JP2001156926A - Data collecting method and data receiving device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data collecting method and a data receiving device, with which another terminal can continue data collection by substitutive communication by providing an existent peripheral terminal while allowing switching for backup when any fault occurs and the data collection is disabled. SOLUTION: Concerning the data receiving method for receiving transmitted data when the identification number of a present station is contained in the relevant data, this method has a substitutive data collection function for collecting data by setting the identification number of the other terminal to the identification number of the present station when the transmitted data cannot be received by the present station.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data collection method for collecting data such as meter readings from a meter such as electricity, gas or water, or a terminal such as a vending machine or POS (point of sale information management). More specifically, the present invention relates to a data collection method and a data reception device that enable data collection when a failure or data error occurs during data collection.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, as shown in FIG.
.. Acquire meter reading data from the electronic meter 72, cause the data collection unit 73 as a relay station to temporarily collect the acquired meter reading data, and collect the collected meter reading data via the upper-level center 74 at the server of the business office 75. 76 and the database 77.

Normally, when a failure occurs in the data collection unit 73 during such data collection, data cannot be collected from the terminal wireless units 71 in the data collection area.

Therefore, at present, as a countermeasure against the occurrence of a failure of the data collection unit 73, another data collection unit 78 having the same processing capacity is provided to provide a backup function for the data collection unit 73.

For example, a data collection unit 7 for a master
When a mirroring system that collects and manages data by simultaneously using two data collection units 73 and 78 of the data collection unit 78 and the backup data collection unit 78 is used, or when one of the juxtaposed units fails. A unit switching system for switching to the other and collecting data has been adopted. Furthermore, a batch processing type in which the frequency of updating mirroring, which is copied from the master data collection unit 73 to the backup data collection unit 78 at regular intervals, is reduced may be considered.

[0006]

However, since it is necessary to prepare two data collection units for the master and two data collection units for the backup as described above, the cost increases and the data collection program is also backed up. This requires a troublesome program in consideration of the processing, and also has a problem that the maintenance work is troublesome for two vehicles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a data collection method and a data reception apparatus capable of improving the data collection performance by allowing an existing peripheral terminal to be switched for backup.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a data receiving method for receiving, when transmitted data includes an identification number of the own station, the transmitted data. When the reception is not possible at the own station, the identification number of the own station is set to another terminal and data collection is performed.

As a result, when data cannot be received by the own station, data can be collected using another existing terminal as an alternative, so that a data collection function can be easily secured in the event of a failure or data error. can do. In particular,
In the alternative use, the data collection destination can be changed only by changing the identification number given to each terminal. Further, since the backup device can be omitted, the cost can be reliably reduced, and the data collection program can be simplified accordingly.

Further, the present invention is a data receiving method for receiving data when the transmitted data includes the identification number of the own station, wherein the transmitted data is received by the own station. If it is not possible, the data is collected by adding the identification number of the own station to the identification number of the other terminal.

[0011] When data cannot be received by the own station, an alternative data collection function is provided in which another communicable terminal has the identification numbers of two terminals and substitutes the identification numbers of the other terminals to collect data. It can be operated with it.

Further, according to the present invention, the identification number of the relay station is added to the data acquired by the lower device and transmitted to the relay station. The relay station collects the data including the identification number of the own device and transmits the data to the upper device. A data collection method for transmitting, wherein when a higher-level device determines that a relay station cannot receive data transmitted from the lower-level device, the higher-level device cannot receive the data from another relay station. Switching to the identification number of the relay station is controlled, and data from the lower terminal that cannot be received is collected.

Further, when the upper apparatus determines that the data transmitted from the lower apparatus cannot be received by the relay station, the data of the lower apparatus can be collected by using another relay station.

According to the present invention, there is provided a data receiving apparatus for receiving data when transmitted data includes the identification number of the own station, wherein the other data receiving apparatus can receive the data. If not, the identification number of the other data receiving apparatus is added to the identification number of the own station to collect data.

In the case where the data receiving apparatus of the present invention is used, if another data receiving apparatus cannot receive data, it is determined whether one data receiving apparatus uses its own data receiving apparatus. Data collection can be performed as follows. In these inventions, “transmission” may be wireless or wired, and the type of “data” is not limited to meter reading, but may include sales data such as POS and vending machines,
It contains various data of personal computers on the network.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a meter reading system 11 for automatically reading the power consumption of a house. The meter reading system 11 includes a first data collection unit U1 as a master station and a house 12.
.. Have a wireless communication function for collectively communicating with the first to fifth terminal wireless units Ua, Ub, Uc, Ud, and Ue as slave stations (terminal stations) installed for each of them.・ Connected in transceiver mode of Handyphone System).

