JP2012182519A - Communication unit and meter-reading terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To miniaturize a communication unit that can be connected to an upper network and a lower network and a meter-reading terminal device in which the communication unit is mounted.SOLUTION: A communication unit comprises one radio unit that performs wireless communication with an automatic meter reading network as an upper network and with a home network as a lower network.

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication unit that performs communication in both an automatic meter-reading network and a home network, and a meter-reading terminal device equipped with the communication unit.

  As a conventional technique, lighting devices and LED devices that are connected to a management server via an upper line network such as the Internet and connected to a lower line network such as RS-485 and RS-232C are turned on / off and dimmed. In addition, a control device and a monitoring device that perform power metering have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2009-9246 A (paragraph "0027" to paragraph "0031", FIG. 1)

  In recent years, with the introduction of a large amount of renewable energy by a solar power generation device or the like installed in each home, it has been studied to control the power generation amount of each home using communication means. Moreover, introduction of HEMS (Home Energy Management System) etc. which connect each household electric appliance which is an energy consuming apparatus of a house with a line | wire and control power consumption is considered as an energy saving or global warming countermeasure.

  However, in the above-described conventional technology, devices such as a control device and a monitoring device connected to the upper line network and the lower line network have communication units connected to the upper line network and communication units connected to the lower line network. When it is necessary to have a communication unit having two communication units, and the automatic meter-reading network is a higher-level network and the home-line network is a lower-level network, and connected to one meter-reading terminal device, the communication unit and its communication unit There is a problem that the meter-reading terminal device equipped with is increased in size and cannot be easily installed in each home.

  An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem. The communication unit includes a communication unit that can be connected to both the upper line network and the lower line network, and the communication unit and the meter-reading terminal device on which the communication unit is mounted. The purpose is to reduce the size.

  Therefore, the present invention is characterized by comprising one radio unit for performing radio communication with an automatic meter-reading line network as an upper line network and radio communication with a home line network as a lower line network. And

  According to the present invention as described above, it is possible to reduce the size of the communication unit connectable to the upper line network and the lower line network and the meter-reading terminal device equipped with the communication unit.

Explanatory drawing which shows the connection structure of the automatic meter-reading line network in a Example, and a residential line network The block diagram which shows the structure of the communication unit in an Example. The block diagram which shows the function structure of the communication unit in an Example. Explanatory drawing which shows the transmission data format in an Example The block diagram which shows the flow of the communication processing in the automatic meter-reading line network and the in-home line network in an Example Explanatory drawing which shows the connection structure of the automatic meter-reading line network in a modification, and a residential line network The block diagram which shows the structure of the communication unit in a modification. The block diagram which shows the structure of the communication unit in a modification.

  Embodiments of a communication unit and a meter reading terminal device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a connection configuration of an automatic meter-reading network and a residential network in the embodiment.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a meter reading terminal device as an electronic power meter reading device, which is installed in each home and measures the amount of power consumed and the amount of generated power (hereinafter referred to as “power amount”) in each home. To do. The meter-reading terminal device 1 is equipped with a communication unit 10 to be described later, and wireless communication is possible in the upper line network and the lower line network.

  The meter-reading terminal device 1 performs multi-hop communication control for performing multi-stage communication control with other meter-reading terminal devices 1a and meter-reading terminal devices 1b, and communicates with the repeater 1c. Further, one-to-one communication control for directly communicating with the repeater 1c is performed, and communication with a server that collects an electric energy value (not shown), a later-described home data management server, and the like via the repeater 1c. It is possible.

  The meter-reading terminal device 1 may measure not only the amount of electric power but also metering information such as gas or water, and measures any one of the amount of power, gas, and water, Other metering information may be received from other devices and transmitted, and any two or more of power, gas, and water may be metered.

  Reference numeral 2 denotes a home data management server as a host device, which is communicably connected to the meter-reading terminal device 1 installed in each home, and is based on a power amount value such as a power consumption amount or a power generation amount received from the meter-reading terminal device 1. Then, an instruction to control increase / decrease in the amount of power generation in each home, a user ID which is identification information for identifying each home, and the like are transmitted to the meter reading terminal device 1.

  Reference numeral 3 denotes an automatic meter-reading network as an upper circuit network, which is a circuit network that enables communication between meter-reading terminal devices 1 (including the meter-reading terminal device 1a, meter-reading terminal device 1b, and repeater 1c). In this embodiment, the automatic meter-reading network 3 will be described as a wireless network. The home data management server 2 is described as being connected to the repeater 1c via a wired communication line, but is not limited thereto, and is not limited thereto, and may be a wireless communication line such as the repeater 1c and the automatic meter reading line network 3. It may be connected.

