a concept provided in terms of security, and in the case of changing the selection state, it is assumed that an authorized person sets in advance the selection-acceptance state to the “selectable state”. This setting can prevent a selection of the IoT device  100  against the intention of the authorized person. Therefore, under an environment where security is guaranteed by another approach, a secure mechanism by the selection-acceptance-state holding unit  120  and the selection-acceptance-state changing unit  110  may not be provided. Note that the function of this selection-acceptance-state changing unit  110  may be achieved with the sensor  140  and the selection control unit  150  as described later. 
     The selection-state-information holding unit  130  holds selection-state information indicating whether or not this IoT device  100  is in the selected state. The selection-state-information holding unit  130  holds the “selected state” if the IoT device  100  is in the selected state, or holds the “non-selected state” if not selected. 
     The sensor  140  measures the ambient environment by sensing operation to generate a measurement signal. This sensor  140  has a sensing function for measuring, for example, radio waves including visible light, infrared rays, and the like; sound waves; vibrations; and the like, and more specifically, an optical sensor, a vibration sensor, or the like is assumed. 
     In the present embodiment, the sensor  140  has a function as a selection accepting unit. That is, the selection of the IoT device  100  is accepted with the sensor  140  having a normal sensing function without separately providing a special mechanism for accepting the selection of the IoT device  100 . This arrangement simplifies the configuration of the IoT device  100  and contributes to saving for power consumption. Note that this sensor  140  may accept not only an instruction for selection but also an instruction for deselection. 
     The selection control unit  150  controls the selection state of the IoT device  100 . In a case where the measurement signal from the sensor  140  gives an instruction for selection of the IoT device  100 , the selection control unit  150  causes the selection-state information held in the selection-state-information holding unit  130  to transition to the “selected state”. On the other hand, in a case where the measurement signal from the sensor  140  gives an instruction for deselection of the IoT device  100 , the selection control unit  150  causes the selection-state information held in the selection-state-information holding unit  130  to transition to the “non-selected state”. However, in a case where the selection-acceptance state held in the selection-acceptance-state holding unit  120  indicates the “non-selectable state”, these pieces of selection-state information cannot be changed. Note that in a case where the same state is indicated before and after transition, the same state may be overwritten, or nothing may be written. 
     In addition, in a case where the sensor  140  does not accept the selection of the IoT device  100  even after the elapse of a certain period of time since the selection-acceptance-state changing unit  110  has changed the selection-acceptance state to the “selectable state”, the selection-acceptance state may be caused to transition to the “non-selectable state” in view of security. 
     The identification-information holding unit  160  holds identification information for identifying the IoT device  100 . As this identification information, a device-unique identifier uniquely assigned such that the IoT device  100  can be specified distinctively, a device-type identifier representing the type (device type) of the IoT device  100 , and the like are assumed. 
     The notification unit  170  notifies the device management apparatus  200  that the IoT device  100  has been selected, in a case where the selection-state information held in the selection-state-information holding unit  130  is the “selected state”. This notification unit  170  has, for example, a wireless communication function, and transmits a notification to the device management apparatus  200  by wireless communication. When issuing the notification that the IoT device  100  has been selected, the notification unit  170  also issues a notification of the identification information for the IoT device  100 . This notification allows the device management apparatus  200  to grasp the information regarding the selected IoT device  100 . 
     [Device Management Apparatus] 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of the device management apparatus  200  in the embodiment of the present technology. 
     This device management apparatus  200  includes a selection-acceptance-state changing instruction unit  210 , a device-selection instruction unit  220 , a device-selection-notification receiving unit  230 , a device-list holding unit  240 , and a management control unit  250 . 
     The selection-acceptance-state changing instruction unit  210  instructs at least part of the plurality of IoT devices  100  of changing the corresponding selection-acceptance state. This instruction is received by the selection-acceptance-state changing unit  110  of the IoT device  100 , and the selection-acceptance state held in the selection-acceptance-state holding unit  120  is changed in response to the notification. 
     Note that, as described above, the selection-acceptance state is provided in view of security, and thus under an environment where security is guaranteed by another approach, the secure mechanism by the selection-acceptance-state changing instruction unit  210  may not be provided. In addition, there will be described the example in which the device management apparatus  200  includes the selection-acceptance-state changing instruction unit  210 ; however, the selection-acceptance state may be changed by an apparatus different from the device management apparatus  200 . 
