JP6215174B2 - Information transmission / reception system, smart meter, information processing apparatus, and information transmission / reception method - Google Patents

Description

  TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an information transmission / reception system, a smart meter, an information processing apparatus, and an information transmission / reception method, and in particular, a technique for efficiently exchanging information performed between a consumer and a power supplier. About.

  In Patent Document 1, in a data transmission / reception system such as power consumption, a data brokerage system receives a transmission destination code, a data name to be transmitted, and measurement data from a smart meter, and extracts data indicated by the data name from the measurement data. , Send it to the power company server indicated by the destination code and the data utilization company server, and the power company server receives the necessary measurement data from the data brokerage system among the data sent by the smart meter at the customer's house that has a power usage contract The data utilization company server receives the necessary measurement data from the data intermediary system among the data transmitted by the smart meter of the customer who has contracted the data provision, and the smart meter is installed at each customer's house from the card. Capture data from contracts with electric power companies and data utilization companies, and measure data, etc. as a data brokerage system It has been described to be transmitted.

  In Patent Document 2, in a billing information management system for managing billing information for public charges billed based on a meter reading result transmitted from a handy terminal, meter reading information required at the time of meter reading and settlement of a fee for the meter reading result It is described that the reception number on the payment service system acting on behalf of the customer is linked and managed, and the reception number is described in the notification information to the customer at the time of meter reading, and the customer pays the fee with the payment service system using the reception number. ing.

JP 2012-113425 A JP 2012-14534 A

  As a method for users of electricity, gas, water, etc. to check their own contract information, a mobile communication device such as a smartphone or a personal computer can access a web service operated by a power supplier, telephone, e-mail, etc. There is a method of making an inquiry to the customer center.

  However, these methods have a problem that the customer side needs to notify and input authentication information such as a contract number, a user ID, and a password when making an inquiry. Therefore, there is a problem that labor costs are required.

  On the other hand, there are methods to send information to customers from the electricity, gas, water, etc. business side, such as visits to customers' homes, posting notices to mailboxes at the time of meter reading, and methods by telephone or mail. .

  However, visits to customers' homes, telephone calls, and postal methods are expensive (call charges, postage costs, personnel costs, etc.). In addition, if smart meters are introduced in the future, it is expected that the opportunities for operators to visit their customers' homes will decrease drastically. Conceivable.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to efficiently exchange information performed between a customer and a power supply company.

  In order to achieve the above object, one of the present inventions is a first information processing apparatus that manages information held by a power supplier and a customer who receives power from the power supplier. And a plurality of smart meters that are communicably connected to the first information processing apparatus, wherein the smart meter is a unique identifier for each smart meter. ID is memorize | stored, The acquisition request | requirement of the information which the said electric power supply company holds with the authentication information using the said apparatus ID is transmitted to the said 1st information processing apparatus, The said 1st information processing apparatus is based on the said authentication information. Authentication is performed, and when authentication is successful, information requested by the acquisition request is transmitted to the smart meter that is the transmission source of the acquisition request.

  According to the present invention, the first information processing apparatus authenticates the information acquisition request sent from the smart meter using the device ID that is a unique identifier for each smart meter. In order to receive an inquiry from the power supply company or information from the power supply company, it is possible to receive information from the power supply company quickly and easily without inputting an identifier such as a user ID or a password.

  Another aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object is the above information transmission / reception system, which is connected to the first information processing apparatus so as to be communicable with another organization different from the power supplier. Including a second information processing device that manages information held by the smart meter, and the smart meter sends an acquisition request for information held by the other organization to the first information processing device together with authentication information using the device ID. And the first information processing apparatus authenticates with the authentication information, and when the authentication is successful, transfers the acquisition request to the second information processing apparatus, and the second information processing apparatus receives the acquisition request. Then, the information requested by the received acquisition request is transmitted to the smart meter that is the transmission source of the acquisition request.

  As described above, when the information acquisition request received from the smart meter is addressed to another organization, the first information processing apparatus performs the authentication process, so the second information processing apparatus does not need to perform authentication. Processing related to the information acquisition request in the second information processing apparatus can be simplified. Further, the second information processing apparatus does not need to hold information (device ID group or the like) used for authentication.

  Another aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object is the information transmission / reception system, wherein the second information processing apparatus is communicably connected to the smart meter, and the first information processing apparatus is The authentication information is authenticated, and when the authentication is successful, the acquisition request is transferred to the second information processing device, and the second information processing device transmits the information requested by the acquisition request to the transmission source of the acquisition request. To the smart meter.

  In this way, the information processing apparatus directly transmits the information requested by the acquisition request to the smart meter that is the transmission source of the acquisition request, and thus the information requested by the acquisition request without consuming the resources of the first information processing apparatus. Can be transmitted to the smart meter that is the transmission source of the acquisition request.

