JP3702001B2 - Gas meter automatic meter reading system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention uses a public telephone line to collect and manage data indicating the indication values of gas meters installed in the presence of a plurality of users in a management center device, and each user owns a telephone set owned by the user. The present invention relates to an automatic meter reading system of a gas meter that can be used to know an indication value or a gas charge of the gas meter.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been an automatic meter reading system for a gas meter that uses a public telephone line and collects and manages data indicating an indication value of a gas meter installed at a plurality of users in a management center device.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional system, when the user tries to know his / her gas consumption and gas charge, the user himself / herself directly reads the gas meter reading and calculates the gas charge, or a bill from the gas company. There was little merit for the user.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic meter reading system for a gas meter that is improved in convenience for the user.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 uses a public telephone line and collects and manages data indicating the indicated values of the gas meter installed under a plurality of users in a management center device. In the automatic meter-reading system, data indicating the instruction value taken from the gas meter connected to the public telephone line between the telephone connected to the public telephone line and the management center apparatus is transmitted to the management center apparatus through the public telephone line. A control device, a destination discrimination means for judging whether or not the destination of the telephone call through the public telephone line is a management center device, an off-hook detection means for detecting the off-hook of the telephone, and the destination is Switcher that connects the public telephone line to the telephone when it is not a management center device or when the telephone is off-hook. Doo is provided on the control device, display means for performing a transmission request for data, and a data receiving means for receiving data indicating an indication of the gas meter from the control device, the received data to the control device in accordance with the key operation The display means is provided on the telephone.
[0006]
The invention of claim 2 relates to means for making a data transmission request to the management center apparatus via a public telephone line in response to a key operation, and an indication value of a gas meter held by the management center apparatus. The telephone is provided with receiving means for receiving data through a public telephone line and display means for displaying the received data.
[0007]
[Action]
According to the said structure, the user can know the said data simply by receiving the data which show the indication value of the gas meter transmitted from a control apparatus with a telephone, and displaying on a display means.
[0008]
Alternatively, when a user calls the management center device using a telephone and makes a data transmission request to the management center device by a key operation, the data related to the indicated value of the gas meter from the management center device, that is, gas usage since data such as the amount and gas rates is transmitted to the phone over the public telephone line, and receives the data in the phone, the received used for persons by displaying data on the display means can know the data .
[0009]
【Example】
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of construction of an automatic meter reading system for a gas meter in the present embodiment. A public telephone line L is connected to the management center apparatus CS of the gas company, and the management center apparatus CS, the control device CT, and the telephone set TE are connected by the telephone line L via a telephone station (not shown). In addition, the management center device CS has a dial function using a public telephone line L, a call function, a data transmission / reception function, etc. in order to collect and manage data such as gas usage and gas charges for each of a plurality of users. These functions are realized by a known configuration. Note that PT is a protector, and is provided to protect the user from a large current or a large voltage due to an induced lightning surge on the public telephone line L or contact with a power line.
[0010]
FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the gas meter GM, a flow rate measuring unit 2 that measures the flow rate of the gas flowing through the gas pipe 1, a meter display unit 3 that displays an integrated value of the measured gas flow rate, and gas leaks, earthquakes, etc. An abnormality detection unit 4 for detecting the abnormality, a shutoff valve 5 for shutting off the gas pipe 1 when an abnormality occurs, a drive unit 6 for driving the shutoff valve 5, and a shutoff valve 5 that has been shut off once are returned to supply gas. A return switch section 7 for restarting and a microcomputer (hereinafter abbreviated as “microcomputer”) 8 for controlling each section are provided. The microcomputer 8 calculates the integrated value of the gas flow rate measured by the flow rate measurement unit 2 and displays it on the meter display unit 3. When an abnormality such as a gas leak or an earthquake is detected in the abnormality detection unit 4, the drive unit 6 drives the shut-off valve 5 by the control signal from the microcomputer 8 to shut off the gas pipe 1 and stop the gas supply. In order to prevent secondary disasters such as fire. In this way, the gas meter GM that incorporates the microcomputer 8 and shuts off the gas supply by shutting off the gas pipe 1 when an abnormality occurs is commonly called a microcomputer meter.
