JP2000088624A - Method, system and apparatus for controlling effective term in centralized control system of gas - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable to manage the term of validity control of each of apparatus by receiving and storing term of validity information from a reader, preparing and sending term of validity control information about the end of the term of validity from the information to a monitor, without lowering the processing efficiency of the monitor. SOLUTION: Whether a bar code information is transferred from a reader is judged to judge whether the term of validity information is registered in a gas meter. If registered, the term of validity information is extracted from the bar code information and stored in an RAM 14a3, sorted in the ascending order of the term of validity, based on each term of validity information and stored in an EEPROM 14c. The calendar information is acquired from a clock IC 14f, whether it is one day or not is judged therefrom and whether one month lapsed or not is judged. If judged to be one day, the term of validity data in the EEPROM 14c is compared with the calendar information to judge if apparatuses ending the term of validity in this month exist. Thus, those apparatuses ending the term of validity thereof can be detected in advance.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gas supply device for supplying gas to a gas combustor, which is attached to a device such as a gas meter, and which has an identification data and an expiration date of the device read by a reader. The present invention relates to an expiration date management method, an expiration date management system, and an expiration date management device in a centralized gas management system that manages expiration dates based on expiration date information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a centralized gas management system is composed of a gas supply device for supplying, via a gas meter, a gas container to a gas combustor provided at a terminal user side such as a gas bath or a stove, and a plurality of gas supply devices. It consists of a monitoring device provided on the administrator side that exchanges information through a telephone line with the gas meter of the supply device and performs centralized management around the clock. The gas supply device is composed of a plurality of devices such as a gas container, a gas meter, a gas plug, a gas pipe, and a gas pressure regulator, and information such as the remaining amount in the gas supply device and leakage is transferred to the monitoring device by the gas meter. The monitoring device performs centralized management of the gas supply devices based on information transferred from each gas supply device.

[0003] The above-mentioned device is provided with an expiration date in order to prevent an accident due to the expiration of the device, and an expiration date sticker on which the expiration date is printed is attached to the device. The expiration date of such equipment is entered in a ledger or the like by the person in charge of construction at the time of installation of the equipment, and collected at a gas dealer, so that the gas dealer can use it for ordinary houses, apartment houses, commercial facilities, and households using simple gas. The expiration date of the equipment that constitutes each gas supply device installed at the same time is managed collectively. However, in such expiration date management, if a human error such as entry mistake in the ledger or omission of check of the expiration date occurs, it will be delayed to recognize the expiration date. However, there is a problem that the accuracy of the expiration date management, which is one of the important factors, is reduced.

In order to improve the accuracy of the expiration date management described above, the following expiration date management is disclosed.

For example, a bar code medium on which a bar code having date information regarding the expiration date of the device is printed or displayed is attached to the device, and the bar code medium is optically read by a bar code reading device such as a hand scanner. The read and read barcode is converted into a code, and the code converted barcode information is transferred to the monitoring device. In the monitoring device, the expiration date is collectively managed based on the date information of each piece of information collected from each gas supply device, and when the gas supply device whose expiration date is approaching is detected, the construction device is promptly monitored by the monitoring device. Are arranged, and the equipment is replaced.

In this way, the expiration date mechanically read from the equipment of each gas supply device is collected by the monitoring device and automatically managed collectively, so that the expiration date can be stored in the ledger generated by the expiration date management of the conventional gas supply system. In order to eliminate human errors such as entry errors and omission of checking of expiration dates, the accuracy of expiration date management of each device in the gas supply device has been improved.

[0007]

However, the amount of information collected from a plurality of gas supply devices to a monitoring device due to a sudden increase in the number of gas supply devices spread due to recent business expansion and spread activities of the gas business. Had also increased. Further, in addition to the expiration date information of the plurality of devices, device information such as the remaining amount, leakage, and inspection result of the gas supply device detected by the gas meter in the gas supply device is also sent to the monitoring device. For this reason, the amount of information handled by a monitoring device that performs each management such as container management, customer management, and security management of a plurality of gas supply devices on a 24-hour basis based on these device information has been significantly increasing in recent years. There is a problem that the processing efficiency of the monitoring device in the centralized gas management system is reduced.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems,
Even if the number of installed gas supply devices increases, the expiration date management method in a centralized gas management system that can perform the expiration date management of each device constituting the gas supply device without lowering the processing efficiency in the monitoring device, and It is an object to provide an expiration date management system and an expiration date management device.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for managing an expiration date in a centralized gas management system according to the present invention, the method being provided for a user who supplies gas to a gas combustor. In a centralized gas management system configured by a monitoring device provided on an administrator side that centrally manages a plurality of gas supply devices from a remote place, a reading device attached to a device such as a gas meter that measures gas constituting the gas supply device in a centralized gas management system An expiration date management method for managing an expiration date based on expiration date information including identification data and expiration date data of the read device, wherein the device receives the expiration date information from the reading device. Storing the received expiration date information,
It is characterized in that expiration date management information relating to expiration date is created based on the stored expiration date information, and the expiration date management information is transferred to the monitoring device.

