JP2001145178A - Automatic meter reading system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic meter reading system which can easily perform communicating condition setting work as much as possible, following an increase in the number of slave station. SOLUTION: In an automatic meter reading system which is provided with a master station, which can communicate with a headquarters station via a public telephone network, slave stations which are constituted in such a way that the stations can communicate with the master station in accordance with prescribed communication conditions through radio channels, and metering devices which can respectively communicate with the slave stations and constituted to set communicating conditions for the master and slave stations, the master and slave stations are respectively provided with storing means, each of which stores communicating condition setting data which constitute part of the communicating condition and are set at every station, and a setting start operating means. When the setting start operating means is operated (step 21), the stations communicate the communicating condition setting data stored in each storing means with each other, by using a channel which is prespecfied to be used exclusively for setting (step 22) and automatically set the communicating condition (step 25).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic meter reading system for automatically measuring the usage of gas, water, electricity, and the like, and more particularly, to request data and response data between a master station and slave stations in the system. The present invention relates to an automatic meter reading system configured to be able to communicate the communication data through a wireless line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as a system for automatically reading meter reading values of gas meters and the like installed in general homes, etc.,
Automatic meter reading systems using wireless communication have been developed. The conventional automatic meter reading system generally includes a head office that controls various controls, a master station connected to the head office via a telephone line, and a plurality of master stations connected to the master station via a wireless line. It is composed of a slave station and a plurality of meter devices connected to each slave station via a wired line.

In this conventional automatic meter reading system, for example, at the time of automatic meter reading, the head office communicates meter reading request data to a master station via a telephone line. Next, the master station transmits the station address data of the slave station connected to the meter device to be metered together with the meter reading request data. On the other hand, the slave station performs intermittent reception. For example, the slave station shifts to the reception state when the reception stop time of 15 seconds has elapsed. The process shifts again, and when a message including the own-station address data is received, the process shifts to the continuous reception state. Therefore,
In this case, the slave station shifts to the continuous reception state, and after receiving the meter reading request data, transmits the meter reading request data to the meter device via the wired line. Thereafter, the meter device transmits the meter reading value data to the slave station, and the slave station sends the meter reading value data to the master station.

In this case, the telephone line between the master station and the head office is kept connected, and the master station transmits the meter reading data transmitted from the slave station to the head office via the connected telephone line. connect. The head office absorbs meter reading data from all meter devices by performing these processes for each slave station.

On the other hand, when a house or a building is newly constructed, it is necessary to add meter devices and slave stations accordingly. In such a case, when establishing a wireless line between the existing master station and the extension slave station, communication conditions such as station address data of the extension slave station are set for the master station that is already operating locally, and the extension slave station is set. Must set communication conditions such as radio frequency and intermittent time at the time of intermittent reception determined for each local automatic meter reading system. In this case, in the conventional automatic meter reading system, first, a dedicated device for setting communication conditions such as a handy terminal is connected to the master station using a wired line, and then the communication condition setting stored in a memory in the master station is performed. Transfer data to the handy terminal. Next, the handy terminal is carried to the extension slave station, and the handy terminal is connected to the extension slave station using a wired line. Then, the communication condition setting data is transferred to the extension slave station. Subsequently, the communication condition setting data stored in the memory of the slave station or the like is transferred to the handy terminal. Next, the portable terminal is carried to the master station side, connected to the master station using a wired line, and then the communication condition setting data of the extension slave station is transferred to the master station. As a result, the communication condition setting data stored in both stations are mutually set, thereby establishing a wireless line between both stations.

[0006]

However, in the conventional automatic meter reading system, when additional slave stations are added, the communication condition setting data stored in each station is used by using a dedicated device such as a handy terminal. We need to transfer each other. For this reason, the conventional automatic meter reading system requires additional equipment such as connecting a dedicated device to both stations using a wired line, removing the dedicated device from both stations, and carrying the dedicated device when adding a slave station. There is a problem that the communication condition setting work is very complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its main object to provide an automatic meter reading system capable of performing communication condition setting work with extension of a slave station as easily as possible. And