     The device-selection instruction unit  220  instructs at least part of the plurality of IoT devices  100  to select the corresponding IoT device  100 . This instruction is sensed by the sensor  140  of the IoT device  100 , and the selection-state information held in the selection-state-information holding unit  130  is set by the selection control unit  150  in response to the measurement signal. Thus, it is assumed that as an instruction by the device-selection instruction unit  220 , for example, radio waves including visible light, infrared rays, and the like; sound waves; vibrations; or the like can be used in accordance with the sensing function of the sensor  140 . Note that the device-selection instruction unit  220  may instruct the IoT device  100  not only to make a selection but also to make a deselection. 
     The device-selection-notification receiving unit  230  receives a notification from the IoT device  100  in response to the selection instruction. This notification is a notification issued by the notification unit  170  of the IoT device  100  in a case where the selection-state information of the IoT device  100  is the “selected state”. This notification includes identification information for the IoT device  100 , which allows the device management apparatus  200  to grasp the information regarding the selected IoT device  100 . 
     The management control unit  250  controls each unit of the device management apparatus  200 . That is, this management control unit  250  controls an instruction for changing the selection-acceptance state of the IoT device  100 , an instruction for selecting the IoT device  100 , and the like. 
     The device-list holding unit  240  holds a device list that is a list of IoT devices  100  each of which selection-state information is “selected state”. This device list is created by the management control unit  250  on the basis of the notification received by the device-selection-notification receiving unit  230 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary field configuration of the device list held in the device-list holding unit  240  in the embodiment of the present technology. 
     This device list includes fields of a format identifier  241 , a device-type identifier  242 , a device-unique identifier  243 , a belonging-group identifier  244 , time information  245 , and additional information  246 . 
     The format identifier  241  is information with which the identification information transmitted by the IoT device  100  can be recognized. 
     The device-type identifier  242  is information indicating the device type of the IoT device  100 . 
     The device-unique identifier  243  is information with which the IoT device  100  can be specified distinctively. As the device-unique identifier  243 , for example, there can be used a media access control (MAC) address of a network interface card (NIC) or a Bluetooth device (BD) address of Bluetooth (registered trademark). Furthermore, values obtained by converting these addresses in accordance with a certain rule may be used. 
     The belonging-group identifier  244  is information indicating a group selected as the IoT device  100 . That is, as described later, each IoT device  100  may be selected on a group basis, and in that case, the IoT device  100  may be selected across a plurality of groups. Thus, it is assumed that a bit field corresponding to each group is provided and that selection or non-selection is expressed in binary form for the group to which the IoT device  100  belongs. 
     The time information  245  is information indicating the time when the IoT device  100  has been selected or the time when the selection state has been changed. 
     The additional information  246  is a field for storing other information, and is information that can be appropriately used by an application. 
     &lt;2. Operation&gt; 
     [IoT Device] 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary processing procedure of the IoT device  100  in the embodiment of the present technology. Note that in this example, it is assumed that the selection-acceptance state held in the selection-acceptance-state holding unit  120  is set in advance. 
     First, the selection control unit  150  stands by until the sensor  140  receives a selection instruction from the device-selection instruction unit  220  of the device management apparatus  200  (step S 911 : No). In a case where the selection instruction has been received (step S 911 : Yes), the selection control unit  150  performs the following selection operation. However, even in the case of receiving the selection instruction, in a case where a deselection instruction has been further received (step S 912 : Yes), the selection-state information held in the selection-state-information holding unit  130  is set to the “non-selected state” (step S 916 ). 
     In a case where no deselection instruction has been received (step S 912 : No), if the selection-acceptance state held in the selection-acceptance-state holding unit  120  indicates the “selectable state” (step S 913 : Yes), the selection-state information is set to the “selected state” (step S 914 ). Then, the notification unit  170  notifies the device management apparatus  200  that the IoT device  100  has been selected (step S 915 ). On the other hand, if the selection-acceptance state held in the selection-acceptance-state holding unit  120  indicates the “non-selectable state” (step S 913 : No), the processing ends without changing the selection-state information. 
     [Device Management Apparatus] 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary processing procedure of the device management apparatus  200  in the embodiment of the present technology. 
     The device-selection instruction unit  220  instructs the selection target among the plurality of IoT devices  100  to select the corresponding IoT device  100  (step S 921 ). Thereafter, the device-selection instruction unit  220  stands by until the notification that the selection has been made is received from the IoT device  100  to which the selection instruction has been given (step S 922 : No). 
     Then, after receiving the notification that the selection has been made from the IoT device  100  (step S 922 : Yes), the management control unit  250  creates a device list on the basis of the notification and records the device list in the device-list holding unit  240  (step S 923 ). 