[0010] According to the expiration date management method in the centralized gas management system of the present invention as set forth in the first aspect, the devices constituting the gas supply device collect the expiration date information of each device read by the reading device. The expiration date of each device is managed based on the collected expiration date information, and the expiration date management information about the expiration date is transferred to the monitoring device, thereby receiving the expiration date management information from the gas supply device. Only the process of arranging replacement of the expired devices need only be performed, and the monitoring device does not need to collectively manage the expiration dates of the devices constituting the plurality of gas supply devices. Therefore, the processing load on the monitoring device can be reduced.

An expiration date management system according to claim 2 of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problem is provided on a user side for supplying gas to a gas combustor as shown in a basic configuration diagram of FIG. A device that constitutes a supply gas supply device, a reading device that reads the expiration date information 1 having identification data 1a and expiration date data 1b of the device attached to the device, and remotely manages the plurality of gas supply devices. A monitoring device provided on an administrator side, the expiration date management system performing expiration date management of the device based on the expiration date information read by the reading device, wherein the validity from the reading device The expiration date information receiving unit 14a1-1 that receives the expiration date information 1 and the expiration date information 1 received by the expiration date information receiving unit 14a1-1 are stored. Expiration date information storage means 14a1-
2, an expiration date management unit 14a1-3 for managing an expiration date of the device based on the expiration date information 1 stored in the expiration date information storage unit 14a1-2, and an expiration date management unit 14a1-3. An expiration date management information transfer unit 14a1-4 for transferring expiration date management information regarding the expiration date of the device to the monitoring device, the expiration date information receiving unit 14a1-1, the expiration date information storage unit 14a1-2, The invention is characterized in that the expiration date management unit 14a1-3 and the expiration date management information transfer unit 14a1-4 are built in the device.

According to the expiration date management system of the present invention as set forth in claim 2, the means constituting the gas supply device are required to manage the expiration date of each device read by the reading device. The expiration date management in the expiration date management system can be decentralized because the expiration date management of the equipment can be performed for each gas supply device by incorporating the device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an expiration date management system according to the second aspect of the present invention, as shown in the basic configuration diagram of FIG. 3 is an expiration date advance detection unit 14a1-31 for detecting in advance the expiration date of the device based on the expiration date information 1 stored in the expiration date information storage unit 14a1-2; 14a 1-31, the expiration date management information transfer means 14a
A device replacement monitoring means 14a for monitoring replacement of the expired device every time a predetermined time elapses from the time when the data 1-4 is transferred;
1-32, the device replacement monitoring means 14a1-3
2. If the device for the transfer has not been replaced when the predetermined time has elapsed, the expiration date management information transfer means 14a1-4 causes the expiration date management information 1 to be transferred again.

According to the expiration date management system of the present invention as set forth in claim 3, the expiration date advance detection means 14
Since the expiration date of the device can be detected in advance by a1-31, the device near the expiration date can be notified to the monitoring device, and the expiration date of the device can be efficiently managed. Further, the device replacement monitoring means 14a1-32 monitors the replacement of the device every elapse of a predetermined period from the time of the notification, and notifies the monitoring device again if the replacement has not been performed, so that the expiration date on the management side is expired. Since oversight and the like can be prevented, it is possible to prevent accidents that occur due to expiration of the device.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an expiration date management apparatus according to the present invention, which is attached to an apparatus such as a gas meter constituting a gas supply apparatus for supplying gas to a gas combustor, and is read by a reading apparatus. An expiration date management device that manages the expiration date based on the expiration date information 1 having the identification data 1a and the expiration date data 1b of the device, wherein the expiration date management device receives the expiration date information 1 from the reading device. Term information receiving means 14a1-
1 and an expiration date information storage unit 1 that stores the expiration date information 1 received by the expiration date information receiving unit 14a1-1.
4a1-2, an expiration date management unit 14a1-3 that manages the expiration date of the device based on the expiration date information 1 stored in the expiration date information storage unit 14a1-2, and an expiration date management unit 14a1- 3 includes an expiration date management information transfer unit 14a1-4 for transferring expiration date management information relating to expiration of the device to a predetermined transfer destination, the expiration date information receiving unit 14a1-1, and the expiration date information storage. Means 14a1-2, said expiration date management means 14a1-3, and said expiration date management information transfer means 14
a1-4 is built in the device.

