TW201804335A - Connecting device and internet of things system using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an interconnecting device and system of IOT (Internet of Things). The interconnecting device is configured to interconnect different IOT platforms or interconnect a IOT platform with a robot. The interconnecting device comprises a hardware and a software comprising a control module, a communication module and a conversion module. The conversion module is configured to convert the message between different IOT platforms or between the IOT platform and the robot. The system of IOT comprises at least one IOT platform and the interconnecting device. The interconnecting device can interconnect different IOT platforms or interconnect a IOT platform with a robot conveniently.

Description

Connected device and internet of things system using the same

The present invention relates to the field of the Internet of Things, and in particular, to a method and device for connecting between the Internet of Things and between the Internet of Things and a robot.

The development of information technology has given birth to the Internet of Things (IOT). The Internet of Things can be defined as "through radio frequency identification (RFID), infrared sensors, global positioning systems, laser scanners and other information sensing equipment. The agreed agreement is a network that connects any item with the Internet for information exchange and communication to achieve intelligent identification, positioning, tracking, monitoring and management. "

In the field of robotics, the Robot Operating System (ROS) is a widely used platform. It itself has a mechanism for information communication, so that sensors and actuators on the robot body can be interconnected. Robots need to interact with the environment when performing operations. Various sensors (such as tactile sensors, visual sensors, etc.) set on the robot body can only sense limited environmental information, and do not allow the robot to recognize and understand the environment, and thus cannot interconnect and communicate with environmental equipment. If the robot communicates with the Internet of Things, it can better identify the external environment and then communicate with environmental equipment. However, robot operating systems and IoT platforms are incompatible with each other, and different IoT platforms are also incompatible with each other.

In view of this, it is indeed necessary to provide a communication device capable of achieving interconnection between different Internet of Things platforms or between a robot and the Internet of Things, and an Internet of Things system using the same.

A communication device is used to connect different IoT platforms or a robot to an IoT platform. The communication device includes a software module and a hardware device running the software module, wherein the software module The group includes: a control module, a communication module, and a conversion module; the communication module is used to implement communication between the communication device and the Internet of Things platform or robot; and the conversion module is used to implement different Information conversion between IoT platforms or between robots and IoT platforms.

As described above, the software module further includes an extraction module for extracting instruction information from the information from the Internet of Things platform or the robot.

As described above, further, the working method of the communication device includes the following steps:

In step S21, it is determined whether a first message is received from the device to be converted. If yes, go to step S22, and if not, repeat step S21;

Step S22, extracting the instruction information in the first message, and proceeding to step S23;

Step S23: convert the instruction information into a second message that can be recognized by the device to be identified, and proceed to step S24; and

In step S24, the second message is sent out, and returns to step S21.

As described above, further, the working method of the communication device includes the following steps:

In step S21, it is determined whether a first message is received from the device to be converted. If yes, go to step S22, and if not, repeat step S21;

Step S22, extracting the instruction information in the first message, and proceeding to step S23;

Step S23: Convert the instruction information into a second message that can be recognized by the device to be identified, and proceed to step S24;

Step S24, sending the second message to step S25; and

In step S25, the information other than the instruction information is also converted into a third message that can be recognized by the device to be identified and sent, and the process returns to step S21.

As described above, further, the working method of the communication device includes the following steps:

In step S21, it is determined whether a first message is received from the device to be converted. If yes, proceed to step S26, and if not, repeat step S21;

Step S26, it is determined whether the first message contains instruction information. If yes, go to step S22, and if no, go back to step S21;

Step S22, extracting the instruction information in the first message, and proceeding to step S23;

Step S23: convert the instruction information into a second message that can be recognized by the device to be identified, and proceed to step S24; and

In step S24, the second message is sent out, and returns to step S21.

As described above, the software module further includes an identification module, and the identification module is used to determine whether a conversion instruction from a user is received.

