JP6460744B2 - Telemeter system and relay device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a telemeter system and a relay device that transmit usage amounts of water, gas, and the like measured by a meter to a communication device on a center side by communication.

  Conventionally, as a telemeter system developed for meter reading of water, gas, electricity, etc., it is connected to a center side device equipped with a host computer and a center network control device through a wide area wireless network such as a PHS network and a FOMA network. A wireless telemeter system including a wireless master device and a plurality of wireless slave devices that are communicably connected to the wireless master device via a narrow-area wireless network is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). In the wireless telemeter system, a meter for meter reading is connected to each wireless slave device, and data such as meter reading values obtained from the meter is transmitted from the wireless slave device to the wireless master device, and further from the wireless master device to the center side device. It is configured to be sent.

JP 2012-249166 A

  The meter connected to the wireless slave unit includes an 8-bit meter adopting an 8-bit message format. For example, in a meter such as an 8-bit meter, when a call event to be notified to the center side occurs, the meter makes a call to the center side via a wireless slave device to which the own device is connected.

  In the conventional radio telemeter system, the meter itself performs retry control for a call from the meter side, and when the call to the center side fails, the meter performs a retry process for the call. Since the conventional wireless master unit and wireless slave unit do not manage the retry process performed on the meter side, if all retry processes fail on the meter side, the fact that the call itself has been confirmed from the outside is confirmed. It had the problem that it was not possible.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a situation, and it aims at providing the telemeter system and relay apparatus which can manage the call from a meter side with a relay apparatus.

The telemeter system of the present application relays communication between a meter including means for measuring the amount of supply supplied to a consumer and means for communicating with an external communication device, and communication between the meter and the communication device In a telemeter system that performs a call from the meter to the communication device via the relay device when a call event to the communication device occurs in the meter, the relay device includes: When receiving information related to the calling event transmitted from the meter, means for transmitting a communication end request to the meter, clock means for outputting time information, and the meter relayed by the own device from the meter A determination unit that determines whether or not a call to the communication device is successful, and stores information related to the call in association with time information output by the clock unit when the determination unit determines that the call is not successful. Characterized in that it comprises a 憶 means.

  In the telemeter system of the present application, the meter includes means for transmitting information related to the call event to the relay device, and the relay device receives the call event received from the meter as the information related to the call. The information concerning is stored in the storage means.

  The telemeter system of the present application is characterized in that the relay device includes means for executing a re-call when the determination means determines no, instead of the meter.

The relay device according to the present application includes means for relaying communication between a meter that measures the amount of supply supplied to a consumer and an external communication device, and the call event to the communication device by the meter. When the information related to the call event transmitted from the meter is received in the relay device that relays the call from the meter to the communication device, a communication end request is transmitted to the meter. Means for outputting , time means for outputting time information, judgment means for judging whether or not the meter relays from the meter to the communication device, and if the judgment means judges that the call is not made And storage means for storing the information related to the time information output by the clock means.

  In the present application, since the call from the meter side is managed by the relay device, it is possible to refer to the call information from the outside of the center or the like even if all retry processing for the call fails.

1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a radio telemeter system according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of a wireless main | base station. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of a radio | wireless subunit | mobile_unit. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of a meter. 3 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the radio telemeter system according to the first embodiment. 6 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the radio telemeter system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a connection example of a conventional meter in the third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a radio telemeter system according to a fourth embodiment.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings showing embodiments thereof.
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the radio telemeter system according to the first embodiment. The radio telemeter system according to the present embodiment includes a host computer 11 and a center side network control device 12 as a configuration on the center side, and a radio master unit 21, radio slave units 22, 22,. 22 and meters 23, 23,..., 23 connected to the respective wireless slave units 22, 22,.

  The center-side network control device 12 and the terminal-side wireless master device 21 are connected to a wide-area wireless network N1 such as a PHS network or a FOMA network, and perform wireless communication via the wide-area wireless network N1. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the center-side device and the terminal-side device are configured to be communicably connected via the wide area wireless network N1, but are configured to be connected via a communication network such as a wired IP network or a public network. It may be. Further, in the example shown in FIG. 1, the number of the wireless master devices 21 connected to the wide area wireless network N1 is one, but it goes without saying that a plurality of wireless master devices 21 may be connected. .

