JP3264599B2 - Wireless automatic meter reading system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wireless automatic meter reading system for automatically collecting usage data of, for example, water, electricity, gas and the like via a telephone line and a wireless line. A wireless device master unit is connected via a network controller, and a plurality of wireless device slave units connected to the wireless device master unit via a wireless line are connected to terminal devices such as a plurality of meters, respectively. The present invention relates to a wireless automatic meter reading system in which information including meter reading data of each terminal device is collected in a center device by a no-ringing communication from a line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In this kind of wireless automatic meter reading system, when a plurality of wireless device slave units are connected to one wireless device master unit via a wireless line, wireless communication is performed on a plurality of wireless communication channels. A means for performing the operation is provided in the wireless device master unit, the plurality of wireless device slave units are divided into a plurality of channel groups, and a plurality of, for example, a plurality of wireless device slave units are assigned to each of the channel groups. A method has been considered in which the same wireless communication channel is assigned to each channel group composed of device slave units.

In such a wireless automatic meter reading system, in response to continuous wireless transmission (meter reading request) from a wireless device master unit,
A plurality of wireless devices set to the same wireless communication channel, that is, all of a plurality of wireless device slaves assigned to the same channel group simultaneously perform carrier detection. Among the slave units, only the corresponding wireless unit slave unit returns a response according to the individual identification information of the wireless unit slave unit to be called included in the meter reading request message, and the other wireless unit slave units stop the communication operation. , And becomes a non-communication state.

In such an operation, when it is intended to collect detection data of a plurality of terminal devices, that is, a plurality of meters from the center device, conventionally, the above-mentioned wireless communication is performed the same number of times as the number of meters for which meter reading is requested. Need only be repeated.

[0005]

As described above, when collecting meter reading data from a plurality of meters,
Since it is necessary to perform the wireless communication by the number of meters for which meter reading has been requested, if the number of meters to be metered increases, the number of times of wireless communication also increases accordingly. As a result, the wired communication portion, that is, the telephone line However, there is a problem that the occupation time of the device increases.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above,
An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless automatic meter reading system capable of efficiently collecting meter reading data from a plurality of terminal devices in a short telephone line occupation time.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a wireless automatic meter reading system according to the present invention connects a wireless device master to a telephone line via a terminal network control device, and connects the wireless device master to the wireless device master. By connecting a plurality of wireless device slave units connected via a wireless line to a plurality of terminal devices, information including meter reading data of each terminal device is collected from a telephone line by a no-ringing communication to a center device, and Are separated into a plurality of channel groups each including a plurality of wireless device slave units, and the wireless device slave units in each channel group are assigned the same wireless communication channel, and the assigned wireless communication channel and A wireless automatic meter reading system called by identification information of a wireless device slave unit, wherein the wireless device master unit detects a wireless signal transmitted via a telephone line. A wireless communication channel set from channel group information in the request message, and a meter reading request transmitting unit for continuously performing wireless transmission for a meter reading request to the wireless device slave unit using the wireless communication channel; Each of the slave units receives a meter reading request from the wireless device master unit by an intermittent carrier sense operation, and collects meter reading data from the terminal device in response to the meter reading request. End detection means for detecting the end of the meter reading request transmission; and, based on the predetermined meter data transmission time information and the Meter reading data transmitting means for calculating the meter reading data to the wireless device master unit sequentially based on the calculated meter reading data transmission time. The wireless device master unit receives meter reading data sequentially transmitted from the meter reading data transmitting means of each wireless device slave unit, and transmits the received meter reading data to a center device via a network control device and a telephone line. It is the gist of the present invention to have a meter reading data returning means for returning the data.

[0008] The wireless automatic meter reading system of the present invention comprises:
The meter reading data returning means of the wireless device master unit sequentially receives meter reading data sequentially transmitted from the meter reading data transmitting means of each wireless device slave unit, and sequentially transmits the received meter reading data to the network control device and the telephone line. The point is to have a sequential return means for returning the data to the center device via the interface.

