JP2007288696A - Automatic metering system effectively utilizing cordless telephone set - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic metering system effectively utilizing a cordless telephone set in which reduction of costs including the power rates is attained and the burden of a supplier can be reduced while considering communication costs of a demander by expanding the area in which used electric energy can be automatically metered by effectively utilizing existent facilities at a supplier side which supplies power and at a demander side which uses power. <P>SOLUTION: A wireless type automatic metering terminal 30 is provided which communicates data with the supplier side through a communication line 10 used by a cordless telephone set 50 as a slave station of the cordless telephone set 50, the wireless type automatic metering terminal 30 comprising a numerical value reading means 31 for reading a numerical value of a watthour meter 40 indicating the used electric energy used by the demander in a predetermined timing, and an automatic metering data control means 32 for managing and controlling data required for transmitting the read numerical value of the watthour meter 40 as automatic metering data including time information indicating a communication time required for data transmission/reception and client information for specifying the demander. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic meter reading system using a cordless telephone in which a power supplier automatically uses a cordless telephone held by a consumer who uses electric power to automatically measure the amount of power.

  Conventionally, the amount of power used by consumers who use electricity (for example, ordinary households and companies) is the power meter that is used by the meter reader as an artificial task by the supplier (for example, the power company). When the meter reading was carried out regularly, the electricity bill was determined by grasping the amount of electricity used by each individual consumer.

  However, such a meter reading method has a drawback in that it requires labor and cost on the supplier side to manage the power amount of each consumer. In addition, a method of automatically constructing an automatic meter reading system utilizing a computer system and automatically reading the amount of electric power has been adopted (see Patent Documents 1 and 2), but an area to which such an automatic meter reading system is applied. On the other hand, there is a problem that labor and time for dissemination are required and the cost for capital investment becomes enormous.

  Under such circumstances, for example, some existing facilities on both the power supplier side and the consumer side can be effectively used, and it can be easily constructed at low cost without requiring labor for dissemination. Realization of the system was desired.

JP 2000-165966 A JP 2003-152881 A

  In view of such circumstances, the present invention utilizes the existing facilities on both the supplier side that supplies power and the consumer side that uses power, and expands the area where the power consumption can be automatically measured. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic meter reading system using a cordless telephone that can reduce the cost including an electricity bill considering the communication cost of a consumer and can reduce the burden on the supplier.

  The first aspect of the present invention that solves the above-described problem is an automatic operation using a cordless telephone in which a supplier supplying electric power utilizes a cordless telephone held by a consumer who uses the electric power to automatically measure the amount of electric power. A meter-reading system, which is installed so as to be connected to at least a watt hour meter that measures the amount of power used by the consumer, and is a cordless held by the consumer as a slave station of the cordless telephone Wireless type automatic communication with the supplier via the predetermined line used in the cordless telephone by installing it near the consumer's electricity meter so that it can be connected to the telephone The wireless automatic meter reading terminal includes a meter reading terminal, and the wireless automatic meter reading terminal reads numerical values of a watt hour meter indicating the amount of power used by the consumer at a predetermined timing; Automatic management and control of data necessary to transmit the watt-hour meter values as automatic meter reading data including time information indicating the communication time required for data transmission and reception and customer information for identifying consumers The present invention provides an automatic meter reading system using a cordless telephone characterized by comprising meter reading data control means.

  In the first aspect, it is installed so as to be connected to at least a watt-hour meter that measures the amount of power used by the consumer, and can be connected to a cordless telephone held by the consumer as a slave station of the cordless telephone. The wireless automatic meter-reading terminal that communicates data with the supplier side through a predetermined line used in the cordless telephone by installing it near the electricity meter of the consumer Then, the value of the watt-hour meter indicating the amount of power used by the consumer at a predetermined timing is read, and the time information indicating the communication time required for data transmission / reception is read from the numerical value of the watt-hour meter read and the consumer. Data necessary for transmission as automatic meter reading data including customer information for identification is managed and controlled. As a result, it becomes easy to expand the area where the power consumption can be automatically measured by utilizing the existing facilities on both the supplier side that supplies power and the consumer side that uses power. It is possible to reduce the cost including the electricity bill in consideration of the communication cost and to reduce the burden on the supplier.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the numerical value reading unit reads a numerical value of a watt hour meter based on a command signal included in data transmitted from the supplier side. This is an automatic meter reading system that uses a cordless telephone.

