JP4875665B2 - Remote meter reading system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote meter-reading system for remotely metering power usage mainly in an apartment building, office building, or commercial building.

  Conventionally, when each tenant in an apartment building, office building, or commercial building is a consumer, it has been placed in the cordless handset attached to the electricity meter and in the electrical room of the housing complex, office building, or commercial building. Communicating with the main unit by power line carrier communication, the main unit acquires meter reading data (that is, power consumption) obtained from the electricity meter of each consumer from the sub unit, and the meter reading data is acquired in the main unit Techniques for aggregation have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). According to Patent Document 1, the master unit is connected to a power company totaling device via a communication network such as a telephone network, and acquires meter reading data from the slave unit in response to a meter reading request from the totaling device. Remote meter reading is made possible by transmitting to the counting device or acquiring meter reading data from the slave unit and transmitting it to the counting device at predetermined intervals.

  In the above-described technology, since the master unit performs communication by power line carrier communication between the master unit and the slave unit and the master unit collects meter reading data from the slave units, the power line supplying power to each consumer is connected to the master unit. By using it as a communication path between the machine and the handset, it is possible to save construction and materials. Moreover, since the meter reading can be performed remotely, it is possible to save labor and prevent reading errors in the meter reading data as compared with the case where the meter reader visually checks the power consumption by checking the watt hour meter. .

  By the way, in the technology described in Patent Document 1, a plurality of step-down transformers (transformers) are connected to a trunk line (intake line) in a building where a customer enters, thereby branching the distribution system into a plurality of parts. Power is supplied to customers from the secondary power line (distribution line). Therefore, it is possible to divide the power distribution system for each floor in the building.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the power distribution system is branched into a plurality of power lines Lb, in order for the base unit 1 to communicate with the handset 2, any one power line Lb is connected to the base unit 1. It is conceivable that a communication signal is exchanged between the other power line Lb and the base unit 1 via the step-down transformer Tr and the trunk line Lt. However, if the communication signal passes through the step-down transformer Tr, the communication signal is greatly attenuated. The problem is that the quality deteriorates.

Therefore, Patent Document 1 employs a configuration in which a coupler 3 (an inter-transformer signal coupler) that allows communication signals to pass between different power lines Lb is used. One end of the coupler 3 is connected to each power line Lb, and the other end is connected to one set of power lines Lb. Therefore, by connecting the parent device 1 to the power line Lb, communication signals can be exchanged with all the power lines Lb with relatively high communication quality.
JP 2006-180021 A

  By the way, the watt-hour meter needs to be associated with the consumer in order to determine the electricity charge of the consumer. Therefore, when the watt-hour meter is replaced due to a failure or the like, the watt-hour meter and the consumer are connected. It is necessary to relate without delay. However, when there are a large number of consumers as in a housing complex, there is a problem that it takes time to confirm the work for associating the electricity meter with the consumer.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above reasons, and its purpose is to automatically notify the host management device of measurement identification information of the power measurement device when the power measurement device is mounted. An object of the present invention is to provide a remote meter reading system that can save labor in associating with a customer.

  The invention of claim 1 includes a plurality of power supply management devices detachably mounted with power measurement devices for measuring power used by consumers, and measurement data by each power measurement device provided for each power supply management device. Wide range between the master unit and the master unit that acquires the measurement data from the slave unit by communicating with the multiple slave units that acquire each of them and the communication with the power line through the communication path including the power line A host management device that acquires measurement data acquired by the parent device by performing communication through a communication path including an information communication network, and the child device detects that the power measurement device is attached to the power supply management device Event detecting means, and event notifying means for notifying the parent device of measurement identification information given to the power measuring device when the event detecting means detects the attachment of the power measuring device. Child machine A configuration information storage unit that registers measurement identification information of a power measurement device that acquires measurement data, and a data update unit that registers measurement identification information of the power measurement device notified from a managed slave unit in the configuration information storage unit It is characterized by providing.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the configuration information storage unit includes measurement identification information and a power measurement device of the power measurement device attached to the power supply management device provided with the slave unit. The latest date and time when the device is mounted is stored, and the measurement identification information of a plurality of prescribed power measuring devices used in combination with the slave before the date and time is stored as measurement identification information.