According to the expiration date management device of the present invention described in claim 4, means for managing the expiration date of each device read by the reading device are provided in the devices constituting the gas supply device. , The expiration date of the equipment can be efficiently managed for each gas supply device.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention for solving the above problems, as shown in the basic configuration diagram of FIG. 1, in the expiration date management device of the fourth aspect, the expiration date management means 14a1- 3 is the expiration date information storage means 1
4a1-2, an expiration expiration detection unit 14a1-31 for detecting in advance the expiration date of the device based on the expiration date information 1 stored in the expiration date information 1; The expiration date management information transfer means 14a1-
Device replacement monitoring means 14a1-for monitoring replacement of the expired device every time a predetermined time elapses since the transfer of the device 4
32, when the device replacement monitoring unit has not exchanged the device for the transfer when the predetermined time has elapsed, causing the expiration date management information transfer unit 14a1-4 to transfer the expiration date management information again. It is characterized by.

According to the expiration date management device of the present invention described in claim 5, the expiration date advance detection means 14a1
Since the expiration date of the device can be detected in advance by -31, the device near the expiration date can be notified to a predetermined transfer destination, and the expiration date of the device can be efficiently managed. Further, the device replacement monitoring means 14a1-32 monitors the replacement of the device every predetermined period from the time of the notification, and notifies the monitoring device again if the replacement has not been performed. Accidents can be prevented.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a centralized LP gas management system using an expiration date management device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of a centralized LP gas management system to which an expiration date management device according to the present invention is applied. Note that, in the system configuration diagram shown in FIG. 2, only one of the plurality of gas supply devices is shown for simplification of description.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 10 denotes a gas supply device, and the gas supply device 10 has two LP gas containers 11a, 1
1b, a gas pressure regulator 12, gas pipes 13 and 15, gas plugs 13a and 15a, a gas meter 14, and a gas combustor 16. The two LP gas containers 11a and 11b are connected to a gas pressure regulator 12 having an automatic switching function.
Gas is derived from b. The gas derived from the gas container is supplied to a gas meter 14 through a primary (upstream) gas pipe 13, and further from the gas meter 14 through a secondary (downstream) gas pipe 15 to a terminal such as a gas bath or a stove. Is supplied to the gas combustor 16. 13a and 15a
Are gas stoppers provided in the gas pipes 13 and 15, respectively.

As described above, the gas derived from one of the containers 11 a or 11 b selected by the switching function of the gas pressure regulator 12 passes through the gas pipe 13 to the gas meter 14.
Is supplied to the gas combustor 1 through the gas pipe 15.
6 and consumed by the gas combustor 16.

Then, the gas consumption of one of the containers selected by the switching function of the gas pressure regulator 12, for example, the container 11a (supply-side container) proceeds, and when the remaining gas amount decreases, the internal pressure of the container 11a decreases. As a result, gas at a required pressure cannot be supplied to the gas combustor 16. Therefore, in the gas pressure regulator 12 having the automatic switching function, the introduction port to which the other container 11b (supply-side container) is connected is automatically opened by the automatic switching function to achieve gas introduction and gas outage. The gas at the required pressure can be supplied without fail.

In the LP gas centralized management system as shown, a flow rate sensor (not shown) for generating a flow rate signal every time a constant flow rate of gas is supplied into the gas meter 14, and a gas sensor based on the flow rate signal are provided. Abnormality detection means for detecting the flow rate of the gas flowing through the supply path, a gas shutoff valve for shutting off the gas supply path in response to the detection of the abnormality, and a calculation means (not shown) for producing both of the gas usage based on the flow signal. A transmission device 17 such as an NCU (Network Control Unit) is provided to notify the integrated value of the arithmetic means to a monitoring device 20 such as an LP gas store at a predetermined date and time via a telephone line 30 or the like.

Each of the devices constituting the gas supply apparatus 10 described above includes a bar code 1 having information on the expiration date of the device as shown in an embodiment of the bar code 1 in FIG. It is printed or displayed on a barcode medium and attached to the device. Barcode 1 of this barcode medium
Is a reading device 40 such as a hand scanner that reads a barcode 1 from a barcode medium affixed to each device by a person in charge of construction when the gas supply device 10 is installed.
The bar code 1 is optically read by the bar code 1, and the read bar code 1 is code-converted, and the code-converted bar code information is temporarily stored in a storage medium in the reading device 40. When the collection of the barcode information from all the devices constituting the gas supply device 10 is completed, the reading device 40
RS-232C40a at the tip of the cable derived from
By connecting to the gas meter 14 and transferring the expiration date information, each of the constituents of the gas supply device 10 also registers the expiration date of the device in the gas meter. As described above, in the present embodiment, the gas meter 14 functions as an expiration date device. The barcode 1 corresponds to the expiration date information.

