JP5809042B2 - Terminal network controller - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a terminal network control device used in an automatic meter reading system that performs automatic meter reading of gas, water, or the like via a communication line.

  In the automatic meter reading system, the terminal network control device installed in the user's home and the center device perform data communication through a communication line such as a general subscriber telephone line, and automatic meter reading is performed. The terminal network control device communicates with the center device based on setting information necessary for automatic meter reading.

  In order to construct such an automatic meter-reading system, installation work of the terminal network control device is performed at the user's home, and opening processing is performed. As shown in FIG. 6, the terminal network control device is shipped from the factory. At this time, the terminal network controller does not have any setting information. An operator installs a terminal network control device in a user's home, connects a communication line to the terminal network control device, and also connects a terminal device such as a meter.

  After the installation work, the operator writes setting information for communication necessary for communicating with the center device in the terminal network control device using the data setting device. The worker connects the data setting device to the terminal network control device, and manually inputs setting information for communication into the data setting device. The setting information is transmitted from the data setting device to the terminal network control device, and the setting information is written in a storage unit such as a nonvolatile memory. The setting information for communication includes a telephone number of the center device, a user ID for specifying the terminal network control device, an NRS number (call number sent from the terminal-side switching center for performing no-ringing communication), and the like. Thereafter, the operator performs an operation for downloading setting information necessary for automatic meter reading from the center device.

  The terminal network control device calls the center device, and requests download of setting information when the line with the center device is in a connected state. When the center device receives a download request from the terminal network control device, the center device transmits setting information. The terminal network control device downloads the setting information from the center device and stores the setting information in the storage unit. The operator confirms that the setting information is stored in the terminal network control device. After confirmation, the worker moves to the next installation site.

  Instead of downloading the setting information from the center device, the setting information may be directly input to the terminal network control device through the data setting device by the operator's operation.

  In the above operation, the operator must operate the data setting device at the site. Therefore, it takes time to work at one site, and the work efficiency is poor. Further, since the operator inputs the setting information, there is a possibility that an input error may occur, and it may take extra time.

  Here, Patent Document 1 describes that the opening process is performed without using a data setting device. When the user's home is called by a normal phone, the terminal network control device detects the calling signal and goes off-hook. The transmission side sends setting information such as an ID and a telephone number of the center device by a PB signal. When the calling side goes on-hook, the terminal network control device makes a terminal call with the telephone number of the input center device. The center device sends setting information to the terminal network control device, and the terminal network control device downloads the setting information from the center device.

  However, in this method, since the bell of the telephone at the user's house rings, the telephone may go off-hook first. Then, the terminal network control device cannot communicate and cannot download the setting information.

  Further, in the terminal network control device described in Patent Document 2, when the operator goes off-hook and makes a call to the center device, the center device responds to the call from the telephone and A communication state is established. The terminal network control device downloads setting information such as an ID, a telephone number of the center device, and an NRS number from the center device.

  However, with this method, an operator needs to make a call from the installation location, and it is not possible to completely eliminate a human error such as making a mistake.

Japanese Patent No. 3091070 JP-A-2005-347908

  After installing the terminal network control device, the worker must use the data setting device or make a call for the opening process. Therefore, in view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a terminal network control device that automatically performs opening processing without placing a burden on an operator who has installed a terminal network control device.

  The terminal network control device of the present invention is connected to a communication line and performs data communication with the center device via the communication line. The control unit that controls communication with the center device and the connection status of the communication line And a line detection unit for detection. The control unit determines whether or not the communication line is connected by installation work based on the connection state of the communication line. When determining that the communication line is connected, the control unit communicates with the center device for the opening process. When the center device receives a call for opening processing from the terminal network control device, the center device transmits setting information corresponding to the terminal network control device.