  According to another aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, the smart meter stores a device ID that is a unique identifier for each smart meter, and the first information processing device stores the device ID. And the network address of the smart meter is stored, the information held by the power supply company is managed in association with the device ID, and the information held by the power supply company is sent to the specific customer In providing, the network address of the smart meter of the specific consumer is specified from the device ID, and the information to be provided to the specific consumer is transmitted to the network address.

  In this way, the first information processing apparatus transmits (distributes) information to be notified to a specific consumer from the power supplier, so that the conventional method (visiting the customer's house, receiving the mail at the time of meter reading) The information can be notified to the customer quickly and at a lower cost than the posting of the notice to the public, telephone or mail. In addition, the first information processing apparatus manages information held by the power supply company in association with the device ID of the smart meter, which is information with low liquidity (information with which the corresponding consumer is unlikely to change). Therefore, it is possible to manage information with less load than when managing information in association with highly fluid information such as user IDs and passwords.

  Another aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object is the above information transmission / reception system, which is connected to the first information processing apparatus so as to be communicable with another organization different from the power supplier. The smart meter stores a device ID, which is a unique identifier for each smart meter, and the first information processing device includes the device ID and the second information processing device that manages information held by the smart meter. The correspondence with the network address of the smart meter is stored, and the second information processing apparatus manages information held by the power supplier in association with the device ID, and information held by the power supplier Information provided to the specific consumer is transmitted to the first information processing apparatus together with the device ID, and the first information processing apparatus transmits the specific demand to the specific consumer. The network address of the smart meters in homes identified from the device ID, and the transmitting the information to be provided to the particular customer to the network address.

  As described above, the second information processing apparatus transmits (distributes) information to be notified to a specific customer from the power supply company, so that the conventional method (visiting the customer's home, receiving the mail at the time of meter reading) The information can be notified to the customer quickly and at a lower cost than the posting of the notice to the public, telephone or mail. In addition, since the second information processing apparatus identifies and manages the consumer by the device ID of the smart meter, it is necessary for another organization to manage highly fluid information such as the user ID and password of the customer at the consumer. Information can be managed with low load.

  Another aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object is the above information transmitting / receiving system, wherein the smart meter is communicably connected to a portable communication device existing in the consumer, and the device ID Instead of or together with the device ID, information unique to the portable communication device is used as the authentication information.

  As described above, information unique to the mobile communication device may be used as the authentication information.

  In addition, the subject which this application discloses, and its solution method are clarified by the column of the form for inventing, and drawing.

  According to the present invention, information can be efficiently exchanged between a consumer and a power supply company.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an information transmission / reception system 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a smart meter 40. FIG. It is a figure which shows the function with which the smart meter 40 is provided, and the data which the smart meter 40 memorize | stores. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a mobile communication device 50. FIG. It is a figure which shows the function with which the portable communication apparatus 50 is provided, and the data which the portable communication apparatus 50 memorize | stores. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a first information processing apparatus 20. FIG. It is a figure which shows the function with which the 1st information processor 20 is provided, and the data which the 1st information processor 20 memorizes. It is a figure which shows the function with which the 2nd information processing apparatus 30 is provided, and the data which the 2nd information processing apparatus 30 memorize | stores. It is a figure which shows the data format of an information acquisition request. It is a figure which shows the data format of the authentication collation information 221. It is a figure which shows the data format of the response information 1100. It is a figure which shows the data format of the service information 222. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a data format of notification information 223. FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the process which the smart meter 40, the 1st information processing apparatus 20, and the 2nd information processing apparatus 30 perform when requesting provision of information from the consumer 4. It is a flowchart explaining the process which the smart meter 40 and the 1st information processing apparatus 20 perform when notifying information to the consumer 4 from the 1st information processing apparatus 20. It is a flowchart explaining the process which the smart meter 40 and the 1st information processing apparatus 20 perform when notifying information to the consumer 4 from the 2nd information processing apparatus 30. FIG.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an information transmission / reception system 1 described as an embodiment. As shown in the figure, the information transmission / reception system 1 includes a first information processing device 20 managed by a power supply company 2 such as an electric power company, and another organization 3 (gas company, water company) different from the power supply company 2. A smart meter 40 provided in a consumer 4 that uses power, gas, water, public services, etc. provided by a second information processing device 30 managed by a power supply company 2 or another organization 3, The mobile communication device 50 used in the consumer 4 is included.

  The first information processing apparatus 20 is installed, for example, in a data center or a system center of the power supplier 2. The first information processing apparatus 20 and the smart meter 40 are connected to be communicable via the first communication network 5. The first communication network 5 is a power communication facility (optical fiber, metal line, PLC (power line communication), etc.) managed by the power supplier 2.