  According to a third aspect of the invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the master unit has an identification information storage unit for registering the slave unit identification information used for communication with the slave unit for all managed slave units. However, the specified number of slave unit identification information within the range that can be registered in the identification information storage unit is issued, and if the issued slave unit identification information is not registered redundantly in the identification information storage unit, it is set in the slave unit It is possible.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, when the master unit registers the slave unit in the identification information storage unit, the number of the slave units registered in the identification information storage unit is set every predetermined confirmation time. If there is no change in the number of units between the specified multiple confirmations and whether the number of slave units confirmed by the connection confirmation unit reaches the maximum number allowed by the master unit Data acquisition means for requesting a notification from the power measuring device to the machine and acquiring measurement identification information, and the data update means stores the measurement identification information acquired by the data acquisition means in the configuration information storage unit. It is characterized by registering.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first to fourth aspects of the invention, when the power unit replaces the power measurement device attached to the power supply management device, measurement identification information of the power measurement device before replacement and A replacement log storage unit that records a set of removal time and a set of measurement identification information and attachment time of the power measuring device after replacement as log information, and an exchange log when a log information acquisition request is made from the master unit And a log notification means for notifying the parent device of the log information when the log information is registered in the storage unit, wherein the parent device measures the power used in response to a measurement data acquisition request to the child device. Determining means for determining a match between the power measuring apparatus registered in the configuration information storage unit and a log requesting means for requesting acquisition of log information if the determination result by the determining means is inconsistent, Further It means, and updates the contents of the configuration information storage unit by using the acquisition the log information if the log information is sent back to the request of the log information by the log request means.

  According to the configuration of the invention of claim 1, when the power measuring device is attached to the power supply management device at the time of construction or replacement, the child device is referred to as attachment of the power measurement device to the power supply management device with respect to the parent device. Notifying that the event has occurred, and notifying the parent device of the measurement identification information given to the power measurement device together with the notification of the event and registering it in the configuration information storage unit provided in the parent device. The latest information on the existing power measurement device can be held in the configuration information storage unit without delay. Furthermore, since the host management apparatus acquires the measurement data through the parent machine, the work of associating the consumer with the power measurement apparatus is facilitated and labor is saved.

  According to the configuration of the second aspect of the present invention, since the measurement identification information for a plurality of power measuring devices connected in the past is stored for one slave unit, the upper management device replaces the power measuring device. Even when the power measuring device is replaced without grasping, it is possible to grasp retroactively the number of records whose history is stored. That is, it is possible to accurately grasp the measurement result by the power measuring device for the consumer in which the slave unit is installed.

  According to the configuration of the invention of claim 3, since the slave unit identification information is issued within a range that can be registered in the identification information storage unit, and the issued slave unit identification information can be reused, it is issued by the identification information storage unit. While the types of slave unit identification information are limited, the slave unit identification information is not exhausted in the range of the slave unit identification information managed by the identification information storage unit.

  According to the configuration of the invention of claim 4, when registering the measurement identification information in the configuration information storage unit after construction or the like, wait until the number of slave unit identification information registered in the identification information storage unit does not increase, Since measurement identification information is collected with the system configuration under the control of the unit almost collected, the exact configuration of the entire system can be registered in the configuration information storage unit, and the configuration information is stored by notification of events from the slave units It is possible to reduce the frequency of changing the registered content of the copy.

  According to the configuration of the invention of claim 5, even if there is a communication failure when the slave unit attempts to change the contents of the configuration information storage unit of the master unit by notifying the event, the master unit is measured from the slave unit. When the master unit acquires log information held by the slave unit when collecting data, the master unit can grasp the replacement of the power measurement device. While adopting a configuration that notifies by an event, the master unit can prevent the loss of information related to the replacement of the power measuring device.

  This embodiment assumes a case where a plurality of power measuring devices are arranged in one building such as an apartment house, an office building, or a commercial building. In this type of building, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of power lines (100V / 200V low-voltage lines) Lb branched from a trunk line (6600V medium-high voltage line) Lt to which commercial power is supplied are wired. A step-down transformer Tr is provided at a branch point between the main line Lt and each power line Lb. The step-down transformer Tr steps down the voltage of the trunk line Lt to 100 V / 200 V (single-phase three lines and the voltage line is 200 V), and has a capacity of about 20 to 200 kVA, for example. In FIG. 1, the power line Lb on the secondary side of the step-down transformer Tr is described by two lines, but actually, the secondary side of the step-down transformer Tr is a single-phase three-line. The two lines shown in FIG. 1 indicate voltage pole lines of the power line Lb.

  In the present embodiment, a case will be described as an example where a plurality of step-down transformers Tr are provided in an apartment house and branched from a power line Lb connected to the secondary side of the step-down transformer Tr to supply each dwelling unit as a consumer. In order to charge an electric bill for each dwelling unit, each dwelling unit is provided with a power measuring device 4. As the power measuring device 4, an electronic watt hour meter is used instead of the conventional integrating watt meter. The power measuring device 4 measures instantaneous power and measures the amount of power for each time zone by integrating the instantaneous power. Therefore, for example, it is possible to individually measure the amount of power used in time zones with different unit prices such as daytime and nighttime.