  When the terminal network control device is shipped from the factory or when the terminal network control device is moved, installation work of the terminal network control device is performed. In the installation work of the terminal network control device, the communication line is connected to the terminal network control device. That is, the connection state of the communication line is initially in a non-connected state, and changes to a connected state from the middle. When the control unit determines that the communication line is connected based on such a change in the connection status, the control unit performs communication with the center device. When the worker connects the communication line to the terminal network control device, the terminal network control device thereafter communicates with the center device, acquires necessary setting information from the center device, and the opening process is automatically performed.

  The line detection unit detects whether the communication line is connected or whether the communication line is not connected, and the control unit detects the non-connection state for a certain period of time, and then detects the connection state. It is determined that the connection by installation work has been completed. The control unit starts detecting the connection status of the communication line when the terminal network control device is shipped from the factory or when the terminal network control device is moved.

  When the terminal network control device is shipped from the factory or moved, it takes some time to complete the installation work. Therefore, the disconnected state continues for at least a certain time from the time of shipment or removal from the original place. If the connection state is detected after the non-connection state continues for a certain time, the communication line is connected. It can be considered that the installation work by the operator has been completed, and the control unit can communicate with the center device.

  The control unit transmits to the center device when a predetermined time has elapsed since the connection state was detected after the non-connection state was detected for a certain period of time. This specified time is set on the assumption of the time required for connecting work such as a meter or a telephone after connection of the communication line.

  The control unit stores destination information of the center device in advance and communicates with the center device based on the destination information. Since the terminal network control device must make a call after the installation work, the terminal network control device need only have the destination information of the center device.

  When making a call to the center device, the control unit makes a call forcing notification of the caller number. By performing the caller ID notification, the center device can specify the terminal network control device based on the caller number. Therefore, the setting information corresponding to the terminal network control device that performs the opening process can be transmitted.

  Further, the control unit makes a call for forcibly selecting a general subscriber telephone line when making a call to the center device. When a digital communication line is used as a communication line, there are cases where a toll-free number cannot be dialed and a call cannot be made to the center device. Therefore, by forcibly connecting to the center apparatus via a general subscriber telephone line, the terminal network control apparatus can reliably communicate with the center apparatus.

  According to the present invention, the operator simply installs the terminal network control device and performs the work of connecting the communication line to the terminal network control device. Thereafter, the terminal network control device automatically communicates with the center device. Thus, the opening process can be performed. This eliminates human error and eliminates the need for a data setter. In addition, since the operator can immediately move to the next installation location after installing the terminal network control device, many terminal network control devices can be installed, and the construction efficiency is improved.

Overall configuration diagram of automatic meter reading system of the present invention Overall configuration of automatic meter reading system using digital communication line Block diagram of terminal network controller Flow chart of factory opening process Flow chart of opening process at relocation Flow chart of conventional opening process

  An automatic meter reading system of this embodiment is shown in FIG. 1 is a host computer, a center device comprising a center network control device, 2 is a center side switching center, 3 is a terminal side switching center, 4 is a terminal network control device supporting no-ringing communication, 5 is a gas meter, security equipment, etc. A terminal device 6 having a communication function is a telephone. The terminal network control device 4 is communicably connected to the center device 1 via a general subscriber telephone line 7 as a communication line.

  FIG. 2 shows an automatic meter reading system using a digital communication line 8 such as an optical fiber as a communication line. Between the terminal-side switching center 3 and the terminal network control device 4, a line termination device 9 and a VoIP terminal 10 are interposed.

  The configuration of the terminal network control device 4 is shown in FIG. 11 is a line side circuit, 12 is an FSK (frequency modulation) modem, 13 is a DTMF signal transmission / reception circuit, 14 is a control unit, 15 is an interface circuit, 16 is a storage unit, and 17 is a battery as a power source.