  The smart meter 40 may be provided as a single unit as shown in the figure, or, for example, can communicate with a HEMS 60 (HEMS: Home Energy Management System) installed in the customer 4 via the home network 7. It may be connected to.

  The first information processing device 20 and the second information processing device 30 are connected to be communicable via the second communication network 6. The second communication network 6 is, for example, the Internet or a dedicated line. In addition, the 1st communication network 5 and the 2nd communication network 6 may be connected so that communication is possible. The first information processing device 20, the second information processing device 30, and the smart meter 40 are communication devices connected to the first communication network 5 or the second communication network 6, and each has a unique network address (for example, an IP address). Is granted.

  The smart meter 40 provided in the consumer 4 receives electric power from the consumer 4 such as meter reading information (measured or stored meter consumption information such as accumulated power consumption or power consumption for each time zone in the customer 4). The information (hereinafter referred to as notification information) to be notified to the supplier 2 or another organization 3 is sent to the first communication either actively or passively in response to a request sent from the first information processing apparatus 20. It transmits to the 1st information processing apparatus 20 of the electric power supply provider 2 at any time via the network 5.

  The first information processing device 20 receives various information related to the information sent from the smart meter 40 and the power supply service (meter reading information, electricity charge information, power outage schedule information, contract details, customer notice information, from public institutions) Are managed in the database 220.

  When the smart meter 40 receives an information acquisition request transmission instruction from the user of the customer 4, the smart meter 40 receives an information acquisition request (meter reading information, electricity bill information, power outage schedule information, contract) addressed to the power supply provider 2 or other organization 3. Content acquisition request or the like) is transmitted to the first information processing apparatus 20 via the first communication network 5. At this time, the smart meter 40 automatically adds an identifier (hereinafter referred to as “device ID”) given to itself to the information acquisition request as authentication information. The transmission instruction for the information acquisition request to the smart meter 40 is performed, for example, when the user directly operates the smart meter 40. Moreover, the said instruction | indication is performed when a user operates the portable communication apparatus 50 connected so that communication with the smart meter 40 is possible, for example. In this case, instead of the device ID or together with the device ID, information unique to each mobile communication device 50 such as a manufacturing number and a telephone number stored in the mobile communication device 50 may be used as authentication information. In addition, application software that supports work when sending an information acquisition request is introduced into the smart meter 40 or the mobile communication device 50, and an information acquisition request in which inquiry items are automatically organized and stored is stored. You may make it transmit. Thereby, the labor for the inquiry response in the power supply company 2 can be reduced.

  When receiving the information acquisition request addressed to the power supply provider 2 from the smart meter 40, the first information processing device 20 authenticates the information acquisition request using the device ID added to the received information acquisition request. . If the authentication is successful, the first information processing apparatus 20 generates information requested by the information acquisition request using the information stored in the database 220, and sends response information including the generated information to the smart meter 40. Send.

  Thus, since the 1st information processing apparatus 20 authenticates the information acquisition request sent from the smart meter 40 using apparatus ID, the user in the consumer 4 is the inquiry with respect to the electric power supply provider 2, electric power, etc. When trying to receive information from the power supplier 2, it is possible to receive information from the power supplier 2 quickly and easily without inputting an identifier such as a user ID or a password. For example, if the device ID is configured to be a long character string or a combination of random number sequences, the security of authentication can be improved.

  When the information acquisition request received from the smart meter 40 is addressed to another organization 3, the first information processing apparatus 20 performs authentication using the device ID included in the received information acquisition request. If the authentication is successful, the first information processing device 20 transfers the received information acquisition request to the second information processing device 30.

  When the second information processing apparatus 30 receives the information acquisition request from the first information processing apparatus 20, the information stored in the database 320 (gas and water billing information, customer notification information, public knowledge from public institutions) The information requested by the information acquisition request is generated, and the response information including the generated information is directly transmitted to the smart meter 40 (the first communication network 5 and the second communication network 6). When connected so as to be able to communicate, in this case, the response information can be provided to the smart meter 40 without consuming the resources of the first information processing apparatus 20). The response information 1100 is transferred from the second information processing apparatus 30 to the first information processing apparatus 20, and the first information processing apparatus 20 transmits the response information 1100 via the first communication network 5 to the transmission source of the information acquisition request 900. You may make it transmit to the smart meter 40 of.

  Thus, when the information acquisition request received from the smart meter 40 is addressed to another organization 3, the first information processing apparatus 20 uses the device ID included in the received information acquisition request. The information acquisition request is authenticated, and if the authentication is successful, the information acquisition request is transferred to the second information processing apparatus 30. That is, since the first information processing apparatus 20 performs the authentication process, the second information processing apparatus 30 does not need to perform authentication, and the process related to the information acquisition request in the second information processing apparatus 30 can be simplified. Further, the second information processing apparatus 30 does not need to hold information (device ID group or the like) used for authentication.