  By the way, since this invention aims at measuring the amount of electric power used in each dwelling unit remotely, it is necessary to transmit the measurement data measured with the electric power measurement apparatus 4 by communication. Here, communication by power line carrier communication (hereinafter abbreviated as “PLC”, PLC = Power Line Communication) is performed using a power line Lb in a part of a communication path for transmitting measurement data obtained by the power measuring device 4. For the communication signal, for example, a high-frequency signal of 10 to 450 kHz is used.

  The measurement data of the power measurement device 4 provided in each dwelling unit is collected in the parent device 1 in units of buildings, for example. The base unit 1 communicates with a host management device 6 such as a computer server managed by an electric power company through a wide area information communication network NT such as the Internet. Accordingly, the upper management apparatus 6 can individually acquire the amount of power used in each dwelling unit.

  In order to connect the master unit 1 to the wide area information communication network NT, it is interposed between the local information communication network including the master unit 1 and the wide area information communication network NT, and between the master unit 1 and the upper management apparatus 6 A modem 5 is provided as a communication device that enables communication. The wide-area information communication network NT is a broadband communication network such as optical communication. When performing optical communication, an ONU (Optical Network Unit) is used as the modem 5. The modem 5 is provided with a LAN connection port connected to the local information communication network and a WAN connection port connected to the wide area information communication network NT.

  In order to transmit the measurement data of the power measurement device 4 provided in each dwelling unit to the parent device 1, each power measurement device 4 is provided with a child device 2 that communicates with the parent device 1. Although the subunit | mobile_unit 2 can be provided separately from the electric power measurement apparatus 4, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the electric power measurement apparatus 4 and the subunit | mobile_unit 2 are accommodated in the one housing 40. FIG. Thus, the power supply management device 10 is configured. The power supply management device 10 includes one power measuring device 4 and one slave unit 2, and further includes an opening / closing device 9 that opens and closes an electric path from the power line Lb to the power line in each dwelling unit. The subunit | mobile_unit 2, the electric power measurement apparatus 4, and the opening / closing apparatus 9 can be attached or detached with respect to the housing 40, and can be replaced | exchanged as needed. In addition, since it is necessary for the master unit 1 to grasp the amount of power used for each dwelling unit, individual slave unit identification information (address and customer number) is set for each slave unit 2. Each slave unit 2 is identified by the slave unit identification information.

  The subunit | mobile_unit 2 is connected to each power line Lb, and since it normally supplies electric power to several dwelling units from one set (single-phase three-wire) power line Lb, several subunit | mobile_unit 2 is connected to one set of power line Lb. The Here, when the parent device 1 acquires the accumulated power amount from the child device 2, the parent device 1 polls each child device 2 at an appropriate cycle, whereby the accumulated power stored in each child device 2 is stored. Get the quantity. For example, the subunit | mobile_unit 2 hold | maintains the integrated value for every 30 minutes as a meter-reading value about the measurement data which the electric power measurement apparatus 4 measured, and in order to acquire a meter-reading value in the main | base station 1, it is a fixed period (for example, 30 minutes). , 48 minutes, 72 minutes, 90 minutes, etc.) to perform regular meter reading. It will be described later that the slave unit 2 acquires and stores the integrated power amount from the power measuring device 4.

  In this embodiment, instead of providing a large number of communication connection ports in the base unit 1, the coupler 3 is provided by one less than the number of systems of the power line Lb. The coupler 3 has three connection ports 31 to 33, one connection port 31 of the coupler 3 is connected to the power line Lb, and the remaining two connection ports 32 and 33 are connected to the other coupler 3. Or connected to the base unit 1. Between the connection port 31 connected to the power line Lb and the other two connection ports 32 and 33, the passage of power is blocked and only the communication signal used for power line carrier communication can pass. Further, the two connection ports 32 and 33 that are not connected to the power line Lb are directly connected to each other, and communication signals can be transmitted between the connection ports 32 and 33.

  Therefore, when one connection port 31 of the coupler 3 is connected to the power line Lb and the couplers 3 are connected using the remaining two connection ports 32 and 33, a communication signal is transmitted on the same power line Lb. Of course, communication signals can be transmitted between the different power lines Lb via the coupler 3. That is, by connecting any one of the couplers 3 to the master unit 1, the master unit 1 is connected to all the power lines Lb to which the couplers 3 are connected by providing only one connection port 34. Communication signals can be exchanged with the handset 2 that is present.

  In addition to the signal connection port 34, the base unit 1 also has a power reception connection port 35. The power receiving connection port 35 is connected to any one of the power lines Lb without going through the coupler 3. That is, the coupler 3 is not connected to the power line Lb. The power receiving connection port 35 is used for receiving power from the power line Lb, and is also used for transmitting and receiving communication signals to and from the handset 2 connected to the power line Lb. The subunit | mobile_unit 2 receives electric power from the power line Lb.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, two connection ports 34 and 35 are provided in the parent device 1 in order to transmit a communication signal to and from the child device 2, and a power line is connected to the connection port 35 for receiving power. The Lb is connected to separate the received power and the communication signal inside the base unit 1, whereas the signal connection port 34 is connected to the coupler 3 having a function of separating the communication signal. Thus, only the communication signal is exchanged through the connection port.