[0011]
FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the telephone set TE. The telephone set TE includes a communication circuit unit 10 having a soundproof circuit, a PB signal transmission / reception unit 11 that transmits / receives a push button signal (hereinafter referred to as “PB signal”) via a telephone line L, and a handset. A handset 12, a tone ringer unit 13 that emits a ring tone, a hook switch unit 14, a key operation unit 15 having a numeric keypad, a telephone control unit 16 that controls each unit, an indication value of a gas meter GM described later, And a display unit 17 including an LCD panel for displaying a gas charge. That is, in this embodiment, the PB signal transmission / reception unit 11 constitutes reception means.
[0012]
On the other hand, the control device CT has a configuration as shown in FIG. 4 and includes an incoming call detection unit 20 that detects an incoming call by detecting a call signal sent from the telephone station via the telephone line L, and a telephone line L. A diode bridge DB provided between the diode bridge DB and the telephone line L, and a PB signal transmission / reception part 21 provided between the diode bridge DB and the telephone line L for transmitting / receiving a PB signal via the telephone line L; A relay contact unit 22 connected to the telephone line L in parallel with the unit 20, a relay drive unit 23 for switching the relay contact unit 22, and a DC closing unit 24 for DC-closing the telephone line L via the relay contact unit 22. In addition, the control center device controls each part and receives the integrated value data of the gas flow rate from the microcomputer 8 of the gas meter GM via the signal line Ls and via the telephone line L by the PB signal. And a signal processing unit 25 to send to the S. Note that the telephone set TE is connected to the control device CT via a relay contact portion 22 via a call line.
[0013]
The relay contact portion 22 includes a pair of common contacts c ₁ connected to the DC closing portion 24, a pair of common contacts c ₂ connected to the telephone set TE, and two sets of external line side contacts connected in parallel to the telephone line L. a ₁ , a _2, and two sets of extension-side contacts b ₁ , b ₂ for connecting the control device CT and the telephone set TE, and the DC closing part 24 of the control device CT and the telephone set TE are individually provided. In addition to being connected to the telephone line L, the control device CT and the telephone set TE can be directly connected.
[0014]
Further, the signal processing unit 25 of the control device CT is connected to the telephone control unit 16 of the telephone set TE through a pair of control lines Lc, and the control line Lc indicates whether the telephone set TE is in an off-hook state or an on-hook state. It is detected by a signal sent from the telephone set TE via the.
Next, the operation of this embodiment system will be described.
[0015]
First, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5, the case where the metering of the gas meter GS installed at the user's place in the management center apparatus CS is performed will be described. The control device CT detects the call signal sent from the telephone office via the telephone line L by the incoming call detection unit 20 (S1), and determines whether or not the PB signal is transmitted between the intermittent call signals. It is detected by the signal transmitting / receiving unit 21 (S2). This PB signal is sent from the management center apparatus CS via the telephone line L when the destination of the call signal is the management center apparatus CS. When the PB signal is detected, the signal processing unit 25 controls the relay driving unit 23 to switch the relay contact unit 22 to the external line side contact a ₁ and the internal line side contact b ₂ , respectively. The telephone line TE is disconnected from the telephone line L while being connected to the line L (S3), and the telephone line L is DC-closed by the DC closing unit 24 so that a telephone call can be made between the management center device CS and the control device CT. To do. That is, the PB signal transmission / reception unit 21 and the signal processing unit 25 constitute a counterpart determination unit of the present embodiment.
[0016]
Then, the signal processing unit 25 receives data (hereinafter referred to as “meter reading data”), which is an integrated value of the gas flow rate, and indicates the current value of the gas meter GM from the microcomputer 8 of the gas meter GM (S4), and receives a PB signal. The meter reading data is transmitted from the transmitting / receiving unit 21 to the telephone line L by the PB signal and transmitted to the management center device CS (S5). The management center device CS can receive the PB signal and acquire the current meter reading data of the gas meter GM, thereby obtaining the gas usage amount and gas charge of each user.