  The first information processing apparatus 20 manages information held by the power supply company 2 in association with the device ID. The first information processing device 20 periodically or irregularly generates information to be notified to a specific customer 4 (notification information to a customer, electricity bill, power outage schedule information, etc.), and generates the generated information in the first communication network. 5 to the smart meter 40. The first information processing apparatus 20 stores the correspondence between the device ID and the network address of the smart meter 40 in the first communication network 5, and the consumer 4 that is the provision destination of the information from the device ID corresponding to the information to be transmitted. The network address of the smart meter 40 is specified.

  Thus, since the 1st information processing apparatus 20 transmits the information which should be notified to the specific consumer 4 from the electric power supply provider 2 to the smart meter 40 regularly or irregularly, the conventional method (to customer's house) It is possible to notify the customer 4 of information promptly and at a lower cost as compared with the posting of a notice to the mailbox at the time of visit, meter reading, telephone or mail). Further, the first information processing apparatus 20 is held by the power supply company 2 in association with the device ID of the smart meter 40 which is information with low fluidity (information with which the corresponding consumer 4 is unlikely to change). Since information is managed, it is possible to manage information with less load than when managing information in association with highly fluid information such as user IDs and passwords. The information provided by the power supplier 2 can be more easily provided to the customer by making the smart meter 40 and the mobile communication device 50 communicate with each other so that the information received by the smart meter 40 can be accessed from the mobile communication device 50. Can be referred to.

  The second information processing apparatus 30 manages information held by the power supply company 2 in association with the device ID. The second information processing device 30 generates information to be transmitted to the customer 4 for each device ID (notification information to the customer, electricity bill, power outage schedule information, etc.), and uses the generated information as a device ID corresponding thereto. At the same time, the data is transmitted to the first information processing apparatus 20 via the second communication network 6. When the first information processing device 20 receives the device ID and the information from the second information processing device 30, the first information processing device 20 acquires the network address of the smart meter 40 corresponding to the received device ID, and receives the address received for the acquired network address. Send information.

  Thus, since the 2nd information processor 30 transmits the information which should be notified to the specific consumer 4 from the electric power supply provider 2 to the smart meter 40 regularly or irregularly, the conventional method (to customer's house) It is possible to notify the customer 4 of information promptly and at a lower cost as compared with the posting of a notice to the mailbox at the time of visit, meter reading, telephone or mail). In addition, since the second information processing apparatus 30 identifies and manages the customer 4 by the device ID of the smart meter 40, highly fluid information such as the customer user ID and password of the customer 4 is stored in another organization 3. However, it is not necessary to manage information, and information can be managed with low load.

  Next, each component of the information transmission / reception system 1 will be described in detail.

  FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration of the smart meter 40. As shown in the figure, the smart meter 40 includes a central processing unit 41, a storage device 42, an input device 43, a display device 44, a control device 45, a measuring device 46 (current sensor and voltage sensor), and a communication device 47. ing.

  The central processing unit 41 is configured using, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), and implements various functions of the smart meter 40 by executing programs stored in the storage device 42. To do. The storage device 42 is a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), an NVRAM (Non Volatile RAM), or the like, and stores programs and data. The input device 43 is a user interface (keypad, touch panel, etc.) for inputting information. The display device 44 is a user interface (LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like) that outputs information. The control device 45 performs open / close control of the electric circuit and the like. The measuring device 46 measures current and voltage for the power supplied through the distribution line. The communication device 47 is a NIC (Network Interface Card), a wireless LAN module, Bluetooth (registered trademark), or the like, and is wired between the first communication network 5, the home network 7, and other devices such as the portable communication device 50. Alternatively, wireless communication is performed.

  FIG. 3 shows functions provided in the smart meter 40 and data stored in the smart meter 40. As shown in the figure, the smart meter 40 includes functions of an information acquisition request transmission unit 401, a response information reception unit 402, and a meter reading information transmission unit 403. These functions are realized by the central processing unit 41 executing a program stored in the storage device 42. Further, as shown in the figure, the smart meter 40 stores in the storage device 42 a device ID 421 that is uniquely assigned to each smart meter 40 and notification information 422 that is notified to the power supplier 2 and other organizations 3. doing.

  Among the functions described above, the information acquisition request transmission unit 401 transmits an information acquisition request to the first information processing apparatus 20 of the power supplier 2.

  The response information receiving unit 402 receives information transmitted from the first information processing apparatus 20 or the second information processing apparatus 30.

  The meter reading information transmission unit 403 transmits notification information 422 such as meter reading information measured by the measuring device 46 to the first information processing device 20 as needed.