The bar code 1 shown in FIG.
FIG. 3B has information as shown in FIG. 3A showing an embodiment of the data format of FIG. FIG. 3 (b)
3 correspond to the upper and lower rows of the barcode 1 shown in FIG. 3A, respectively.

In FIG. 3B, a one- or two-digit installation location code 1a1 represents a general or apartment house, a business facility, a household using simple gas, etc. for distinguishing the installation location corresponding to the equipment. The 3 to 4 digit maker code 1a2 represents the manufacturer of the device. The product name 1a3 of 5 to 13 digits represents a product name of a gas meter, a gas pressure regulator, a container, and the like. 14 ~
The 20-digit product number 1a4 represents the product number for the product name 1a3. The manufacturing date 1a5 of 21 to 23 digits indicates the date when the device corresponding to the product name 1a3 and the product number 1a4 was manufactured. The 24-26 digit expiration date 1b indicates the expiration date of the device corresponding to the product name 1a3 and the product number 1a4. In the present embodiment, a two-stage barcode is used, but the present invention is not limited to this.
One or more stages may be used according to the amount of information for the device.

FIG. 4 shows the gas meter 1 shown in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram illustrating one embodiment of the present invention. Since the configuration of the gas meter 14 is conventional, the configuration shown in FIG. 4 shows only the configuration related to the present invention to simplify the description.

In FIG. 4, the gas meter 14 has a microcomputer (μCOM) 14a that operates according to a predetermined program. This μCOM14
a is a central processing unit (CPU) that performs various processes and controls according to a predetermined program, as is well known.
14a1, a ROM 14a2 which is a read-only memory storing a program for the CPU 14a1, etc., and a RAM 14a3 which is a readable and writable memory which stores various data and has an area required for processing operations of the CPU 14a1. .

The gas meter 14 has a μCOM 14a
Interface 14b for exchanging signals between the device and an external device. In this interface 14b,
The transmission device 17 for controlling communication with the monitoring device 20 of the gas dealer via the telephone line 30 described above, and the RS-232 for performing data transfer with the reading device 40 and the like.
C40a, (hereinafter not shown) a gas cutoff valve provided in a gas passage communicating with a pipe of a gas supply passage to shut off gas supply by closing the valve, a vibration sensor for sensing a seismic intensity equal to or higher than a predetermined value, and the gas passage Pressure sensor for sensing the internal pressure, an ultrasonic flow velocity sensor that generates a flow velocity signal that varies according to the flow velocity of the gas flow through the gas path, and a home display panel provided in the home for performing various displays related to the gas meter. , Gas meter 1
Home operating device for performing various remote operations related to
An automatic switching regulator that issues a signal in accordance with the switching operation of the gas pressure regulator 12 that automatically switches between the P gas containers 11a and 11b, an alarm that detects a gas having a concentration higher than an alarm level in a house and issues an alarm, and the like. Is connected.

The gas meter 14 is an electrically readable and readable non-volatile storage means EEPRO which can retain the stored contents without a backup power supply.
M14c, a liquid crystal display (LCD) 14e for displaying various information such as an integrated value of gas consumption and an alarm, and a μCOM.
A power supply unit 14d such as a lithium battery for supplying operation power to each unit such as the interface 14a and the interface 14b; a clock IC 14f having a calendar function for receiving power from the power supply unit 14d and outputting calendar information to the connected μCOM 14a. Having.

In such a gas meter configuration, when the gas supply device 10 is installed, the bar code information collected by the reading device 40 from the bar code medium affixed to each device by a construction worker or the like is RS-232C.
40 a is connected to the gas meter 14 and transferred to the μCOM 14. ΜCOM 14a receiving this barcode information
Extracts the product name 1a3 and the expiration date 1b (FIG. 3B), which are information necessary for managing the expiration date of the device, from the barcode information as expiration date information, and stores the extracted expiration date information in the EEPROM 14c. Then, expiration date management is performed based on the stored expiration date information. The barcode information may be stored in the EEPROM 14c as it is and managed.

For example, the EEPROM shown in FIG.
As shown in one embodiment of the memory map of FIG. 14c, the expiration date of the container is July 1999, and the gas stopper is 200.
For example, December 0,..., The gas meter until December 2001, the bar code information product name 1a3 and the expiration date 1 are stored in the expiration date information storage area 14c1 for each device.
b is stored as expiration date information. Specifically, the product name 1a3 and the expiration date 1b are extracted from the barcode information for each device, and the product name data 14c11 and the expiration date data 1 are extracted.
4c12 as the expiration date information.
The data is sequentially stored in a3. Then, when the expiration date information of all the devices is obtained, the devices are sorted based on the respective expiration date data 14c12 in ascending order of the expiration date.
It is stored in the expiration date information storage area 14c1 of the PROM 14c. Thus, the expiration date information storage area 14c1
Stores the expiration date information of all the devices constituting the gas supply device 10. Further, based on the product name data 14c11 in the expiration date information storage area 14c1, the gas meter 14 can also manage the connection state of the devices of the gas supply device 10.