[0009] Further, the wireless automatic meter reading system of the present invention comprises:
Meter reading data returning means of the wireless device master unit, receiving means for successively receiving and storing meter reading data sequentially transmitted from the meter reading data transmitting means of each wireless device slave unit, and meter reading stored in the storage means The gist of the present invention is to provide a batch return means for collectively returning data to a center device via a network control device and a telephone line.

The wireless automatic meter reading system of the present invention connects a wireless device base unit to a telephone line via a terminal network control device,
By connecting a plurality of wireless device slave units connected to the wireless device master unit via a wireless line to a plurality of terminal devices, information including meter reading data of each terminal device is transmitted to the center device from the telephone line by no ringing communication. Collecting and transmitting the information from the terminal device to the center device via the telephone line by terminal calling communication, and dividing the plurality of wireless device slave units into a plurality of channel groups each including a plurality of wireless device slave units. The wireless device slave unit of each channel group is assigned the same wireless communication channel, and is a wireless automatic meter reading system called by the assigned wireless communication channel and identification information of each wireless device slave unit, wherein the wireless device The base unit sets the wireless communication channel from the channel group information in the meter reading request message transmitted via the telephone line, A meter reading request transmitting unit that continuously performs wireless transmission for a meter reading request to a wireless device slave unit via a wireless communication channel, and a wireless communication unit that wirelessly transmits a meter reading request to the wireless device slave unit using the meter reading request transmitting unit. Line releasing means for releasing a telephone line via the terminal network control device, wherein each of the wireless device slaves receives a meter reading request from the wireless device master by intermittent carrier sense operation. ,
Collecting means for collecting meter reading data from the terminal device in response to the meter reading request; end detecting means for detecting the end of meter reading request transmission from the wireless device master; and The time at which the meter reading data should be transmitted to the wireless device master is calculated based on predetermined meter reading data transmission time information and the identification information of the wireless device slave unit within the channel group, and the meter reading data is calculated based on the calculated meter reading data transmission time. Meter reading data transmitting means for sequentially transmitting data to the wireless device master, wherein the wireless device master receives and accumulates meter reading data sequentially transmitted from the meter reading data transmitting means of each wireless device slave. After accumulating the meter reading data in the accumulating means, the telephone line is connected via the terminal network control device by terminal call communication, and the center device is connected via the automatic incoming call network control device. Fine out, and summarized in that and a meter reading data returning means for returning the metering data stored in the storage unit to the center device.

Further, the wireless automatic meter reading system of the present invention comprises:
The gist of the invention is that the meter reading data returning means of the wireless device master unit has a sequential returning means for sequentially returning the meter reading data stored in the storage means to the center device.

Further, the wireless automatic meter reading system of the present invention comprises:
The gist of the invention is that the meter reading data return means of the wireless device master unit has a batch return means for collectively returning the meter reading data stored in the storage means to the center device.

[0013]

According to the wireless automatic meter reading system of the present invention, the wireless device master sets a wireless communication channel from the channel group information in the meter reading request message transmitted via the telephone line. Wireless transmission to the wireless device slave unit continuously, each of the wireless device slave units receives a meter reading request by intermittent carrier sense operation, collects meter reading data from the terminal device, and When the end of transmission of the meter reading request is detected, the time at which the meter reading data is to be transmitted to the wireless device master unit is calculated from this end point, and the meter reading data is sequentially transmitted to the wireless device master unit at the calculated meter reading data transmission time. The wireless device master unit receives the meter reading data sequentially transmitted from each wireless device slave unit, and returns the received meter reading data to the center device via the network control device and the telephone line.

Further, in the wireless automatic meter reading system of the present invention, the meter reading data returning means of the wireless device master unit sequentially receives meter reading data sequentially transmitted from the meter reading data transmitting unit of each wireless device slave unit, The received meter reading data is sequentially returned to the center device via the network control device and the telephone line.

Further, in the wireless automatic meter reading system of the present invention, the meter reading data returning means of the wireless device master unit sequentially receives meter reading data sequentially transmitted from the meter reading data transmitting means of each wireless device slave unit. The stored meter reading data is collectively returned to the center device via the network control device and the telephone line.

