JP2001197214A - Automatic reporting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily confirm what operation mode an automatic reporting device performing transmission to a centralized monitoring center is in, i.e., its operation state. SOLUTION: Relating to this automatic reporting device consisting of a transmitting and receiving part 7 performing data communication with the centralized monitor center 11 through a telephone line 9, an external interface 6 inputting a signal from an external device 10, a setter connecting part 5 connecting a setter 12 for setting and confirming various data, a bell detecting part 3 detecting an incoming bell, a slow polarity inversion detecting part 8 detecting the calling of a no-ringing service, a control 4 controlling them and a power supply 2, the control 4 is provided with a monitor 15 having a function that outputs a signal from the control 4 and displays what operation mode is set so as to be able to be confirmed by looking at the monitor 15 from the outside, and the monitor 15 is provided with a switch 16 which relays the connection between the power supply to the monitor 15 confirming an operation mode and the control 4 and can switch 'to display' or 'not to display' with on/off.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic notifying apparatus for automatically transmitting information on external devices such as electricity, gas, and water meters to a centralized monitoring center using a telephone line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an automatic reporting device is used by connecting to a telephone line, and controls a telephone line network and data transmission / reception under the control of a microcomputer.

[0003] A central monitoring center for collecting data of an external device such as a gas or water meter is installed at the other end of the telephone line.

[0004] The centralized monitoring center can select any of two types of ringing communication using a general line and no-ringing communication using a no-ringing service to call an arbitrary automatic notification device.

On the other hand, a centralized monitoring center can be called from an automatic reporting device.

The automatic reporting device can set a specific date and time at which information on the external device is periodically reported to the centralized monitoring center. There is a function to dial and report.

There is also a function of automatically performing a reporting operation by receiving a signal from the meter for emergency information from the meter.

For example, in the case of managing the remaining amount of gas,
The gas usage is integrated by the microcomputer built into the meter, and when the usage reaches the set usage, a signal is automatically output from the meter, and a dial is sent to the central monitoring center via an automatic notification device connected to the meter. And transmit information over the telephone line.

The operating state of the automatic notification device having these functions can be roughly divided into two states.

One is a state in which communication with an external device or a setting device is in operation or a communication operation with a centralized monitoring center (hereinafter referred to as an active state), and the other is a signal or line from the external device. A state in which only processing for monitoring an interrupt generated by a change in state, counting of a calendar or a clock, and processing for monitoring an interrupt generated when a calendar or a clock of a control unit reaches a specified date and time are performed (hereinafter, standby). There are two states. In this standby state, it operates with lower current consumption than in the start-up state, thereby saving power.
(See, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-60363)

[0011]

The above-mentioned automatic reporting device performs a communication test of the automatic reporting device at the time of installation work and confirms whether the automatic reporting device can be operated correctly.

In the confirmation work, it is not apparent from the appearance what kind of operation state the automatic notification device has shifted.

For example, the state of the automatic reporting device, such as whether the automatic reporting device has captured the line, whether communication has been completed, or whether the line has been released, cannot be determined from the appearance of the automatic reporting device.

As means for confirming the state, there are conventionally means for making a judgment by connecting a telephone line to a monitor device and listening to a communication sound with an ear, or measuring a voltage with a tester or the like. However, it is necessary to wear the tools used for the installation work and the setting device for setting data in the automatic notification device.

[0015] In addition, the setting place of the automatic notification device includes a high place where it is mounted on a ladder and a narrow place such as between walls, and it is desired that the construction work be performed as lightly as possible.

Further, since the capacitance of the line connecting the device for monitoring the telephone line to the telephone line increases, some terminal adapters sold in the market may not ring when an incoming call is received.

If the bell does not ring, the operation of the ringing communication, which is a communication system from the center, to which the automatic notification device confirms and responds to the bell signal may be hindered.

As described above, in the conventional automatic notification device, there is no means for easily confirming the operation mode without any trouble.

Also, when checking the existing automatic notifying device, there is no simple means for externally judging whether the automatic notifying device has failed or is operating normally. There were problems such as inefficiency.

[0020]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a transmitting / receiving section for performing data communication with a centralized monitoring center through a telephone line, an external interface section for inputting a signal from an external device, and A setting device connection section for connecting a setting device for setting and checking data;
In a bell detecting unit that detects an incoming call of a bell, a gentle polarity reversal detecting unit that detects a call of a no-ringing service, a control unit that controls these, and an automatic notification device that includes a power supply unit, A monitor unit having a function of outputting a signal from the control unit to indicate whether the operation mode is appropriate or not so that the display can be confirmed by appearance.

Further, the monitor section can be switched between "display" and "non-display" by ON / OFF by relaying the power supply to the monitor section for checking the operation mode and the connection with the control section. It had a switch part.