Next, one embodiment of the details of the operation in the configuration of the gas meter 14 will be described with reference to the CP of the μCOM 14a.
The processing performed by U14a1 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 6, the process starts when the power supply unit 14d is turned on in the gas meter 14, and in step S1, it is determined whether or not bar code information has been transferred from the reading device 40. It is determined whether or not the expiration date information read from the various devices constituting the gas supply device 10 has been registered in the gas meter 14, and if it is determined that the expiration date information has been registered (Y in step S1). The process proceeds to step S2. On the other hand, when it is determined that the expiration date information has not been registered (N in step S1), step S1 is repeated to wait for the expiration date information to be registered. By the process of step S1, the device functions as an expiration date information receiving unit that receives the expiration date information from the reading device 40.

In step S2, the reading device 40
The above-mentioned expiration date information is extracted from the barcode information transferred from the server, stored in the RAM 14a3, sorted based on each expiration date data 14c12 in ascending order of the expiration date, and then stored in the expiration date information storage area 14c1 of the EEPROM 14c. By doing so, expiration date information storage processing is executed, and the process proceeds to step S2. In addition, the processing in step S2 functions as an expiration date information storage unit that stores the expiration date information received by the expiration date information receiving unit. By storing and managing the expiration date information in the EEPROM 14c as in the present embodiment, the stored contents can be retained even when the power of the power supply unit 14d of the gas meter 14 is cut off.
It is only necessary to collect the expiration date information of each supply device once at the time of installation.

In step S3, calendar information is obtained from the clock IC 14f, thereby executing a calendar information obtaining process.
In step S4, it is determined whether one month has elapsed by determining whether one day has elapsed based on the acquired calendar information. If it is determined that one day has not elapsed (step S4).
N), and repeat step S4 to wait for one month. On the other hand, if it is determined to be one day (Y in step S4), the process proceeds to step S5.

In step S5, the EEPROM 14
By comparing the calendar information with the expiration date data 14c12 of each expiration date information stored in the expiration date information storage area 14c1 of c, it is determined whether or not there is a device whose expiration date expires this month. More specifically, comparison is made sequentially from the beginning of the expiration date information storage area of the EEPROM 14c shown in FIG.
4a3 is stored as expiration date information. In the present embodiment, since each expiration date information in the expiration date information storage area 14c1 of the EEPROM 14c is sorted in ascending order of the expiration date, it is not necessary to compare the expiration date information with the expiration date 1b of all the expiration date information. The comparison can be completed from the beginning when the expiration date information whose expiration dates do not match is detected. In the comparison processing of step S5,
If it is determined that there is (Y in step S5), the process proceeds to step S6. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is no expired device (N in step S5), the process proceeds to step S3, and waits for one month.

By executing the processing of steps S3 to S5 in this manner, the expiration date of the device can be detected in advance based on the expiration date information stored in the expiration date information storage means. It functions as detection means. In the present embodiment, the expiration date of the device is detected one month before, but various settings such as two weeks ago, one week ago, etc. can be set according to the business mode.

In step S6, in order to inform the monitoring device 20 that there is a device whose expiration date has expired this month, the expiration date information stored in the RAM 14a3 and the gas supply device 10 stored in the EEPROM 14c in advance are stored in the EEPROM 14c. By causing the management information such as the placement destination to be added to create expiration date management information, and transmitting the expiration date management information to the monitoring device 20 by the transmission device 17 based on the predetermined transfer destination information in the EEPROM 14c, the expiration notification is issued. The process is executed, and the process proceeds to step S7. As described above, by the processing in step S6, the gas supply device 1
The presence of a device whose expiration date is about to expire at 0 can be notified in advance. Therefore, by executing step S6, it is possible to transfer the expiration date management information on the expiration date of the device to the monitoring device 20, so that it functions as an expiration date management information transfer unit.

In step S7, calendar information is obtained from the clock IC 14f to execute calendar information obtaining processing, and the flow advances to step S8.

In step S8, the reading device 40
If bar code information is transferred from
Product name data 14c11 of expiration date information of OM 14c
By comparing the product name 1a3 of the bar code information and the product name 1a3 transferred this time to determine whether or not the product names match, it is determined whether or not a new registration of the expired device has been made. In detail, when the product name matches, it is determined that there is a new registration for the expired device, and when the product name does not match, it is considered that another new device has been registered and there is no new registration for the expired device. Is determined. If it is determined in the comparison process of step S8 that a new registration has been made for the expired device, that is, if the device whose expiration date is almost expired has been replaced (Y in step S8), the process proceeds to step S3. Then, the expiration date management of the device is performed for each month as described above. On the other hand, if it is determined in the comparison process of step S8 that there is no new registration, or if there is no transfer of the barcode information from the reading device 40 (N in step S8), the process proceeds to step S9.