In the wireless automatic meter reading system of the present invention, the wireless device master sets a wireless communication channel from the channel group information in the meter reading request message transmitted via the telephone line, and uses the wireless communication channel to send a meter reading request. Wireless transmission to the wireless device slave unit continuously, the telephone line is opened via the terminal network controller, and each wireless device slave unit receives the meter reading request by intermittent carrier sense operation. When the meter reading data is collected from the terminal device and the end of the meter reading request transmission from the wireless device master is detected, the time at which the meter reading data should be transmitted to the wireless device master from this end point is calculated, and the calculated meter reading is calculated. The meter reading data is sequentially transmitted to the wireless device master unit at the data transmission time, and the wireless device master unit receives and stores the meter reading data sequentially transmitted from each wireless device slave unit. Telephone line by the communication calls the center device via the automatic call network controller, returns the accumulated meter reading data to the center device.

Further, in the wireless automatic meter reading system of the present invention, the meter reading data returning means of the wireless device master unit sequentially returns the accumulated meter reading data to the center device.

Further, in the wireless automatic meter reading system of the present invention, the meter reading data returning means of the wireless device master unit collectively returns the accumulated meter reading data to the center device.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the entire configuration of a wireless automatic meter reading system according to one embodiment of the present invention. The wireless automatic meter reading system shown in FIG.
It has a center device 1 for collecting the usage of gas and the like from meters, which are terminal devices of a plurality of consumers, via a telephone line. The center device 1 has a center-side network controller (C-NCU) 3 and a terminal transmitter. It is connected to a telephone exchange 7 via an automatic terminating network controller (MA-NCU) 5 which is a network controller for call communication. The switching unit 7 is connected to a no-ringing trunk 9 for no-ringing communication, and a wireless device base unit 13 is connected via a terminal network control unit (T-NCU) 11.

The wireless device master unit 13 is connected to a plurality of wireless device slave units 15-1 to 19-m via a plurality of wireless channels CH # 1, CH # 2,..., CH # n. The meter 21 is provided in each of the wireless device slave units 15-1 to 19-m.
-1 to 25-m are respectively connected.

The plurality of wireless device slave units 15-1 to 19-
m is divided into a plurality of channel groups corresponding to each radio channel, that is, a first channel group to an n-th channel group, and the first channel group has m
... 15-m
, And a wireless channel CH # 1 is assigned to each wireless device slave unit of this channel group. In the second channel group, m wireless communication devices 17-
, 17-2,..., 17-m, and a wireless channel CH # 2 is assigned to each wireless device slave unit of this channel group, and so on. Wireless device slave units 19-1, 19-2, ... 1
9-m, and a wireless channel CH # n is assigned to each wireless device slave in this channel group.

The wireless device master unit 13 performs wireless communication with each wireless device slave unit between the wireless device master unit 13 configured as described above and the plurality of wireless device slave units 15-1 to 19-m. Means that the wireless device master unit 13 has a plurality of wireless device slave units belonging to the same channel group to which the same channel is assigned, for example, the wireless device slave unit 1 of the first channel group.
.., 15-m are simultaneously called.
Specifically, using the wireless channel CH # 1 for the channel group, for example, the wireless device slave units 15-1, 15-2,.
.. Simultaneously call 15-m, set individual identification information of the wireless device slave unit in the meter reading request message, and make only the wireless device slave unit of this identification information respond. Perform wireless communication with.

As shown in FIG. 2, the wireless device base unit 13 has an antenna 31 for wirelessly communicating with a wireless device slave unit, and a wireless circuit for transmitting and receiving a wireless communication message through the antenna 31. 32, a carrier detection circuit 3 having an intermittent carrier sense operation to detect the presence / absence of wireless communication from the wireless device slave unit, and also to detect transmission interruption (carrier interruption) from the wireless device slave unit.
3, an interface circuit 34 connected to the terminal network control device 11 for electrically level-converting signals with the terminal network control device 11, and controlling the overall operation of the wireless device base unit 13, It converts a wire communication message from the terminal network control device 11 into a wireless communication message to the wireless device slave device, or converts a wireless communication message from the wireless device slave device into a wire communication message to the terminal network control device 11. And a CPU having a function of setting a transmission channel in the radio circuit 32
35, a meter reading value storage circuit 36 capable of accumulating meter reading value data collected from the wireless device slave unit, and dialing information of the center device 1 when the meter reading value is transmitted to the center device 1 by terminal call communication. And a dialing information setting circuit 37 for setting the dialing information.