  The center-side network control device 12 is provided, for example, in a public network of a communication carrier and has a function of controlling communication with the terminal side via the wide area wireless network N1. When the center-side network control device 12 receives a message to be transmitted from the host computer 11 to the terminal side, the center-side network control device 12 transmits the message to the terminal side by a communication method compliant with the communication standard of the wide area wireless network N1. Further, when the electronic message transmitted from the terminal side is received via the wide area wireless network N <b> 1, the center side network control device 12 transmits the received electronic message to the host computer 11.

  The wireless master device 21 is connected to the center side via the wide-area wireless network N1, and forms, for example, a mesh-type narrow-area wireless network N2 with the plurality of wireless slave devices 22, 22,. The wireless master device 21 performs wireless communication with the host computer 11 on the center side via the wide area wireless network N1 and wireless communication with the wireless slave devices 22, 22,..., 22 via the narrow area wireless network N2. It is configured.

  When receiving a message from the center side through the narrow-area wireless network N2, the wireless slave device 22 determines whether or not the message is a message addressed to itself. When the ID of the own device is specified as the destination address of the received message, the wireless slave device 22 determines that the received message is a message addressed to the own device, and based on the content of the data included in the message Perform various processes. When a communication connection is established between the center side and the meter 23 connected to the own device, the wireless slave device 22 transfers a message received from the outside to the meter 23 connected to the own device.

  When an event that should be notified to the center side occurs in the own wireless device 22 or when a telegram including data such as a meter reading value is received from the meter 23 connected to the own device, the wireless slave device 22 directly or elsewhere The electronic message is transmitted to the wireless master device 21 via one or a plurality of wireless slave devices 22. When receiving the message transmitted from the wireless slave device 22, the wireless master device 21 transmits the message to the host computer 11 by wireless communication via the wide area wireless network N1.

  The meter 23 is a measuring instrument that measures the amount of supply such as water, gas, and electricity supplied from a business entity to a consumer and outputs a measurement result (meter reading value). The meter 23 is an 8-bit meter, for example, and has a function of communicating with the center side in an 8-bit message format.

  In the wireless telemeter system according to the present embodiment, when the meter reading value measured by the meter 23 is collected on the center side, the host computer 11 instructs one or a plurality of wireless slave devices 22 to perform meter reading through the wide area wireless network N1. give. Each wireless slave device 22 acquires meter reading data from a meter connected to the own device, and transmits a telegram including data indicating the meter reading value to the host computer 11 via the wireless master device 21. Further, when a calling event (calling factor) such as an alarm to be notified to the center side occurs, the meter 23 makes a call to the center side via the wireless slave unit 22 to which the meter 23 is connected.

Hereinafter, the configuration of each device constituting the wireless telemeter system will be described.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the wireless master device 21. The wireless master device 21 includes a control unit 210, a storage unit 211, a wide area wireless communication unit 212, a narrow area wireless communication unit 213, a display unit 214, an operation unit 215, and the like. Each component of the hardware provided in the wireless master device 21 is configured to operate with electric power supplied from the battery 219.

  The control unit 210 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM, and the like. The CPU executes a control program stored in advance in the ROM, thereby controlling each unit of hardware included in the wireless master device 21. Further, the control unit 210 may include a clock unit (not shown) for outputting time information, and a timer (not shown) for measuring the time from when the start instruction is given until the end instruction is given.

  The storage unit 211 is configured by a non-volatile memory such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), for example, and information necessary for setting information regarding the operation of the own device and communication via the wide area wireless network N1. Information necessary for communication via the narrow-area wireless network N2 is stored.

  The wide area wireless communication unit 212 performs wireless communication via the wide area wireless network N1 by transmitting or receiving radio waves through the antenna 212a. For example, when the wireless master device 21 receives a message including the meter reading value of the meter 23 through the narrow area wireless communication unit 213, the wireless master device 21 transmits the message to the host computer 11 on the center side. At this time, the wide area wireless communication unit 212 performs a process of transmitting a telegram conforming to the communication standard of the wide area wireless network N1 by driving the antenna 212a to transmit a radio wave.