In step S9, it is determined whether the expiration date has passed based on the expiration date information and the calendar information stored in the RAM 14a3.
If it is determined that the expiration date has expired (step S
In 9) (Y), the process proceeds to step S11. On the other hand, if it is determined that the expiration date has not expired (N in step S9),
Proceed to step S10.

In step S10, based on the calendar information, it is determined whether or not day A (10 days) has elapsed from the date on which the processing for calling the expiration notice for the monitoring device 20 has been performed. If it is determined that the A day has elapsed (Y in step S9), the process proceeds to step S6, where the monitoring device 2 is again activated.
An expiration notice is called for 0, and a new registration of the device is awaited. In this way, if the device is not replaced within a predetermined number of days after the expiration notice is issued to the monitoring device 20, the expiration notification is sent to the monitoring device 20 again, whereby the expiration of the device is expired. Can be prevented. On the other hand, if it is determined that the A day has not elapsed (N in step S9), the process proceeds to step S7, and a series of processes from step S7 is repeated to wait for new registration of the expired device, and It monitors whether day A has passed since the expiration notice was issued.

When the expiration date has passed, in step S11, the expiration date information stored in the RAM 14a3 is stored in advance in the EEPROM 14c in order to notify the monitoring device 20 that the device has expired. By adding management information such as the location of the gas supply device 10 that has been set, and transmitting the management information to the monitoring device 20 by the transmission device 17, the expiration call processing is executed,
Proceed to step S12. By the process of step S12, the existence of the expired device in the gas supply device 10 can be notified to the monitoring device 20.

In step S12, the clock IC 14f
, The calendar information acquisition process is executed, and the process proceeds to step S13.

In step S13, similarly to step S9, when bar code information is transferred from the reading device 40, the product name data 14c11 of the expiration date information of the EEPROM 14c and the bar code information transferred this time are read. By comparing the product names 1a3 to determine whether or not the product names match, it is determined whether or not a new registration of the expired device has been made. Step S
If it is determined in the comparison process of 13 that there is a new registration for the expired device (Y in step S13), the process proceeds to step S3, and the above-described expiration date management of the device is performed for each month. On the other hand, if it is determined in the comparison process in step S8 that there is no new registration, or if there is no transfer of the barcode information from the reading device 40 (N in step S13), the process proceeds to step S14.

Step S8 or step S described above
By executing step 13, it is possible to determine whether or not the expired device has been replaced, and thus it functions as a device replacement monitoring unit.

In step S14, step S12
Monitoring device 20 based on the calendar information obtained in
B days (1 day) from the date of the outgoing call processing for
It is determined whether or not it has elapsed. If it is determined that B days have elapsed (Y in step S14), the process proceeds to step S11, where the monitoring apparatus 20 is again caused to make an out-of-valid call and waits for a new registration of the device. Thus, the monitoring device 2
If the device is not replaced even after a predetermined number of days has elapsed after the expiration call for 0, the expired call can be returned to the monitoring device 20 until the expired device is replaced. On the other hand, if it is determined that the B day has not elapsed (N in step S14), the process proceeds to step S12, and a series of processes from step S12 is repeated to wait for new registration of the expired device, and It monitors whether B days have passed since the expiration dated call.

By providing such steps, the expiration date of each device constituting the gas supply device 10 provided on the user side can be managed by the gas meter which is one of the devices.

As is apparent from the processing operation of the CPU 14a1 performed with respect to the flowcharts of FIGS. 6 and 7 described above, by executing the processing of steps S3 to S14, the expiration date stored in the expiration date information storage means is stored. Since the expiration date of the device can be managed based on the information, it functions as expiration date management means.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the expiration date information of each device is transferred from the plurality of gas supply devices 10 to the monitoring device 20 as in the conventional centralized gas management system, and the collected information is collected. The monitoring device 20 can manage the expiration date of each gas supply device 10 on the user side instead of managing the expiration date collectively based on the expiration date information, so that the expiration date management can be decentralized. . Therefore, even if the number of installed gas supply devices 10 increases, the expiration date management of each device constituting the gas supply device 10 can be performed without reducing the processing efficiency of the monitoring device 20 in the centralized gas management system.

Further, according to the present invention, when the gas supply device is installed for the user, the expiration date information read by the reading device 40 from each device is read by the gas meter 1.
4, and the work of transferring the read expiration date information to the monitoring device 20 as in the related art can be omitted, so that the work load on the installer can be reduced. In particular, in the operation mode in which the expiration date information is transferred via the telephone line, the telephone charge for the operation is not generated, so that the cost can be reduced.