Further, the wireless device slave units 15-1 to 19-
As shown in FIG. 3, each of m includes an antenna 41 for wirelessly communicating with the wireless device base unit 13, a wireless circuit 42 for transmitting and receiving wireless communication messages through the antenna 41, and an intermittent Carrier sense operation is performed to detect the presence / absence of wireless communication from the wireless device master unit 13, and to stop transmission (carrier cut) from the wireless device master unit 13.
, A carrier detection circuit 43 having a function of detecting a signal, an interface circuit 44 connected to the meter and electrically converting a signal from the meter to an electric level, and controlling the entire operation of the wireless device slave unit. To convert the wired communication message into a wireless communication message to the wireless device base unit 13,
A CPU 45 for converting a wireless communication message from the wireless device master unit 13 into a wired communication message to the meter, a message time setting circuit 46 for setting a transmission time length T ₁ of meter reading value data, and an assignment to its own wireless device slave unit It was radio Sochiko machine own identification information, i.e. a handset number setting circuit 47 has set number 1 to m, and a timer circuit 48. which counts a delay time T ₄ the CPU45 is set.

Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the operation of the wireless automatic meter reading system of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

In the processing shown in FIG. 4, the center apparatus 1 executes, for example, m meters 21-1, 21-21 belonging to the first channel group among the plurality of meters 21-1 to 25-m.
2,... 21-m are to be collected, and the center device 1 is the identification information 1 of the channel group and the identification information 1 of the meter for which the meter data is to be collected.
To m, send the telephone number of the wireless device base unit 13 to the exchange 7 via the center-side network control device 3, and send a no-ringing call via the no-ringing trunk 9 to control the terminal network. The call arrives at the device 11. The terminal network control device 11 transmits a start message to the wireless device master device 13.

Upon receiving the activation message from the terminal network controller 11 via its own interface circuit 34, the wireless device master unit 13 returns an activation response message to the center-side network controller 3. The center-side network control device 3 is a wireless device master device 13.
When the activation response message is received from the wireless device master device 13, a meter reading request message including the channel group identification information 1 and the meter identification information 1 to m is transmitted to the wireless device master unit 13.

The wireless device master unit 13 sets the wireless communication channel (CH # 1) of the wireless circuit 32 from the channel group information in the meter reading request message, and uses the wireless communication channel (CH # 1) for the meter reading request. Is continuously transmitted. In order to extend the timeout monitoring of the terminal network controller 11 in parallel, the wireless device master unit 13 transmits dummy data (X data, Y data) until transmission of meter reading data to the center side network controller 3. Exchanges.

On the other hand, the wireless communication devices 15-1, 15-2,... 15 set to the wireless communication channel CH # 1
−m indicates the wireless device master unit 1 in the carrier detection circuit 43.
, 15-m, the CPU 45 of each of the wireless communication devices 15-1, 15-2,... 15-m converts the wireless communication message from the wireless communication device 13 into a wired communication message. , 21-2,..., 21-2 connected to each other through the interface circuit 44.
The meter reading request message is transmitted to m. And the wireless device slave unit 1
.., 15-m are connected to the meters 21-1, 21 through the interface circuit 44, respectively.
Collect meter reading value data from −2,..., 21-m.

At the same time, the wireless communication devices 15-1 and 15
,... 15-m are the carrier detection circuits 4 respectively.
3 detects the end of the meter reading request transmission from the wireless device master unit 13 (carrier cut), and from the time when the end is detected, the message transmission time T set in the message time setting circuit 46 in advance.
₁ and the wireless Sochiko machine 15-1~19-m transmission start time of the meter reading value data from the number n is identification information T ₄ = T ₁ ×
(N-1) is calculated, and sets the transmission start time T ₄ to the timer circuit 48 as the delay time.