As described above, further, the working method of the communication device includes the following steps:

In step S30, it is determined whether a conversion instruction is received from the user. If yes, go to step S31, and if no, repeat step S30;

In step S31, it is determined whether a first message is received from the device to be converted. If yes, go to step S32, and if not, repeat step S31;

Step S32, converting the first message into a second message that can be recognized by the device to be identified, and proceeding to step S33; and

Step S33: Send the second message to the device to be identified.

As described above, further, the communication device is a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, a desktop computer, a mini computer, or a robot.

An Internet of Things system includes at least one Internet of Things platform, and further includes a communication device for connecting different Internet of Things or connecting a robot with the Internet of Things.

As described above, the Internet of Things system further includes a plurality of Internet of Things platforms and a machine; and the connecting device implements communication between different Internet of Things or between a robot and the Internet of Things according to a conversion instruction.

The connecting device provided by the present invention can realize interconnection and interconnection between different Internet of Things platforms or robots and Internet of Things, and is convenient to use.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a module of an Internet of Things system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a working method of a communication device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a module schematic diagram of an Internet of Things system provided by a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a working method of a communication device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of another working method of a communication device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of another working method of a communication device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a connection device provided by a second embodiment of the present invention converting information of the AllJoyn first IoT platform into a format that can be recognized by a robot operating system (ROS).

FIG. 8 is a module schematic diagram of an Internet of Things system provided by a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a module schematic diagram of an IoT system provided by a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a working method of a communication device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

In the following, the connection method and device between the Internet of Things and between the Internet of Things and the robot provided by the present invention will be further described in detail with reference to the drawings and specific embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of the present invention provides an IoT system 10, which includes a communication device 100, a first IoT platform 200, and a second IoT platform 400.

The communication device 100 includes a software module and a hardware device running the software module (only the software module is shown in FIG. 1). The hardware device includes a processor, a wired or wireless receiving device, and a wired or wireless transmitting device. The software module includes a control module 110, a communication module 120, and a conversion module 130.

The control module 110 controls the work of the entire communication device 100. The communication module 120 is configured to control a receiving device or a transmitting device to implement communication with the first Internet of Things platform 200 or the second Internet of Things platform 400. The communication module 120 may be a wireless communication module, such as an infrared communication module, a Bluetooth communication module, a radio frequency communication module, etc., or a wired communication module, such as a USB communication module. The conversion module 130 is configured to convert information from the first IoT platform 200 into information that can be identified by the second IoT platform 400, or convert information from the second IoT platform 400 into Information that can be identified by the first IoT platform 200.

The communication device 100 may be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, a desktop computer, a mini computer, or a robot. The mini computer may be a Raspberry Pi or a Banana Pi. In this embodiment, the communication device 100 is a Raspberry Pi. The Raspberry Pi, pre-installed with Linux, is only the size of a credit card, is equipped with an ARM-based processor, and has the same computing performance as a smartphone. In terms of interface, Raspberry Pi provides a USB interface for keyboard and mouse, in addition, there is a fast Ethernet interface, an SD card expansion interface, and an HDMI high-definition video output interface, which can be connected to a monitor or TV.

The first IoT platform 200 and the second IoT platform 400 can be any kind of IoT platform built by any merchant or institution. In the field of Internet of Things, there are many vendors and alliances promoting different standards of Internet of Things platforms, such as Thread, AllJoyn, OIC, Bonjour, etc. Devices that meet the same IoT platform standards can be interconnected. The aforementioned IoT platform standards can ensure the normal operation of the IoT, while simplifying connection and use operations and optimizing the user experience. Most IoT platforms provide a mechanism that publishes a topic and subscribes a topic similar to a robot operating system, except that the names may be different. For example, on the AllJoyn platform, a SessionLess Notification Service is provided, which uses send a notification and receive a notification as the communication mechanism between devices. For example, the MQTT delivery mechanism used by many IoT platforms, its principle is also to use the publish a message, subscribe a message method. These delivery mechanisms are very similar.