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, an automatic meter reading system according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises a master station communicable with a head office via a public telephone network and a master station via a wireless line. A slave station configured to be able to communicate with the station in accordance with predetermined communication conditions, and a meter device capable of communicating with the slave station, and configured to be able to set communication conditions for the master station and the slave station. In the automatic meter reading system, the master station and the slave station each include a storage unit that forms part of the communication conditions and stores communication condition setting data set for each station, and a setting start operation unit, and includes a setting start operation unit. When the start operation means is operated, the communication conditions are automatically set by communicating the communication condition setting data stored in the respective storage means with each other using a predetermined setting dedicated channel. It is characterized by. In this case, the “slave station” includes only the slave station having both the function as the terminal device connected to the meter device and the function as the relay device, and only the function as the terminal device without having the function as the relay device. Are included. Further, a slave station having a relay function may be provided between the master station and the slave station, and the communication condition setting data may be communicated with each other via the slave station.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the automatic meter reading system, at least one of the master station and the slave station repeatedly transmits communication condition setting data.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the automatic meter reading system according to the first or second aspect, each of the master station and the slave station operates when the setting start operating means is continuously operated for a predetermined time. The communication condition setting data is communicated with each other.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic meter reading system according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein at least the setting start operation means of the slave station is disposed inside the apparatus main body of the slave station. It is characterized by comprising a magnetically responsive switch.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the automatic meter reading system according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, at least one of the master station and the slave station includes a notifying means for notifying the completion of the setting of the communication condition. It is characterized by having.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of an automatic meter reading system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

An automatic meter reading system S1 shown in FIG. 1 is a system for automatically reading, for example, gas usage and the like, and is conceptually a head office having a central collection device 1a composed of a host computer and the like. 1, a master station 4 disposed in the apartment house 3 and connected to the head office 1 via a public line network 2 such as a telephone line, and a wireless station disposed in the apartment house 3 It is configured to include a plurality of slave stations 5 connected to the master station 4 and a meter device 7 connected to each slave station 5 via a wired line 6.

The master station 4 includes a transmission device 4a for communicating communication data Dc including request data such as meter reading request data Dr and response data such as meter reading value data Da with the central collection device 1a, and a two-wire system. Transmission device 4 via wired line 4c
The wireless master station 4b communicates the communication data Dcn with the slave station 5 and communicates the communication data Dcn with the slave station 5 via a wireless line.

As shown in FIG. 2, the wireless master station 4b includes an antenna 11 for transmitting and receiving, for example, a 400 MHz band radio wave, an antenna switch 12, a transmitting unit 13, a receiving unit 14, a control circuit 15 And a reed relay 17 corresponding to a magnetically responsive switch according to the present invention, and an L corresponding to notification means according to the present invention for notifying various information by flashing light.
An ED 18 is provided. The transmission unit 13 is, for example, two of the frequencies f1 and f2 that are switched and controlled by the control circuit 15.
The control circuit 15 includes at least one transmission channel.
And modulates the carrier wave with various data output from the transmitter. In this case, the transmission channels of the frequencies f1 and f2 are defined as communication conditions for each automatic meter reading system S1 out of, for example, 40 channels defined in advance, and the channel of the frequency f1 is the meter reading request data. The channel of the frequency f2 is used to transmit communication data Dcn for general communication such as Dr.
This is used to exclusively transmit communication condition setting data DSP for setting communication conditions when adding a communication device. The receiving unit 14 includes a PLL circuit for oscillating a channel frequency, and the channel oscillating frequency is set and controlled by the control circuit 15, thereby receiving the channels of the frequencies f1 and f2. In addition, the receiving unit 14 receives the radio signal, demodulates it into communication data Dcn, communication condition setting data DSC, and the like, and outputs the demodulated data to the control circuit 15.

The control unit 15 controls the operations of the transmission unit 13 and the reception unit 14, and creates the communication data Dcn and the communication condition setting data DSP. Specifically, the control circuit 15 is formed of, for example, a one-chip microcomputer. The control circuit 15 communicates communication data Dc with the transmission device 4a, and the operation program of the CPU 15a corresponds to a storage unit in the present invention. And an EEPROM (Electrically Era) for storing communication data Dcn and various data used when creating communication condition setting data DSP.
sable PROM) 15b and communication data Dc and Dc during communication.
and a built-in RAM 15c for temporarily storing n and the like.

The reed relay 17 corresponds to the setting start operation means in the present invention, and functions as a setting start switch when setting communication conditions with the added slave station 5. In this case, the reed relay 17 is disposed inside the housing of the slave station 5 so as to be sensitive to magnetism, and is controlled on / off by the contact and separation of the magnet M. Therefore, reed relay 1
7 is controlled to an on state by bringing a magnet M formed in a portable shape, for example, in the shape of a bar, close to the housing of the slave station 5, and is controlled to an off state by moving the magnet M away from the housing. Since the reed relay 17 is controlled to be turned on / off by the magnet M, the switch mechanism has a drip-proof or waterproof structure. Therefore, the entire wireless base station 4b has a drip-proof or waterproof structure. Can be.