After counting the delay time T ₄ , the timer circuit 48 outputs a count end signal to the CPU 45 to inform the CPU 45 of the transmission start time of the meter reading value data. The CPU 45
In response to the count end signal from the timer circuit 48, the wireless communication of the meter reading value data to the wireless device master unit 13 is performed through the wireless circuit 42 and the antenna 41.

The wireless device master unit 13 is connected to the wireless device slave unit 15-.
When each meter reading value data (1) to (m) from 1, 15-2,..., 15-m is collected, the wireless communication message is converted into a wire communication message, and the meter reading value data (1) and the meter reading value data are converted. (2),... Sequentially to the center-side network control device 3 as meter reading value data (m). The center side network control device 3 transmits all the meters 21-1, 21-2,.
When the meter reading value data (1) to (m) from 21-m is collected, an end message is transmitted to the wireless device master unit 13 and the telephone line is opened, and then the meter reading value data (1) to (1) to the center device 1 are opened.
(M) is transmitted. When the terminal network control device 11 identifies the end message from the center side network control device 3, the terminal network control device 11 releases the telephone line in the same manner as the center side network control device 3.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the wireless communication device 13 uses the wireless communication channel CH # 1 based on the channel group information in the meter reading request message from the center side network control device 3.
And the wireless device slave units 15-1 and 15-
2,... 15-m, based on the meter reading value data transmission time information and the identification information of the wireless device slave unit, which are set in advance from the end of the meter reading request transmission from the wireless device master unit 13.
By transmitting the meter-reading value data while shifting the timing of starting wireless transmission from each of the wireless device slave units 15-1, 15-2,..., 15-m, the wireless device master unit 13 The meter reading value data from the machines 15-1, 15-2,..., 15-m can be continuously transmitted, collected by the center device 1, and the telephone line occupation time can be reduced.

Next, the operation of another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The configuration of the wireless automatic meter reading system of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is the same as that of FIG. 1, and the configurations of the wireless device master unit and the wireless device slave unit are also the same as those shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively. .

The wireless automatic meter reading system in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 comprises a center device 1 and meters 21-1, 21-2, 21-2.
The automatic meter reading operation between... 21-m is the same as the operation shown in FIG. 4, except that the wireless device master unit 13 sends the wireless device slave units 15-1, 15-2,. The meter reading data (1) to (m) collected from 15-m are not sequentially transmitted, but are temporarily stored in the meter reading value storage circuit 36, and after all the meter reading data are stored, the center side network controller 3 is collectively collected. Is that it is sent to

As described above, the meter reading data (1) to (m) collected by the wireless device master unit 13 are collectively transmitted to the center-side network control device 3, thereby further shortening the telephone line occupation time. Can be.

Next, the operation of still another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The configuration of the wireless automatic meter reading system of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is the same as that of FIG. 1, and the configurations of the wireless device master unit and the wireless device slave unit are also shown in FIG.
And the same as shown in FIG.

The processing shown in FIG. 6 is similar to that of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, except that the center device 1 outputs, for example, m meters 21-1 belonging to the first channel group among a plurality of meters 21-1 to 25-m. -1, 21-2,..., 21-m, and the wireless device master unit 13 reads the meter reading data from the meters 21-1, 21, 2,. While collecting the data, the wireless device base unit 13
The telephone line between the telephone and the center device 1 is temporarily opened.

In FIG. 6, the center device 1 creates a meter reading request message including the identification information 1 of the channel group for which meter reading data is to be collected and the identification information 1 to m of the meter. The telephone number of the wireless device base unit 13 is sent to the exchange 7 via the switching unit 7, and arrives at the terminal network control unit 11 through the no-ringing trunk 9 by a no-ringing call. The terminal network control device 11 transmits a start message to the wireless device master device 13.