  By the way, in this embodiment, the breaker 7 is inserted between each power line Lb and each coupler 3, respectively. Similarly, a breaker 7 is inserted between the power receiving connection port 35 and the power line Lb in the base unit 1. Each breaker 7 is desirably two-pole, and by providing the breaker 7 for each power line Lb, the master unit 1 and the coupler 3 are individually separated from the power line Lb without stopping power supply to each dwelling unit. Maintenance and inspection work can be performed. A single-pole or two-pole switch can be used instead of the breaker 7. In the present embodiment, by using the breaker 7, when an abnormal current flows through the base unit 1 or the coupler 3, the path of the abnormal current can be blocked so that the power source side is not affected.

  As described above, the power measurement device 4 measures the amount of power used in each dwelling unit, and the slave unit 2 acquires measurement data (integrated power amount) from each power measurement device 4. Distributed in the building. On the other hand, the master unit 1 is arranged at one place of the building in order to collect measurement data acquired by each slave unit 2. Specifically, the main unit 1 is stored in a storage box together with the coupler 3 and the breaker 7, and the storage box is disposed in an EPS (Electric Pipe Shaft) as an electrical room that stores the trunk line Lt and the step-down transformer Tr in the building. Is done.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a housing 40 of the power supply management device 10 includes a mounting base 41 that detachably mounts the slave unit 2, the power measuring device 4, and the opening / closing device 9, and a glass transparent cover that covers the mounting base 41. 42. A terminal block 41 a is provided below the mounting base 41, and the front surface of the terminal block 41 a is covered with a lid plate 43. On the terminal block 41a, a terminal (three on the left side in FIG. 2A) to which the power line Lb is connected and a terminal (three on the right side in FIG. 2A) for connecting a power line for supplying power to each dwelling unit Is provided.

  A socket portion 41b for detachably mounting three units of the slave unit 2, the power measuring device 4, and the opening / closing device 9 is formed on the top of the mounting base 41. The socket portion 41b is formed with a plurality of insertion ports 44a and 44b into which flat terminal pieces (not shown) projecting from the respective units are inserted. Each unit is formed with substantially the same dimensions, and is arranged in three upper and lower stages. The lower stage is the switching device 9, the middle stage is the power measuring device 4, and the upper stage is the slave unit 2. Further, as will be described below for the slave unit 2, each unit is fixed to the mounting base 41 using mounting screws.

  The switchgear 9 has a built-in relay and is connected to the slave unit 2 via a cable (not shown), and receives instructions from the master unit 1 through the slave unit 2 or receives instructions from the slave unit 2 itself. The electric circuit between the power line Lb and the power line is opened and closed. The instruction content from the parent device 1 to the child device 2 is notified from the upper management device 6 to the parent device 1. Accordingly, it is possible to manage the start and stop of power supply to each consumer (dwelling unit) in the power company that manages the upper management device 6.

  The power measuring device 4 is connected to the insertion port 44a which is a voltage terminal and the insertion port 44b which is a current terminal, and detects the line voltage of the power line Lb and the passing current between the power line Lb and the power supply line, and detects them. Instantaneous power is calculated from voltage and current. Furthermore, the power measuring device 4 has a built-in power amount measuring circuit that can integrate the instantaneous power and obtain the integrated power amount.

  An optical communication interface (not shown) using infrared rays as a transmission medium is provided on the front and upper surfaces of the body of the power measuring device 4. The optical communication interface is provided to notify an external device every predetermined time (for example, 3 seconds) that defines the integrated power amount measured by the power measuring device 4. The front optical communication interface is used for maintenance and the like, and the upper optical communication interface is used to notify the slave unit 2 of the integrated power amount.

  An optical communication interface opposite to the optical communication interface provided in the power measuring device 4 is provided on the lower surface of the housing of the slave unit 2. In the subunit | mobile_unit 2, integrated electric energy is received by infrared communication from the electric power measurement apparatus 4 through an optical communication interface, and the integrated electric energy for every predetermined time is memorize | stored. The stored accumulated power amount is transmitted to the main unit 1. The accumulated power amount of each consumer (dwelling unit) transmitted to the base unit 1 is transmitted to the upper management device 6 managed by the power company. Therefore, the electric power company can know the amount of electric power used by each customer without checking the watt hour meter by the meter reader.

  On the front surface of the housing of the slave unit 2, a notification lamp for notifying the occurrence of an abnormality and an optical communication interface including an IrDA port are provided. This optical communication interface is used for initial setting, maintenance, confirmation of the accumulated power amount (meter reading data) stored in the slave unit 2, time adjustment of the internal clock of the slave unit 2, and the like. That is, since the optical communication interface is provided, the above-described operation can be performed without contact without removing the cover 42. In order to use this optical communication interface, a maintenance terminal provided separately is used.

