JP2932030B2 - Communication terminal device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication terminal device which uses a battery as a power source and is connected to a telephone line, and performs data communication with a center device via the connected telephone line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art This type of communication terminal device is installed in each house, detects the amount of water and gas consumed in each house for a certain period, and uses the detected amount as meter reading information. It is stored in memory. When a call arrives from the center device via a telephone line (hereinafter, line),
The line is automatically caught to respond to the incoming call, and the meter reading information stored in the memory is transmitted to the center device. On the other hand, a battery is used as a power source in this device, and in order to prevent battery consumption, the CPU that controls the device is in a non-operating state in which power is not consumed at all times, and is started at regular intervals. It works.

[0003]

In such a communication terminal device, when an incoming call arrives via a line, the intermittently operating CPU is continuously activated for a predetermined period of time, during which the CPU monitors the incoming state of the line. . For this reason, there is a disadvantage that the degree of consumption of the battery is increased. The CPU is also operated intermittently during the above-mentioned predetermined time for monitoring incoming calls to prevent battery consumption, and a counter is counted at each intermittent operation, and when the counter value reaches the predetermined value, an incoming call automatic response is performed. It is considered to make it. But in this way,
The incoming state of the line cannot be accurately detected, and as a result, there is a disadvantage that the line is automatically captured even though the center device has already abandoned the outgoing call and the incoming line has not arrived.

[0004] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a communication terminal apparatus which prevents battery consumption when answering an incoming call and which responds appropriately to an incoming call.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a battery, a battery, and a start signal which is always supplied with power from the battery and generates a start signal every predetermined time. A generating circuit, a control circuit which is in a non-operating state in which power is always supplied from the battery and does not consume power at all times, and which is started and operated by the start signal to perform an intermittent operation; A power supply control circuit for supplying power to each unit, and when an incoming call coming to the telephone line is monitored for a predetermined time longer than the above-mentioned predetermined time and automatically responded, the incoming call coming via the telephone line is received.
An incoming call detection circuit that detects the incoming signal and an incoming call detection circuit
Incoming call storage means for storing an incoming call state when an incoming call is detected
When, the reception state to the called storage means is started every time the intermittent operation
Incoming call monitoring means counted as stored and incoming call monitoring
A timer which is activated when the value of the means reaches a predetermined value and has a time shorter than the predetermined time, a detecting means for detecting the continuation of the incoming call during the activation of the timer, and a telephone line according to the detection output of the detecting means And automatic incoming call answering means for catching the call. Also, it is activated and
When the call monitoring means counts, the incoming state of the incoming call storage means is cleared.
Means for rearranging the vehicle.

[0006]

When the control circuit intermittently operates and monitors the incoming call for a fixed period of time longer than the intermittent operation interval and automatically responds, the incoming call is monitored according to the incoming state of the telephone line at each intermittent operation. A counter is counted, and when the counted value reaches a predetermined value, a timer having a time shorter than the intermittent operation interval is started, and if the continuation of the incoming call is detected while the timer is running, the telephone line is automatically turned on. Capture.
As a result, at the time of monitoring the incoming call, the consumption of the battery can be suppressed to a necessary minimum, and the call can be answered only when the incoming call continues, so that the call can be answered accurately.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a communication terminal device according to the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a communication terminal device provided in each house, and each terminal has a telephone 2, a voltage alarm 3, a no-voltage alarm 4, an external sensor 5,
A handy terminal 6, electronic meters 7 and 8 for detecting gas and water consumption, and a line L
And sends meter reading information such as gas and water to a center device (not shown) via the line L.

Here, the communication terminal device 1 is configured as follows. That is, 11 is a protection circuit for protecting the apparatus against overvoltage or the like from the line L, 12 is a filter for removing noise from the line L, 13A is an incoming call detection circuit that detects an incoming call coming to the line L, and 13B is An incoming call storage circuit for storing an incoming call, a hook detecting circuit 14 for detecting a hook state of the connected telephone 2, a PB receiver 15 for receiving a PB signal from the line L, and an answer tone 16 from a center device via the line L Is a 1650 Hz detection circuit for detecting a signal having a frequency of 1650 Hz, 17 is a PB generator for generating a PB signal, and 18 is an attenuator.

An outlet disconnection monitoring unit 19 detects the outlet of the connected voltage alarm 3 and 20.
Is a voltage alarm monitoring unit that detects information of the voltage alarm 3, 21 is a voltage alarm monitoring unit that detects information of the connected voltage alarm 4, and 22 is information of the external sensor 5. An external sensor monitoring unit 23 is a handy terminal connection interface for exchanging data with the handy terminal 6 connected via the connector CN.
Reference numeral 26 denotes a telegram meter connection interface for inputting information from the connected telemeters 7 and 8, and reference numerals 25 and 27 denote disconnection / short-circuit monitoring units for detecting disconnection and short-circuit of the connected telemeters 7 and 8, respectively. is there.