The first IoT platform 200 includes a first IoT device 210 and a first IoT interface 220 connected to the first IoT device 210. The first IoT device 210 is wired or wirelessly connected to the communication device 100 through the first IoT interface 220. The second IoT platform 400 includes a second IoT device 410 and a second IoT interface 420 connected to the second IoT device 410. The second IoT device 410 is wired or wirelessly connected to the communication device 100 through the second IoT interface 420. In this embodiment, the first IoT platform 200 is an AllJoyn IoT platform, and the first IoT interface 220 is an AllJoyn interface. The second IoT platform 400 is a Thread IoT platform, and the second IoT interface 420 is a Thread interface.

Referring to FIG. 2, a first embodiment of the present invention further provides a connection method of the Internet of Things system 10, that is, a working method of the connection device 100. The method includes the following steps:

In step S11, it is determined whether a first message is received from one of the first IoT device 210 and the second IoT device 410. If yes, proceed to step S12, and if not, repeat step S11;

Step S12: Convert the first message into a second message that can be recognized by the other of the first IoT device 210 and the second IoT device 410, and proceed to step S13;

Step S13: Send the second message out, and return to step S11.

It can be understood that information can be seamlessly connected between different IoT platforms through the connecting device 100.

Referring to FIG. 3, a second embodiment of the present invention provides an Internet of Things system 10A, which includes a communication device 100A, a first Internet of Things platform 200, and a robot 300.

The IoT system 10A of the second embodiment of the present invention is basically the same as the IoT system 10 of the first embodiment of the present invention, except that the IoT system 10A includes a robot 300, and the communication device 100A further includes a Extraction module 140.

It can be understood that the IoT system 10A may include a plurality of IoT platforms. This embodiment is described by using only the first Internet of Things platform 200 as an example. The communication device 100 is configured to implement seamless docking of information between the first IoT platform 200 and the robot 300.

The robot 300 is a smart robot and includes an operating system 310, a brake 320, a sensor 330, and a communication interface 340. The robot 300 is wired or wirelessly connected to the communication device 100 through the communication interface 340.

The extraction module 140 is configured to extract instruction information from information from the first IoT platform 200 or the robot 300. The instruction information refers to information for instructing the robot 300 or a certain smart device of the first IoT platform 200, such as a smart home or a smart appliance, to perform a preset operation.

Referring to FIG. 4, a second embodiment of the present invention further provides a connection method of the Internet of Things system 10A, that is, a working method of the connection device 100A. The method includes the following steps:

In step S21, it is determined whether a first message is received from one of the first IoT device 210 and the robot 300. If yes, go to step S22; if not, repeat step S21;

Step S22, extracting the instruction information in the first message, and proceeding to step S23;

Step S23: Convert the instruction information into a second message that can be recognized by the other of the first IoT device 210 and the robot 300, and proceed to step S24;

In step S24, the second message is sent out, and returns to step S21.

It can be understood that, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the connecting device 100A may not directly perform step S22, directly convert the first message into a second message, and then send it.

Further, referring to FIG. 5, after step S24, the communication device 100A may also proceed to step S25 to convert information other than the command information into another one that can be used by the first IoT device 210 and the robot 300. The identified third message is sent out, and then returns to step S21.

Further, referring to FIG. 6, after step S21, the communication device 100A may also proceed to step S26 to determine whether the first message contains instruction information. If yes, proceed to step S22, and if not, return to step S21.

Please refer to FIG. 7, which is a schematic diagram of converting the information of the AllJoyn first IoT platform 200 into a format recognizable by the robot 300 operating system (ROS) in the second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, a third embodiment of the present invention provides an IoT system 10B, which includes a first IoT platform 200, a robot 300B, and a second IoT platform 400.

The Internet of things system 10B of the third embodiment of the present invention is basically the same as the Internet of things system 10 of the first embodiment of the present invention, except that the communication device 100 is a robot 300B.

The structure of the robot 300B is basically the same as that of the robot 300 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The difference is that the robot 300B further includes an extraction module 350 and a conversion module 360. The extraction module 350 and the conversion module 360 are the same as the extraction module 140 and the conversion module 130 in the previous embodiment of the present invention.

