JP2005301473A - Automatic meter reading radio measurement instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a measurement instrument of an automatic meter reading radio set which can discriminates easily an environmental factor which causes a poor communication during radio communications of the automatic meter reading radio set and can enhance the reliability of the automatic meter system. <P>SOLUTION: The measurement instrument is equipped with: a plurality of electric wave detection sections 9 which detect presence of electric waves in a plurality of frequency bands; a plurality of signal recovery sections 10 which demodulate signals from the plurality of the electric wave detection section 10; a plurality of data determination sections 11 which determine whether the signals from a plurality of signal recovery sections 10 are data or noises; a plurality of time measurement sections 12 which measure a detection time of signals from the plurality of the data determination sections 11; a storage section 13 which stores the contents received from the plurality of the time measurement sections 12; and control section 15 which displays the contents stored in the storage section 13 in a display section 14. The control section 15 accumulates data from the plurality of the time measurement sections 12, stores the data in the plurality of frequency bands or a cumulative result of the noise in the storage section 13, and controls the display section 14 to perform display of the measurement contents in the plurality of frequency bands. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic meter-reading wireless measuring device that measures the communication state of an automatic meter-reading radio when metering the amount of gas, water, electricity, etc. used.

  Conventionally, an automatic meter reading system that collects data recorded in meters for measuring usage of gas, water, electricity, etc. in homes, offices, factories, etc. to a center that is a remote metering meter device via a communication line such as a telephone. In this automatic meter reading system, for example, a telephone line and a meter installed in each consumer are connected by a communication line, and communication is performed between the center and the meter via the telephone line. .

  By the way, in the case of such an automatic meter reading system, it is necessary to connect a telephone line and a meter with a communication line, so that labor and cost for routing and wiring the communication line inside and outside the customer are required. In particular, when the telephone line and the meter are separated from each other, this wiring work is a considerable burden, and in the case of an existing house, the wiring is sometimes impossible.

  Therefore, a wireless master unit is connected to each customer's telephone line via a terminal network controller (hereinafter referred to as “T-NCU”), and a wireless slave unit is connected to the meter. An automatic wireless meter-reading system that eliminates the need for indoor and outdoor wiring has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 3 shows a conventional automatic wireless meter reading system described in Patent Document 1. In FIG. In FIG. 3, 1 is a remote metering device, 2 is a public telephone line, 3 is a customer, 4 is a T-NCU, 5 is a wireless master unit, and has a transmission / reception circuit. Are connected by a public telephone line 2, and the T-NCU 4 and the wireless master unit 5 are connected by a communication line a. Reference numeral 6 denotes a wireless slave unit which has a transmission / reception circuit and is connected to the meter 7 by a communication line b. The wireless master device 5 and the wireless slave device 6 can communicate with each other wirelessly, and information in the meter 7 is transmitted from the wireless slave device 6 to the wireless master device 5.

  The remote meter reading device 1 drives the wireless master device 5 via the T-NCU 4 installed in the consumer via the public telephone line 2, and transmits radio signals from the wireless master device 5 to the wireless slave device 6. It is done. When receiving the signal from the wireless master device 5, the wireless slave device 6 takes out the weighing information stored in the meter 7 and transmits this information wirelessly to the wireless master device 5. The wireless master device 5 sends the information received from the wireless slave device 6 to the remote measuring meter device 1 via the T-NCU 4 and the public telephone line 2.

As a result, there is no need to wire the meter 7 in the building as in the prior art, and the construction is simplified and the aesthetics of the building are not impaired. In addition, when an automatic meter reading system is applied later, particularly in an existing apartment house or a tenant building, it is not necessary to perform wiring work or the like for each meter, so that the automatic meter reading system can be easily realized.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-85938 (page 1-4, FIG. 1)

  By the way, in such a system, the registration operation of the wireless master device and the wireless slave device is performed by inputting a predetermined operation, for example, a switch for starting the wireless slave device and the wireless master device at the same time after connecting the wireless slave device and the meter. When the slave unit acquires the meter management ID from the meter, transmits the acquired meter management ID to the wireless master unit by wireless transmission, and when the wireless master unit acquires the meter management ID from the wireless slave unit, the master unit has the next Communication information necessary for wireless communication is transmitted to the wireless slave unit. As a result, the registration operation of the wireless master device and the wireless slave device is completed, and communication from the center, which is the distance measuring needle device, to the meter is enabled thereafter.