Furthermore, since the expiration date of the device can be detected in advance by the expiration date expiration detection means, the device near the expiration date can be notified to the monitoring device 20, and the expiration date management of the device can be efficiently performed. It can be carried out. Further, the device replacement monitoring unit monitors the replacement of the device every elapse of a predetermined period from the time of the notification, and notifies the monitoring device again if the replacement has not been performed, so that the management side can overlook the expiration date or the like. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an accident caused by expiration of the device.

Further, in order to prevent an accident due to the expiration of the device, the determination process in step S10 of the flowchart shown in FIGS. Is monitored, and if the device has not been replaced every certain period of time from the time of the notification, it is determined whether or not a certain period has elapsed in order to notify the monitoring device 20 again. Is deleted, and if the determination in step S9 is No, the process proceeds to step S9, whereby the embodiment corresponding to claim 2 can be deleted. Even in such an embodiment, as described above, even if the number of installed gas supply devices 10 increases, the gas supply devices 10 can be configured without lowering the processing efficiency of the monitoring device 20 in the gas supply system. Expiration date management of the device can be performed.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, FIG.
If the replacement of the device is not performed before the expiration of the expiration date by the series of processing from step S11 to step S14 of the flowchart illustrated in FIG.
However, a series of processes from step S12 to step S14 may be deleted, and the process may proceed after the process of step S11 is completed, and the above-mentioned expiration date may repeat the management process. it can. And even in such an embodiment, as described above,
Even if the number of installed gas supply devices 10 increases, the expiration date management of each device constituting the gas supply device 10 can be performed without reducing the processing efficiency of the monitoring device 20 in the gas supply system.

In the above-described embodiment, the product name data and the expiration date data are extracted from the barcode information and stored in the EEPROM as expiration date information to manage the expiration date of each supply device. However, various other embodiments, such as an embodiment in which barcode information is stored in the storage means as it is to manage the expiration date and the like, may be adopted.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the example of the supply device constituting the gas supply device is the minimum configuration necessary for simplifying the description, but the present invention is limited to such a configuration. Not a gas alarm,
Gas emission prevention device, shut-off valve, incomplete combustion alarm, root valve,
Equipment such as a collecting device such as a collecting pipe or a pressure gauge can also be added to the configuration.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the bar code is used as the expiration date information, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the expiration date information is stored in the IC other than the bar code. It is also possible to use other means such as transmitting and receiving expiration date information wirelessly with the outside.

In the above-described embodiment, the gas meter and the reading device are connected via the RS-232C. However, the gas meter and the reading device may be realized by using other means such as transferring expiration date information by infrared communication. Can also.

In the above-described embodiment, the gas meter is used as the expiration date management device. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a gas supply device other than the gas meter may be used without departing from the present invention. Alarm, NCU (Ne
It can also be realized with devices such as a twork control unit) and an in-home operation device.

In this embodiment, the centralized gas management system for LP gas has been described.
The present invention can also be applied to a centralized gas management system for city gas and the like.

[0062]

As described above, according to the expiration date management method in the centralized gas management system according to the first aspect of the present invention, the equipment constituting the gas supply device is connected to the equipment read by the reader. Expiration date information is collected, the expiration date of each device is managed based on the collected expiration date information, and the expiration date management information regarding the expiration date is transferred to the monitoring device. Only when the management information is received, it is only necessary to perform processing such as arranging replacement of the expired device, and it is not necessary to collectively manage the expiration dates of the devices constituting the plurality of gas supply devices in the monitoring device. Therefore, even if the number of installed gas supply devices increases, there is an effect that the expiration date of each device constituting the gas supply device can be managed without lowering the processing efficiency of the monitoring device.

According to the expiration date management system of the present invention described in claim 2, the means constituting the gas supply device are required to manage the expiration date of each device read by the reading device. The expiration date management in the expiration date management system can be decentralized because the expiration date management of the equipment can be performed for each gas supply device by incorporating the device. Therefore, even if the number of installed gas supply devices increases, there is an effect that the expiration date of each device constituting the gas supply device can be managed without lowering the processing efficiency of the monitoring device.

According to the expiration date management system of the present invention described in claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, it is possible to detect in advance the expiration date of the device by the expiration date advance detection means. It is possible to notify the monitoring device of the device that is about to expire,
The expiration date of the device can be managed efficiently. Further, the device replacement monitoring unit monitors the replacement of the device every elapse of a predetermined period from the time of the notification, and notifies the monitoring device again if the replacement has not been performed, so that the management side can overlook the expiration date or the like. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an accident caused by expiration of the device.