In the master station 4, when the communication data Dc is output from the central collection device 1a via the transmission device 4a, the control unit 15 sends the new communication data D
cn is created and transmitted. In this case, the communication data Dcn
Is formed from a synchronous code portion, an ID portion into which station address data of the slave station 5 as a destination is inserted, and a data portion into which meter reading request data Dr as request data is inserted.

When setting communication conditions with the added slave station 5, the magnet M is brought close to the housing of the slave station 5 continuously for a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds). As a result, the reed relay 17 is turned on for 5 seconds, and the CPU 15a
Creates the communication condition setting data DSP shown in FIG.
In this case, the communication condition setting data DSP includes an identification code portion for identifying that the data is communication condition setting data, a system code portion indicating a system code for each automatic meter reading system S1, and station address data of the wireless master station 4b. The wireless master station address data part shown, the intermittent time data part specifying the intermittent time at the time of intermittent reception for the slave station 5, and the number of retransmissions for resending the communication data to the slave station 5 when the radio wave propagation situation is bad. It is composed of an individual data section for designating the data.
In this case, the CPU 15a controls the transmission unit 13 to switch the transmission frequency of the transmission unit 13 to f2.
The communication condition setting data DSP is repeatedly transmitted, for example, every two seconds for a maximum of three minutes.

As shown in FIG. 3, the slave station 5 is
antennas 1 each configured identically to the components of b
1, an antenna switch 12, a transmission unit 13, a reception unit 14, a reed relay 17 and an LED 18, and a control unit 16 and a DIP switch 19. In this case, the control unit 16 controls the operation of the transmission unit 13 and the reception unit 14 and the communication data Dcn and the communication condition setting data D
Execute SC creation, etc. Specifically, the control unit 16
For example, the CPU 16a is composed of a one-chip microcomputer and communicates meter reading request data Dr and meter reading value data Da with the meter device 7;
an EEPROM 1 for storing the operation program a, the communication condition setting data DSP transmitted by the wireless master station 4b, etc.
6b and a built-in RAM 16c for temporarily storing both data Dr and Da during communication. The receiving unit 14 includes a PLL circuit for channel frequency oscillation,
The channel oscillation frequency and the intermittent time during intermittent reception are set by the CPU 16a. The DIP switch 19 corresponds to a storage unit in the present invention, and
Is used to set a station address suitable for each of the existing automatic meter reading systems in the slave station 5 at the time of expansion.

In the slave station 5, when the automatic meter reading system S1 is newly installed, communication conditions such as a transmission / reception frequency and an intermittent time for communication with the wireless master station 4b are set in the EEPROM 16.
b is stored in advance. For this reason, the slave station 5
Intermittent reception is performed according to the communication conditions stored in the ROM 16b. At this time, the CPU 16a shifts to the operation mode after maintaining the sleep mode for, for example, 15 seconds,
In the operation mode, the receiving unit 14 is activated, and it is determined whether or not the communication data Dcn output from the receiving unit 14 includes own station address data corresponding to the own station.
When it is determined that the own station address data is included, the CPU 16a shifts to the continuous operation mode, continuously operates the receiving unit 14, fetches request data included in the communication data Dcn, and receives the request data. A predetermined process corresponding to the data is executed.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the meter device 7 is disposed, for example, between the gas pipe 8 and a gas appliance (not shown), and generates and stores the meter reading value data Da according to the gas usage. It performs storage in the memory, transmission of the meter-reading value data Da to the slave station 5 when receiving the meter-reading request data Dr, and shutting off the gas valve when receiving the emergency shut-off request data.

Next, the overall operation of the automatic meter reading system S1 will be described.

First, at normal time, the CPU of the radio base station 4b
Step 15a determines whether or not the meter reading request data Dr has been received from the transmission device 4a. In this case, when the meter reading request data Dr is transmitted from the central collection device 1a of the head office 1 to the parent station 4 via the public line network 2, the transmission device 4a receives the meter reading request data Dr while receiving the meter reading request data Dr. The data Dr is sequentially output to the wireless master station 4b.