  However, in the conventional configuration, after these registration operations, communication from the center, which is a distance measuring meter device, becomes possible. However, in wireless communication, there are interference waves in the communication frequency band, and wireless communication is poor. May be. In addition, in wireless communication, the installation environment conditions of the wireless slave unit attached to the meter, particularly the surrounding radio wave conditions directly affect the radio wave transmitter, reducing the quality of the radio signal, often resulting in poor communication, It is very difficult to detect the cause of communication failure in wireless communication at the work site, and there is a problem that it takes a considerable time until normal communication can be performed.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and can automatically identify environmental factors that cause communication failure during wireless communication of an automatic meter-reading radio, and can improve the reliability of an automatic meter-reading system. It aims at providing the measuring device of a meter-reading radio.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the automatic meter reading wireless measuring device of the present invention is a wireless communication between a wireless master device connected to a remote meter reading device and a wireless slave device connected to a meter via a line. Automatic meter reading wireless measurement in an automatic meter reading wireless measuring device that measures the wireless communication state for an automatic meter reading wireless device of an automatic meter reading system that performs meter reading by enabling communication between the meter and the meter reading meter device The apparatus includes a plurality of radio wave detection units that detect presence / absence of radio waves in a plurality of frequency bands, a plurality of signal demodulation units that demodulate signals from the plurality of radio wave detection units, and signals from the plurality of signal demodulation units. A plurality of data determination units for determining whether noise is present, a plurality of time measurement units for measuring data or noise detection times from the plurality of data determination units, and a storage unit for storing contents received from the plurality of time measurement units The control unit is configured to display the content stored in the storage unit on the display unit, the control unit accumulates data from a plurality of time measurement units, and accumulates data or noise accumulation results in a plurality of frequency bands in the storage unit. In addition to storing, the display unit can be controlled to display measurement contents in a plurality of frequency bands.

As a result, the data communication time of the surrounding environment, the generation time of noise, the ratio thereof, and the like become clear, and it becomes possible to determine which frequency band is difficult to communicate and which frequency band is suitable for communication.

Moreover, since the automatic meter-reading wireless measuring apparatus of the present invention can further store the communication contents together with the communication time if it is data communication, it can also analyze data communication failure.

  Since the automatic meter-reading wireless measuring device of the present invention can grasp the data communication and the occurrence of noise in a plurality of frequency bands, the frequency band suitable for communication can be easily determined, and a stable communication environment is realized. be able to. Further, in the case of data communication, since the communication content and communication time can be confirmed, it becomes possible to analyze data communication failure.

  According to the above invention, it is possible to easily identify the cause of communication failure during wireless communication of the automatic meter-reading wireless device, and to improve the reliability of the automatic meter-reading system.

  In the first invention, wireless communication is performed between a wireless master unit connected to the remote metering meter device and a wireless slave device connected to the meter via a line, and communication between the meter and the remote metering meter device is possible. As an automatic meter reading wireless measuring device that measures the wireless communication state with respect to an automatic meter reading radio of an automatic meter reading system that performs meter reading as an automatic meter reading wireless measuring device detects the presence or absence of radio waves in multiple frequency bands A plurality of radio wave detection units, a plurality of signal demodulation units for demodulating signals from the plurality of radio wave detection units, a plurality of data determination units for determining whether the signals from the plurality of signal demodulation units are data or noise, and a plurality of data A plurality of time measurement units that measure the detection time of data or noise from the determination unit, a storage unit that stores the contents received from the plurality of time measurement units, and a control that causes the display unit to display the contents stored in the storage unit The control unit accumulates data from a plurality of time measurement units for each of the signal and noise, stores data or noise accumulation results in a plurality of frequency bands in the storage unit, and also displays a plurality of frequencies for the display unit. It is possible to control to display the measurement contents in the band, and it is possible to easily improve the quality of the surrounding environment.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in particular, when the signals from the plurality of data determination units are data signals according to the first aspect of the invention, a message analysis unit for analyzing communication contents from the data signals from the data determination unit, and a current time Since it has a time counting unit that counts and stores the time and communication content input from the time counting unit in the storage unit and displays the received content in the order of reception time, the communication content and communication time can be confirmed, so data communication failure It becomes possible to analyze.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an automatic meter-reading wireless measuring apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the remote meter reading device 1 is connected to the wireless master device 5 from the line 2 via the T-NCU 4. The wireless slave device 6 is provided opposite to the wireless master device 5 and is connected to the meter 7 of the customer 3.