The wireless communication function is provided for each communication area, and is connected to the second data collection unit U2 of another master station.
When the sixth to tenth terminal wireless units Uf, Ug, Uh, Ui, and Uj of terminal stations installed in each of the houses 12 are present, they also have a wireless communication function and communicate in the transceiver mode of the PHS. Connected.

The houses 12 to be connected to each other are connected to each other with a communication field strength of 20 db or more, which is communicable, for example, about 25 db to 55 db, which is determined by the location conditions.

Each data collection unit U1, U2 of the master station
Is installed, for example, on a telephone pole as a main controller,
Based on a command signal from the center (base station) 13, meter reading data such as a meter reading value, a unit call number, its calling time, and terminal station route (communication route L) information is collected, and the collected meter reading data is returned to the center 13. To the data collection units U1 and U2 from the lower terminal radio units Ud and Ue to the upper terminal radio units Ue and Ue.
c, or the upper terminal radio unit Uj from the lower terminal radio unit Uj via the middle terminal radio unit Ui.
The communication connection to f is made via a communication route L suitable for communication environment conditions.

The terminal radio units Ua to Uj of each terminal station are:
House 12 ... Power meter 14 for metering the power consumption of each
And wirelessly communicates with the upper data collection units U1 and U2.

In this case, the upper data collection unit U1
, U2 and a plurality of first to tenth terminal wireless units Ua to Uj distributed, a plurality of upper terminal wireless units Ua, Ub directly connected to the data collection units U1, U2. , Uc or U
f, Ug, Uh, and lower terminal wireless units U which are branched and thereafter connected in a wireless manner to the tree structure in sequence.
d, Ue, or Ui, Uj.

Then, after the lowest terminal radio unit passes through the next higher terminal radio unit,
Further, the upper data collection unit U1 is passed through the next higher terminal radio unit so that the data is collected from the lower to the upper.
, U2, and has a tree-structured data collection function. The tree-structured data collection function guides the meter reading data from the distributed lower terminal wireless units to the upper terminal wireless unit. A communication route L for collecting data to higher data collection units U1 and U2 is established.

The upper center 13 includes a server (personal computer) 16 and a database 17 of a business office 15.
And transmits control data to the data collection units U1 and U2 and the terminal radio units Ua to Uj in accordance with a transmission command from the server 16, and collects a large amount of meter reading data collected from each of the terminal radio units Ua to Uj. It is stored in the database 17.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the meter reading system 11. Taking an example of communication between the first data collection unit U1 and the first terminal radio unit Ua immediately below it,
The CPU 21 of the first data collection unit U1
The upper wireless unit 24 and the lower wireless unit 25 are controlled in accordance with programs stored in the flash memory 22 and the second flash memory 23, and the control data is stored in the RAM 26 in a readable manner.

The upper wireless unit 24 is connected to the upper center 13 for communication, and is connected to the hard disk 27 and the database 17 of the server 16 installed in the business office 15 via the center 13. On the other hand, the lower wireless section 25
Communicates with the first terminal wireless unit Ua immediately below.

On the other hand, the CPU of the first terminal wireless unit Ua
Reference numeral 31 denotes a wireless unit 34 according to a program stored in the first flash memory 32 and the second flash memory 33.
And the meter I / F (interface) 35,
The control data is stored in the RAM 36 in a readable manner.
Further, the CPU 31 periodically reads the numerical value of the power meter 14 provided for each calling number of the terminal wireless unit via the meter I / F 35.

The CPUs 21 and 31 of each unit are:
A timer for measuring the time is built in to collate time data between the units U1 and Ua to ensure communication performance and reliability.

In this case, C of the first terminal wireless unit Ua
The PU 31 has a preset measurement set time, for example, 15
The meter reading of the power meter is measured at every minute interval, and the measured meter reading is stored in the second flash memory 33.
Then, the stored meter reading data for one day, for example, is transmitted to the first data collection unit U1 once a day.

Further, the CP of the first data collection unit U1
U21 receives the meter reading data transmitted from the first to fifth terminal wireless units Ua to Ue and stores the data in the second flash memory 23. In this case, the first to fifth terminal wireless units Ua to Ue as transmission sources are stored in association with the measured meter reading values, and the stored meter reading data is stored in the server 16.
Collected and managed.