  The line side circuit 11 monitors the signal from the telephone line 7 and the signal from the telephone 6, and connects or disconnects the telephone 6 and the telephone line 7. The FSK modem 12 detects a caller number signal transmitted from the exchange 3. The DTMF signal transmission / reception circuit 13 transmits / receives a dial tone signal. The interface circuit 15 communicates with the terminal device 5 such as a meter. The control unit 14 includes a microcomputer, and controls data communication between the center apparatus 1 and the terminal device 5. The storage unit 16 including a non-volatile memory stores setting information necessary for communicating with the center device 1. The setting information includes a user ID, a center device telephone number, an NRS number, a communication method, a communication speed, a synchronization method, and the like. The control unit 14 transmits / receives data to / from the center apparatus 1 through the telephone line 7 based on the setting information.

  The line side circuit 11 has a line voltage detection circuit 18 that detects a voltage change of the telephone line 7. The line voltage detection circuit 18 functions as a line detection unit that detects the connection status of the telephone line 7 according to the presence or absence of the voltage of the telephone line 7. When the line voltage detection circuit 18 detects the voltage from the telephone line 7, it detects that the telephone line 7 is connected to the terminal network control device 4. When the voltage from the telephone line 7 is not detected, the line voltage detection circuit 18 detects that the telephone line 7 is not connected to the terminal network control device 4.

  Here, when the terminal network control device 4 is shipped from the factory, the worker performs installation work at the user's home and connects the telephone line 7 to the terminal network control device 4. At this time, setting information is not yet set in the terminal network control device 4. After the terminal network control device 4 is installed, an opening process for communicating with the center device 1 is performed, and setting information is set in the terminal network control device 4.

  In order to automatically perform this opening process, the control unit 14 monitors the connection status of the telephone line 7 and determines whether or not the telephone line 7 has been connected by installation work. When the installation work of the terminal network control device 4 is performed, the disconnected state continues, and then changes to the connected state. Therefore, the control unit 14 determines that the telephone line 7 is connected due to the installation work when the non-connected state is continuously detected for a certain period of time and then the connected state is detected. The fixed time is set as a preset reference time. When it is determined that the telephone line 7 is connected, the control unit 14 communicates with the center apparatus 1 for the opening process. Note that when the control unit 14 determines that the telephone line 7 is not connected or has already been connected, the control unit 14 does not perform communication for the opening process.

  FIG. 4 shows the operation of the terminal network control device 4 when the opening process is automatically executed. When the terminal network control device 4 is shipped from the factory, the worker installs the terminal network control device 4 in the user's home. In the production process of the terminal network control device 4, the telephone number of the center device 1, for example, the toll-free number “012012345678” is written in advance in the terminal network control device 4 as destination information of the center device 1 and stored in the storage unit 16. The

  Further, other information necessary for automating the opening process is also written and stored in the storage unit 16. This information includes a reference time when determining the non-connection state and a specified time when determining the connection state. The reference time is, for example, 24 hours, the time from when the factory is shipped until it is installed, or the time required for relocation in order to reuse the terminal network control device 4 that was actually used at another user's home. It is set assuming The specified time is, for example, 10 minutes, and is set on the assumption of the time until the construction for connecting the telephone 6 and the meter is completed after the terminal network control device 4 is connected to the telephone line 7.

  When the terminal network control device 4 is shipped from the factory, the control unit 14 starts monitoring the connection status of the telephone line 7 (S1). At the time of shipment, since the telephone line 7 is not yet connected to the terminal network control device 4, the line voltage detection circuit 18 does not detect the voltage from the telephone line 7. The control unit 14 determines that it is in a disconnected state. The timer 19 built in the controller 14 counts up the line voltage detection no time (S2). This connection state monitoring operation is started when the control unit 14 is activated by turning on a switch provided in the terminal network control device 4 or automatically when a battery is inserted in the terminal network control device 4. The control unit 14 is activated and started.

  The control unit 14 checks whether or not the reference time has elapsed without the line voltage detection time (S3). If the reference time has not elapsed, the control unit 14 continues monitoring (S1).

  When the terminal network controller 4 is being transported to the user's home, no installation work has been performed, and the line voltage detection no time exceeds the reference time. When it is confirmed that the reference time has elapsed, the control unit 14 checks the connection status of the telephone line 7 (S4).