[0017]
If the management center device CS acquires the meter reading data, it disconnects the telephone line L and ends the call. On the other hand, when the control device CT detects that the telephone line L is disconnected on the management center device CS side (S6), the telephone line L is closed by the DC closing unit 24 and the call is terminated (S7). When the PB signal is not detected between the call signals, that is, for a normal call other than the automatic meter reading from the management center device CS, the signal processing unit 25 controls the relay drive unit 23 to control the relay contact unit 22. Are switched to the inner line side contact b ₁ and the outer line side contact a ₂ to connect the telephone set TE to the telephone line L and disconnect the DC closing part 24 from the telephone line L (S8). As a result, the telephone set TE detects the incoming call as usual and the tone ringer unit 13 sounds a ringing tone. If the hook switch unit 14 goes off-hook, the telephone line L is DC-connected and the handset 12 is used to communicate with the other party. You can make a call. Note that the above-described state is maintained while the telephone set TE is monitored by the control device CT and the telephone set TE is engaged (S9). Further, in order to detect the on-hook / off-hook of the telephone set TE, an on-hook / off-hook detection signal from the telephone control unit 16 of the telephone set TE is input to the signal processing unit 25 of the control device CT via the control line Lc.
[0018]
Next, the operation of displaying the current gas usage amount and charge in the telephone set TE, which is the gist of the present invention, will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, in the control device CT, the relay contact portion 22 is switched to the extension side contacts b ₁ and b ₂ so as to connect the normal telephone TE to the control device CT (actually the DC closing portion 24). When making a call using the telephone TE, after picking up the handset and turning off the hook switch unit 14 (SS1), for example, pressing the “0” key of the key operation unit 15 to operate a PB of “0” By transmitting a signal to the control device CT (SS2), the signal processing unit 25 of the control device CT switches the relay contact portion 22 to the inner line side contact b ₁ and the outer line side contact a ₂ , respectively. At the same time, the DC closing unit 24 is disconnected from the telephone line L (SS3), thereby making a call to the management center device CS or the like by the telephone TE. Door is possible.
[0019]
Then, the telephone number of the management center apparatus CS is dialed using the key operation unit 15, and the management center apparatus CS is called through the telephone line L (SS4). When the management center apparatus CS responds and a message urging transmission of the personal identification number is transmitted, the personal identification number previously assigned to each user is transmitted by the PB signal using the key operation unit 15 (SS5). The management center device CS confirms the match / mismatch of the transmitted passwords and sends a message to that effect when the passwords match, and sends the password again when the message that matches is not sent (SS6). . If the secret code numbers match and a message is sent, a data transmission request is made using the key operation unit 15 (SS7). That is, the PB signal is transmitted by pressing, for example, the “#” key of the key operation unit 15. When the management center device CS receives the PB signal indicating the above “#”, it returns the latest meter reading data and fee data of the user recorded in the management center device CS to the telephone set TE with the PB signal.
[0020]
The telephone set TE waits until it receives meter reading data and fee data (SS8), and if it receives the data, it displays it on the display unit 17 having an LCD panel or the like (SS9). As a result, the user does not need to confirm the indication value of the gas meter GM himself, and can know the amount of gas used and the charge by calling the management center apparatus CS. When the telephone set TE is on-hooked and the telephone line L is disconnected, the call is terminated (SS10).
[0021]
On the other hand, it is also possible to know only current meter reading data simply without calling the management center apparatus CS. That is, if the handset is picked up and off-hooked and the “0” key of the key operation unit 15 is not pressed, the signal processing unit 25 of the control device CT connects the DC closing unit 24 and the telephone set TE (SS11). Current meter reading data is received from the microcomputer 8 of the gas meter GM (SS12). Then, it waits until there is a data request from the telephone set TE (SS13). That is, in the key operation unit 15 of the telephone set TE, for example, when the “*” key is pressed and the PB signal is input to the signal processing unit 25 via the DC closing unit 24, the signal processing unit 25 is The current meter reading data received from the GM is transmitted as a PB signal to the telephone set TE through the DC closing unit 24 (SS14). The telephone set TE displays the received meter reading data on the display unit 17, and the user can know the current meter reading data (meter indication value in the gas meter GM). If the telephone set TE is on-hooked, the call between the control device CT and the telephone set TE is terminated (SS15).