  FIG. 4 shows a hardware configuration of the mobile communication device 50. As shown in the figure, the mobile communication device 50 includes a central processing unit 51, a storage device 52, an input device 53, a display device 54, various sensors 55, and a wireless communication device 56. The mobile communication device 50 is, for example, a smartphone, a mobile phone, or a personal computer with a wireless communication function.

  The central processing unit 51 is configured using, for example, a CPU or MPU, and implements various functions of the mobile communication device 50 by executing a program stored in the storage device 42. The storage device 52 is a RAM, ROM, NVRAM, or the like, and stores programs and data. The input device 53 is a user interface (keypad, touch panel, etc.) for inputting information. The display device 54 is a user interface (LCD or the like) that outputs information. The various sensors 55 are acceleration sensors, temperature sensors, and the like. The communication device 56 is, for example, a wireless LAN module or Bluetooth (registered trademark), and performs wireless communication with the smart meter 40, the home network 7, the HEMS 60, and the like.

  FIG. 5 shows functions included in the mobile communication device 50 and data stored in the mobile communication device 50. As shown in the figure, the mobile communication device 50 includes functions of an information acquisition request transmission unit 501 and a response information reception unit 502. These functions are realized by the central processing unit 51 executing a program stored in the storage device 52. Further, as shown in the figure, the portable communication device 50 stores unique information 521 that is unique information (such as a telephone number) for each portable communication device 50 in the storage device 52.

  Among the above functions, the information acquisition request transmission unit 501 communicates with the smart meter 40 and causes the smart meter 40 to transmit an information acquisition request.

  The response information receiving unit 502 communicates with the smart meter 40, receives response information sent from the first information processing device 20 or the second information processing device 30, and displays it on the display device 54.

  FIG. 6 shows a hardware configuration of the first information processing apparatus 20. As shown in the figure, the first information processing apparatus 20 includes a central processing unit 21, a storage device 22, an input device 23, a display device 24, and a communication device 25. The second information processing apparatus 30 also has the same hardware configuration as the first information processing apparatus 20, and includes a central processing unit 31, a storage device 32, an input device 33, a display device 34, and a communication device 35. .

  The central processing unit 21 is configured using, for example, a CPU or MPU, and implements various functions of the first information processing device 20 by executing a program stored in the storage device 22. The storage device 22 is a RAM, ROM, NVRAM, or the like, and stores programs and data. The input device 23 is a user interface (keyboard, mouse, touch panel, etc.) for inputting information. The display device 24 is a user interface (LCD or the like) that outputs information. The communication device 25 is, for example, a NIC or a wireless LAN module, and communicates with other devices via the first communication network 5 and the second communication network 6.

  FIG. 7 shows functions provided in the first information processing apparatus 20 and data stored in the first information processing apparatus 20. As shown in the figure, the first information processing apparatus 20 includes an information acquisition request reception unit 201, an authentication processing unit 202, a destination determination unit 203, a transfer processing unit 204, a response content generation unit 205, a response information transmission unit 206, information Each function of the management unit 207 and the information distribution unit 208 is provided. These functions are realized by the central processing unit 21 executing a program stored in the storage device 22. As shown in the figure, the first information processing apparatus 20 manages authentication verification information 221, customer information 222, and notification information 223 in a database 220 realized by a DBMS (DataBase Management System).

  Of the above functions, the information acquisition request receiving unit 201 receives an information acquisition request sent from the smart meter 40.

  The authentication processing unit 202 collates the device ID included in the information acquisition request received by the information acquisition request reception unit with the device verification information stored in the first information processing apparatus 20, and is included in the information acquisition request. The information acquisition request is authenticated based on whether the device verification information is included in the device verification information.

  The destination determination unit 203 identifies an information processing apparatus that processes the information acquisition request using the destination information included in the information acquisition request.

  When the destination determination unit 203 specifies that the information processing apparatus that processes the information acquisition request is other than the first information processing apparatus 20, the transfer processing unit 204 sends the received information acquisition request to the specified information processing apparatus. Forward.

  The response content generation unit 205 acquires information specified in the information acquisition request, and generates response content including the acquired information.

  The response information transmission unit 206 generates response information including the response content generated by the response content generation unit 205, and transmits the generated response information to the smart meter 40 that is the transmission source of the information acquisition request.

  The information management unit 207 manages information input from the input device by the user and information received from the smart meter 40 in the database 220.

  The information distribution unit 208 distributes information acquired from the database 220 to the customer 4 regularly or irregularly. Further, when the information distribution unit 208 receives information distributed from the second information processing apparatus 30 to the customer 4 together with the device ID, the information distribution unit 208 transmits the received information to the destination smart meter 40.

