JP3310792B2 - Automatic notification method and automatic notification device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic report method which is started when monitor data is received from a monitor device and reports the monitor data to a monitoring center via a line, and receives monitor data from the monitor device. Automatic notification device having a line control unit that is started up at a time and automatically reports the monitor data to a monitoring center via a line, for example, a centralized LP gas monitoring system that performs security management and device management using a public line The present invention relates to an automatic notifying method and an automatic notifying device used in, for example, an electronic device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the above-mentioned LP gas centralized monitoring system and the like, since prompt and most appropriate measures are indispensable, immediateness of information is emphasized. Therefore, the conventional automatic reporting device is activated when receiving monitor data from a monitor device, and includes a line control unit that automatically reports the monitor data to a management center via a line, and the monitor data is reported due to a communication failure or the like. If it is not possible, a device provided with a retransmission control unit for automatically retransmitting has been proposed (actually 3-4).
2771 publication etc.).

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional example, if a communication failure such as a communication failure or a device failure occurs, the immediacy of data cannot be guaranteed. The monitoring center that received the data could not respond promptly because the generation time of the monitor data was unknown, and as a result, there was a possibility that various inconveniences could occur, such as erroneous user response and loss of user's confidence.

For example, when the monitoring device is a gas leak alarm, when a gas leak is detected, a shut-off valve of the device is operated to stop the gas supply, and monitor data indicating the gas leak is transmitted to an automatic notification device. Then, the monitoring center staff who referred to the data received from the automatic notification device makes a telephone call to the user's home, prompts appropriate measures for restarting, and checks the situation. If the monitoring center receives the monitor data with a considerable delay in time, or if the monitor data cannot be received, the user response will be incorrect and the user's sense of trust will be impaired. There is also a disadvantage that the user's emotion is harmed because the user is unknown.

For example, when monitor data indicating an abnormality is continuously input to the automatic notification device due to a short circuit of a terminal on the monitor device side or an abnormal call by a voltage-type alarm, the line control is performed each time. As a result of the activation of the unit, there is also a disadvantage that the line is crowded and important monitor data from other automatic reporting devices cannot be received.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks and to provide a more appropriate measure on the monitoring center side even when monitor data from a monitoring device is received with a delay at the monitoring center. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic notification method and an automatic notification device that can make it possible to avoid a loss of the user's confidence due to an error in handling the user.

[0007]

In order to achieve this object, an automatic notification method according to the present invention is characterized in that a data communication failure is detected and data for identifying the content of the detected failure is included in the monitor data. In the configuration in which retransmission is additionally performed, when the content of the failure is a continuous communication failure in which the same monitor data is repeatedly reported, the retransmission is prevented after retransmission .

A feature of the automatic notification device according to the present invention is that a communication failure detection unit for detecting a communication failure is provided, and data for specifying the content of the failure detected by the communication failure detection unit is transmitted to the monitor data. And a retransmission control unit for activating the line control unit in addition to the above , wherein the retransmission control unit detects the content of the fault detected by the communication fault detection unit as a continuous communication fault that repeatedly and automatically reports the same monitor data. In this case, it is to prevent the line control unit from being activated again after retransmission .

[0009]

The operation of the automatic notification device will be described below as a representative. When a communication failure is detected by the communication failure detection unit,
The retransmission control unit transmits data identifying the content of the detected failure,
The transmission data is reconstructed in addition to the monitor data to be transmitted to the monitoring center, and the line control unit is started. The line control unit reports the reconstructed transmission data to the monitoring center and terminates the processing. At this time, the failure is not resolved and the communication failure is detected again by the communication failure detection unit. Operation is repeated.

In the above-mentioned configuration, when the content of the fault detected by the communication fault detection unit is a continuous communication fault that repeatedly and automatically reports the same monitor data, for example,
In a case where monitor data indicating an abnormality is continuously input to the automatic notification device due to a short circuit of a terminal on the monitor device side or an abnormal call by a voltage alarm, the retransmission control unit includes a line control unit. After the retransmission, the line control unit is prevented from being activated again, thereby avoiding the useless use of the line.