  4 is a PCS (Power Conditioning System), which is installed in each home and controls the amount of power generated by the solar power generation device 4a and the amount of power output to the power system. The PCS 4 is communicable with the meter-reading terminal device 1 via the lower line network, receives the value of the electric energy measured by the meter-reading terminal device 1 from the meter-reading terminal device 1, and receives the value of the received electric energy. The amount of power generated by the solar power generation device 4a and the amount of power output to the power system are controlled based on the above. Further, the PCS 4 controls the amount of power generated by the solar power generation device 4a and the amount of power output to the power system based on the instruction received from the server as the host device via the meter-reading terminal device 1.

  Reference numeral 5 denotes a home server, which is installed in each home and supplies power to the electric water heater 5a, the electric vehicle charger 5b, the storage battery 5c, etc. (for example, the electric water heater 5a, the electric vehicle charger 5b, the storage battery 5c etc. Power supply and its stop, and the amount of power supplied to them). The home server 5 is communicable with the meter-reading terminal device 1 via the lower line network, and switches between power input from the PCS 4 and power input from the power system based on an instruction received from the meter-reading terminal device 1. Take control.

  Reference numeral 6 denotes a display terminal, which is a power consumption and power generation amount in the home, a total value of the power amount output to the power system, a power consumption and power generation amount in the home, and a power amount output to the power system. It is a terminal that displays quantity values and the like. This display terminal 6 is communicable with the meter-reading terminal device 1 via the lower line network, and the power consumption and power generation amount in the home, the power system in accordance with the instruction received from the meter-reading terminal device 1 and the operation of the operator. Displays the total amount of power output, the amount of power consumed and generated in the home, and the amount of power output such as the amount of power output to the power system, and the display content is switched.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a home network as a sub-network, which is a network that enables communication between the meter-reading terminal device 1, the PCS 4, the home server 5, the display terminal 6 and the like installed in each home.
In the present embodiment, the home network 7 is described as a wireless network. The devices connected to the home network 7 are the meter reading terminal device 1, the PCS 4, the home server 5, and the display terminal 6. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and each home appliance may be connected. good.

  Moreover, the meter-reading terminal device 1 may be connected to a gas meter 61 or a water meter connected to the home network 7 as shown in FIG. At this time, the gas meter 61, the water meter, or the like may be operated with a built-in storage battery, or may be operated by obtaining a power source from a commercial power source or the like.

  Furthermore, each device such as the meter-reading terminal device 1, the PCS 4, the home server 5, and the display terminal 6 performs one-to-one communication control and multistage communication control for communicating with one device. A certain multi-hop communication control or one of the communication controls is performed. By performing this multi-hop communication control, it is possible to perform communication while eliminating the influence on the wireless communication due to the distance between the devices and the obstacles, obstacles, and the like.

Furthermore, each device such as the meter reading terminal device 1, the PCS 4, the home server 5, the display terminal 6, the electric water heater 5a, and the electric vehicle charging device 5b receives power supplied from the solar power generation device 4a or the power system. A storage battery may be provided so that communication is possible even if it is insufficient or shut off.
Furthermore, the meter-reading terminal device 1 includes a switch that opens / closes all electric power supplied to the house in accordance with an instruction received from a host server (not shown) or the like.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the communication unit in the embodiment.
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 10 denotes a communication unit, which is mounted on the meter-reading terminal device 1 and controls wireless communication in the automatic meter-reading network 3 and the home network 7 shown in FIG.
The communication unit 10 includes an antenna unit 11, a radio unit 12, an I / F (interface) unit 13, a storage unit 14, a control unit 15, and a power supply unit 16 that supplies power to each unit.

  The radio unit 12 as a communication unit includes a high frequency unit 121 connected to the antenna unit 11 and a modulation / demodulation unit 122 connected to the high frequency unit 121. The radio unit 12 modulates data to be transmitted by the modulation / demodulation unit 122, the high frequency unit 121 generates a radio wave of a predetermined frequency based on the modulated signal, and transmits the radio wave via the antenna unit 11. The radio wave received by the high frequency unit 121 via the antenna unit 11 is converted into an electrical signal by the modem unit 122 to generate reception data.

  The I / F unit 13 performs wired communication. For example, the I / F unit 13 performs communication control with a maintenance personal computer or the like connected by a wired communication line such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus). The information stored in the meter reading terminal device 1 including the communication unit 10 is read by a maintenance personal computer connected to the I / F unit 13 and various setting information is set in the meter reading terminal device 1. Can be done.