Upon receiving the activation message from the terminal network control device 11 through its own interface circuit 34, the wireless device master device 13 returns an activation response message to the center-side network control device 3. The center-side network control device 3 is a wireless device master device 13.
When the activation response message is received from the wireless device master device 13, a meter reading request message including the channel group identification information 1 and the meter identification information 1 to m is transmitted to the wireless device master unit 13.

The wireless device master unit 13 sets a wireless communication channel (CH # 1) in the wireless circuit 32 from the channel group information in the meter reading request message, and uses the wireless communication channel (CH # 1) for a meter reading request. Is continuously transmitted.

When the center-side network control device 3 receives a response message to the meter reading request message from the wireless device master device 13, it transmits an end message to the wireless device master device 13, and the center-side network control device 3 and the terminal network. The operation of the control device 11 is stopped, and the telephone line is released.

On the other hand, the wireless communication devices 15-1, 15-2,... 15 set to the wireless communication channel CH # 1
−m indicates the wireless device master unit 1 in the carrier detection circuit 43.
, 15-m, the CPU 45 of each of the wireless communication devices 15-1, 15-2,... 15-m converts the wireless communication message from the wireless communication device 13 into a wired communication message. , 21-2,..., 21-2 connected to each other through the interface circuit 44.
The meter reading request message is transmitted to m. And the wireless device slave unit 1
.., 15-m are connected to the meters 21-1, 21 through the interface circuit 44, respectively.
Collect meter reading value data from −2,..., 21-m.

At the same time, the wireless communication devices 15-1 and 15
,... 15-m are the carrier detection circuits 4 respectively.
3 detects the end of the meter reading request transmission from the wireless device master unit 13 (carrier cut), and from the time when the end is detected, the message transmission time T set in the message time setting circuit 46 in advance.
₁ and the wireless Sochiko machine 15-1~19-m transmission start time of the meter reading value data from the number n is identification information T ₄ = T ₁ ×
(N-1) is calculated, and sets the transmission start time T ₄ to the timer circuit 48 as the delay time.

After the counting of the delay time T ₄ is completed, the timer circuit 48 outputs a count end signal to the CPU 45 to notify the transmission start time of the meter reading value data. The CPU 45
In response to the count end signal from the timer circuit 48, the wireless communication of the meter reading value data to the wireless device master unit 13 is performed through the wireless circuit 42 and the antenna 41.

The wireless device master unit 13 is connected to the wireless device slave unit 15-.
When the meter reading data (1) to (m) from 1, 15-2,..., 15-m are collected, the collected meter reading data (1) to (m) is temporarily stored in the meter reading value storage circuit 36. accumulate. Then, all the meter reading value data is stored in the meter reading value storage circuit 3.
6, the call request message is transmitted to the automatic incoming call network control device 5 by the terminal call communication based on the dialing information of the center device 1 stored in advance in the dialing information setting circuit 37, and the automatic incoming call is received. After reading the network controller 5 and receiving the response message from the automatic incoming call network controller 5, the meter reading data (1), meter reading data (2),. The data (m) is sequentially transmitted to the automatic incoming call network controller 5.

The automatic incoming call network controller 5 collects the meter reading value data (1) to (m) of all the meters 21-1, 21-2,. After transmitting the end message to the central processing unit 13 and releasing the telephone line, the meter reading value data (1) to (m) are transmitted to the center device 1. When the terminal network control device 11 identifies the termination message from the automatic call receiving network control device 5, it opens the telephone line in the same manner as the automatic call receiving network control device 5.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the wireless device master unit 13 is connected to the wireless device slave units 15-1, 15-2,.
During the wireless communication with the 5-m, the operation of the wired communication portions such as the center-side network control device 3 and the terminal network control device 11 is stopped, the telephone line is opened, and the wireless device base unit 13 collects. Since the measured meter reading value data (1) to (m) are sequentially transmitted from the wireless device master device 13 to the automatic incoming call network control device 5 by terminal call communication, a plurality of meters 21-1, 21-2,.・
Meter reading data from 21-m can be continuously collected, and the telephone line occupation time can be reduced.