  When the installation work of the terminal network control device 4 is performed, the telephone line 7 is connected to the terminal network control device 4. The line voltage detection circuit 18 detects the presence of the line voltage. When the control unit 14 confirms that the connection state has been established, the control unit 14 starts counting the line voltage detection time (S5).

  If the telephone line 7 is connected to the terminal network control device 4 before the reference time elapses, the line voltage detection circuit 18 detects the voltage from the telephone line 7. The control unit 14 determines that the connection state has been established, and clears the line voltage detection no time during counting (S6). Then, the control unit 14 checks whether or not the connection state is established (S4), and if it is confirmed that the connection state is established, the control unit 14 starts counting the line voltage detection time (S5).

  The control unit 14 checks whether the specified time has elapsed for the line voltage detection time (S7). If the specified time has not elapsed, the control unit 14 continues monitoring (S4). During this time, the worker performs work for connecting the telephone 6, meter, and the like to the terminal network control device 4. When this work is finished, the installation work is finished. The operator can move to the next site.

  In the installation work, if the telephone line 7 is not yet connected to the terminal network control device 4, the line voltage is not detected. The control unit 14 determines that it is in a disconnected state, and clears the line voltage detection time (S8). And the control part 14 checks whether it became the connection state (S4).

  When the control unit 14 confirms that the specified time has elapsed since the connection state is established (S7), the control unit 14 transmits to the center device 1 for the opening process (S9). Since the telephone number of the center device 1 is stored in the storage unit 16, the control unit 14 reads out the telephone number and makes a call. When the line between the terminal network control device 4 and the center device 1 is connected, the control unit 14 requests download of setting information.

  When the center device 1 receives a call for opening processing from the terminal network control device 4, the center device 1 transmits setting information corresponding to the terminal network control device 4. When the terminal network control device 4 makes a call to the center device 1, a caller ID notification is made. The center device 1 has registered in advance in the storage unit the caller number of the user scheduled to be opened and the setting information corresponding to the terminal network control device 4 installed in the user's home. The center device 1 identifies the terminal network control device 4 based on the incoming caller number. Then, the center device 1 reads the setting information corresponding to the terminal network control device 4 from the storage unit and transmits it to the terminal network control device 4. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the wrong setting information from being transmitted by identifying the terminal network control device 4 scheduled to be opened.

  The control unit 14 of the terminal network control device 4 downloads the setting information, stores the setting information in the storage unit 16, performs initial setting (S10), and ends the opening process. In this way, the operator simply performs the installation work of the terminal network control device 4, and thereafter, the opening process is automatically executed. This eliminates the need for an operator to input setting information or make a telephone call using the data setting device, so that no human error occurs.

  By the way, when the terminal network control device 4 makes a call to the center device 1, the caller number may be set to non notification. In this case, since the caller ID is not notified, the center device 1 cannot identify the terminal network control device 4. Therefore, when the caller ID is set to non notification, the control unit 14 of the terminal network control device 4 performs a call forcing notification of the caller ID. That is, the control unit 14 adds a number for forcibly performing caller notification, for example, “186” before the telephone number of the center apparatus 1 and transmits the call. As a result, the caller number is notified to the center device 1, and the center device 1 can specify the terminal network control device 4.

  Further, when the communication line is not a general subscriber telephone line 7 but a digital communication line, an IP telephone can be used. However, toll-free calls cannot be made with IP phones. Therefore, when making a call to the center device 1, the control unit 14 makes a call forcibly selecting the general subscriber telephone line 7. That is, the control unit 14 adds the number forcibly selecting the telephone line 7, for example, “0000” before the telephone number of the center device 1 and transmits the call. Thereby, even if the telephone number of the center device 1 is a toll-free number, the terminal network control device 4 can be reliably connected to the center device 1. Therefore, even if the transmission is made depending on the type of the communication line, it is not possible to connect to the center device 1 and avoid the situation where the opening process cannot be performed.