  The storage unit 14 is configured by a volatile memory, a nonvolatile memory, or the like, and stores a control program for controlling the operation of the entire communication unit 10, various control information necessary for performing wireless communication control, and the like.

The control unit 15 includes a calculation unit and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) as a control unit, and controls the operation of the entire communication unit 10 including the radio unit 12 based on a control program stored in the storage unit 14. is there.
The control unit 15 controls the wireless unit 12 so that the frequencies used in the automatic metering network 3 and the home network 7 are the same, and transmission information transmitted and received in the automatic metering network 3 and the home network 7 is transmitted. The network and the transmission / reception destination are determined by the network ID and address (device ID) as the network identification information in the transmission data frame.

As described above, the communication unit 10 performs wireless communication with the automatic meter-reading network 3 and wireless communication with the home network 7 using a single wireless unit 12.
The control unit 15 controls the radio unit 12 to switch the channel used in the predetermined frequency band of the high-frequency unit 121 in a time-sharing manner to switch between the automatic meter-reading network 3 and the home network 7. Good.

Alternatively, the transmission device may be controlled by a token, and a data link between the transmission device and the reception device may be established by a beacon to switch between the automatic meter-reading network 3 and the home network 7. Further, the number of communication of the automatic meter line 3 and the home line network 7 is determined in advance, and after the predetermined number of times of communication in the automatic meter line 3, the communication in the home line network 7 is performed, or the home line network 7, after the predetermined number of times of communication is completed, communication in the automatic meter-reading network 3 may be performed to switch between the automatic meter-reading network 3 and the home network 7. Furthermore, the automatic meter reading network 3 and the home network 7 may be switched according to the random time generated by the control unit 15.
Further, since the configuration other than the communication unit 10 of the meter-reading terminal device 1 is not directly related to the present invention, the description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the communication unit in the embodiment.
In FIG. 3, the function of the communication unit 10 includes a wireless communication unit 21, a transmission control unit 22, an upper network control unit 23a, a lower network control unit 23b, an automatic meter reading application unit 24a, and a home application unit 24b. These functions are controlled by the control unit 15 shown in FIG.
The wireless communication unit 21 performs communication control of the physical layer, and the transmission control unit 22 performs communication control of the data link layer, for example, secures a communication path with a communication partner, and performs communication control such as error detection of transmitted / received data. .

The host network control unit 23a performs network layer communication control in the automatic meter reading network 3 shown in FIG. 1, and performs multi-hop communication control, one-to-one communication control, and the like of each meter-reading terminal device 1.
The lower network control unit 23b performs network layer communication control in the home network 7 shown in FIG. 1, and performs one-to-one communication control between the meter reading terminal device 1 and each device in the home or the meter reading terminal device 1 and the home. Multi-hop communication control with each device is performed.

The automatic meter reading application unit 24a communicates with a host server (not shown) in the automatic meter reading network 3 shown in FIG. 1, and transmits, for example, a power consumption value in the home to the host server and receives from the host server. The power consumption in the home is metered in accordance with the received control information and the request received from the display terminal.
Further, the automatic meter reading application unit 24a controls the switch according to an instruction received from a host server or the like (not shown) to switch between power supply (opening) to the house and interruption (blocking) of the power supply.

  The in-home application unit 24b is connected to each device such as the PCS 4, the home server 5, and the display terminal 6 connected to the in-home network 7 shown in FIG. 1 and to the automatic meter-reading network 3 shown in FIG. Communicates with the higher level server that does not, and transmits the information received from the higher level server to each device connected to the home network 7 and relays the information received from each device to the higher level server. Relay. Further, the power consumption value in the house is acquired from the measuring instrument, and the power consumption value in the house is transmitted to each device connected to the home network 7.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a transmission data format in the embodiment. FIG. 4A shows the format of transmission data in the automatic meter-reading network, and FIG. 4B shows the format of transmission data in the home network. Note that this transmission data format is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this transmission data format.

In FIG. 4A, transmission data 30 as transmission information transmitted / received through the automatic meter-reading network is composed of a transmission header 31, a data header 32, and data 33.
The transmission header 31 is an area referred to by the transmission control unit 22 and the upper network control unit 23a shown in FIG. The transmission header 31 includes a network ID 311 as line network identification information for identifying a line network through which the transmission data 30 is transmitted / received. The upper network control unit 23a refers to the network ID 311 to When the ID 311 is information indicating an automatic meter-reading network, the transmission data 30 is treated as being communicated within the automatic meter-reading network.