Next, the CPU 15a of the radio cell station 4b
When collecting the meter reading value data Da from all the slave stations 5, the communication data D is inserted by inserting the common address data and the meter reading request data Dr into the ID part and the data part, respectively.
cn is created and output to the transmission unit 13. Thereby, the communication data Dcn is transmitted via the antenna 11. In this case, the CPU 15a causes the transmission unit 13 to repeatedly transmit the communication data Dcn for at least 17 seconds so that all the slave stations 5 in the intermittent reception state can reliably receive the communication data Dcn. When a specific slave station 5 is to perform a process of collecting the meter reading value data Da,
The PU 15a creates the communication data Dcn by inserting the station address data of the slave station 5 and the meter reading request data Dr.

On the other hand, in the slave station 5, the CPU 16a
After passing through the sleep mode for two seconds, the operation mode is shifted to the operation mode to start the receiving unit 14, and when the communication data Dcn received by the receiving unit 14 includes the common address data or the own station address data, a message addressed to the own station is sent. Is determined. When it is determined that the message is addressed to the own station, the CPU 16a shifts to the continuous operation mode, continuously operates the receiving unit 14, and fetches the meter reading request data Dr included in the communication data Dcn to read the meter device 7. Send to

When detecting the input of the meter reading request data Dr, the meter device 7 transmits the meter reading value data stored in the built-in memory to the CPU 16 of the slave station 5 through the wired line 6.
output to a. At this time, the CPU 16a
Then, it is determined whether or not another station is communicating based on the received carrier level signal SC output from the fourth station. When it is determined that the communication is being performed, the reception carrier level signal SC is monitored until the communication is completed. When it is determined that communication is not being performed, the CPU 16a inserts the station address data of the master station 4 into the ID section, and inserts the own station address data and the meter reading value data Da into the data section to create the communication data Dcn. Output to the transmission unit 13. Thereby, the transmission unit 13
Transmits a radio signal modulated with the communication data Dcn to the master station 4.

On the other hand, in the master station 4, the receiving section 14 receives the radio signal and demodulates it into communication data Dcn, and then outputs the communication data Dcn to the CPU 15a. At this time, C
The PU 15a fetches the station address data and the meter reading value data Da of the slave station 5 from the data portion of the communication data Dcn, and transmits the fetched station address data and the meter reading value data Da to the transmission device 4a via the wired line 4c. . On the other hand, the other slave station 5 that has not transmitted the communication data Dcn transmits the communication data Dcn when it determines that communication with another station is not performed based on the received carrier level signal SC. For this reason, the CPU 15a of the wireless master station 4b sequentially receives the communication data Dcn transmitted by the slave stations 5 one after another,
In each case, the station address data of each slave station 5 and the meter reading value data Da are sequentially transmitted to the transmission device 4a via the wired line 4c. Next, the transmission device 4a transmits the station address data of each slave station 5 and the corresponding meter reading value data Da to the central collection device 1a via the public line network 2.

Subsequently, the central collection device 1a is connected to the transmission device 4
a while maintaining the line connection with the transmission device 4a.
By receiving the station address data and the meter-reading value data Da transmitted by the above, the meter-reading value data Da is collected from all the meter devices 7 connected to each slave station 5.

On the other hand, when the slave station 5 is added, the wireless master station 4b
It is necessary to add and store the communication condition relating to the slave station 5 to the communication condition data stored in the EEPROM 15b, and to store the communication condition data stored in the EEPROM 16b of the wireless master station 4b in the EEPROM 16b of the slave station 5. is there. In this case, first, the station address is set by the dip switch 19 in the added slave station 5. Thereby, the CPU 16a of the slave station 5 recognizes the own station address.

In this state, the CPU 15 of the wireless master station 4b
a executes the communication condition setting process shown in FIG. 6 in parallel with the normal communication process. In this process, the CPU 15a
It is determined whether the magnet M is approached and the reed relay 17 is controlled to be on for 5 seconds (step 21). In this case, by performing the communication condition setting process when the reed relay 17 is controlled to the ON state continuously for 5 seconds using the magnet M, erroneous execution of the communication condition setting process due to mischief or the like can be prevented. Is prevented. When the reed relay 17 is turned on, the CPU 15a
The communication condition setting data DSP is created based on various data on the communication conditions stored in M15b, and the transmission frequency of the transmission unit 13 is controlled to the frequency f2. Next, the CPU 15a outputs the communication condition setting data DSP to the transmitting unit 13, whereby the transmitting unit 13 transmits the communication condition setting data DSP to the slave station 5 on the transmission channel of the transmission frequency f2 (step 22). ). After this, CP
U15a causes the transmission unit 13 to repeatedly transmit the communication condition setting data DSP every two seconds for a maximum of three minutes,
Communication condition setting data D as reply data from slave station 5
It is determined whether or not the SC has been transmitted (step 24), and when three minutes have elapsed without receiving the communication condition setting data DSC, the process is terminated (step 23).