Reference numeral 28 denotes a ROM 28A and a RAM 28
B that incorporates B and controls the entire communication terminal device 1;
Reference numeral 9 denotes a battery voltage drop detection circuit for detecting a voltage drop of the battery E, and reference numeral 30 denotes a drive power supply control circuit which converts the voltage VC of the battery E into a voltage VD and supplies it to each unit. Reference numeral 31 denotes a clock IC for generating time information, reference numeral 32 denotes an 8-second interval generation circuit which wakes up and activates the CPU 28 which is normally in a sleep state every 8 seconds based on information from the clock IC 31, and reference numeral 33 denotes a reset of the CPU 28. This is a reset circuit. SW1 and SW2 are switches, RY is a relay for forming a loop of the line L and outputting a dial pulse signal, T1 and T2 are transformers, and AMP1 and AMP2 are amplifiers.

In the present apparatus, when there is an incoming call from the center device via the line L, this incoming call is detected by the incoming call detection circuit 13A and stored in the incoming call storage circuit 13B. On the other hand, in the CPU 28 in the sleep state (non-operation state) in which the battery power is supplied but the power is not consumed at all times, the CPU 28 operates via the interrupt terminal INT2.
When activated by the second interval generation circuit 32, the wake-up is performed and the processing operation is started. In this case, the CPU 28
Prior to the start of the processing, the controller first controls the drive power supply control circuit 30 to supply the power from the battery E to each part of the apparatus as the voltage VD,
Gas and water meter reading information from the electronic message meters 7 and 8 are input via the electronic meters 4 and 26, respectively, and stored in the RAM 28B.
At this time, the CPU 28 detects the incoming call state of the incoming call storage circuit 13B.

If this is the first incoming call, the first incoming call is stored in the incoming call monitoring counter of the RAM 28B, and a clear signal CLA is output to the incoming call storage circuit 13B to clear the incoming call state. . Thereafter, the driving power supply control circuit 30 is controlled to exclude the incoming call detection circuit 13A that receives supply of station power, the incoming call storage circuit 13B that is always supplied with power from the battery E, the clock IC 31, the 8-second interval circuit 32, and the reset circuit 33. The power supply from the battery E to each part of the apparatus is stopped. And the next 8
The same processing is performed when the operation is started from the 8-second interval generation circuit 32 seconds later. In this case, if the incoming call from the previous time is continued, the RAM 28B stores that it is the second incoming call.

When the number of incoming calls stored in the RAM 28B reaches the predetermined number by receiving incoming calls from the center device for a predetermined time, the CPU 28 monitors incoming calls for another 3 seconds. If the incoming call continues during this time, the relay RY is turned on to close the loop of the line L, and the call is automatically answered and the answer tone from the center device is received via the 1650 Hz detecting circuit 16. . Thereafter, when the house code transmitted from the center apparatus is received via the PB receiver 15, the house code is compared with the house code of the own apparatus set in the RAM 28B. When the two housing codes match, the CPU 28 drives the PB generator 17 and outputs the meter reading information stored in the RAM 28B to the line L as a PB signal. That is, the meter reading information is transmitted from the PB generator 17 to the attenuator 18 → the amplifier AMP.
2 → transformer T1 → relay RY → switch SW1 → filter 12 → protection circuit 11 is output to line L and transmitted to the center device.

When the CPU 28 wakes up, the outputs of the high voltage alarm 3, the low voltage alarm 4 and the external sensor 5 for detecting gas leakage and the like are output from the high voltage alarm monitor 21 and the low voltage alarm monitor, respectively. When the information is detected via the unit 22 and the external sensor monitoring unit 23, the information to that effect is transmitted to the center device as a PB signal via the line L via the above-described path. When an incoming call arrives from the center device and the telephone 2 responds to the incoming call, an output signal from the hook detection circuit 14 is given to the interrupt terminal INT1, and as a result,
U28 wakes up. In this case, the CPU 28
Similarly, the state of the incoming call storage circuit 13B is detected, and data communication processing is performed with the center device.

FIG. 3 is a time chart showing the above-described incoming call detection operation of each section of the communication terminal device. That is,
When the incoming call signal shown in FIG. 7A (that is, the output signal of the incoming call detection circuit 13A) is input, the incoming call storage circuit 13B outputs an "H" level signal as shown in FIG. "L" by clear signal CLA from
Output level signal. In this case, the CPU 28 outputs a clear signal CLA and supplies a count signal to the incoming call monitoring counter provided in the built-in RAM 28B at the timing shown in FIG. And the contents of the incoming call monitoring counter are in the figure (fifth time)
Is displayed, the incoming call is checked for another 3 seconds and the incoming call is answered.

Next, according to the flowchart of FIG.
The above-described incoming call detection operation of the PU 28 will be described in more detail. That is, the CPU 28 is always in the sleep state, and is therefore in the standby state as shown in step ST1. When the CPU 28 is activated by the 8-second interval generation circuit 32, the process proceeds to step ST2.
To wake up and start the intermittent operation. In this case C
The PU 28 detects the state of the incoming call storage circuit 13B and determines whether or not an incoming call has arrived during the sleep state in step ST3.
In step ST4, the above-described incoming call monitoring counter is cleared.