  In addition, when the radio wave is received by the antenna 212a, the wide area wireless communication unit 212 acquires a telegram by decoding the received radio wave. The wide area wireless communication unit 212 outputs a message obtained by decoding to the control unit 210. When the control unit 210 acquires a message output from the wide area wireless communication unit 212, the control unit 210 performs a process corresponding to the message or a process of transferring to the wireless slave device 22 connected to the own device through the narrow area wireless communication unit 213. Do.

  The narrow area wireless communication unit 213 communicates with a plurality of wireless slave units 22, 22,..., 22 by a predetermined wireless communication method by transmitting or receiving radio waves through the antenna 213a. As the wireless communication method, for example, a specific low power wireless method is adopted. The narrow area wireless communication unit 213 of the wireless master device 21 intermittently transmits a beacon as a search signal for searching for the wireless slave device 22 having a message to be transmitted. This beacon includes a wireless device number as identification information for identifying the wireless master device 21 in the narrow area wireless network N2. In addition, the narrow-area wireless communication unit 213 receives a beacon transmitted from the wireless slave unit 22, and when the own device has data to be transmitted, the narrow-area wireless communication unit 213 specifies the wireless number specified by the wireless device number included in the beacon. A telegram containing the data is transmitted to the slave unit 22. In the above example, the intermittent transmission method has been described as an example of the communication method, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an intermittent reception method may be adopted, and a configuration in which a message is transmitted / received by other wireless communication may be employed.

  The display unit 214 includes an LED lamp, a liquid crystal display panel, and the like, and displays information to be notified to a worker or the like who performs maintenance work based on a control signal output from the control unit 210.

  The operation unit 215 includes various switches such as dip switches and buttons, and accepts various setting operations by, for example, a worker performing maintenance work. The control unit 210 performs various controls based on the setting content input from the operation unit 215 and stores the setting content in the storage unit 211 as necessary.

  In the present embodiment, the wireless master device 21 has been described as having an NCU function. However, a network control device having an NCU function is prepared as an individual device, and the wireless master device 21 is connected to the network control device. It may be configured to. In this case, the wireless master device 21 may be configured to include a connection interface for connecting the network control device and to communicate with the center side via the network control device connected to the connection interface.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the wireless slave unit 22. The wireless slave device 22 includes a control unit 220, a storage unit 221, a narrow-area wireless communication unit 222, a connection unit 223, a display unit 224, an operation unit 225, and the like. Each part of the hardware included in the wireless slave device 22 is configured to operate with electric power supplied from the battery 229.

  The control unit 220 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM, and the like, and causes the entire device to function as a relay device according to the present invention when the CPU executes a control program stored in advance in the ROM. Further, the control unit 210 may include a clock unit (not shown) for outputting time information, and a timer (not shown) for measuring the time from when the start instruction is given until the end instruction is given.

  The storage unit 221 is configured by a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM, for example, and stores setting information related to the operation of the own device, information necessary for communication via the narrow-area wireless network N2, and the like.

  The narrow area wireless communication unit 222 communicates with the wireless master device 21 and other wireless slave devices 22 by a predetermined wireless communication method by transmitting or receiving radio waves through the antenna 222a. As the wireless communication method, for example, a specific low power wireless method is adopted. The narrow area wireless communication unit 222 of the wireless slave device 22 intermittently transmits a beacon as a search signal for searching for the wireless master device 21 or the other wireless slave device 22 having a message to be transmitted. This beacon includes a wireless device number as an identifier for identifying each wireless slave device 22 in the narrow area wireless network N2. In addition, the narrow-area wireless communication unit 222 receives a beacon transmitted from the wireless master device 21 or another wireless slave device 22, and when the own device has data to be transmitted, the wireless device included in the beacon A telegram including the data is transmitted to the wireless master device 21 or other wireless slave device 22 specified by the device number. In the above example, the intermittent transmission method has been described as an example of the communication method, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an intermittent reception method may be adopted, and a configuration in which a message is transmitted / received by other wireless communication may be employed.

  The connection unit 223 includes a port 223 a for connecting the meter 23. When the meter 23 connected to the port 223a is an 8-bit meter, the wireless slave unit 22 transmits / receives a message generated in the 8-bit message format with the meter 23 connected to the port 223a of the connection unit 223. Do.