     [Overall Processing] 
       FIG. 7  is a sequence diagram illustrating exemplary overall processing of the sensing system in the embodiment of the present technology. 
     The selection-acceptance-state changing instruction unit  210  instructs the IoT device  100  to make a transition of its selection-acceptance state to the “selectable state” ( 811 ). The selection-acceptance-state changing unit  110  causes the selection-acceptance state held in the selection-acceptance-state holding unit  120  to transition to the “selectable state” ( 812 ). 
     Thereafter, the device-selection instruction unit  220  instructs the IoT device  100  to select the IoT device  100  ( 813 ). In response to sensing of the instruction by the sensor  140 , the selection control unit  150  causes the selection-state information held in the selection-state-information holding unit  130  to transition to the “selected state” and instructs the notification unit  170  to issue a notification that the selection has been made ( 814 ). In response to the instruction, the notification unit  170  reads the identification information from the identification-information holding unit  160  ( 815 ) and notifies the device management apparatus  200  ( 816 ). 
     Thereafter, the selection-acceptance-state changing instruction unit  210  instructs the IoT device  100  to make a transition of its selection-acceptance state to the “non-selectable state” ( 821 ). The selection-acceptance-state changing unit  110  causes the selection-acceptance state held in the selection-acceptance-state holding unit  120  to transition to the “non-selectable state” ( 829 ). 
     [Modification] 
       FIG. 8  is a sequence diagram illustrating a modification of the overall processing of the sensing system in the embodiment of the present technology. In the above example, in the case where the IoT device  100  has been selected, the notification unit  170  issues a notification that the selection has been made. After once the IoT device  100  has been selected, a notification of the identification information may be issued on a regular basis. Alternatively, instead of issuing a notification of the identification information immediately, the notification unit  170  may perform recording that the selection has been made and may issue the notification at a predetermined timing. In this modification, there will be described an example in which a notification is given at the timing when the selection acceptance is finished and the selection-acceptance state transitions to the “non-selectable state”. 
     In this modification, similarly to the above example, the selection-acceptance-state changing instruction unit  210  instructs an IoT device  100  to make a transition of its selection-acceptance state to the “selectable state” ( 811 ). Thereafter, the subsequent processing is performed similarly to the above example until the notification unit  170  reads the identification information from the identification-information holding unit  160  ( 815 ). 
     Thereafter, the selection-acceptance-state changing instruction unit  210  instructs the IoT device  100  to make a transition of its selection-acceptance state to the “non-selectable state” ( 821 ), and when the instruction for the transition is noticed to the selection control unit  150 , a notification is issued at this timing ( 822 ). That is, the notification unit  170  notifies the device management apparatus  200  ( 823 ) of the identification information read from the identification-information holding unit  160  ( 815 ). Then, the selection-acceptance-state changing unit  110  causes the selection-acceptance state held in the selection-acceptance-state holding unit  120  to the “non-selectable state” ( 829 ). 
     &lt;3. Selection Mode&gt; 
     [Selection and Deselection] 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a specific example of the plurality of IoT devices  100  and the device management apparatus  200  in the embodiment of the present technology. 
     This example illustrates that, as the device-selection instruction unit  220 , a lighting that emits visible light is used with assumption that the sensor  140  of each IoT device  100  serves as an optical sensor. Even in a case where a large number of IoT devices  100  are installed scatteringly in an area, if visible light enables selection and deselection, an IoT device group depending on a purpose can be selected within a range of irradiation with the visible light. Note that in the following example, it is assumed that the selection-acceptance state of the IoT device  100  is the “selectable state”. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates an exemplary selection instruction with the lighting as the device-selection instruction unit  220  in the embodiment of the present technology. 
     In this example, visible light that gives an instruction for selection is emitted from the device-selection instruction unit  220 , and an area  221  including part of the plurality of IoT devices  100  is irradiated with the visible light. This irradiation causes the selection-state information of an IoT device  101  present in the area  221  to transition to the “selected state”. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates an exemplary deselection instruction with the lighting as the device-selection instruction unit  220  in the embodiment of the present technology. 
     In this example, visible light that gives an instruction for deselection is emitted from the device-selection instruction unit  220 , and an area  222  including part of the plurality of IoT devices  100  is irradiated with the visible light. This irradiation causes the selection-state information of an IoT device  102  present in the area  222  to transition to the “non-selected state”. 