[0011]

Therefore, according to the present invention, even if monitor data from a monitor device is received by the monitoring center with a delay, the monitoring center can perform more appropriate processing based on the data specifying the content of the failure. Thus, it is possible to provide an automatic notification method and an automatic notification device which can take measures and can avoid a loss of the user's confidence due to an error in handling the user.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A case where the automatic notification method and the automatic notification device of the present invention are used in a centralized LP gas monitoring system will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 2, the LP gas centralized monitoring system using a general public line connects monitor data from a monitor device 1 provided to a user such as a general home or business office to an automatic notification device 2. The automatic notification device 2 is connected to the automatic receiving device 5 on the monitoring center 4 side via the telephone line 3 and receives the monitor data from the monitor device 1 when the monitor data is input. It is configured so that the information is converted into notification information having a format and a call is automatically sent to the automatic receiving device 5.

The monitoring device 1 includes a meter reading circuit for monitoring the amount of gas used for gas facilities provided in ordinary households and offices, a residual gas management circuit for monitoring the amount of gas stored in a cylinder, In order to avoid the danger of a serious accident caused by a gas leak, etc., when a set condition such as input of a gas leak signal from a gas leak alarm device 1b described later or continuous consumption of gas for a long time is satisfied, the gas supply plug is automatically turned on. A gas leak detector 1b that includes a gas meter 1a that monitors the state of each of them, a gas sensor circuit that detects gas leaks from gas appliances and the like, and that issues an alarm when a gas leak is detected. Security monitoring equipment 1 that detects abnormalities of gas heat pumps and vaporizers as gas related equipment
c, etc., each having a data transmission circuit for outputting the detected monitor data to the automatic notification device 2 when the event occurs.

As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic notification device 2 transmits an external interface circuit 2h for inputting monitor data from the monitor device 1, and transmits the input monitor data to an automatic receiving device 5 on the monitoring center 4 side. It comprises a line control circuit 2f for processing, a line disconnector 2g for transmitting monitor data and separating the line with the indoor telephone 6, a communication control unit 2a for controlling the entire apparatus, and the like.

The communication control section 2a comprises a CPU, a memory circuit 2e and the like. More specifically, the communication control section 2a checks monitor data inputted through the external interface circuit 2h and transmits data to the monitoring center 4 And convert it to
A data transmission processing unit 2b that activates the line control unit 2f to transmit the data, a communication failure detection unit 2d that detects a communication failure, and identifies a failure content detected by the communication failure detection unit 2d. Retransmission control unit 2 for adding data to the monitor data and activating the line control unit 2f
c. Note that each component block of the communication control unit 2a is appropriately configured by a known circuit configuration technology such as a logic circuit.

The operation of the CPU operated by the program stored in the memory circuit 2e, that is, the operation of the automatic notification device 2 will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When the monitor data is received from the monitor device 1, the data transmission processing unit 2b performs the operation shown in FIG.
As shown in (2), the generated information is converted into a predetermined ID code and corresponding monitor data and registered in the memory circuit 2e, and the telephone number of the monitoring center 4 registered in the memory circuit 2e is read out. The line control circuit 2
Start f <#A>. That is, the data transmission processing unit 2b and the line control circuit 2f are activated when receiving monitor data from the monitor device 1, and become a line control unit that automatically reports the monitor data to the monitoring center 4 via the line 3.

When the communication failure detecting section 2d detects a predetermined number of calls of the same monitor data within a predetermined time, it determines that the communication failure is a continuous communication failure which is one of the communication failures. , <#C>, the retransmission control unit 2c
As shown in (b), a trouble code indicating a continuous communication failure is added to a predetermined data block of the monitor data and re-registered in the memory circuit 2e, and the line control unit is restarted to monitor. Resend data <
#D>, <#E>. Note that the predetermined data block is I
Data block other than D code and monitor data
Usually, this is a block in which time data at the time of data transmission is inserted. When the communication ends normally, the retransmission control unit 2c stores the data to that effect in the memory circuit 2e, and prevents the line control unit from being activated again after retransmission <#F
>. That is, when the data transmission processing unit 2b receives the monitor data from the monitor device 1, a continuous communication failure occurs from the data stored in the memory circuit 2e,
If it is determined that the transmission has already been completed, the process stands by without activating the line control circuit 2f <#G>.

In this way, the occupation of the line due to the transmission of the same monitor data a plurality of times is avoided. Here, the continuous communication failure means that the automatic notification device 2
Means a state where transmission processing to the monitoring center 4 is continuously performed by receiving a continuous monitor signal (false alarm) caused by a failure such as a short-circuit of a terminal, and within a predetermined time (for example, one hour). If the number of times (for example, 10) continues, it is determined that a continuous communication failure has occurred.