  In addition, in this Embodiment, although the radio | wireless subunit | mobile_unit 22 was set as the structure provided with one port 223a which connects the meter 23, the structure provided with two or more ports may be sufficient. Moreover, the structure provided with the port which connects apparatuses (for example, the alarm device etc. which detect a gas leak and output an alarm) other than the meter 23 may be sufficient.

  The display unit 224 includes an LED lamp, a liquid crystal display panel, and the like, and displays information to be notified to a worker or the like performing maintenance work based on a control signal output from the control unit 220.

  The operation unit 225 includes various switches such as dip switches and buttons, and accepts various setting operations by, for example, a worker performing maintenance work. The control unit 220 performs various controls based on the setting content input from the operation unit 225 and stores the setting content in the storage unit 221 as necessary.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the meter 23. The meter 23 includes a control unit 230, a storage unit 231, a connection IF 232, a meter reading unit 233, and the like.

  The control unit 230 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM, and the like, and causes the meter 23 to function as the meter according to the present invention when the CPU executes a control program stored in advance in the ROM.

  The storage unit 231 is configured by, for example, a non-volatile memory such as an EEPROM, and stores an ID for identifying itself / others in the system, an operator code, and the like.

  The connection IF 232 includes an interface for connecting to the port 223a included in the wireless slave device 22. The meter 23 transmits / receives a message to / from the wireless slave device 22 connected through the connection IF 232.

  The meter-reading part 233 measures the usage-amount of supplies, such as water supply, gas, and electricity supplied from a business entity, and outputs a measurement result (meter-reading value) to the control part 230. The control unit 230 generates a message including the meter reading value as data, and transmits the generated message to the wireless slave device 22 through the connection IF 232.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the radio telemeter system according to Embodiment 1 will be described. As an example, an operation when a call is made from the meter 23 connected to the wireless slave device 22 to the center side will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the radio telemeter system according to the first embodiment. When a call event (calling factor) to be notified to the center side occurs in the own device, the meter 23 makes a call to the center side through the wireless slave device 22 to which the own device is connected (step S101). . At this time, the meter 23 may be configured to transmit information related to the calling factor to the wireless slave device 22 together.

  When receiving a call to the center side from the meter 23 connected to the port 223a of the own device, the wireless slave device 22 sends a call factor notification to the meter 23 in order to collect the call factor at the meter 23. (Step S102).

  When the meter 23 receives a call cause take-out notification transmitted from the wireless slave device 22, the meter 23 returns a response to the notification to the meter 23 (step S103). When receiving the response returned from the meter 23, the wireless slave device 22 transmits an end message (communication end request) to the meter 23 (step S104). Through the above processing, the wireless slave device 22 can take over the call factor generated by the meter 23 and can terminate the communication on the meter 23 side. By terminating the communication on the meter 23 side, even if the number of relay stages from the center side to the meter 23 is large, a communication timeout at the meter 23 is avoided.

  After transmitting the end message to the meter 23, the wireless slave device 22 instructs the wireless master device 21 to make a call to the center side directly or via another one or more wireless slave devices 22. (Step S105).

  When receiving the call instruction from the wireless handset 22, the wireless master device 21 transmits a call session start request (call) to the center side through the wide area wireless network N1 (step S106). When a response to the call session start request is transmitted from the center side, the control unit 210 of the wireless master device determines that the call has been successful and starts a call session with the center side.

  On the other hand, when a response to the call session start request cannot be received for some reason, the control unit 210 of the wireless master device 21 executes a retry process (step S107). It is assumed that the retry processing sequence is preset by the number of retries Nr, the retry interval Ty, and the timeout time Th. For example, if a response from the center is not obtained in the period from the time when the first call is made in step S106 until the timeout time Th elapses, the control unit 210 of the wireless master device 21 has timed out. The retry process is executed at the timing when the time defined by the retry interval Ty has elapsed. The wireless master device 21 repeats the retry process up to the number of times defined by the number of retries Nr.

  When the retry process is repeated for the number of times defined by the retry count Nr and no response is obtained from the center side, the control unit 210 of the wireless master device 21 determines that the call has failed and ends the retry process. At the same time, the call information of the meter 23 is stored in the storage unit 211 (step S108). At this time, the control unit 210 of the wireless master device 21 can store the calling information in the storage unit 211 in association with the time information output by the built-in clock means (not shown). The wireless master device 21 may be configured to acquire information related to a call factor in the meter 23 through communication and store call information including information related to the acquired call factor in association with time information. .