Next, the operation of another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the configuration of the wireless automatic meter reading system of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 is the same as that of FIG. 1, and the configurations of the wireless device master unit and the wireless device slave unit are also the same as those shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. .

The wireless automatic meter reading system in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 includes a center device 1 and meters 21-1, 21-2, and 21-2.
The automatic meter reading operation between 21-m is the same as the operation shown in FIG. 6, and the difference is that the wireless device master unit 13 sends the wireless device slave units 15-1, 15-2,. The meter reading data (1) to (m) collected from 15-m are not sequentially transmitted, but all meter reading data are accumulated in the meter reading value storage circuit 36, and then transmitted to the center side network control device 3 collectively. It is a point.

As described above, the meter reading data (1) to (m) collected by the wireless device master unit 13 are collectively transmitted to the center-side network control device 3, thereby further reducing the telephone line occupation time. Can be.

[0053]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The wireless device master sets a wireless communication channel from the channel group information in the meter reading request message, continuously performs wireless transmission for a meter reading request to the wireless device slave on the wireless communication channel, and sets each wireless device slave. Since the meter reading data sequentially transmitted from the machine is received, and the received meter reading data is sequentially or collectively returned to the center device via the network control device and the telephone line, the occupation time of the telephone line can be reduced. it can.

Further, according to the present invention, the wireless device master sets a wireless communication channel based on the channel group information in the meter reading request message, and transmits wireless transmission for a meter reading request to the wireless device slave using the wireless communication channel. This process is performed continuously, the telephone line is opened, and meter reading data sequentially transmitted from each wireless device slave unit is received and stored. Then, the center device is called by terminal call communication, and the stored meter reading data is collected. Since the data is returned to the center device sequentially or collectively, the occupation time of the telephone line can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a wireless automatic meter reading system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a wireless device master unit used in the wireless automatic meter reading system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a wireless device slave unit used in the wireless automatic meter reading system of FIG. 1;

4 is an explanatory timing chart showing the operation of the wireless automatic meter reading system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing the operation of a wireless automatic meter reading system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory timing chart showing an operation of a wireless automatic meter reading system according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing the operation of the wireless automatic meter reading system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 center device 3 center side network control device 5 automatic incoming call network control device 7 exchange 9 no ringing trunk 11 terminal network control device 13 wireless device parent device 15-1 to 19-m wireless device slave device 21-1 to 25-m meter 36 Meter reading value storage circuit 37 Dialing information setting circuit 46 Message time setting circuit 47 Remote unit number setting circuit

Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hajime Furusawa 2-3-3 Nakase, Mihama-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. Information Technology Research Laboratories (72) Inventor Tetsuya Oki 70 Yanagicho, Sai-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Toshiba Corporation Inside Yanagimachi Plant (72) Inventor Toshihiko Kawai 70, Yanagimachi, Saiwai-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Toshiba Yanagimachi Plant (72) Inventor Tetsuya Hara 70, Yanagimachi, Saiwai-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Toshiba Yanagimachi Plant ( 56) References JP-A-6-284210 (JP, A) JP-A-3-117793 (JP, A) JP-A-2-244827 (JP, A) JP-B-63-20071 (JP, B1) ) Surveyed field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04B ^7/ 24-7/26 113 H04Q ^7/ 00-7/38