  Below, the function of the main | base station 1, the subunit | mobile_unit 2, the electric power measurement apparatus 4, and the high-order management apparatus 6 is demonstrated in detail. The subunit | mobile_unit identification information is provided to the subunit | mobile_unit 2, and individual measurement identification information is similarly provided to the electric power measurement apparatus 4 similarly. The slave unit identification information is prepared for the number of slave units 2 managed by the master unit 1. In setting the slave unit identification information in the slave unit 2, the slave units 2 are operated one by one, and the slave unit identification information is received for each slave unit 2 that has been confirmed to be activated. The slave unit identification information is dynamically allocated to the slave unit 2 by the master unit 1. The measurement identification information is set as information unique to each power measurement device 4 by combining the year of manufacture, the type of the power measurement device 4, the production number assigned to the power measurement device 4, and the like.

  Here, if one master unit 1 manages, for example, 180 slave units 2, 180 different slave unit identification information are prepared. The master unit 1 is provided with an identification information storage unit 15 for registering slave unit identification information for all managed slave units 2, and the master unit 1 is defined within a range that can be registered in the identification information storage unit 15. Issue the specified number of slave unit identification information. In this case, if new child device identification information is always given, the type of child device identification information is exhausted by the replacement of the child device 2. In the present embodiment, when the handset 2 is replaced, the handset identification information used in the handset 2 before replacement can be transferred to the handset 2 after replacement by using the maintenance terminal. . As described above, since the slave unit identification information is allowed to be reused, the slave unit identification information is not exhausted and insufficient.

  Since the master unit 1 manages the slave unit identification information set in the slave unit 2, the available slave unit identification information is acquired and the slave unit identification information to be used or reused is set in the slave unit 2. Can do. That is, if the slave unit identification information is not registered in the identification information storage unit 15 in duplicate, the slave unit identification information can be set in the slave unit 2. The slave unit identification information is information necessary for the master unit 1 to identify and communicate with each slave unit 2, whereas the host management device 6 uses the power measuring device 4 and the demand for charging an electricity bill. It is necessary to associate with the house.

  In order to identify the power supply management device 10 installed in the consumer by the parent device 1, the child device identification information for identifying the child device 2 is used. On the other hand, in order for the upper management device 6 to identify the power measurement device 4, measurement identification information individually assigned to each power measurement device 4 is used. By assigning the measurement identification information to each power measurement device 4, it is possible to manage the attachment / detachment of the power measurement device 4 with respect to the power supply management device 10.

  As described above, the slave unit identification information is used to identify the slave unit 2 under the management of the master unit 1, and the power measurement device 4 managed by the master unit 1 is identified under the management of the upper management device 6. Therefore, measurement identification information is used. Therefore, when the parent device 1 performs polling to acquire measurement data from the child device 2, the measurement identification information is used together with the child device identification information. The measurement identification information together with the slave unit identification information is used for both an acquisition request from the master unit 1 to the slave unit 2 and a response from the slave unit 2 to the master unit 1.

  In order to manage the attachment / detachment of the power measuring device 4, the base unit 1 is provided with a configuration information storage unit 11 for registering information about the power supply management device 10 provided under the management of the base unit 1 as shown in FIG. 3. is there. As shown in FIG. 5, the data stored in the configuration information storage unit 11 includes identification information (GUID), handset identification information (NodeID), and measurement identification information (instrument ID) that are uniquely assigned to the handset 2. On / off of switchgear 9 (switch connection), capacity of switchgear 9 (switcher capacity), date and time of data update (update date and time), date and time of operation of handset 2 (attachment date and time), power measuring device 4 In addition to the date and time (last instrument exchange date and time) attached, the power measurement of multiple units (in this embodiment, 10 units) used in combination with the slave unit 2 identified by NodeID before the previous instrument exchange date and time The measurement identification information (old instrument ID [1] to old instrument ID [10]) of the device 4 is included. The configuration information storage unit 11 includes other data, but since the other data is not a gist, description thereof is omitted. The data registered in the configuration information storage unit 11 is transmitted to the upper management device 6. If the upper management device 6 collects data stored in the configuration information storage unit 11, the relationship between the parent device 1, the child device 2, and the power measurement device 4 can be grasped by the higher management device 6.

  Here, in order to ensure that the data stored in the configuration information storage unit 11 is the latest data, it is understood that the power measurement device 4 is attached to the power supply management device 10, and the attached power measurement device It is necessary to obtain the measurement identification information for 4. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the slave unit 2 includes an event detection unit 21 that detects that the power measurement device 4 is attached to the power supply management device 10 as an event, and the event detection unit 21 to the power supply management device 10. And an event notification means 22 for notifying the parent device 1 of the measurement identification information of the power measurement device 4 when the mounting of the power measurement device 4 is detected.