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the wireless master device 21 can manage a retry process for a call from the meter 23. In addition, when all retry processing fails in the wireless master device 21, the call information is stored in the storage unit 211 together with information on the time when the call was made. Can be referred to.

(Embodiment 2)
In the invention according to the first embodiment, the information related to the call from the meter 23 is managed by the wireless master device 21, but may be managed by the wireless slave device 22 to which the meter 23 is connected. .
In the second embodiment, a configuration in which information related to a call from the meter 23 is managed by the wireless slave device 22 will be described. The overall configuration of the wireless telemeter system, the internal configuration of each device, and the like are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 6 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the radio telemeter system according to the second embodiment. When a call event (calling factor) to be notified to the center side occurs in the meter 23, the wireless handset 22 determines the calling factor generated in the meter 23 in the same procedure as in the first embodiment. At the same time, the end message is transmitted to the meter 23, thereby terminating the communication on the meter 23 side (steps S201 to S204). By terminating the communication on the meter 23 side, even if the number of relay stages from the center side to the meter 23 is large, a communication timeout at the meter 23 is avoided.

  The wireless handset 22 that has picked up the call from the meter 23 transmits a call session start request (call) through the wireless base unit 21 to the center side (step S205). When a response to the call session start request is transmitted from the center side, the control unit 220 of the wireless slave device 22 determines that the call is successful and starts a call session with the center side.

  On the other hand, when the response to the call session start request cannot be received for some reason, the wireless slave device 22 executes a retry process (step S206). It is assumed that the retry processing sequence is preset by the number of retries Nr, the retry interval Ty, and the timeout time Th. For example, if a response from the center is not obtained in the period from the time when the first call is made in step S206 until the timeout time Th elapses, the control unit 220 of the wireless slave device 22 has timed out. The retry process is executed at the timing when the time defined by the retry interval Ty has elapsed. The wireless slave device 22 repeats the retry process up to the number of times defined by the number of retries Nr.

  When the retry process is repeated for the number of times defined by the retry count Nr and no response is obtained from the center side, the control unit 220 of the wireless slave device 22 determines that the call has failed and ends the retry process. At the same time, the call information of the meter 23 is stored in the storage unit 221 (step S207). At this time, the control unit 220 of the wireless slave device 22 can store the call information in the storage unit 221 in association with the time information output from the built-in clock means (not shown). The wireless slave device 22 may be configured to acquire information related to a call factor in the meter 23 and store call information including the acquired information related to the call factor in association with time information.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, the wireless slave device 22 can manage the retry process for the call from the meter 23. Further, when all the retry processing fails in the wireless handset 22, the call information is stored in the storage unit 221 together with the information on the time when the call was made, so the call history from the meter 23 from the outside such as the center. Can be referred to.

(Embodiment 3)
In the first embodiment, the 8-bit meter 23 is connected to the connection unit 223 included in the wireless slave device 22, but a message format different from the message format used in the narrow-area wireless network N2 is adopted. When the conventional meter is connected, the conventional meter may be connected via a conversion adapter that converts the message format.
In the third embodiment, a configuration in which a conventional meter is connected via a conversion adapter will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a connection example of a conventional meter according to the third embodiment. For example, a meter 23 is connected to the wireless slave device 22 according to the third embodiment via a U bus. In the third embodiment, the conventional meter 31 is further connected to the bus via the conversion adapter 30.

  The conversion adapter 30 includes a control unit 301, a connection IF 302, and a port 303. The connection IF 302 is a connection means for connecting to the U bus. When a message is input through the U bus, the connection IF 302 is sent to the control unit 301 and sent from the control unit 301 to the outside through the U bus. When a message to be transmitted is input, the input message is transmitted to the wireless slave unit 22 via the U bus.

  On the other hand, when a conventional meter 31 is connected to the port 303 and a message to be transmitted to the outside is input from the conventional meter 31 via the U bus, the input message is sent to the control unit 301. When a message to be sent to the conventional meter 31 is input from the control unit 301, the input message is sent to the conventional meter 31.