  8 is an automatic meter-reading wireless measuring device, 9 is a plurality of radio wave detection units for detecting the presence or absence of radio waves in a plurality of frequency bands, 10 is a plurality of signal demodulation units for demodulating signals from a plurality of radio waves, and 11 is a plurality of signal demodulation units A plurality of data determination units for determining whether a signal from the unit 10 is data or noise, 12 is a plurality of time measurement units for measuring detection times of data or noise from the plurality of data determination units 11, and 13 is a plurality of time measurement units 12 is a storage unit that stores the content received from 12, and 15 is a control unit that causes the display unit 14 to display the content stored in the storage unit 13, and the control unit 15 accumulates data from a plurality of time measurement units 12. The accumulated result of data or noise in a plurality of frequency bands is stored in the storage unit 13, and the display unit 14 is controlled to display the measurement contents in the plurality of frequency bands.

  In the case of automatic meter reading from the center, a meter reading request is transmitted from the remote meter reading device 1 to the wireless master device 5 via the line 2 and the T-NCU 4, and the wireless master device 5 transmits to the wireless slave device 6. A meter reading request is transmitted wirelessly, and the wireless slave 6 transmits a meter reading request to the meter 7 of the customer 3. When receiving the meter reading response from the meter 7, the wireless slave device 6 wirelessly transmits a meter reading response to the wireless master device 5, and transmits the meter reading response from the wireless master device 5 to the distance measuring meter reading device 1 via the T-NCU 4. . In this way, the meter reading value of the meter 7 can be intensively read at the center.

  In the analysis and display of the radio wave state, the plurality of radio wave detection units 9 detect the presence or absence of radio waves in a plurality of frequency bands, and when a radio wave is detected, the plurality of signal demodulation units 10 demodulate signals from the plurality of radio waves, The data determination unit 11 determines whether the signal is data or noise, and the plurality of time measurement units 12 measure data or noise detection times from the plurality of data determination units 11. If the signal is data, the plurality of time measuring units 12 measure the data detection time and store them in the storage unit 13, and if the signal is noise, measure the noise detection time and store them in the storage unit 13, respectively. . The control unit 14 accumulates data from the plurality of time measurement units 12 and stores the accumulation results of data or noise in a plurality of frequency bands in the storage unit 13 and also displays the data in the plurality of frequency bands with respect to the display unit 15. Display the measurement contents.

  As described above, it is possible to determine which frequency band is a good band by measuring the data and noise generation status for each communication frequency band in an environment where wireless communication is performed. It can be performed.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an automatic meter reading system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The same number is attached | subjected to the same thing as FIG.

  In FIG. 2, the remote meter reading device 1 is connected to the wireless master device 5 from the line 2 via the T-NCU 4. The wireless slave device 6 is provided opposite to the wireless master device 5 and is connected to the meter 7 of the customer 3.

  8 is an automatic meter-reading wireless measuring device, 9 is a plurality of radio wave detection units for detecting the presence or absence of radio waves in a plurality of frequency bands, 10 is a plurality of signal demodulation units for demodulating signals from a plurality of radio waves, and 11 is a plurality of signal demodulation units A plurality of data determination units for determining whether a signal from the unit 10 is data or noise, 12 is a plurality of time measurement units for measuring detection times of data or noise from the plurality of data determination units 11, and 13 is a plurality of time measurement units 12 is a storage unit that stores the content received from 12, and 15 is a control unit that causes the display unit 14 to display the content stored in the storage unit 13, and the control unit 15 accumulates data from a plurality of time measurement units 12. The accumulated result of data or noise in a plurality of frequency bands is stored in the storage unit 13, and the display unit 14 is controlled to display the measurement contents in the plurality of frequency bands.

  16 is a plurality of message analysis units, and when the signals from the plurality of data determination units 11 are data signals, the communication contents are analyzed from the data signals from the data determination unit 11, and 17 is a time counting unit that counts the current time. . The control unit 15 stores the time input from the time counting unit and the communication content from the message analysis unit 16 in the storage unit 13, and causes the display unit 14 to display the received content in order of reception time.

  In the case of automatic meter reading from the center, a meter reading request is transmitted from the remote meter reading device 1 to the wireless master device 5 via the line 2 and the T-NCU 4, and the wireless master device 5 transmits to the wireless slave device 6. A meter reading request is transmitted wirelessly, and the wireless slave 6 transmits a meter reading request to the meter 7 of the customer 3. When receiving the meter reading response from the meter 7, the wireless slave device 6 wirelessly transmits a meter reading response to the wireless master device 5, and transmits the meter reading response from the wireless master device 5 to the distance measuring meter reading device 1 via the T-NCU 4. . In this way, the meter reading value of the meter 7 can be intensively read at the center.