  The event detection unit 21 determines that a new power measurement device 4 is attached by establishing infrared communication with the power measurement device 4 when the power measurement device 4 is attached to the power supply management device 10. In addition, the event detection unit 21 recognizes that communication is disabled when the power measurement device 4 is removed from the power supply management device 10 and infrared communication becomes impossible. In addition, since the infrared communication is blocked and established also by the power failure and the power recovery, the event detection means 21 measures and identifies the power measurement device 4 before and after the infrared communication is blocked and established. By checking the information, if there is no change in the measurement identification information, it is determined that the power measurement device 4 is not replaced.

  The subunit | mobile_unit 2 is also provided with the replacement log memory | storage part 23 which records as log information, when replacing | exchanging the electric power measurement apparatus 4 with which the electric power feeding management apparatus 10 was mounted | worn. The exchange log storage unit 23 has the measurement identification information (old instrument ID), the time when the internal clock of the slave unit 2 was timed at the time of removal (removal time), and the power measurement at the time of removal. The measurement data of the device 4 (the meter reading value at the time of removal) is stored, and for the power measurement device 4 after replacement, the measurement identification information (new meter ID) and the time when the internal clock of the slave unit 2 is timed (mounting) Time), the measurement data (the meter reading value at the time of attachment) of the power measuring device 4 at the time of mounting is stored. Other data is also recorded in the exchange log storage unit 23, but will not be described because it is not the gist of the present embodiment.

  In the replacement log storage unit 23, a set of measurement identification information and removal date / time of the power measurement device 4 before replacement, and a set of measurement identification information and attachment time of the power measurement device 4 after replacement are recorded. Here, log information is registered in the replacement log storage unit 23 every time the power measuring device 4 is replaced, and each log information is held until the log information is transmitted to the parent device 1 as described later. However, as described above, if there is no change in the measurement identification information, the power measurement device 4 is not replaced. In this case, log information is not registered in the replacement log storage unit 23. Use of data stored in the exchange log storage unit 23 will be described later.

  By the way, when the master unit 1 receives the measurement identification information of the power measurement device 4 newly attached to the power supply management device 10 by the event notification unit 22 provided in the managed slave unit 2, the measurement identification of the power measurement device 4 is performed. Data updating means 12 for registering information in the configuration information storage unit 11 is provided. In addition to the measurement identification information of the power measurement device 4, the event notification means 22 of the slave device 2 also includes the installation time that the internal clock of the slave device 2 has timed when the power measurement device 4 is attached to the power supply management device 10. The information is transmitted to the base unit 1, and the base unit 1 sets this attachment time as the previous instrument replacement date and registers it in the configuration information storage unit 11 together with the measurement identification information.

  When the data update unit 12 receives the measurement identification information and the attachment time from the event notification unit 22, the data update unit 12 shifts the data of the old instrument ID to the past side. At this time, if the data of the old instrument ID [10] exists before the shift, the data is deleted. In short, when the number recorded as the old instrument ID exceeds the capacity allowed in the configuration information storage unit 11, the oldest data is deleted at the time of shifting. The data stored as the instrument ID before the measurement identification information is notified from the event notification means 22 is moved as the data of the old instrument ID [1].

  When the slave unit 2 detects the attachment of the power measurement device 4 to the power supply management device 10 by the above-described processing, the new power measurement device 4 can be automatically registered in the configuration information storage unit 11 in the master unit 1. . In both cases where the power measurement device 4 is newly attached to the power supply management device 10 and when the power measurement device 4 is replaced, the measurement identification information of the power measurement device 4 is stored in the configuration information storage unit 11 by the above-described operation. You can register. However, in the above-described procedure, since the slave unit 2 voluntarily notifies the master unit 1, information from the slave unit 2 may not be received by the master unit 1 depending on the state of the communication path. In this case, the content of the configuration information storage unit 11 is not updated in the parent device 1, which may cause inconvenience in collecting measurement data.

  By the way, as described above, both when the master unit 1 makes a measurement data acquisition request to the slave unit 2 and when the slave unit 2 responds to the master unit 1 and notifies the measurement data. Since the slave unit identification information and the measurement identification information are transmitted, the measurement identification information stored in the configuration information storage unit 11 is stored in a state where the master unit 1 does not recognize that the power measurement device 4 has been replaced. When the measurement data acquisition request is made using the measurement data, the measurement identification information included in the acquisition request and the measurement identification information included in the response from the slave unit 2 do not match.