  The control unit 301 includes, for example, a calculation unit and a storage unit, converts a message from the wireless slave unit 22 input through the connection IF 302 into a message format that can be interpreted by the conventional meter 31, and is input through the port 303. A message from the conventional meter 31 is converted into a message format that can be interpreted by the wireless slave unit 22 or the like.

  As described above, in the third embodiment, even when the conventional meter 31 is connected to the U bus through the conversion adapter 30, the power from the conventional meter 31 is the same as in the first and second embodiments. When a call to the center side fails for a call, the wireless master device 21 (or the wireless slave device 22) can manage the retry process. Further, when all the retry processing fails in the wireless master device 21 (or the wireless slave device 22), the calling information is stored in the storage unit 211 (or the storage unit 221) together with the information of the time when the call is made. Therefore, the call history can be referred from the meter 23 from the outside such as the center.

  Although the conventional meter 31 is connected using the conversion adapter 30 in the third embodiment, the wireless slave device 22 may have the function of the conversion adapter 30. In this case, the control unit 220 of the wireless slave device 22 converts a message input from the conventional meter 31 through the connection unit 223 into a message format that can be interpreted by the wireless slave device 22 and the like, and the narrow-area wireless communication unit 222. The telegram addressed to the conventional meter 31 input from the outside is converted into a telegram that can be interpreted by the conventional meter 31.

  In the third embodiment, the conversion adapter 30 is connected via the U bus. However, the connection unit 223 of the wireless slave device 22 includes a dedicated port for connecting the conversion adapter 30. Also good.

(Embodiment 4)
In the invention according to the first embodiment, the information related to the call from the meter 23 is managed by the wireless master device 21. However, when there is another wireless master device that is communicably connected, this wireless It is good also as a structure which transmits and manages call information to a main | base station.
In the fourth embodiment, a configuration in which information related to a call from the meter 23 is managed by another wireless master device will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the radio telemeter system according to the fourth embodiment. The radio telemeter system according to the embodiment includes a BB-GW radio (backbone gateway radio) in addition to the above-described radio master unit 21, radio slave units 22, 22,..., 22 and meters 23, 23,. Machine) 40, a plurality of BB radios (backbone radios) 41, 41,..., 41, and a GW radio (gateway radio) 42 form a narrow area wireless network NA. The wireless master device 21 is connected to the center side devices (the host computer 11 and the center side network control device 12) via the wide area wireless network N1.

  The BB-GW wireless device 40 has a function of relaying communication between the wireless master device 21 and the BB wireless device 41. The GW wireless device 42 has a function of relaying communication between the wireless slave device 22 and the BB wireless device 41.

  The BB radio 41 in the narrow area network NA is installed so as to be able to communicate with BB radios (not shown) in other narrow area networks NB having the same network configuration as the narrow area network NA. When the BB wireless device 41 in the narrow area wireless network NA receives a message transmitted from a device in the narrow area wireless network NB, the wireless base unit 21 or the BB wireless device 41 via the BB-GW wireless device 40 or the GW wireless device 42 Transfer to the wireless slave unit 22. At this time, the BB-GW wireless device 40 and the GW wireless device 42 convert a message received from the outside into a message that can be interpreted by the wireless master device 21 or the wireless slave device 22, and then the wireless master device 21 or the wireless slave device. You may make it forward to 22.

  Further, when the BB radio 41 in the narrow area network NA receives a message to be transmitted to a device in the narrow area network NB, the BB radio 41 can transfer the message through the BB radio in the narrow area network NB. it can. For this reason, for example, when the wireless master device 21 (or the wireless slave device 22) in the narrow-area wireless network NA acquires the call information of the meter 23, it passes through the BB wireless device 41 to another narrow-area wireless network NB. The outgoing call information can be transferred to the installed wireless master device 21. The wireless master device 21 installed in the narrow area wireless network NB can manage the call information of the meter 23 installed in the narrow area wireless network NA.

  The embodiment disclosed this time is to be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the meanings described above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  Regarding the above embodiment, the following additional notes are disclosed.