  In the analysis and display of the radio wave state, the plurality of radio wave detection units 9 detect the presence or absence of radio waves in a plurality of frequency bands, and when a radio wave is detected, the plurality of signal demodulation units 10 demodulate signals from the plurality of radio waves, The data determination unit 11 determines whether the signal is data or noise, and the plurality of time measurement units 12 measure data or noise detection times from the plurality of data determination units 11. If the signal is data, the plurality of time measuring units 12 measure the data detection time and store them in the storage unit 13, and if the signal is noise, measure the noise detection times and store them in the storage unit 13, respectively. . The control unit 15 accumulates data from the plurality of time measurement units 12 and stores the accumulated results of data or noise in a plurality of frequency bands in the storage unit 13 and also displays the data in the plurality of frequency bands with respect to the display unit 14. Display the measurement contents.

  Further, when the signals from the plurality of data determination units 11 are data signals in the plurality of message analysis units 16, when the communication contents are analyzed from the data signals from the data determination unit 11 and sent to the control unit 15, the control unit 15 displays the contents. Is stored in the storage unit 13. Since the control unit 15 can also store the received content together with the reception time by inputting the current time counted by the time counting unit 17 and storing it in the storage unit 13, the received content is displayed on the display unit 14 in the order of the reception time. Can do.

  As described above, it is possible to determine which frequency band is a good band by measuring the data and noise generation status for each communication frequency band in an environment where wireless communication is performed. It can be performed. If this ambient environment is measured in units of one day or one week, there is a lot of noise in which frequency band of which time zone of the day, or in which frequency band of which day of the week is noisy. This makes it easier to select more optimal conditions.

Furthermore, since data communication can be observed at the same time, it is effective for analysis when a communication failure occurs.

  As described above, the automatic meter reading wireless measurement device according to the present invention makes it clear which frequency band is good by measuring the data and noise generation status for each communication frequency band in an environment where wireless communication is performed. Measured in units of 1 day or 1 week, it is best to know which frequency band in which time zone of the day is noisy, which frequency band of which day of the week is noisy, etc. Easy communication conditions can be selected, and automatic wireless meter reading can be performed with peace of mind.

  Furthermore, since data communication can be observed at the same time, it is effective for analysis when a communication failure occurs.

  In addition, since the present invention can be applied to any wireless communication system, it can be applied to uses other than automatic wireless meter reading.

1 is a block diagram of an automatic meter reading wireless measurement device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Block diagram of automatic meter-reading wireless measurement apparatus in Embodiment 2 of the present invention Block diagram of a conventional automatic meter reading system

Explanation of symbols

1 Remote meter reading device 2 Public telephone line (line)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 Radio | wireless main | base station 6 Radio | wireless subunit | mobile_unit 7 Meter 8 Automatic meter-reading radio | wireless measuring apparatus 9 Several radio wave detection part 10 Several signal demodulation part 11 Several data determination part 12 Several time measurement part 13 Memory | storage part 14 Display part 15 Control part 16 Multiple message analysis units 17 Time counting unit

Claims (2)

Wireless communication is performed between a wireless master unit connected to the remote meter reading device via a line and a wireless slave device connected to the meter, and communication between the meter and the remote meter reading device is enabled to be performed. In an automatic meter reading wireless measuring device that measures a wireless communication state with respect to an automatic meter reading radio of an automatic meter reading system that performs the above, the automatic meter reading wireless measuring device includes a plurality of radio waves that detect presence or absence of radio waves in a plurality of frequency bands A detection unit; a plurality of signal demodulation units that demodulate signals from the plurality of radio wave detection units; a plurality of data determination units that determine whether signals from the plurality of signal demodulation units are data or noise; and the plurality of data A plurality of time measurement units that measure the detection time of data or noise from the determination unit, a storage unit that stores contents received from the plurality of time measurement units, and displays the contents stored in the storage unit The control unit accumulates data from the plurality of time measurement units, stores data or noise accumulation results in a plurality of frequency bands in the storage unit, and stores the data in the display unit. An automatic meter-reading wireless measuring apparatus that controls to display measurement contents in a plurality of frequency bands. When the signals from the plurality of data determination units are data signals, the time counting unit includes a plurality of message analysis units that analyze communication contents from the data signals from the data determination unit and a time counting unit that counts the current time. 2. The automatic meter-reading wireless measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the time and the communication content input from the communication device are stored in a storage unit, and the received content is displayed in the order of reception time.

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