  Therefore, the master unit 1 is provided with a determination unit 13 that determines whether the measurement identification information included in the measurement data acquisition request matches the measurement identification information included in the response from the slave unit 2. Furthermore, a log request unit 14 is provided for making a log information acquisition request to the slave unit 2 when the determination result of the determination unit 13 does not match. On the other hand, the slave unit 2 is provided with a log notification unit 24 for responding to a log information acquisition request from the log request unit 14. The log notifying unit 24 notifies the base unit 1 of the log information as a response if the log information is registered in the exchange log storage unit 23 when a log information acquisition request is received from the base unit 1.

  Therefore, if the base unit 1 can acquire log information, the contents of the configuration information storage unit 11 can be updated by the data updating unit 12. That is, when the data changing unit 12 acquires the log information from the slave unit 2, the data changing unit 12 shifts the data of the old instrument ID and the old instrument ID as in the case where the measurement identification information and the attachment time are received from the event notification unit 22. After the data of the instrument ID [1], the new instrument ID and the attachment time data in the log information are registered as the instrument ID of the configuration information storage unit 11 and the data of the previous instrument replacement date and time.

  By the way, if the log information in the exchange log storage unit 23 is lost for some reason, the above-described processing does not function normally. In order to avoid such a situation, even if the log information is lost, the handset 2 sends a response to the base unit 1 that the log information does not exist, and the data update unit 12 of the base unit 1 performs measurement. The measurement identification information obtained in response to the data acquisition request is used as the instrument ID in the configuration information storage unit 11. Moreover, the time of the response of the measurement data from the subunit | mobile_unit 2 is temporarily used for the last instrument exchange date in this case. By performing this processing, it is possible to prevent erroneous measurement identification information from being held in the configuration information storage unit 11 for a long time.

  FIG. 7 shows a procedure for updating the contents of the configuration information storage unit 11 using the log information in the replacement log storage unit 23. In the illustrated example, the case where the power measuring device 4 constituting the power supply management device 10 together with one slave unit 2 is exchanged from A to B and further exchanged from B to C is taken as an example. That is, the case where the power measuring device 4 that constitutes the power supply management device 10 together with the child device 2 of interest is currently C is shown. Further, the case where the notification by the event notification means 22 does not reach the base unit 1 for two exchanges of A → B and B → C is taken as an example (P1, P2).

  Here, when an acquisition request for measurement data by regular meter reading is made from the parent device 1 to the child device 2 (P3), the A power measurement device 4 is registered in the configuration information storage unit 11 of the parent device 1. Since the slave unit 2 stores the C power measurement device 4 in the exchange log storage unit 23, the determination unit 13 of the master unit 1 determines that the measurement identification information does not match with respect to the response (P4) from the slave unit 2. Results are obtained. That is, the parent device 1 determines that the response is not correct for the power measuring device 4, and the log requesting unit 14 of the parent device makes an acquisition request for log information in the replacement log storage unit 23 in the child device 2 (P5).

  When there is a log information acquisition request from the parent device 1, the log notification means 24 of the child device 2 extracts one set of log information from the earliest installation time and returns it to the parent device 1 as a response (P6). This response is information when the power measuring device 4 is exchanged from A to B, and the data updating unit 12 updates the contents of the configuration information storage unit 11 with this information (P7). After the contents of the configuration information storage unit 11 are updated, the contents of the configuration information storage unit 11 are transmitted to the upper management apparatus 6 (P8, P9).

  However, since the determination result of the determination means 13 does not match even if the processing so far is performed, a log information acquisition request is further made (P10), and the slave unit 2 performs a set of log information in the same manner as described above. Is extracted and returned to the base unit 1 as a response (P11). The data changing unit 12 receives the response and updates the contents of the configuration information storage unit 11 again (P12). This response is B → C, and the measurement identification information included in the log information matches the measurement identification information of the power measurement device 4 acquired in response to the request for measurement data, so the contents of the configuration information storage unit 11 are the latest. Information is updated. When the contents of the configuration information storage unit 11 are updated, the contents are notified to the upper management apparatus 6 (P13, P14). That is, every time the contents of the configuration information storage unit 11 are updated, the higher-level management device 6 is notified. Therefore, the higher-level management device 6 can always grasp the latest information about the slave unit 2 and the power measurement device 4.

  The above-described operation mainly assumes a case where the power measuring device 4 is replaced. On the other hand, immediately after the system is started, the slave unit 2 existing under the management of the master unit 1 cannot be confirmed until the slave unit 2 is polled at least once. That is, a relatively long time is required from the start of the system until the contents of the identification information storage unit 15 are confirmed. If the child device 2 belonging to the management of the parent device 1 is not confirmed, the information registered in the configuration information storage unit 11 cannot be confirmed. Compared to the case where the slave unit identification information of the slave unit 2 under the management of the master unit 1 is already registered in the identification information storage unit 15 as when the power measuring device 4 is replaced, the Since the system configuration grasped by the machine 1 is fluid, it is not suitable for collecting information to be registered in the configuration information storage unit 11.