    The telemeter system of the present application comprises a meter (23) comprising means (233) for measuring the amount of supply supplied to a consumer, means (232) for communicating with an external communication device (11), and Including a relay device (21) that relays communication between the meter (23) and the communication device (11), and when a call event to the communication device (11) occurs in the meter (23), In the telemeter system that makes a call from the meter (23) to the communication device (11) via the relay device (21), the relay device (21) includes a clock means (210) that outputs time information. When the determination unit (210) determines whether or not the call from the meter (23) relayed by the own device to the communication device (11) is successful, and when the determination unit (210) determines NO, the call Information concerning Characterized in that it comprises a means storage means (210) is stored in association with the time information output (211).

  In the present application, the retry process for the call from the meter can be managed by the relay device. For example, when all retry processing fails in the relay device, the call information can be stored in the storage means together with information on the time when the call was made, and the call history of the meter is referred to from the outside such as the center. It becomes possible to do.

  In the telemeter system of the present application, the meter (23) includes means (232) for transmitting information relating to the call event to the relay device (21), and the relay device (21) relates to the call. As information, information related to the call event received from the meter (23) is stored in the storage means (211).

  In the present application, since information related to a call event occurring in the meter is stored in the relay device, a call factor in the meter can be specified from outside the center or the like.

  In the telemeter system of the present application, when the relay device (21) receives the information related to the calling event transmitted from the meter (23), the relay device (21) transmits a communication end request to the meter (23). It is characterized by that.

  In the present application, since the communication end request is transmitted to the meter, even if the number of relay stages between the communication device and the meter is large, the communication time-out by the meter is avoided.

  The telemeter system of the present application is characterized in that the relay device (21) includes means (210) for executing a re-call when the determination means (210) determines no, instead of the meter (23). To do.

  In the present application, it is possible to give the relay device responsibility for calling from the meter, and it is possible to reduce the situation in which calls cannot be made due to a communication timeout or the like.

  The relay device of the present application includes means (212, 213) for relaying communication between a meter (23) for measuring the amount of supply supplied to a consumer and an external communication device (11), When a call event from the meter (23) to the communication device (11) occurs, the relay device (21) relays a call from the meter (23) to the communication device (11). A clock means (210) for outputting a signal, a judgment means (210) for judging whether or not a call from the meter (23) relayed by the own apparatus to the communication apparatus (11) is successful, The storage means (211) for storing the information related to the call in association with the time information output from the clock means (210) when it is determined to be negative.

  In the present application, the retry process for the call from the meter can be managed by the relay device. For example, when all retry processing fails in the relay device, the call information can be stored in the storage means together with information on the time when the call was made, and the call history of the meter is referred to from the outside such as the center. It becomes possible to do.

11 Host computer 12 Center side network control device 21 Wireless master unit 22 Wireless slave unit 23 Meter 210, 220, 230 Control unit 211, 221, 231 Storage unit 212 Wide area wireless communication unit 213, 222 Narrow area wireless communication unit 214, 224 Display Part 215,225 operation part 219,229 battery 223 connection part 223a port 232 connection IF
233 Meter reading section

Claims (4)

A meter comprising means for measuring the amount of supply supplied to a consumer, means for communicating with an external communication device, and a relay device for relaying communication between the meter and the communication device; In the telemeter system that performs a call from the meter to the communication device via the relay device when a call event to the communication device occurs in the meter,
The relay device is
Means for transmitting a communication end request to the meter when receiving information related to the call event transmitted from the meter;
Clock means for outputting time information;
Judgment means for judging success or failure of a call from the meter relayed by the own device to the communication device;
And a storage unit that stores information related to the call in association with time information output by the clock unit when the determination unit determines NO. The meter is
Means for transmitting information relating to the call event to the relay device;
The relay device is
The telemeter system according to claim 1, wherein information relating to the call event received from the meter is stored in the storage unit as information relating to the call. The relay device is
Telemetry system of claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that it comprises means for executing instead a recalling when said determination means determines that not the meter. A means for relaying communication between a meter for measuring the amount of supply supplied to a consumer and an external communication device, and when a call event to the communication device occurs in the meter, In a relay device that relays a call from a meter to the communication device,
Means for transmitting a communication end request to the meter when receiving information related to the call event transmitted from the meter;
Clock means for outputting time information;
Judgment means for judging success or failure of a call from the meter relayed by the own device to the communication device;
A relay device comprising: a storage unit that stores information related to the call in association with time information output from the clock unit when the determination unit determines NO.

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