     As a result, the selection-state information of the IoT device  101  present in the area  221  and not present in the area  222  becomes the “selected state”, and a notification of the identification information is issued at a predetermined later timing. 
     [Group] 
     Each IoT device  100  may be selected on a group basis. In this case, the IoT device  100  may be selected across a plurality of groups. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates an exemplary selection instruction for a group A with the lighting as the device-selection instruction unit  220  in the embodiment of the present technology. 
     In this example, visible light that gives an instruction for selection of the group A is emitted from the device-selection instruction unit  220 , and an area  223  including part of the plurality of IoT devices  100  is irradiated with the visible light. This irradiation causes, as the group A, the selection-state information of an IoT device  103  present in the area  223  to transition to the “selected state”. 
       FIG. 13  illustrates an exemplary selection instruction for a group B with the lighting as the device-selection instruction unit  220  in the embodiment of the present technology. 
     In this example, visible light that gives an instruction for selection of the group B is emitted from the device-selection instruction unit  220 , and an area  224  including part of the plurality of IoT devices  100  is irradiated with the visible light. The visible light having given the instruction for the selection of the group B is different from the visible light having given the instruction for the selection of the group A. Thus, as the group B, the selection-state information of an IoT device  104  present in the area  224  transitions to the “selected state”. However, an IoT device  105  present in the area  224  and having already been selected as the group A has been selected across the group A and the group B. 
     A notification of the groups to which each of the IoT devices  103  to  105  belongs are issued by the corresponding notification unit  170 . After receiving this notification, the management control unit  250  of the device management apparatus  200  stores each of the groups in the device-list holding unit  240  as a bit field corresponding to the group, in the belonging-group identifier  244  of the device list. As a result, the device management apparatus  200  can manage the IoT devices  100  for each group. 
     [Discrimination with Color] 
       FIG. 14  illustrates an exemplary mixed disposition of IoT devices different in types in the embodiment of the present technology. 
     In this example, an IoT device  106  that recognizes as having been selected by irradiation with red light and an IoT device  107  that recognizes as having been selected by irradiation with blue light are disposed mixedly. In this case, if visible light having different wavelengths enables selection, an IoT device group depending on a purpose can be selected. 
       FIG. 15  illustrates an exemplary selection instruction by irradiation with red light from the device-selection instruction unit  220  in the embodiment of the present technology. 
     In this example, the irradiation with the red light from the device-selection instruction unit  220  causes the IoT device  106  to recognize that the IoT device  106  itself has been selected. As a result, the selection-state information of the IoT device  106  transitions to the “selected state”. 
       FIG. 16  illustrates an exemplary selection instruction by irradiation with blue light from the device-selection instruction unit  220  in the embodiment of the present technology. 
     In this example, the irradiation with the blue light from the device-selection instruction unit  220  causes the IoT device  107  to recognize that the IoT device  107  itself has been selected. As a result, the selection-state information of the IoT device  107  transitions to the “selected state”. 
     Note that in these examples, the operation of selection and deselection has been described assuming the optical sensor serving as the sensor  140 ; however, the sensor  140  may be another type of sensor. For example, in the case of an IoT device  100  having a vibration sensor that serves as the sensor  140 , selection and deselection may be made in response to the sound of applause. 
     As described above, according to the embodiment of the present technology, the selection (and deselection) of an IoT device  100  can be accepted with the sensor  140  having a normal sensing function, without separately providing a special mechanism for accepting the selection of the IoT device  100 . The selected IoT device  100  notifies the device management apparatus  200  of the identification information, with the notification unit  170 . As a result, the device management apparatus  200  can generate a device list of the IoT device  100  in an installation state. That is, there is no need of creating and managing a management ledger for an individual IoT device  100  before operation, and even in a case where the disposition of the IoT device  100  is changed after the start of operation, flexible management can be performed in the latest installation state. 
     Note that the above embodiment illustrates one example for embodying the present technology, and the matters in the embodiment and the matters specifying the invention in the claims have a correspondence relationship. Similarly, the matters specifying the invention in the claims and the matters having the same names in the embodiment of the present technology have a correspondence relationship. The present technology, however, is not limited to the embodiment, and thus can be embodied by making various modifications to the embodiment without departing from the gist thereof. 
     Furthermore, the processing procedures described in the above embodiment may be regarded as a method including these series of procedures, or as a program for causing a computer to execute the series of procedures or as a recording medium that stores the program. As this recording medium, there can be used, for example, a compact disc (CD), a mini disc (MD), a digital versatile disc (DVD), a memory card, a Blu-ray (registered trademark) disc, or the like. 