  FIG. 8 shows functions provided in the second information processing apparatus 30 and data stored in the second information processing apparatus 30. As shown in the figure, the second information processing apparatus 30 includes functions of an information acquisition request receiving unit 301, a response content generating unit 302, a response information transmitting unit 303, an information managing unit 304, and an information distributing unit 305. These functions are realized by the central processing unit 31 executing a program stored in the storage device 32. As shown in the figure, the second information processing apparatus 30 manages service information 321 and notification information 322 in a database 320 realized by DBMS.

  Among the functions described above, the information acquisition request receiving unit 301 receives an information acquisition request transferred from the first information processing apparatus 20 via the second communication network 6.

  The response content generation unit 302 acquires information specified in the information acquisition request, and generates response content including the acquired information.

  The response information transmission unit 303 generates response information including the response content generated by the response content generation unit 302, and transmits the generated response information to the smart meter 40 that is the transmission source of the information acquisition request.

  The information management unit 304 manages information input from the input device by the user and information received from the smart meter 40 in the database 320 as service information 321 and notification information 322.

  The information distribution unit 305 distributes information acquired from the database 220 to the customer 4 regularly or irregularly. At the time of distribution, the second information processing device 30 transmits information to be distributed to the customer 4 to the first information processing device 20 together with the device ID.

  FIG. 9 shows the data format of the information acquisition request. As shown in the figure, the information acquisition request 900 includes items of header information 901, device ID 902, destination information 903, and request content 904.

  In the header information 901, information such as a transmission source network address and a transmission destination network address of the information acquisition request 900 is set.

  In the device ID 902, the device ID assigned to the smart meter 40 that is the transmission source of the information acquisition request 900 is set.

  In the destination information 903, information specifying an organization that provides response information to the information acquisition request 900 (the power supply company 2 or another organization 3) or information specifying an information processing device that provides response information is set. The

  In the request content 904, information specifying information requested by the information acquisition request 900 is set.

  FIG. 10 shows a data format for one record of the authentication verification information 221. The authentication verification information 211 is composed of a record group including items of a device ID 2111, a network address 2112, and a region ID 2113.

  The device ID 2111 is a device ID of the smart meter 40 that is permitted to access the first information processing device 20 or the second information processing device 30.

  The network address 2112 is a network address (for example, IP address) assigned in the first communication network 5 to the smart meter 40 corresponding to the device ID 2111.

  The region ID 2113 is an identifier (hereinafter referred to as a region ID) that identifies a region where the smart meter 40 corresponding to the device ID 2111 exists.

  FIG. 11 shows the data format of the response information 1100. As shown in the figure, the response information 1100 includes header information 1101 and response content 1102.

  In the header information 1101, information such as a transmission source network address and a transmission destination network address of the response information 1100 is set. The response content generated by the response content generation unit 1100 is set in the response content 1102.

  FIG. 12 shows a data format for one record of the service information 222. As shown in the figure, the service information 222 is composed of a record group including items of a device ID 2221, a user ID 2222, meter reading information 2223, and contract content 2224.

  The device ID 2221 is a device ID of the smart meter 40 installed in the customer 4 corresponding to the service information 222.

  The user ID 2222 is, for example, a user ID of a user (customer or the like) in the customer 4 in which the smart meter 40 corresponding to the device ID 2221 is provided.

  The meter reading information 2223 is meter reading information transmitted from the smart meter 40 as needed.

  The contract content 2224 is information indicating the content of the contract concluded between the customer 4 and the power supply company 2.

  FIG. 13 shows a data format for one record of the notification information 223. As shown in the figure, the notification information is composed of a record group including items of area ID 2231 and notification content 2232 (power failure information and the like).

  Area ID 2231 is the target of a power outage (or gas supply stop, water supply stop, etc.) in an area where the power supplier 2 (or other organization 3) supplies power (or gas, water, etc.) It is a region ID corresponding to the region.

  The notification content 2232 is the content of various notifications (power outage date and time, power outage period, etc.) provided by the power supply company 2 (or other organization 3) as needed.

  Next, processing performed in the information transmission / reception system 1 will be described in detail.

  FIG. 14 shows that each of the smart meter 40, the first information processing device 20, and the second information processing device 30 is requested when the customer 4 requests the power supply company 2 or another organization 3 to provide information. It is a flowchart explaining the process to perform. Hereinafter, it will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, the 1st communication network 5 and the 2nd communication network 6 shall be connected so that communication is possible.

  First, upon receiving an operation for instructing acquisition of information (S1411), the smart meter 40 generates an information acquisition request 900 and transmits it to the first information processing apparatus 20 via the first communication network 5 (S1412). . For example, the mobile communication device 50 may receive an information acquisition instruction for the smart meter 40 and transmit the information acquisition command from the mobile communication device 50 to the smart meter 40.