When the CPU 16a of the slave station 5 determines that the reed relay 17 has been turned on for 5 seconds using the magnet M (step 21), it executes a communication condition setting process. Communication condition setting data D shown in
Create SC. Even in the slave station 5, the communication condition setting process is performed when the reed relay 17 is controlled to the ON state continuously for 5 seconds by using the magnet M. Execution is prevented. In this case, the communication condition setting data DSC is composed of an identification code part for identifying that the data is communication condition setting data, and a station address data part indicating the station address of the slave station 5 set by the dip switch 19. . Also, C
After controlling the reception frequency of the reception unit 14 to the frequency f2, the PU 16a causes the reception unit 14 to maintain the continuous reception state.

Subsequently, the CPU 16a firstly sets the receiving unit 1
It is determined whether or not the wireless master station 4b is transmitting based on the received carrier level signal SC output from the base station 4. When the wireless master station 4b is transmitting, the CPU 16a receives the communication condition setting data DSP transmitted by the wireless master station 4b, and determines whether the received data is the communication condition setting data DSP based on the identification code. Is determined. When it is determined that the data is the communication condition setting data DSP, the CPU 16a
Outputs the communication condition setting data DSC to the transmitting unit 13 to cause the transmitting unit 13 to transmit the communication condition setting data DSC as reply data on the transmission channel of the transmission frequency f2. Next, when further reply data is transmitted from the wireless master station 4b, the transmission of the communication condition setting data DSC is stopped, and when the reply data from the wireless master station 4b is not received, the communication condition is transmitted to the transmitting unit 13. The transmission of the setting data DSC is repeated every 2 seconds for a maximum of 3 minutes.

The CPU 15a of the wireless master station 4b determines whether or not the received data output from the receiving unit 14 is the communication condition setting data DSC at the time of the above-mentioned communication, based on the identification code. If it is determined that the data is the communication condition setting data DSC (step 24), the reply data is transmitted to the slave station 5 as described above, and the communication condition data (station address data) in the communication condition setting data DSC is fetched. The communication condition is set by storing the data in the EEPROM 15b (step 25). Then, CPU1
5a flashes the LED 18 five times at 0.5 second intervals, for example, to notify the completion of the setting of the communication condition (step 26), and then ends this processing.

Similarly, when the CPU 16a of the slave station 5 determines that the data is the communication condition setting data DSP, the CPU 16a fetches various communication condition data in the communication condition setting data DSP and stores the data in the EEPROM 16b. Set. Next, the CPU 16a
Is flashed five times at intervals of 0.5 seconds, for example, to notify the completion of the setting of the communication condition, and then this processing is ended.
As a result, the communication conditions in both the wireless master station 4b and the added slave station 5 are automatically set.

As described above, according to the automatic meter reading system S1, since the wireless master station 4b and the added slave station 5 communicate communication condition data with each other, the communication conditions of both stations can be automatically determined very easily. Can be set. Also, when setting communication conditions, the return data as answer back data is communicated between the wireless master station 4b and the slave station 5 to thereby increase the reliability of setting the communication conditions. Further, when the radio base station 4b and the slave station 5 repeatedly transmit the communication condition setting data DSP and DSC for 3 minutes, respectively, and the radio wave propagation situation is instantaneously deteriorated, the radio base station 4b and The slave station 5 can reliably receive the communication condition setting data DSC and the communication condition setting data DSP. Further, since the LED 18 notifies the completion of the setting of the communication condition, it is possible to prevent the communication condition from being unset.

The present invention is not limited to the configuration shown in the above-described embodiment of the present invention. For example, the communication conditions for the automatic meter reading system according to the present invention are not limited to the types described in the embodiments of the present invention, and can be changed or added as appropriate. Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, an example in which the slave station 5 is added has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. By transmitting the communication condition setting data DSC to the wireless master station 4b, the existing slave station 5 can be wirelessly connected. It can also be deleted from the registration of the master station 4b. At this time, by transmitting to the wireless master station 4b communication condition setting data DSC in which an identification code for identifying the data as registration deletion data is added to the identification code portion, the wireless master station 4b is notified of its child. The registration of the station 5 can be deleted.