  Next, the terminal network control device 4 in actual operation may be removed at the installation location because it is unnecessary, and may be reused at another location. In this terminal network control device 4, setting information is stored in the storage unit 16, but other setting information must be changed except for the telephone number of the center device 1 in accordance with the user house to be transferred. Even when the terminal network control device 4 is moved in this way, the opening process is automatically performed as described above, as shown in FIG.

  The control unit 14 of the terminal network control device 4 recognizes that the actual use operation is being performed (S11), and always monitors the connection status of the telephone line 7 (S1). The telephone line 7 is disconnected from the terminal network control device 4 for relocation of the terminal network control device 4. When the line voltage from the telephone line 7 is exhausted, the control unit 14 confirms that the line is disconnected and starts counting the line voltage detection timeless (S2).

  If the terminal network control device 4 has not been removed, the line voltage from the telephone line 7 is present, so the control unit 14 confirms that it is in a connected state and clears the count for no line voltage detection (S6). ) And continue monitoring the connection state (S1).

  The control unit 14 checks whether or not the reference time has elapsed without the line voltage detection time (S3). When the line voltage no-time exceeds the reference time, the control unit 14 determines that the telephone line 7 has been disconnected from the terminal network control device 4. Next, the control unit 14 checks whether there is a line voltage from the telephone line 7 (S4). During this time, installation work of the terminal network control device 4 is performed at another installation location.

  When the telephone line 7 is connected to the terminal network control device 4, there is a line voltage from the telephone line 7, and the control unit 14 confirms that it is in a connected state (S4), Counting is started (S5). Thereafter, when the specified time elapses, the control unit 14 determines that the telephone line 7 is connected, transmits the call to the center device 1, and the opening process is automatically performed.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, Of course, many corrections and changes can be added to the said embodiment within the scope of the present invention. An Internet network may be used as the communication line. In this case, the destination information of the center is an IP address or a mail address.

  When detecting the connection status of the communication line, the presence or absence of connection of the communication line may be detected electrically or mechanically instead of detecting the presence or absence of the line voltage. A detection switch is provided at a connection terminal for connecting a communication line of the terminal network control device. When the communication line is connected to the connection terminal, the detection switch is turned on, and when the communication line is disconnected from the connection terminal, the detection switch is turned off. The control unit 14 determines the connection status of the communication line based on the on / off state of the detection switch.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Center apparatus 2 Center side switching center 3 Terminal side switching center 4 Terminal network control apparatus 5 Terminal equipment 6 Telephone 7 Telephone line 14 Control part 16 Memory | storage part 18 Line voltage detection circuit 19 Time measuring part

Claims (7)

Connected to the communication line, a terminal network controller to perform data communication through a communication line with the center device, and the line detection unit for detecting a connection status of the communication line, installation work on the basis of the connection status of the communication line A control unit that determines whether or not a communication line is connected and controls communication with the center device, and the line detection unit is in a connected state in which the communication line is connected or in a disconnected state in which the communication line is not connected When the connection state is detected after a non-connection state is detected for a certain period of time , the control unit determines that the connection by the installation work has been completed and A terminal network controller characterized by communication. 2. The terminal control device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit transmits to the center device when a predetermined time has elapsed from the time when the connection state is detected after the non-connection state is detected for a certain time. 3. The terminal network control device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit stores destination information of the center device in advance and communicates with the center device based on the destination information. 3. The terminal network control device according to claim 2, wherein the control unit performs a call forcing notification of a caller number when making a call to the center device. 3. The terminal network control device according to claim 2, wherein the control unit performs transmission for forcibly selecting a general subscriber telephone line when making a call to the center device. Control unit, when the factory or the terminal network controller of the terminal network controller is transferred, according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that to start the detection of the connection status of the communication line Terminal network controller. An automatic meter-reading system in which the terminal network control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and the center device are communicably connected via a communication line, and the center device performs an opening process from the terminal network control device. When receiving an outgoing call, the automatic meter reading system transmits setting information corresponding to the terminal network control device.

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