The connection method of the IoT system 10B according to the third embodiment of the present invention is basically the same as the connection method of the IoT systems 10 and 10A of the previous embodiments of the present invention. The difference is that the extraction module 350 and the conversion module 360 are in the same place. The robot 300B operates under the control of the work system 310.

It can be understood that the IoT system 10B may further include three or more IoT platforms. The robot 300B can be used as a connecting device to realize seamless connection of information between any two or more IoT platforms.

Referring to FIG. 9, a fourth embodiment of the present invention provides an IoT system 10C, which includes a communication device 100C, a first IoT platform 200, a robot 300, and a second IoT platform 400.

The IoT system 10C of the fourth embodiment of the present invention is basically the same as the IoT system 10 of the first embodiment of the present invention, except that it further includes a robot 300, and the communication device 100C further includes an identification module 150. The identification module 150 is used to determine whether a conversion instruction from a user is received.

It can be understood that the IoT system 10C may further include three or more IoT platforms. The communication device 100C can realize seamless connection of information between any two or more IoT platforms, or between any IoT platform and the robot 300.

Referring to FIG. 10, a fourth embodiment of the present invention further provides a connection method of the Internet of Things system 10C, that is, a working method of the connection device 100C. The method includes the following steps:

In step S30, it is determined whether a conversion instruction is received from the user. If yes, go to step S31; if not, repeat step S30;

In step S31, it is determined whether a first message is received from the device to be converted. If yes, go to step S32, and if not, repeat step S31;

Step S32, converting the first message into a second message that can be recognized by the device to be identified, and proceeding to step S33;

Step S33: Send the second message to the device to be identified.

It can be understood that both the device to be converted and the device to be identified are one or more of the first IoT platform 200, a robot 300, and a second IoT platform 400, and the device to be converted and the device to be identified The devices are different devices. The communication device 100C realizes seamless connection and docking of information between the device to be converted and the device to be identified according to the conversion instruction.

Those skilled in the art should understand that the embodiments of the present invention may be provided as a method, a system, or a computer program product. Therefore, the present invention may take the form of a computer program product implemented on one or more computer-usable storage media (including but not limited to magnetic disk memory, optical memory, etc.) containing computer-usable code.

The present invention is described with reference to flowcharts and / or block diagrams of methods, devices (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood that each process and / or block in the flowchart and / or block diagram, and a combination of the process and / or block in the flowchart and / or block diagram may be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable data processing device to generate a machine for instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing device Means are generated for implementing the functions specified in one flow or a plurality of flows in a flowchart and / or one block or a plurality of blocks in a block diagram.

These computer program instructions can also be stored in computer readable memory that can guide a computer or other programmable data processing device to work in a specific manner, so that the instructions stored in the computer readable memory produce a manufactured article including a command device The instruction device implements the functions specified in a flowchart or a plurality of processes and / or a block or a plurality of blocks of the block diagram.

These computer program instructions can also be loaded on a computer or other programmable data processing equipment, so that a series of operating steps can be performed on the computer or other programmable equipment to generate computer-implemented processing, thereby enabling The instructions executed on the steps provide steps for implementing the functions specified in one flow or a plurality of flows in a flowchart and / or one block or a plurality of blocks in a block diagram.

In summary, the present invention has indeed met the requirements for an invention patent, and a patent application was filed in accordance with the law. However, the above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and it cannot be used to limit the scope of patent application in this case. Any equivalent modification or change made by those who are familiar with the skills of this case with the aid of the spirit of the present invention shall be covered by the scope of the following patent applications.