     Note that the effects described in the present specification are merely exemplified and are not intended to be limitative, and there may be additional effects. 
     Note that the present technology can also have the following configurations. 
     (1) A sensing device including: 
     a sensor configured to measure an ambient environment to generate a measurement signal; 
     a selection control unit configured to control a selection state of the sensing device in response to the measurement signal; and 
     a notification unit configured to issue a notification that the sensing device has been selected in a case where the selection state indicates that the sensing device has been selected. 
     (2) The sensing device according to (1), 
     in which, along with the notification, the notification unit further issues a notification of identification information for identifying the sensing device. 
     (3) The sensing device according to (2), 
     in which the identification information includes a device type of the sensing device. 
     (4) The sensing device according to (2) or (3), 
     in which the identification information includes a group to which the sensing device belongs. 
     (5) The sensing device according to any of (1) to (4), 
     in which the selection control unit: 
     causes, in a case where the measurement signal gives an instruction for selection of the sensing device, the selection state to transition such that the selection state indicates that the sensing device has been selected; and, 
     causes, in a case where the measurement signal gives an instruction for deselection of the sensing device, the selection state to transition such that the selection state indicates that the sensing device has not been selected. 
     (6) The sensing device according to any of (1) to (5), further including: 
     a selection-state-information holding unit configured to hold the selection state. 
     (7) The sensing device according to any of (1) to (6), further including: 
     a selection-acceptance-state holding unit configured to hold a selection-acceptance state indicating whether or not an instruction for changing the selection state of the sensing device is acceptable, 
     in which the selection control unit changes the selection state only in a case where the selection-acceptance state indicates that the instruction for the changing is acceptable. 
     (8) The sensing device according to (7), further including: 
     a selection-acceptance-state changing unit configured to change the selection-acceptance state in accordance with an external instruction. 
     (9) The sensing device according to any of (1) to (8), 
     in which the sensor: 
     serves as an optical sensor; and 
     generates the measurement signal indicating that an instruction for selection of the sensing device has been given, in response to reception of light having a predetermined wavelength. 
     (10) The sensing device according to any of (1) to (9), 
     in which the sensor: 
     serves as a vibration sensor; and 
     generates the measurement signal indicating that an instruction for selection of the sensing device has been given, in response to reception of vibration having a predetermined frequency. 
     (11) A device management apparatus including: 
     a device-selection instruction unit configured to instruct at least part of a plurality of sensing devices each having a sensor to select the corresponding sensing device, with a signal measurable by the sensor; 
     a device-selection-notification receiving unit configured to receive a notification from the selected sensing device among the plurality of sensing devices; and 
     a management control unit configured to manage information regarding the selected sensing device, on the basis of the notification. 
     (12) The device management apparatus according to (11), 
     in which the notification includes identification information for the selected sensing device, and 
     the management control unit manages the identification information for the selected sensing device. 
     (13) The device management apparatus according to (12), further including: 
     a device-list holding unit configured to hold information regarding the selected sensing device. 
     (14) A device selecting method including: 
     measuring, by a sensor of a sensing device, an ambient environment to generate a measurement signal; 
     controlling, by a selection control unit, a selection state of the sensing device in response to the measurement signal; and 
     issuing, by a notification unit, a notification that the sensing device has been selected, in a case where the selection state indicates that the sensing device has been selected. 
     (15) A device managing method including: 
     instructing, by a device-selection instruction unit, at least part of a plurality of sensing devices each having a sensor to select the corresponding sensing device, with a signal measurable by the sensor; 
     receiving, by a device-selection-notification receiving unit, a notification from the selected sensing device among the plurality of sensing devices; and 
     managing, by a management control unit, information regarding the selected sensing device, on the basis of the notification. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
           100  to  107  IoT device 
           110  Selection-acceptance-state changing unit 
           120  Selection-acceptance-state holding unit 
           130  Selection-state-information holding unit 
           140  Sensor 
           150  Selection control unit 
           160  Identification-information holding unit 
           170  Notification unit 
           200  Device management apparatus 
           210  Selection-acceptance-state changing instruction unit 
           220  Device-selection instruction unit 
           230  Device-selection-notification receiving unit 
           240  Device-list holding unit 
           241  Format identifier 
           242  Device-type identifier 
           243  Device-unique identifier 
           244  Belonging-group identifier 
           245  Time information 
           246  Additional information 
           250  Management control unit 
           300  Base station 
           400  Network 
           500  Server