  When receiving the information acquisition request 900 from the smart meter 40 (S1421), the first information processing apparatus 20 compares the device ID 902 of the information acquisition request 900 with the authentication verification information 211, thereby authenticating the information acquisition request 900. Is performed (S1422). When the authentication fails (S1423: No), the first information processing apparatus 20 transmits a notification that the authentication has failed to the smart meter 40 that is the transmission source of the information acquisition request 900 (S1424). On the other hand, when the authentication is successful (S1423: Yes), the first information processing apparatus 20 performs the processing from S1425.

  In step S1425, the first information processing apparatus 20 specifies an information processing apparatus in which information requested by the information acquisition request 900 exists based on the destination information 903 of the information acquisition request 900, and the information acquisition request 900 is based on the result. Is transferred to the second information processing apparatus 30. When it is determined that the information acquisition request 900 is transferred to the second information processing device 30 (S1425: Yes), the first information processing device 20 sends the information acquisition request 900 to the second information via the second communication network 6. The data is transferred to the processing device 30 (S1426). On the other hand, when it determines with not transferring (S1425: No), the 1st information processing apparatus 20 produces | generates the response content which the said information acquisition request requests | requires based on the information of the database 220 (S1427), and contains the produced | generated response content The response information is transmitted to the smart meter 40 that is the transmission source of the information acquisition request 900 (S1428).

  On the other hand, when the second information processing apparatus 30 receives the information acquisition request 900 from the first information processing apparatus 20 (S1431), the second information processing apparatus 30 generates the response content requested by the information acquisition request 900 based on the information in the database 320 (S1432). Then, the response information 1100 including the generated response content is transmitted to the smart meter 40 that is the transmission source of the information acquisition request 900 via the first communication network 5 and the second communication network 6 (S1433).

  When the smart meter 40 receives the response information 1100 from the first information processing device 20 or the second information processing device 30 (S1414), the smart meter 40 displays the response content included in the received response information 1100 on the display device 44 (S1415). ). Note that if an instruction to acquire information is received from the mobile communication device 50 in S <b> 1411, the smart meter 40 transfers the received response information 1100 to the mobile communication device 50. Then, the mobile communication device 50 displays the response content included in the transferred response information 1100 on the display device 54.

  FIG. 15 is performed by the smart meter 40 and the first information processing device 20 when the first information processing device 20 notifies the customer 4 of information (notification information to the customer, electricity bill, power outage schedule information, etc.). It is a flowchart explaining a process. Hereinafter, it will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the information processing request is received together with the device ID of the information distribution destination via the input device 23 or the like (S1511), the first information processing apparatus 20 acquires the information to be distributed from the database 220 (S1512).

Subsequently, the first information processing apparatus 20 acquires the network address 2112 of the smart meter 40 corresponding to the device ID received in S1511 from the authentication verification information 211 (S1513).
), The information acquired in S1512 is transmitted to the acquired network address 2112 as a destination (S1514).

  When the smart meter 40 receives information from the first information processing device 20 (S1521), the smart meter 40 displays the received information on the display device 44 (S1522). When the device for displaying information is the mobile communication device 50, the smart meter 40 transfers the received information to the mobile communication device 50. Then, the mobile communication device 50 displays the transferred information on the display device 54.

  FIG. 16 shows the smart meter 40 when the second information processing device 30 notifies the consumer 4 of information (gas and water billing information, customer notice information, publicly known information, etc.), 4 is a flowchart for explaining processing performed by a first information processing apparatus 20 and a second information processing apparatus 30. Hereinafter, it will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the second information processing apparatus 30 receives an information distribution request together with the device ID of the information distribution destination via the input device 33 or the like (S1611), the second information processing apparatus 30 acquires information to be distributed from the database 320 (S1612). Then, the second information processing device 30 transmits the received device ID and the acquired information to the first information processing device 20 via the second communication network 6 (S1613).

  When receiving the device ID and information from the second information processing device 30 (S1621), the first information processing device 20 acquires the network address 2112 of the smart meter 40 corresponding to the received device ID from the authentication verification information 211 ( S1622). Then, the first information processing apparatus 20 transmits the received information to the acquired network address 2112 (S1623).

  When the smart meter 40 receives information from the first information processing device 20 (S1631), the smart meter 40 displays the received information on the display device 44 (S1632). When the device for displaying information is the mobile communication device 50, the smart meter 40 transfers the received information to the mobile communication device 50. Then, the mobile communication device 50 displays the transferred information on the display device 54.

  By the way, the above description is for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and does not limit the present invention. It goes without saying that the present invention can be changed and improved without departing from the gist thereof, and that the present invention includes equivalents thereof.