10, 10A, 10B, 10C‧‧‧ IoT systems

100, 100A, 100C, ‧‧‧ connected devices

110‧‧‧control module

120‧‧‧Communication Module

130, 360‧‧‧ Conversion Module

140, 350‧‧‧ Extraction module

150‧‧‧Identification Module

200‧‧‧The first IoT platform

210‧‧‧The first IoT device

220‧‧‧The first IoT interface

300, 300B‧‧‧ robot

310‧‧‧Operating System

320‧‧‧brake

330‧‧‧Sensor

340‧‧‧Communication interface

400‧‧‧Second IoT Platform

410‧‧‧Second IoT Device

420‧‧‧Second IoT Interface

no

10‧‧‧IoT System

100‧‧‧ connected device

110‧‧‧control module

120‧‧‧Communication Module

130‧‧‧ Conversion Module

200‧‧‧The first IoT platform

210‧‧‧The first IoT device

220‧‧‧The first IoT interface

400‧‧‧Second IoT Platform

410‧‧‧Second IoT Device

420‧‧‧Second IoT Interface

Claims (10)

A communication device is used to connect different Internet of Things platforms or a robot to an Internet of Things platform. The communication device includes a software module and a hardware device running the software module. The improvement is that: The software module includes: a control module, a communication module, and a conversion module; the communication module is used to implement communication between the communication device and the Internet of Things platform or robot; and the conversion module is used to implement Information conversion between different IoT platforms or between robots and IoT platforms. The communication device according to the root request item 1, wherein the software module further includes an extraction module for extracting instruction information from information from the Internet of Things platform or the robot. The connecting device according to the root request item 2, wherein the working method of the connecting device includes the following steps:
In step S21, it is determined whether a first message is received from the device to be converted. If yes, go to step S22, and if not, repeat step S21;
Step S22, extracting the instruction information in the first message, and proceeding to step S23;
In step S23, the instruction information is converted into a second message that can be recognized by the device to be identified, and the process proceeds to step S24; and in step S24, the second message is sent out, and returns to step S21. The connecting device according to the root request item 2, wherein the working method of the connecting device includes the following steps:
In step S21, it is determined whether a first message is received from the device to be converted. If yes, go to step S22, and if not, repeat step S21;
Step S22, extracting the instruction information in the first message, and proceeding to step S23;
Step S23: Convert the instruction information into a second message that can be recognized by the device to be identified, and proceed to step S24;
In step S24, the second message is sent out, and the process proceeds to step S25; and in step S25, information other than the instruction information is also converted into a third message that can be recognized by the device to be identified, and then sent out, and the process returns to step S21. The connecting device according to the root request item 2, wherein the working method of the connecting device includes the following steps:
In step S21, it is determined whether a first message is received from the device to be converted. If yes, proceed to step S26, and if not, repeat step S21;
Step S26, it is determined whether the first message contains instruction information. If yes, go to step S22, and if no, go back to step S21;
Step S22, extracting the instruction information in the first message, and proceeding to step S23;
In step S23, the instruction information is converted into a second message that can be recognized by the device to be identified, and the process proceeds to step S24; and in step S24, the second message is sent out, and the process returns to step S21. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the software module further includes an identification module, and the identification module is configured to determine whether a conversion instruction from a user is received. The connecting device according to the root request item 6, wherein the working method of the connecting device includes the following steps:
In step S30, it is determined whether a conversion instruction is received from the user. If yes, go to step S31, and if no, repeat step S30;
In step S31, it is determined whether a first message is received from the device to be converted. If yes, go to step S32, and if not, repeat step S31;
Step S32: convert the first message into a second message that can be recognized by the device to be identified, and proceed to step S33; and step S33, send the second message to the device to be identified. The connecting device according to the root request item 1, wherein the connecting device is a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, a desktop computer, a mini computer, or a robot. An Internet of Things system includes at least one Internet of Things platform, further including a communication device for connecting different Internet of Things or connecting a robot with the Internet of Things. The communication device is as claimed in item 1 to The communication device according to any one of 8. The improvement of the IoT system according to item 9 is that the IoT system includes a plurality of IoT platforms and a machine; and the connecting device realizes the connection between different IoTs or between the robot and the IoT according to the conversion instruction. Connectivity.