  In the second aspect, the value of the watt-hour meter is read based on the command signal included in the data transmitted from the supplier side. Thereby, the burden of a supplier can be reduced by utilizing the existing facilities on both the supplier side that supplies power and the consumer side that uses power.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the wireless automatic meter-reading terminal further includes a timer for notifying the numerical value reading means of a timing for reading the numerical value of the watt hour meter. It is in the automatic meter-reading system using the cordless telephone described in the aspect.

  In the third aspect, the timer notifies the timing for reading the value of the watt-hour meter. Thereby, the burden of a supplier can be reduced more by utilizing the existing facilities on both the supplier side that supplies power and the consumer side that uses power.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the automatic meter reading data control means transmits the automatic meter reading data in a time zone when the consumer does not use a cordless telephone. The automatic meter reading system using the cordless telephone described in 1.

  In the fourth aspect, the automatic meter reading data is transmitted during a time period when the consumer does not use the cordless telephone. As a result, it is possible to reduce the cost including the electricity bill in consideration of the living situation of the consumer and the communication cost.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the supplier side calculates a communication time required for data transmission / reception from time information included in automatic meter reading data transmitted from the consumer side, and calculates the communication time. The automatic meter reading system using the cordless telephone according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, further comprising an electricity bill adjusting means for calculating a discounted electricity bill based on the above.

  In the fifth aspect, the communication time required for data transmission / reception is calculated from the time information included in the automatic meter reading data transmitted from the consumer side, and the discounted electricity bill is calculated based on the calculated communication time. Is done. As a result, it is possible to reduce the cost including the electricity charge considering the communication cost of the consumer.

  In a sixth aspect of the present invention, the customer information is at least one of an identification number assigned in advance to the wireless automatic meter reading terminal or a contractor number generated by a power supply contract. The automatic meter reading system uses the cordless telephone set according to any one of the first to fifth aspects.

  In the sixth aspect, at least one of the identification number given in advance to the wireless automatic meter-reading terminal or the contractor number generated by the power supply contract is the customer information. As a result, it is possible to expand the area where the power consumption can be automatically measured automatically, and to efficiently reduce the cost including the electricity bill.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to sixth aspects, the predetermined line used in the cordless telephone is at least public line communication or wideband communication. This is an automatic meter reading system that uses a cordless telephone.

  In the seventh aspect, the predetermined line used in the cordless telephone is at least public line communication or wideband communication. This makes it possible to reduce the burden on the supplier more reliably by utilizing the existing facilities on both the supplier side that supplies power and the consumer side that uses power.

  According to the present invention, by utilizing the existing facilities on both the supplier side that supplies power and the consumer side that uses power, the metering of the power consumption can be automatically performed. Automatic meter reading using a cordless telephone that can reduce the burden on the supplier while reducing the cost including the electricity bill considering the communication cost of the consumer while expanding the area where the meter can be automatically read A system can be provided.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The description of the present embodiment is an exemplification, and the configuration of the present invention is not limited to the following description.

  In the present embodiment, the amount of power used is automatically determined by utilizing existing facilities on both the supplier side (for example, the power company) that supplies power and the consumer side (for example, general households and companies) that uses the power. By expanding the area where meter reading can be performed, it is possible to reduce the cost including the electricity bill considering the communication cost of the consumer, and to realize a system that can reduce the burden on the supplier. As a result, for example, the system can be easily spread without placing a cost burden on both the electric power company and the power contractor, and it is also possible to reduce labor costs and capital investment.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system outline of an automatic meter reading system using a cordless telephone according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, an electric power company is illustrated as a supply side that supplies electric power, and a general household is illustrated as a demand side that uses electric power.