  For example, in the above description, the case where the smart meter is the smart meter 40 managed by the power supplier 2 is described as an example. However, the smart meter is a smart meter (for gas, water supply) managed by another organization 3. Smart meter).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Information transmission / reception system, 2 Electric power supply provider, 3 Other organization, 4 Consumer, 5 1st communication network, 6 2nd communication network, 7 Home network, 20 1st information processing apparatus, 30 2nd information processing apparatus, 40 smart meter, 50 portable communication device, 60 HEMS, 220 database, 320 database

Claims (8)

A first information processing apparatus for managing first information held by a power supply company;
A plurality of smart meters installed on the customer side that receives power supply from the power supplier and connected to the first information processing apparatus in a communicable manner;
A second information processing device that manages the second information different from the first information, possessed by another organization different from the power supply company, connected to be communicable with the first information processing device,
The smart meter stores the device ID is a unique identifier for each of the smart meters, together with the authentication information using the device ID, and transmits the acquisition request of the first information to the first information processing apparatus,
The first information processing apparatus authenticates with the authentication information, and when the authentication is successful, transmits the first information requested by the acquisition request to the smart meter that is the transmission source of the acquisition request,
The smart meter transmits an acquisition request for the second information to the first information processing apparatus together with authentication information using the device ID.
The first information processing apparatus performs authentication by the authentication information, and transfers the successful authentication of the acquisition request of the second information to the second information processing apparatus,
When the second information processing apparatus receives the acquisition request, the second information processing apparatus transmits the second information requested by the received acquisition request to the smart meter that is the transmission source of the acquisition request. . The information transmission / reception system according to claim 1,
The second information processing apparatus is communicably connected to the smart meter,
The first information processing apparatus performs authentication based on the authentication information, and when the authentication is successful, transfers the acquisition request to the second information processing apparatus.
The second information processing apparatus directly transmits the second information requested by the acquisition request to the smart meter that is the transmission source of the acquisition request. The information transmission / reception system according to claim 1 or 2,
The smart meter stores a device ID that is a unique identifier for each smart meter,
The first information processing apparatus
Storing the correspondence between the device ID and the network address of the smart meter;
Managing the information held by the power supplier in association with the device ID as the first information ,
When providing the first information, which is information held by the power supplier, to the specific consumer, the network address of the smart meter of the specific consumer is identified from the device ID, and the specific The information transmission / reception system, wherein the first information provided to a consumer is transmitted to the network address. The information transmission / reception system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
Before Symbol smart meter stores the device ID is a unique identifier for each of the smart meters,
The first information processing apparatus stores a correspondence between the device ID and the network address of the smart meter,
The second information processing apparatus
Managing the second information in association with the device ID;
When providing the second information to the specific consumer, information to be provided to the specific consumer is transmitted to the first information processing apparatus together with the device ID.
The first information processing apparatus identifies the network address of the smart meter of the specific consumer from the device ID, and transmits the second information provided to the specific consumer to the network address. An information transmission / reception system characterized by The information transmission / reception system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The smart meter is communicably connected to a mobile communication device existing in the consumer, and uses information unique to the mobile communication device as the authentication information instead of the device ID or together with the device ID. Information transmission and reception system. The smart meter in the information transmission / reception system according to claim 1,
A device ID that is a unique identifier for each smart meter is stored, together with authentication information using the device ID, the first information acquisition request is transmitted to the first information processing device,
A smart meter characterized by transmitting an acquisition request for the second information to the first information processing apparatus together with authentication information using the device ID. The first information processing apparatus in the information transmitting and receiving system according to claim 1,
Authenticate with the authentication information, and when the authentication is successful, send the first information requested in the acquisition request to the smart meter that is the transmission source of the acquisition request,
An information processing apparatus, wherein authentication is performed based on the authentication information, and if the authentication is successful, the acquisition request is transferred to the second information processing apparatus. A first information processing apparatus for managing first information held by a power supply company;
A plurality of smart meters installed on the customer side that receives power supply from the power supplier and connected to the first information processing apparatus in a communicable manner;
A second information processing apparatus that is connected to the first information processing apparatus so as to be communicable and that is managed by another organization that is different from the power supplier and that manages second information different from the first information. An information transmission / reception method by an information transmission / reception system,
The smart meter is
Step the store the device ID is a unique identifier for each smart meter, to transmit together with the authentication information using the device ID, a request for obtaining said first information to the first information processing apparatus,
A step of transmitting an acquisition request for the second information to the first information processing apparatus together with authentication information using the device ID;
Run
The first information processing apparatus is
Authenticating with the authentication information, and transmitting the first information requested by the acquisition request to the smart meter as a transmission source of the acquisition request when authentication is successful;
Authenticate by the authentication information, the step of transferring the acquisition request of the second information and the authentication is successful in the second information processing apparatus,
Run
When the second information processing apparatus receives the acquisition request, the second information processing apparatus executes a step of transmitting the second information requested by the received acquisition request to the smart meter that is a transmission source of the acquisition request. To send and receive information.

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