An identification number is assigned to each of the data collection units U1 and U2 as a relay station, and the data collection units U1 and U2 are identified and collected for each identification number. It should be noted that this identification number indicates “CS-I” indicating the group unit for collecting meter reading data in the unit call number.
D ".

Therefore, the lower terminal radio unit Ua
.. Are added with the identification numbers of the higher-order data collection units, and the corresponding data collection units U1
, U2, and the data collection unit of the transmission destination collects the data including the identification number of the own station, and transmits the data to the server 16 of the business office via the higher order center 13.

In this case, if meter reading data cannot be collected from the lower level in the server 16 even after the predetermined data collection time has elapsed, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the data collection unit, and the server 16 returns to the normal state. The data collection unit is provided with an alternative data collection function for performing an alternative operation.

For example, as shown in FIG.
When the server 16 recognizes that the second data collection unit U2 has failed to receive the meter reading data transmitted from the tenth terminal wireless units Uf to Uj, the server 16 transmits the data to the other first data collection units. U1 is controlled to switch to the identification number of the second data collection unit U2 that could not be received and substitute setting is performed, and data from the sixth to tenth terminal radio units Uf to Uj that could not be received is alternatively collected. .

As described above, when data cannot be received from a specific data collection unit, data can be collected by using another existing data collection unit as an alternative, and a failure occurs in any data collection unit. Even if a data error occurs, operation can be performed without stopping data collection, and a continuous meter reading data collection function can be established.

Therefore, in the alternative use, the data collection destination can be easily changed only by switching the identification number assigned to each of the data collection units U1 and U2. In addition, since the existing data collection unit is effectively used as the backup data collection unit, the cost can be reliably reduced, and the data collection program is simultaneously simplified.

Further, the server 16 detects that the second data collection unit U2 is down and transmits the request to change the communication mode of the first data collection unit U1. The logic is executed on the hard disk 27 of the server 16.

The first data collection unit U1 receives a communication mode change request mode switching command from the server 16, sets the mode information in the second flash memory 23 in the mode information, and switches to the alternative data collection mode. Is carried on the first flash memory 22 and executed by the CPU 21.

The processing operation of the meter reading system 11 thus configured will be described below. First, the processing operation of the abnormality occurrence detection logic in which the server 16 detects that a failure has occurred in any of the data collection units will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

Normally, the server 16 is in a state of waiting for data reception from the lower order, and meter reading data from each lower-level terminal wireless unit is collectively managed by the data collection unit at specified time intervals. For example, once a day,
It is transmitted to the host server 16 at a specified time. Then, at the specified time, the meter reading data is transmitted from the data collection unit as the relay station to the upper server 16.

Then, the server 16 determines whether or not the data does not come up even after the data collection time has passed from all the lower communication target terminal wireless units connected to each data collection unit. Is checked to monitor the operation state of each data collection unit (step n1).

At this time, when the meter reading data comes from the lower terminal wireless unit at each data collection time, it is determined that the data is normal, and the data collection unit performs an appropriate data collection operation (step n2).

On the other hand, if the meter reading data does not increase even after a certain period of time has elapsed, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the data collection unit, and the server 16 transmits the data to another alternative data collection unit therearound. Is determined, and a mode switching command for requesting the change of the communication mode is transmitted to the determined alternative data collection unit (step n3).
).

Next, the operation of receiving a mode switching command when the mode is switched in response to the occurrence of an abnormality in the data collection unit will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
Each of the data collection units U1 and U2 is in a state of being able to receive control data from the server 16 (step n).
11) If there is control data from the server 16, the content is confirmed, and if it is other than the mode switching command, the alternative operation is unnecessary, so that the operation is continued (step n12).

On the other hand, when a mode switching command is received, an abnormality occurs in a peripheral data collection unit, and an alternative operation is required. Therefore, the operation mode of the data collection unit is switched. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, the identification number of the failed second data collection unit U2 is changed or added to the identification number of the first data collection unit U1 of its own station. Is changed, the first data collection unit U1 is switched to the data collection function of the second data collection unit U2 (step n13).

Next, the processing operation of the mode switching logic of the data collection unit will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Normally, the data collection unit is in a standby state in which meter reading data is allowed to be collected from the lower terminal wireless units Ua..., While it is in a state of waiting to receive control data from the upper server 16 (step n21).