[0022]
As described above, a telephone call is made from the telephone TE to the management center apparatus CS, and data such as gas usage and gas charges collected and managed by the management center apparatus CS is received by the telephone TE through the public telephone line L or controlled. Since the gas meter indication value data can be directly received from the apparatus CT and the above data can be displayed on the display unit 17 provided in the telephone set TE, the user can know the amount of gas used, the gas charge, etc. using the telephone set TE. Therefore, the convenience of the automatic meter reading system of the gas meter for the user can be improved.
[0023]
In this embodiment, the PB signal is used for transmission / reception of meter reading data between the management center device CS and the control device CT, but the data transmission format is not limited to this. The technical idea of the present invention can be applied not only to automatic meter reading of a gas meter but also to automatic meter reading of electricity or water that has a meter installed at the user's site.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic meter reading system for a gas meter that uses a public telephone line and collects and manages data indicating an indication value of a gas meter installed at a plurality of users in a management center device. A telephone connected to the line, and a control device connected to the public telephone line between the management center apparatus and the telephone and transmitting data indicating an instruction value taken from the gas meter to the management center apparatus through the public telephone line. A destination determination means for determining whether or not the destination of the incoming call through the telephone line is a management center device; an off-hook detection means for detecting off-hook of the telephone; and a case where the destination is not the management center device and the telephone The control device is provided with switching means for switching the public telephone line to a telephone when connected off-hook. Rutotomoni, means for performing a transmission request for data to the control device in accordance with the key operation, and a data receiving means for receiving data indicating an indication of the gas meter from the control device, and a display means for displaying the received data Since it is provided on the telephone, the data indicating the gas meter indication value transmitted from the control device is received by the telephone and displayed on the display means so that the user can easily know the above data. There is an effect that convenience can be improved.
[0025]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, means for requesting data transmission to the management center apparatus via a public telephone line in response to a key operation, and data relating to the indicated value of the gas meter held by the management center apparatus are received through the public telephone line. Receiving means and display means for displaying the received data are provided on the telephone, so that the user calls the management center apparatus using the telephone and makes a data transmission request to the management center apparatus by key operation. If this is done, data related to the indicated value of the gas meter from the management center device, that is, data such as gas consumption and gas charges are transmitted to the telephone through the public telephone line. by displaying on the display means used for person can know the data, making it possible to improve convenience for the user There is an effect that kill.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a gas meter used in the above.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a telephone set used in the above.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control device used in the above.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation described above.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation described above.
[Explanation of symbols]
CS management center device CT control device GM gas meter TE telephone

Claims (2)

A telephone connected to a public telephone line in an automatic meter reading system for a gas meter that uses a public telephone line to collect and manage data indicating the indicated values of gas meters installed at a plurality of users in a management center device; A telephone connected via a public telephone line, comprising a control device connected to a public telephone line between the management center apparatus and the telephone and transmitting data indicating an instruction value taken from a gas meter to the management center apparatus through the public telephone line Destination discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the other party is a management center apparatus, off-hook detection means for detecting off-hook of the telephone, and a public telephone when the other party is not the management center apparatus and when the telephone is off-hook The control device is provided with switching means for switching the line to the telephone and connecting the key. Provided means for performing a data transmission request to the control device in accordance with the work, and a data receiving means for receiving data indicating an indication of the gas meter from the control device, and a display means for displaying the received data to the phone An automatic meter reading system for a gas meter. Means for requesting data transmission to the management center device via the public telephone line in response to key operation; receiving means for receiving data on the indicated value of the gas meter held by the management center apparatus through the public telephone line; 2. The automatic meter reading system for a gas meter according to claim 1 , wherein the telephone is provided with display means for displaying data.

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