Further, the storage means of the slave station in the present invention comprises:
Not only the dip switch 19 but also various memories can be adopted, and the setting of the station address data of the slave station 5 can be performed at the time of factory shipment. In addition, the configurations of the transmission unit 13 and the reception unit 14 in the wireless master station 4b and the slave station 5 are not limited, and any known circuit can be adopted. Further, the operating frequency of the wireless line can be specified to an arbitrary frequency. Further, not only a wireless line using a single frequency but also a wireless line using a multi-channel access method can be constructed.

[0040]

As described above, according to the automatic meter reading system according to the first aspect, the master station and the slave station communicate the communication condition setting data with each other using the predetermined setting dedicated channel. By automatically setting the communication conditions, it is possible to extremely easily perform the communication condition setting work accompanying the extension of the slave station.

According to the automatic meter reading system according to the second aspect, when at least one of the master station and the slave station repeatedly transmits the communication condition setting data, the radio wave propagation situation is instantaneously deteriorated. However, the master station and slave stations can reliably receive the communication condition setting data,
Thereby, the communication condition setting operation can be reliably performed.

Further, according to the automatic meter reading system according to the third aspect, when the setting start operating means is operated continuously for a predetermined time, the master station and the slave station communicate the communication condition setting data with each other. This can prevent erroneous execution of the communication condition setting process due to an erroneous operation or the like.

Further, according to the automatic meter reading system of the fourth aspect, since the apparatus is provided with the magnetically responsive switch provided inside the apparatus main body of the slave station, it is possible to prevent mischief and to prevent outdoor use. A slave station that is likely to be arranged in the cradle can have a drip-proof structure or a waterproof structure.

According to the automatic meter reading system of the fifth aspect, at least one of the master station and the slave station is provided with a notifying means for notifying the completion of the setting of the communication condition, thereby preventing the communication condition from being unset. It is possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an automatic meter reading system S according to an embodiment of the present invention.
1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of FIG.

FIG. 2 is an automatic meter reading system S according to an embodiment of the present invention.
1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a wireless master station 4b in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an automatic meter reading system S according to an embodiment of the present invention.
1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a slave station 5 in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a data structure diagram of communication condition setting data DSP created by a wireless master station 4b.

FIG. 5 is a data structure diagram of communication condition setting data DSC created by a slave station 5;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a communication condition setting process performed by a wireless master station 4b.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 head office 2 public line network 4 master station 4a transmission device 4b wireless master station 5 slave station 6 wired line 7 meter device 15b, 16b EEPROM 17 read relay 18 LED 19 dip switch DSC, DSP communication condition setting data S1 automatic meter reading system

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Akira Koizumi 3967-1010 Wada, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture Toyo Keiki Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tsutomu Yagami 3967-1010 Wada, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture Toyo Keiki Co. 72) Inventor Hideki Motoyama 1163, Shimo-Iki, Inari-cho, Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture Inside Nagano Japan Radio Co., Ltd. BB01 BC02 CC07 DD02 GG01 GG08 5K048 BA36 DA02 DB01 DC01 DC07 EB06 HA01 HA02 5K101 KK12 LL01

Claims (5)

[Claims] A master station capable of communicating with a head office via a public telephone network, and a slave station configured to be capable of communicating with the master station via a wireless line in accordance with predetermined communication conditions. An automatic meter reading system comprising a meter device capable of communicating with the slave station, wherein the communication conditions can be set for the master station and the slave station. Storage means for configuring a part of the communication conditions and storing communication condition setting data set for each station, and setting start operation means, when the setting start operation means is operated, An automatic meter reading system, wherein the communication conditions are automatically set by communicating the communication condition setting data stored in each of the storage means with each other using a prescribed setting dedicated channel. 2. The automatic meter reading system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the master station and the slave station repeatedly transmits the communication condition setting data. 3. The master station and the slave station, respectively,
3. The automatic meter reading system according to claim 1, wherein the communication condition setting data is communicated with each other when the setting start operation means is continuously operated for a predetermined time. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least the setting start operation means of the slave station is provided with a magnetically responsive switch provided inside the apparatus main body of the slave station. 3. The automatic meter reading system according to any one of 3. 5. The automatic meter reading according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the master station and the slave station includes a notifying unit for notifying the completion of the setting of the communication condition. system.