If an incoming call arrives and "incoming call?" In step ST3 is determined to be "Y", an operation "n = n + 1" for increasing the value of the incoming call monitoring counter by one is performed in step ST5. In step ST6, the incoming call storage circuit 1
A clear signal CLA is output to 3B to clear. Thereafter, in step ST7, the CPU 28 determines whether or not the value n of the incoming call monitoring counter is equal to or more than a predetermined value X. If the value does not reach the predetermined value, the CPU 28 controls the drive power control circuit 30 to stop the supply of battery power to each unit of the device. As a result, the process returns to step ST1 to enter the standby state.

Eight seconds later, an eight-second interval generation circuit 32 restarts the system.
If the incoming call is stored in B, the value of the incoming call monitoring counter is increased by one in step ST5. When the value of the incoming call monitoring counter becomes equal to or more than the predetermined value X due to the continuation of the incoming call, and the determination in step ST7 becomes "Y", the process proceeds to step ST8, where the 3-second timer provided in the RAM 28B is started, and in step ST9 the incoming call monitoring Clear the counter.

During the three seconds, the incoming call storage circuit 13
In order to monitor the incoming state of the line L via B, "incoming call?" In step ST10 and "3 seconds elapsed?" In step ST11 are determined. In this case, the incoming state of the line L cannot be detected in three seconds, and “3” in step ST11 is not used.
Seconds passed? Becomes "Y" when the incoming call is abandoned, the control of the drive power control circuit 30 is performed to stop the supply of the battery power to each unit of the apparatus, and the process returns to step ST1 to be in the standby state. When the incoming state of the line L is detected for three seconds and the "incoming call?" In step ST10 becomes "Y", the line L is captured in step ST12, and meter reading information is sent to the center device via the captured line L. Is started in step ST13.

As described above, for the incoming call arriving at the line L, C
In the case of monitoring for a certain period of time longer than the intermittent operation interval of the PU 28 and automatically responding, an incoming call monitoring counter is provided, and whether or not the incoming call continues for a certain period of time is determined by an incoming call monitoring counter counted for each intermittent operation of the CPU 28. In addition to the detection based on the value, when the incoming call continues for a predetermined time, the CPU 28 is continuously operated for a fixed time shorter than the intermittent operation interval to detect the continuation of the incoming call, and the line is captured by the detection output. is there. As a result, the consumption of the battery can be suppressed to a necessary minimum when monitoring the incoming call, and the call can be answered only when the incoming call continues, so that the call can be answered accurately. In the present embodiment, the wake-up interval of the CPU 28, that is, the intermittent operation interval is set every 8 seconds, but this interval can be increased or decreased as needed if the interval is equal.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention, when an incoming call that arrives on a telephone line is monitored and responded to during an intermittent operation of the control circuit for a fixed time longer than the intermittent operation interval,
Providing an incoming call monitoring counter, and counting the incoming call monitoring counter according to the incoming state of the telephone line every time an intermittent operation is performed,
When the count value reaches a predetermined value, a timer having a shorter time than the above-mentioned intermittent operation interval is started, and the telephone line is automatically seized if the continuation of the incoming call is detected while the timer is running. Therefore, there is an effect that the consumption of the battery can be suppressed to a necessary minimum at the time of monitoring the incoming call, and the call can be answered only when the incoming call continues, so that the incoming call can be answered accurately.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a communication terminal device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the above device.

FIG. 3 is a time chart showing the operation of the above device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Communication terminal device 7, 8 Telegram meter 13A Incoming call detection circuit 13B Incoming call storage circuit 15 PB receiver 16 1650Hz detection circuit 17 PB generator 24, 26 Telegram meter connection interface 28 CPU 28B RAM 30 Drive power control circuit 31 Clock IC 32 8 seconds Interval generation circuit E Battery L Telephone line

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A battery for accommodating a telephone line, a battery, a start signal generating circuit that is constantly supplied with power from the battery and generates a start signal at predetermined time intervals, and is always supplied with power from the battery and always supplies power. A control circuit that performs an intermittent operation that is activated in response to the start signal and is in an inoperative state that does not consume, and a power supply control circuit that supplies power to the respective units to the unit at each intermittent operation of the control circuit; In a communication terminal device that monitors incoming calls arriving at a telephone line for a predetermined time longer than the predetermined time and automatically responds to incoming calls, an incoming call detection that detects an incoming signal arriving via the telephone line
Circuit when the incoming call is detected by the incoming call detection circuit.
A call storage means signal state is stored, the incoming state to the incoming memory means is started every time the intermittent operation is not stored
And incoming call monitoring means is counted with that, the value of the incoming monitoring means detects continuation timer and the call while activation of the timer with activated time shorter than the predetermined time when it reaches a predetermined value A communication terminal device comprising: a detecting means; and an automatic incoming call answering means for capturing the telephone line in accordance with a detection output of the detecting means. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said incoming call monitoring means is activated every time said intermittent operation is performed.
And means for clearing the incoming call state of the incoming call storage means.
A communication terminal device.