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] A wireless device master unit is connected to a telephone line via a terminal network controller, and a plurality of wireless device slave units connected to the wireless device master unit via a wireless line are respectively connected to a plurality of terminal devices. The information including the meter reading data of each terminal device is collected from the telephone line by the no ringing communication by connecting to the center device, and the plurality of wireless device subunits are respectively divided into a plurality of channel groups including a plurality of radio device subunits. A wireless automatic meter reading system that is divided and assigned to the same wireless communication channel to each of the wireless device slave units of each channel group, and called by the assigned wireless communication channel and the identification information of each wireless device slave unit; The device master sets the wireless communication channel from the channel group information in the meter reading request message transmitted via the telephone line, and sets the wireless communication channel. A wireless communication device for wirelessly transmitting a meter reading request to a wireless device slave unit via a communication channel, wherein each of the wireless device slave units is configured to perform an intermittent carrier sensing operation. Collecting means for receiving the meter reading request from the terminal device and collecting meter reading data from the terminal device in response to the meter reading request, end detecting means for detecting the end of meter reading request transmission from the wireless device master unit, and the detected meter reading The time at which the meter reading data should be transmitted to the wireless device master unit from the end of the request transmission is calculated based on predetermined meter reading data transmission time information and the identification information of the wireless device slave unit in the channel group. Meter reading data transmitting means for sequentially transmitting the meter reading data to the wireless device master unit at the determined meter reading data transmission time, wherein the wireless device master unit transmits the meter reading data from each wireless device slave unit to the wireless device master unit. It receives meter reading data which is next transmitted, wireless smart metering system, characterized in that it comprises a metering data returning means for returning the meter reading data the receiver to the center device via the network control unit and the telephone line. 2. The meter reading data return means of the wireless device master unit sequentially receives meter reading data sequentially transmitted from the meter reading data transmitting means of each wireless device slave unit, and sequentially receives the meter reading data from the network controller. 2. The wireless automatic meter reading system according to claim 1, further comprising a sequential return means for returning the information to the center device via the device and the telephone line. 3. The meter reading data returning means of the wireless device master unit sequentially stores and stores meter reading data sequentially transmitted from the meter reading data transmitting unit of each wireless device slave unit. 2. A wireless automatic meter reading system according to claim 1, further comprising a batch return means for collectively returning the meter reading data stored in the central unit via a network control device and a telephone line. 4. A wireless device master unit is connected to a telephone line via a terminal network controller, and a plurality of wireless device slave units connected to the wireless device master unit via a wireless line are respectively connected to a plurality of terminal devices. By connecting to the telephone line, information including meter reading data of each terminal device can be collected in the center device by no ringing communication, and information from the terminal device can be transmitted to the center device through the telephone line by terminal calling communication, ,
The plurality of wireless device slaves are each divided into a plurality of channel groups including a plurality of wireless device slaves, and the wireless device slaves of each channel group are assigned the same wireless communication channel, and the assigned wireless communication channel And a wireless automatic meter reading system called by the identification information of each wireless device slave unit, wherein the wireless device master unit sets a wireless communication channel from channel group information in a meter reading request message transmitted via a telephone line. A meter reading request transmitting unit for continuously performing wireless transmission for a meter reading request to the wireless device slave unit on the wireless communication channel, and wirelessly transmitting a meter reading request to the wireless device slave unit by the meter reading request transmitting unit. Line release means for releasing the telephone line via the terminal network control device when the Collecting means for receiving a meter reading request from the wireless device master device by the operation of the wireless device, collecting meter reading data from the terminal device in response to the meter reading request, and detecting the end of the meter reading request transmission from the wireless device master device. Detecting means for transmitting the meter reading data to the wireless device master unit from the end of the detected meter reading request transmission to predetermined meter reading data transmission time information and identification information of the wireless device slave unit in the channel group And a meter reading data transmitting means for sequentially transmitting the meter reading data to the wireless device master at the calculated meter reading data transmission time, wherein the wireless device master has the meter reading data of each wireless device slave. A storage means for receiving and storing the meter reading data sequentially transmitted from the transmitting means, and storing the meter reading data in the storage means, and then transmitting the data via the terminal network control device by terminal call communication. Wireless meter reading system for connecting a line, calling a center device via an automatic incoming call network control device, and returning meter reading data stored in the storage device to the center device. . 5. The wireless communication device according to claim 4, wherein the meter reading data return means of the wireless device master unit has a sequential return means for sequentially returning the meter reading data stored in the storage means to a center device. Automatic meter reading system. 6. The wireless communication device according to claim 4, wherein the meter reading data returning means of the wireless device master unit includes batch returning means for returning the meter reading data stored in the storage means to the center device at a time. Wireless automatic meter reading system.