In this embodiment, the upper network control unit 23a refers to the network ID 311 as the network identification information. However, the transmission control unit 22 may refer to the network ID 311. Alternatively, separate line network identification information referred to by each of the transmission control unit 22 and the upper network control unit 23a may be included.
The data header 32 is information indicating data attributes and the like of the data 33, and the data 33 is an electric energy value measured by the meter-reading terminal device, command information to each device, and the like. The data header 32 and data 33 are referred to and processed by the automatic meter reading application unit 24a shown in FIG.

In FIG. 4B, transmission data 40 as transmission information transmitted / received in the home network is composed of a transmission header 41, a data header 42, and data 43.
The transmission header 41 is an area referred to by the transmission control unit 22 and the lower network control unit 23b illustrated in FIG. The transmission header 41 includes a network ID 411 as line network identification information for identifying a line network through which the transmission data 40 is transmitted and received. The lower network control unit 23b refers to the network ID 411, and When the ID 411 is information indicating a home network, the transmission data 40 is handled as being communicated within the home network.

  In this embodiment, the lower network control unit 23b refers to the network ID 411 as the network identification information. However, the transmission control unit 22 may refer to the network ID 411. Alternatively, separate line network identification information referred to by each of the transmission control unit 22 and the lower network control unit 23b may be included.

The data header 42 is information indicating data attributes of the data 43, and the data 43 is an electric energy value measured by the meter-reading terminal device, command information to each device, and the like. The data header 42 and data 43 are referred to and processed by the home application unit 24b shown in FIG.
Thus, by including the network ID in the transmission header 31 of the transmission data 30 in the automatic meter reading network and the transmission header 41 of the transmission data 40 in the home network, the automatic metering network 3 shown in FIG. Transmission data communicated with the network 7 can be separated.

  The transmission header 31 of the transmission data 30 can include a command for transmitting information from the automatic metering network to the home network, and the transmission header 41 of the transmission data 40 can be transmitted from the home network to the automatic metering network. A command for transmitting information can be included. When this command is included, the transmission headers 31 and 41 are converted by the upper network control unit 23a or the lower network control unit 23b shown in FIG. The information can be transmitted from the home network to the home network or from the home network to the automatic meter-reading network.

  In addition, the data 33 of the transmission data 30 can include a command for transmitting information from the automatic metering network to the home network, and the data 43 of the transmission data 40 can include information from the home network to the automatic metering network. A command to be transmitted can be included. When this command is included, the transmission data 30 and 40 are converted by the automatic meter reading application unit 24a or the home application unit 24b shown in FIG. Information can be sent to the network or from the home network to the automatic metering network.

  Regarding the operation of the above-described configuration, referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 according to the step represented by S in the block diagram showing the flow of processing of wireless communication in the automatic meter line network and the home network in the embodiment of FIG. explain. In this embodiment, an example will be described in which the home server 5 can communicate with the home network 7.

S1: A power company or the like that manages the home data management server 2 sends a user ID as home identification information and an initial password (initial PW) associated with the user ID to each home.
Here, the home data management server 2 shall memorize | store meter-reading terminal device ID, user ID, and an initial password in a database.

S2: The user who has received the user ID and the initial password inputs the user ID and the initial password received using the personal computer 8 or the like connected to a communication line such as the Internet 9, and performs authentication to perform the home data management server 2 is registered by inputting a password (user PW) set by the user and a device ID as device identification information for identifying the home server 5 in the house.
The personal computer 8 or the like transmits the input user ID, password (user PW), and device ID to the home data management server 2.

S3: The home data management server 2 searches the database based on the received user ID.
S4: The home data management server 2 stores the device ID together with the password in the database in association with the user ID. Therefore, the database of the home data management server 2 stores the password (user PW) and the device ID in association with the meter reading terminal device ID (meter ID) and the user ID.

S5: The home data management server 2 transmits the device ID to the meter reading terminal device 1 of the meter reading terminal device ID stored in the database via the automatic meter reading network 3. At this time, the transmission data transmitted from the home data management server 2 to the meter reading terminal device 1 stores information representing the automatic meter reading network in the network ID 311 of the transmission header 31 shown in FIG. Further, it is assumed that the transmission header 31 includes the address of the meter reading terminal device 1 as the transmission destination.
S6: The control unit 15 of the communication unit 10 of the meter-reading terminal device 1 receives the device ID received from the home data management server 2 via the automatic meter-reading network 3, and receives the device ID received together with its own meter-reading terminal device ID. It memorize | stores in the memory | storage part 14 and preserve | saves it.