If no continuous communication failure has occurred,
As shown in FIG. 4A, the data transmission processing unit 2b converts the generated information into a predetermined ID code and monitor data corresponding to the ID code, registers the converted information in the memory circuit 2e, and registers the generated information in the memory circuit 2e. The telephone number of the monitoring center 4 is read out and the line control circuit 2f is activated <#H>. When a communication failure other than a continuous communication failure is detected by the communication failure detection unit 2d <#I>, the retransmission control unit 2c, as shown in FIG. A different trouble code for each type of communication failure is added to the block and re-registered in the memory circuit 2e, and the line control unit is restarted to retransmit the monitor code. <#L>, <
#M>, <#N>, when the report is completed, the process stands by for the next report <#O>.

A communication failure other than a continuous communication failure is defined as the type of dial selection signal (dial system / push system).
Mismatch, the line subscriber is busy, the monitoring center 4 is busy, a temporary failure of the communication line (disconnection, unused state), an abnormality of the line subscriber's telephone (automatic setting of the mute function, etc.). .

The above steps <#L> and <#M> will be described in detail. Type of dial selection signal (dial method /
In the case of a mismatch of the (push method), the failure of the line connection of either the dial method or the push method indicates that the other method is used, so the mismatch is detected by the communication failure detecting unit 2d. The line control unit restarted later retransmits the call in a correct manner, thereby enabling transmission of monitor data. If the line contractor is busy or the monitoring center 4 is busy, the line control unit makes a call again after a certain period of time, so that monitor data can be transmitted. When the telephone of the line subscriber is abnormal, particularly when the mute function is automatically set, the line control section operates the line disconnector 2g to forcibly disconnect the line from the telephone 6. Thereby, transmission of monitor data becomes possible. On the other hand, in the case of a communication failure due to a disconnection or the like in which it is difficult to recover the communication failure by itself, the transmission is completed when the failure is recovered by repeating the operation of re-calling after a lapse of a predetermined time by the line control unit. . That is, the line control unit has a communication failure automatic recovery function for recovering a communication failure by itself and a redial function.

In this way, the monitoring center 4 that has received the monitor data can take appropriate measures based on the added trouble code. For example, in the case of a continuous communication failure, it is possible to call the calling customer to notify that the monitor device 1 is abnormal and to prepare for necessary maintenance parts and to visit. If the trouble code is not added in the monitor data indicating gas leakage, it is determined that the report is immediately after and a call is made to the calling customer to take emergency measures such as checking the plug of the gas equipment. If a request is made and a trouble code is added in the monitor data indicating gas leakage, the status of the gas appliance is notified while calling the calling customer to inform them that they have received it after a certain period of time due to a communication failure. and so it went to check the.

It should be noted that the monitor data by the monitor device 1 is not particularly limited, and accordingly, occurrence information can be set as appropriate. The data block to which the trouble code is assigned may be null data when there is no communication failure, but may include time data instead of the null data.
Further, the types of communication failures are not limited to those described above, and may include other communication failures.

In the claims, reference numerals are provided for convenience of comparison with the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the configuration shown in the attached drawings.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an automatic notification device.

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of a centralized monitoring system.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a monitor data structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Monitor apparatus 2b, 2f Line control part 2c Retransmission control part 2d Communication failure detection part 3 Line 4 Monitoring center

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-61-142837 (JP, A) JP-A-2-231700 (JP, A) JP-A-4-365200 (JP, A) Jikoh 3-42771 (JP , Y2) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G08B 25/00-29/28

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An automatic notification method which is started when receiving monitor data from a monitor device (1) and notifies said monitor data to a monitoring center (4) via a line (3), comprising: detects, data identifying the detected fault contents, the structure to be retransmitted in addition to the monitor data
The same monitor data is repeatedly reported.
If there is a continuous communication failure, the
Automatic notification method to stop . 2. A line control unit (2) which is activated when receiving monitor data from a monitor device (1) and automatically reports the monitor data to a monitoring center (4) via a line (3).
b) and (2f), wherein a communication failure detection unit (2d) for detecting a communication failure is provided, and the content of the failure detected by the communication failure detection unit (2d) is specified. data, the line control unit in addition to said monitor data (2b), Ri Oh provided a retransmission control unit to start (2f) (2c), the retransmission control unit (2c), the communication failure detector (2
The fault data detected in d) is the same monitor data
If there is a continuous communication failure that automatically reports
After the transmission, the line control units (2b) and (2f) are activated again.
An automatic notification device that prevents