  As shown in the figure, the automatic meter reading system 1 of the present embodiment uses a wireless automatic meter reading terminal 30 held by an electric power company 2 that is a supplier supplying electric power, and electric power of a general household 3 that is a consumer who uses electric power. By installing in the vicinity of the meter 40, the wireless automatic meter reading terminal 30 and the cordless telephone 50 installed in the general home 3 are connected and combined, so that the electric power company 2 can be connected via the communication line 10. Various data related to meter reading of electric energy can be automatically communicated from a remote place between the management server 20 installed in the home and the general home 3.

  Specifically, the wireless automatic meter-reading terminal 30 is installed so as to be connected to at least a watt-hour meter 40 that measures the amount of power used by a consumer in a general household 3, and the cordless telephone 50 As a slave station, it is installed in the vicinity of the watt-hour meter 40 of the consumer so that it can be connected to the cordless telephone 50 held by the consumer of the general household 3, so that it can be connected via the communication line 10 used by the cordless telephone 50. Data communication is performed with the management server 20 of the electric power company 2. In this embodiment, such a wireless automatic meter reading terminal 30 is used to carry out automatic meter reading of electric energy by utilizing a wireless line previously constructed by PHS (Personal Handyphone System) in the electric power company 2. The assumed PHS type automatic meter reading terminal is assumed. The cordless telephone 50 receives the data of the power company 2 that is the supplier and transmits data related to the general household 3 that is the consumer to the management server 20 of the power company 2.

  Here, the system configuration of each component constituting the automatic meter reading system of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a system configuration of an automatic meter reading system using a cordless telephone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  First, the electric power company 2 is connected to the electric power company 2 via the communication line 10 used by the cordless telephone 50 from each general household 3 in order to manage various data from the consumer side that uses the electric power. A management server 20 that acquires and manages necessary data is installed.

  The management server 20 includes at least a meter-reading instruction unit 21, an electricity bill adjustment unit 22, a data management unit 23, and a database (shown as “DB”) 24.

  The meter-reading instruction means 21 sends a command signal for meter-reading the value of the watt-hour meter 40 to the wireless automatic meter-reading terminal 30 held in each general home 3 via the communication line 10. In addition, the command signal for the wireless automatic meter reading terminal 30 does not necessarily need to be transmitted. For example, when there is data relating to a preset meter reading time in the wireless automatic meter reading terminal 30, the timing is based on the data. It is also conceivable that automatic meter reading based on the numerical value in the watt hour meter 40 is performed. In this case, for example, the sent command signal may be transmitted immediately to the wireless automatic meter reading terminal 30 or may be transmitted at a preset timing.

  The electricity rate adjusting means 22 calculates the communication time required for data transmission / reception from the time information included in the automatic meter reading data transmitted from the general household 3 side as a consumer, and discounts based on the calculated communication time. Calculate electricity charges. That is, the electricity rate adjusting means 22 discounts at least the corresponding communication cost from the regular electricity rate by calculating the communication time using the communication line 10 based on the time information required for automatic meter reading. At this time, it is not always necessary to discount only the communication cost corresponding to the communication time of automatic meter reading from the regular electricity charge. For example, the cordless telephone 50 and the communication line 10 used at home are used. For ordinary households 3 who have contracted to automatically measure the amount of electric power, it may be possible to specially discount electricity charges as a service associated with the act.

  The data management means 23 uses the automatic meter reading data transmitted from the wireless automatic meter reading terminal 30 held in each general home 3 according to various items such as communication time, customer information, and monthly power consumption. Manage every three. The customer information here means at least either an identification number given in advance to the wireless automatic meter reading terminal 30 or a contractor number generated by a power supply contract. On the other hand, the time information may be included in the data when the automatic meter reading start time and end time are counted and the next automatic meter reading data is transmitted. Although not limited to this, for example, after transmitting customer information and the amount of power used corresponding to the customer information as automatic meter reading data, only time information may be separately transmitted. Also, the amount of power used may be calculated, for example, by summing regularly transmitted ones in the month closing, or may be managed by sending the numerical values measured in the month closing collectively. . As a result, it is possible to appropriately grasp the usage status of each general household 3, and it is possible to connect to a service for notifying a service related to the amount of power used via the communication line 10 according to the demand of the consumer.