If there is control data from the server 16, its contents are checked to determine whether it is a normal command mode using only the identification number of the own station or both command modes including the identification number of another station (step n22). In the normal command mode in which only the identification number of the own station is specified, the data collection unit having the corresponding identification number is selected and connected for communication. Thereby, the data collection unit of the first identification number causes the upper server 16 to collect the meter reading data collected from each lower-level communication target terminal wireless unit (steps n23 to n24).

On the other hand, when a mode switching command is transmitted from the server 16 to the data collection unit of the own station, the CPU 21 of the data collection unit checks the identification number (step n25) and performs the first data collection. When the meter reading data is transmitted from the lower first to fifth terminal wireless units Ua to Ue associated with the first identification number set in the unit U1, the first identification number is received and stored. A corresponding communication process is performed (step n26).

When the meter reading data is transmitted from the lower sixth to tenth terminal radio units Uf to Uj associated with the second identification number set in the second data collection unit U2, it is received. A communication process corresponding to the second identification number to be stored is performed (step n27).

In correspondence between the present invention and the configuration of the above-described embodiment, the data receiving apparatus, the relay station, and the other terminals of the present invention include the first data collection unit U1 and the second data collection unit U2 of the embodiment. Similarly, the lower terminal corresponds to the first to tenth terminal wireless units Ua to Uj, and the higher device corresponds to the server 16, but the present invention is based on the technical idea described in the claims. The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, data collection of meter readings of electricity consumption is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and data collection of various equipment usage such as gas and water, or vending machine It can be applied to the collection of sales data such as POS and POS.

Each unit U1, U2, Ua to Uj
The communication between the devices and the communication with the upper-level center 13 and the server 16 are not limited to the wireless communication, but may be wired.

[0052]

According to the present invention, when data cannot be received by the own station, data can be collected by using another existing terminal instead. Therefore, a data collection function at the time of occurrence of a failure or data error can be easily secured. In particular, in the alternative use, the data collection destination can be changed only by changing the identification number given to each terminal, and further, since the backup device can be omitted, the cost can be surely reduced, and Accordingly, the data collection program can be simplified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a meter reading system that automatically measures the power consumption of a house.

FIG. 2 is a control circuit block diagram of the meter reading system.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a data collection state when a data collection unit failure occurs.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a failure detection operation of the data collection unit.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a mode switching reception processing operation of the data collection unit.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a mode switching processing operation of the data collection unit.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a meter reading system including a data collection unit for backup.

[Description of Signs] 11 ... Meter reading system 12 ... House 13 ... Center 14 ... Power meter 15 ... Sales office 16 ... Server 17 ... Database U1, U2 ... Data collection unit Ua-Uj ... Terminal wireless unit L ... Communication route 21 ... CPU 22 first flash memory 23 second flash memory 27 hard disk

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04Q 7/04 D (72) Inventor Kenichi Ono 10 Hanazono-do-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Omron Corporation F term (reference) 2F073 AA07 AA08 AA09 AB03 AB05 BB09 BB20 CC01 CC12 CC20 DD02 EE01 GG01 GG08 5K048 AA05 AA06 BA34 BA35 DB01 DC01 DC03 EB10 5K067 AA26 AA41 BB27 DD17 DD51 HH31 5K01 V03 MM12

Claims (4)

[Claims] A data receiving method for receiving transmitted data when the transmitted data includes an identification number of the own station, wherein the transmitted data can be received by the own station. If there is no data, a data collection method characterized by setting the identification number in another terminal and collecting data. 2. A data receiving method for receiving, when transmitted data includes an identification number of its own station, the transmitted data being received by its own station. If there is no data, a data collection method characterized by adding the identification number of the own station to the identification number of another terminal and collecting the data. 3. The data obtained by adding the identification number of the relay station to the data acquired by the lower device and transmitting the data to the relay station. The relay station collects the data including the identification number of the own station and transmits the data to the upper device. In the collection method, when the higher-level device determines that the relay station could not receive the data transmitted from the lower-level device, if the higher-level device does not receive the relay station with respect to another relay station, A data collection method comprising: controlling switching to an identification number; and collecting data from a lower terminal that has failed to receive the data via the another relay station. 4. A data receiving apparatus which receives the transmitted data if the transmitted data contains the identification number of the own station. If the data cannot be received by another data receiving apparatus, the data receiving apparatus receives the data. A data receiving apparatus for collecting data by adding an identification number of the data receiving apparatus to the identification number of the own station.