  Therefore, connection confirmation means 16 for confirming the number of slave units 2 registered in the identification information storage unit 15 in the master unit 1 at regular confirmation times (for example, one hour) is provided and registered in the identification information storage unit 15. The structure which grasps the change of the number of the cordless handset 2 is adopted. That is, when the number of slave units 2 reaches the maximum number allowed to be registered in the identification information storage unit 15, the number of slave units 2 does not increase any more, so all slave units under management 2, or if the number of slave units 2 does not change even after multiple confirmations, the master unit 1 manages all the slave units 2 under management. It can be regarded as grasped.

  Whether or not the master unit 1 has grasped all the slave units 2 under management is determined by the data acquisition unit 17. When one of the two cases described above is established, On the other hand, the notification of the power measuring device 4 is requested and the measurement identification information is acquired. Information on the power measuring device 4 acquired by the data acquisition unit 17 from the slave unit 2 in this way is registered in the configuration information storage unit 11 by the data update unit 12.

It is a block diagram which shows the system configuration | structure of embodiment. The power supply management apparatus used for the above is shown, (a) is a front view, and (b) is a side view. It is a block diagram which shows the main | base station used for the same as the above. It is a block diagram which shows the subunit | mobile_unit used for the same as the above. It is a figure which shows the memory | storage item of the structure information storage part used for the same as the above. It is a figure which shows the memory | storage item of the exchange log memory | storage part used for the same as the above. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows the procedure which updates a structure information storage part using log information in the same as the above. It is a block diagram which shows the conventional system configuration.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Master unit 2 Slave unit 4 Power measuring device 6 Host management device 10 Power supply management device 11 Configuration information storage unit 12 Data update unit 13 Determination unit 14 Log request unit 15 Identification information storage unit 16 Connection confirmation unit 17 Data acquisition unit 21 Event detection Means 22 Event notification means 23 Exchange log storage unit 24 Log notification means NT Wide area information communication network

Claims (5)

  A plurality of power supply management devices that are detachably mounted with power measurement devices that measure power used by consumers, and a plurality of power supply management devices that are provided for each power supply management device and that acquire measurement data from each power measurement device. A communication path including a wide-area information communication network between the master unit and the master unit that acquires measurement data from the slave unit by performing communication by power line carrier communication through the communication path including the power line between the slave unit and the slave unit A host management device that acquires measurement data acquired by the parent device by performing communication through the communication device, and the child device detects event detection means that the power measurement device is attached to the power supply management device, and event detection And an event notification means for notifying the parent device of measurement identification information given to the power measuring device when the power measuring device is detected by the means, and the parent device acquires measurement data from the managed child device You A configuration information storage unit for registering measurement identification information of the power measurement device, and a data updating unit for registering the measurement identification information of the power measurement device notified from the managed slave unit in the configuration information storage unit, Remote meter reading system.   The configuration information storage unit stores measurement identification information of the power measurement device attached to the power supply management device provided with the slave unit and the latest date and time when the power measurement device is attached, and as measurement identification information The remote meter reading system according to claim 1, wherein measurement identification information of a plurality of prescribed power measuring devices used in combination with the slave unit is stored before the date and time.   The master unit has an identification information storage unit for registering slave unit identification information used for communication with the slave unit for all managed slave units, and the slave unit identification information can be registered in the identification information storage unit The remote unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the remote unit identification information issued can be set in the slave unit if the issued slave unit identification information is not registered redundantly in the identification information storage unit. Meter reading system.   The master unit is confirmed by a connection confirmation unit and a connection confirmation unit for confirming the number of slave units registered in the identification information storage unit at regular confirmation times when registering the slave unit in the identification information storage unit. When the number of slave units reaches the maximum number allowed by the master unit or the number of slave units does not change during the specified multiple confirmations, each slave unit is requested to notify the power measuring device. 4. The remote meter reading according to claim 3, further comprising data acquisition means for acquiring measurement identification information, wherein the data update means registers the measurement identification information acquired by the data acquisition means in the configuration information storage unit. system.   When the power measuring device attached to the power supply management device is replaced, the slave unit sets the measurement identification information and the removal time of the power measurement device before replacement, and the measurement identification information of the power measurement device after replacement. And a set of attachment times as log information, and if log information is registered in the replacement log storage unit when a log information acquisition request is made from the master unit, the log information is stored in the master unit. A log notification means for notifying to, and the master unit is a match between the power measurement device that has measured the power used in response to the measurement data acquisition request to the slave unit and the power measurement device registered in the configuration information storage unit And a log request unit that makes a log information acquisition request if the determination result by the determination unit is inconsistent, and the data update unit includes a log information acquisition request by the log request unit. Remote meter reading system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that updates the contents of the configuration information storage unit by using the log information if the log information is returned to.

Images