  The database 24 stores and manages automatic meter reading data and various data obtained from the automatic meter reading data. Here, the various data obtained from the automatic meter reading data is, for example, data in which the sum of the discount amount, communication time, pre-discount electricity price, and after-discount electricity charge for each general household 3 is divided on a monthly basis.

  On the other hand, the general household 3 uses the cordless telephone 50 and the communication line 10 by installing the wireless automatic meter-reading terminal 30 that can be connected to the watt-hour meter 40 that measures the amount of power used. Thus, communication can be performed with the management server 20 installed in the electric power company 2.

  The wireless automatic meter reading terminal 30 includes at least a numerical value reading unit 31, an automatic meter reading data control unit 32, and a timer 33.

  The numerical value reading means 31 reads the numerical value of the watt-hour meter 40 indicating the amount of power used by the consumer at a predetermined timing. Specifically, the numerical value reading unit 31 reads the numerical value of the watt-hour meter 40 based on a command signal included in data transmitted from the management server 20 installed in the electric power company 2. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the numerical value of the watt-hour meter 40 may be appropriately read based on a timer 33 described later.

  The automatic meter-reading data control means 32 is automatic meter-reading data including the time information indicating the communication time required for data transmission / reception and the customer information for identifying the general household 3 as a consumer. The necessary data is managed and controlled by transmitting. And the automatic meter-reading data control means 32 transmits automatic meter-reading data in the time slot | zone when the consumer as the general household 3 does not use the cordless telephone 50 comparatively. As a result, it is possible to construct a system that automatically detects the amount of power used by utilizing the equipment already provided in the general home 3 without affecting the life of the general home 3.

  The timer 33 notifies the numerical value reading means 31 of the timing for reading the numerical value of the watt-hour meter 40. At this time, for example, the timing for reading the value of the watt hour meter 40 may be set in the timer 33 in advance, or the timing for reading the value of the watt hour meter 40 based on information transmitted from the management server 20. May be configured as appropriate.

  The watt-hour meter 40 is a digital meter that is normally used when measuring power, and is automatically connected to the wireless automatic meter-reading terminal 30 to automatically read a value indicating the amount of power used. Work will be controlled and managed. Thereby, the artificial meter-reading operation | work by the meter-reader who the electric power company 2 implements can be substantially made unnecessary.

  In addition, it is assumed that the cordless telephone 50 is a device that is already provided in the general home 3. Further, as the communication line 10 used by the cordless telephone 50, at least the cordless telephone 50 can make a call. It becomes public line communication or wideband communication used when performing. Specific examples of the communication line 10 include dial-up communication and broadband communication.

  Next, the communication procedure of the automatic meter reading system 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is a communication sequence of the automatic meter reading system using the cordless telephone according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, a processing procedure when automatic meter reading is performed according to a predetermined command transmitted from the electric power company 2 is illustrated.

  As shown in the drawing, the management server 20 transmits data including a command signal for automatic meter reading to the wireless automatic meter reading terminal 30 (S1). And the wireless automatic meter-reading terminal 30 reads the numerical value of the watt-hour meter 40 (S2). At this time, the numerical value reading means 31 determines the timing for reading the numerical value of the watt-hour meter 40 according to the command signal transmitted from the meter-reading instruction means 21 of the management server 20.

  Then, based on the read value of the watt-hour meter 40, automatic meter reading data for the general home 3 is created (S3). Specifically, automatic meter reading data based on the numerical value of the watt-hour meter 40, time information, and customer information is created. Of these, the customer information can be automatically given the identification number for identifying the terminal from the installed wireless automatic meter reading terminal 30 or the contractor number set in the terminal when the terminal is attached. Good.

  Then, the automatic meter reading data created by the wireless automatic meter reading terminal 30 is transmitted to the management server 20 of the power company 2 via the communication line 10 used by the cordless telephone 50 (S4). At this time, as a time zone in which the automatic meter reading data is transmitted, for example, a dawn where the probability of use in each general household 3 is generally expected to be the lowest is preferable.