  S7: On the other hand, the home server 5 that has not established wireless communication with the meter-reading terminal device 1 periodically broadcasts the device ID stored in the storage unit to the meter-reading terminal device 1 via the home network 7. Send. At this time, in the transmission data transmitted from the home server 5 to the meter reading terminal device 1, information indicating the home network is stored in the network ID 411 of the transmission header 41 shown in FIG. 4, and the device ID is included in the transmission header 41. Shall be.

S8: The control unit 15 (transmission control unit 22) of the communication unit 10 of the meter-reading terminal device 1 receives the device ID from the home server 5 via the home network 7, and the received device ID is stored in the storage unit. Authentication is performed.
In the present embodiment, the device ID is authenticated by the communication unit 10 of the meter-reading terminal device 1, but the home server 5 receives the device ID from the communication unit 10 of the meter-reading terminal device 1, and receives the received device. You may make it authenticate whether ID is memorize | stored in the memory | storage part.

S9: When the control unit 15 (transmission control unit 22) of the communication unit 10 determines that the received device ID is stored in the storage unit, that is, determines that the device ID is registered, the control unit 15 (transmission control unit 22) Wireless communication with the home server 5 is permitted.
On the other hand, if the control unit 15 (transmission control unit 22) of the communication unit 10 determines that the received device ID is not stored in the storage unit, that is, determines that the device ID is not registered, the control unit 15 (transmission control unit 22) Thus, wireless communication with the home server 5 is not permitted, and subsequent wireless communication with the home server 5 is prohibited.

As described above, in this embodiment, the communication unit and the meter-reading terminal device on which the communication unit is mounted can be reduced in size, and an effect that it can be easily installed in each home is obtained.
Further, it is possible to reduce the number of parts of the communication unit and the meter-reading terminal device on which the communication unit is mounted, and it is possible to reduce the price.
Furthermore, by connecting a meter-reading device for metering various pieces of measurement information such as a water meter and a gas meter to the home network, it is possible to easily manage various pieces of measurement information.

  In the present embodiment, both the automatic meter-reading network and the home network are described as wireless networks, but both the automatic meter-reading network and the home network are either a wireless network or a wired network. Either a line network or a line network in which wireless communication and wired communication are mixed may be used. Examples of the wired network include LAN (Local Area Network), optical communication, power line carrier communication, and the like.

For example, when both the automatic meter-reading line network and the home line network are line networks in which wireless communication and wired communication are mixed, wireless communication is performed by the wireless unit 12 of the communication unit 10 as shown in FIG. Communication is performed by the wired unit 12a. 7 shows an example in which a power line carrier communication is performed by including a path filter unit and a PLC modem unit.
Further, when both the automatic meter-reading network and the home network are wired networks, wired communication is performed by the wired unit 12b as shown in FIG. 8 shows an example in which a power line carrier communication is performed by including a path filter unit and a PLC modem unit.

1 Meter reading terminal device 2 Home data management server 3 Automatic meter reading network 4 PCS
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 Home server 6 Display terminal 7 Home network 10 Communication unit 11 Antenna part 12 Radio | wireless part 13 I / F part 14 Memory | storage part 15 Control part 16 Power supply part 21 Wireless communication part 22 Transmission control part 23a Higher level network control part 23b Lower network control Section 24a Automatic meter reading application section 24b Home application section 61 Gas meter 62 Water meter

Claims (8)

  A communication unit comprising a single wireless unit that performs wireless communication with an automatic meter-reading line network as an upper line network and wireless communication with a home line network as a lower line network. The communication unit of claim 1,
The wireless unit performs wireless communication with the automatic metering line network and wireless communication with the home line network separately based on line network identification information included in transmission information. Communication unit. The communication unit of claim 1 or claim 2,
The automatic meter reading network is a wireless network,
The home network is a wireless network,
The wireless unit performs wireless communication with the automatic meter-reading network and wireless communication with the home network. The communication unit of claim 1 or claim 2,
The automatic meter reading line network is a line network in which wired communication and wireless communication are mixed,
The home network is a network in which wired communication and wireless communication are mixed,
The wireless unit performs wireless communication with the automatic meter-reading network and wireless communication with the home network. The communication unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A storage unit that stores in advance device identification information for identifying a home device connected to the home network;
When the device identification information is received from the home device connected to the home network, and the received device identification information matches the device identification information stored in the storage unit, wireless communication in the home network thereafter A communication unit. The communication unit of claim 5,
The device identification information stored in the storage unit is device identification information received from a host device connected to the automatic meter-reading network. In the meter-reading terminal device that measures various measurement information,
A meter-reading terminal device comprising the communication unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6. In the meter-reading terminal device according to claim 7,
The meter-reading terminal device measures the amount of electric power.

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