According to the expiration date management device of the present invention described in claim 4, the means constituting the gas supply device are required to manage the expiration date of each device read by the reading device. Has an effect that the expiration date management of the equipment can be efficiently performed for each gas supply device.

According to the expiration date management device of the present invention described in claim 5, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 4, it is possible to detect in advance the expiration date of the device by the expiration date advance detection means. Therefore, it is possible to notify a device whose expiration date is about to expire to a predetermined transfer destination, and it is possible to efficiently manage the expiration date of the device. Further, the device replacement monitoring means monitors the replacement of the device every predetermined period from the time of the notification, and notifies the monitoring device again if the replacement has not been performed. Can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of a gas supply device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of a centralized LP gas management system to which a gas supply device according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the barcode in FIG. FIG. 3B is a diagram showing an embodiment of the data format of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing one embodiment of a gas meter in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a memory map of the EEPROM in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a part of a process performed by a CPU of the gas meter in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing another part of the processing performed by the CPU of the gas meter in FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Expiration Date Information (Bar Code) 1a Identification Data 1b Expiration Date Data 14a1-1 Expiration Date Information Receiving Unit (CPU) 14a1-2 Expiration Date Information Storage Unit (CPU) 14a1-3 Expiration Date Management Unit (CPU) 14a1-31 Expiration date expiration advance detection means (CPU) 14a1-32 Device replacement monitoring means (CPU) 14a1-4 Expiration date management information transfer means (CPU)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2F030 CB01 CC13 CE02 CE09 CE22 CE25 CE27 CF05 CF11 CF20 5B072 BB00 CC24 DD02 MM11 5H223 AA11 CC08 DD03 DD07 DD09 EE02 EE06 FF08 9A001 BB01 BB04 CC03 DD15 JJ44 JJ56 KK37 KK37 KK37

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A gas centralized management system comprising a monitoring device provided on an administrator side for centrally managing a plurality of gas supply devices provided on a user side for supplying gas to a gas combustor from a remote place. An expiration date management method for managing an expiration date based on expiration date information including identification data and expiration date data of the device attached to a device such as a gas meter that measures gas constituting a supply device and read by a reading device. Wherein the device receives the expiration date information from the reading device, stores the received expiration date information, and creates expiration date management information on expiration date based on the stored expiration date information And transmitting the expiration date management information to the monitoring device. Limited management method. 2. A device constituting a supply gas supply device provided on a user side for supplying gas to a gas combustor, and expiration date information having identification data and expiration date data of the device attached to the device. A reading device for reading, comprising a monitoring device provided on an administrator side that remotely manages the plurality of gas supply devices, and performs expiration date management of the device based on the expiration date information read by the reading device. An expiration date management system that performs the expiration date information receiving unit that receives the expiration date information from the reading device; an expiration date information storage unit that stores the expiration date information received by the expiration date information receiving unit. An expiration date management unit that manages an expiration date of the device based on the expiration date information stored in the expiration date information storage unit; Expiration date management information transfer unit for transferring expiration date management information regarding expiration date of the device to the monitoring device, the expiration date information receiving unit, the expiration date information storage unit, the expiration date management unit, And an expiration date management information transfer system, wherein the expiration date management information transfer means is built in the device. 3. The expiration date advance detection means for detecting in advance the expiration date of the device based on the expiration date information stored in the expiration date information storage means, Device replacement monitoring means for monitoring replacement of the expired device every time a predetermined time elapses from the time when the expiration date management information transfer means transfers the device by detecting the expired device by the detection means; and 3. The expiration date according to claim 2, wherein the expiration date management information transfer unit transfers the expiration date management information again if the device for the transfer has not been replaced when the predetermined time has elapsed. Management system. 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is provided with a gas supply device for supplying a gas to a gas combustor. An expiration date management device that manages an expiration date, comprising: an expiration date information receiving unit that receives the expiration date information from the reading device; and an expiration date that stores the expiration date information received by the expiration date information receiving unit. Information storage means; expiration date management means for managing the expiration date of the device based on the expiration date information stored in the expiration date information storage means; An expiration date management information transfer unit that transfers management information to a predetermined transfer destination; Limited information storage means, the expiration date management unit, and the expiration date management information transfer means expiration date management apparatus, wherein a is constructed is built into the device. 5. An expiration date pre-detection unit for detecting in advance the expiration date of the device based on the expiration date information stored in the expiration date information storage unit; Device replacement monitoring means for monitoring replacement of the expired device every time a predetermined time elapses from the time when the expiration date management information transfer means transfers the device by detecting the expired device by the detection means; and 5. The expiration date according to claim 4, wherein the expiration date management information transfer unit transfers the expiration date management information again if the device for the transfer has not been replaced when the predetermined time has elapsed. Management device.