  And the management server 20 calculates communication time based on the transmitted automatic meter-reading data (S5). Specifically, the communication time is calculated by extracting the start time and end time of automatic meter reading from the time information included in the automatic meter reading data, and calculating the difference between them. Note that the time information included in the automatic meter reading data is, in principle, the communication time required for transmission / reception of the automatic meter reading data last month, and is deducted from the electricity bill for the next month.

  Then, the management server 20 calculates a discounted electricity bill (S6). Specifically, a communication fee corresponding to the communication time calculated in step S5 is calculated, and the calculated communication fee is subtracted from the electricity charge of the corresponding consumer to charge a discounted electricity fee. It will be calculated as the electricity bill when

  As described above, in the automatic meter reading system 1 of the present embodiment, both the wireless automatic meter reading terminal 30 which is an existing facility of the electric power company 2 and the cordless telephone 50 used in daily life in each general home 3 are utilized. Thus, the area where the power consumption can be automatically measured without difficulty can be expanded, and the general household 3 can be used via the communication line 10 when using the cordless telephone 50 used in daily life. It becomes possible to automatically measure the power consumption for every three at low cost. Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the wireless automatic meter-reading terminal 30 that has not been used can be used effectively, and waste of resources owned by the power company 2 can be omitted.

It is a figure which shows the system outline of the automatic meter-reading system using the cordless telephone which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the system configuration | structure of the automatic meter-reading system using the cordless telephone which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a communication sequence of the automatic meter-reading system using the cordless telephone which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

2 Electric power company 3 General household 10 Communication line 20 Management server 21 Meter reading instruction means 22 Electricity rate adjustment means 23 Data management means 24 Database 30 Wireless automatic meter reading terminal 31 Numerical reading means 32 Automatic meter reading data control means 33 Timer 40 Electric energy meter 50 Cordless phone

Claims (7)

An automatic meter reading system that uses a cordless telephone that automatically measures the amount of power by using a cordless telephone held by a consumer who uses the electric power.
At least, it is installed so as to be connected to a watt hour meter that measures the amount of power used by the consumer, and can be connected to a cordless telephone held by the consumer as a slave station of the cordless telephone. By installing near the electricity meter of the consumer, it comprises a wireless automatic meter-reading terminal that performs data communication with the supplier side through a predetermined line used in the cordless telephone, Wireless automatic meter reading terminal
Numerical value reading means for reading a numerical value of a watt hour meter indicating the amount of power used by the consumer at a predetermined timing;
Automatic management and control of data required to transmit the read watt-hour meter values as automatic meter reading data including time information indicating the communication time required for data transmission and reception and customer information for identifying consumers An automatic meter reading system using a cordless telephone, characterized by comprising meter reading data control means. 2. The automatic meter reading system utilizing a cordless telephone according to claim 1, wherein the numerical value reading means reads a numerical value of a watt hour meter based on a command signal included in data transmitted from the supplier side. The wireless automatic meter-reading terminal further comprises a timer for notifying the numerical value reading means of the timing for reading the numerical value of the watt-hour meter, utilizing the cordless telephone according to claim 1 or 2 Automatic meter reading system. The automatic meter reading data utilizing the cordless telephone according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the automatic meter reading data control means transmits the automatic meter reading data in a time zone when the consumer does not use the cordless telephone. system. The supplier side calculates a communication time required for data transmission / reception from time information included in the automatic meter reading data transmitted from the consumer side, and calculates a discounted electricity bill based on the calculated communication time. 5. An automatic meter reading system using a cordless telephone according to claim 1, further comprising an electricity rate adjusting means. The customer information is at least one of an identification number given in advance to the wireless automatic meter reading terminal or a contractor number generated by a power supply contract. Automatic meter reading system using the cordless telephone described. 7. The automatic meter reading system using a cordless telephone according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined line used in the cordless telephone is at least public line communication or wideband communication.

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