[0022]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As described above, in order to easily confirm the operation state of the automatic notification device, a control unit having a microcomputer for controlling the operation of the automatic notification device has any operation mode. Or, by having a monitor unit having a function of outputting a signal from the control unit and displaying it so that it can be visually confirmed, a port for outputting each operation state of the automatic notification device is assigned, and the output signal is Convert it so that it can be monitored on the monitor.

Further, by providing a switch section in the monitor section, the switch section is used separately during normal operation to reduce standby current consumption of the automatic notification device.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an automatic notification device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Reference numeral 1 denotes an automatic notification device, which has the following configuration.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a power supply unit that uses a battery such as a lithium battery as a power supply.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a bell detecting unit for detecting an incoming call of a bell.

A control unit 4 controls or processes the operation of the entire apparatus.
The microcomputer has a ROM in which a program for performing a predetermined operation is stored, a RAM in charge of storing data,
A built-in arithmetic processing unit that performs data processing, judgment, or control instructions is built in, and operates according to a program stored in the ROM.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a setting unit connection unit for connecting a setting unit 12 for setting and confirming data in the automatic notification device 1.

Reference numeral 6 denotes an external interface unit for inputting a signal from an external device 10 connected to the outside, for inputting a signal from the external device 10 such as a gas or water meter.

A transmission / reception unit 7 is connected to the centralized monitoring center 11 via the telephone line 9 and transmits and receives data. The transmission / reception unit 7 is connected to the centralized monitoring center 11 and the automatic reporting device 1 and then controlled by the control unit 4. Data is transmitted and received in a predetermined format.

Numeral 8 denotes a gentle polarity reversal detecting unit for detecting a call from the centralized monitoring center 11 by a no-ringing service.

Reference numeral 10 denotes an external device such as a gas or water meter.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a setting device for setting and confirming various data.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a sensor connection unit which connects the external sensor 14 and is further connected to the control unit 4 to relay a monitoring signal from the control unit 4 to the external sensor 14.

14 is an external sensor.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a monitor for checking the operation mode of the automatic notification device 1.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a switch unit for connecting and disconnecting the monitor unit 15 to and from the control unit 4 and the power supply unit 2.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described.

The automatic notification device 1 periodically includes an external device 1
A specific date and time can be set to report the information of 0, and when the specific date and time set by the built-in calendar and the clock of the control unit 4 reach the specific date and time, the central monitoring center 11 is automatically dialed and communication is performed through the telephone line 9. .

Also, in order to report a connection abnormality of the external device 10 or to report emergency information of the external device 10, the centralized monitoring center 11 is automatically dialed and communicated through the telephone line 9.

For example, when a gas meter is connected as an external device 10 to the automatic notification device 1 for managing the remaining amount of gas, the gas usage is integrated by a microcomputer built in the gas meter, and the set usage amount is calculated. Then, the meter automatically outputs a signal to the automatic notification device 1.

When receiving the signal from the meter, the automatic notification device 1 dials the centralized monitoring center 11 and transmits the information through the telephone line 9.

The centralized monitoring center 11 can select any one of two types of communication, a no-ringing communication using a no-ringing service and a ringing communication using a general line, and call an arbitrary automatic notification device 1.

To enable the operation according to the present invention and check the operation mode, the switch unit 16 is turned on.

When the switch section 16 is turned on, power is supplied to the monitor section 15 and the monitor section 15 is connected to the operation state output port of the microcomputer port of the control section 4.

Next, an output signal of the microcomputer port and a display example relating to the operation of the present invention will be described.

When the signal output from the port for outputting the operation mode of the automatic notification device 1 is "H", the LED is turned on, and when the signal is "L", the LED is turned off.

As a specific example, the output port 1 that outputs the status "active" outputs "H" in the standby state, and outputs "L" in the active state. The monitor unit 15 turns on the LED 1 during standby and turns off the LED 1 at startup.

Output port 2 for outputting information indicating that communication with the meter is in progress
Outputs "L" when not communicating with the meter, and outputs "H" during communication with the meter. The monitor unit 15 turns on the LED 2 during communication, and turns off the LED 2 when not communicating.

The output port 3 for outputting the signal during line capture outputs "L" when the line is not being captured, and outputs "H" when the line is being captured. Monitor 1
In step 5, the LED 3 is turned on while the line is being captured, and is turned off when the line is not being captured.

The output port 4 for outputting information indicating that communication with the centralized monitoring center 11 is in progress is output when the communication operation with the centralized monitoring center 11 is not in progress. Is output.

The monitor section 15 turns on the LED 4 during communication with the centralized monitoring center 11 and turns off the LED 4 when not communicating with the centralized monitoring center 11.
I do.

The output port 5 for outputting the retransmission waiting state outputs "H" while the retransmission is waiting, and outputs "L" when the retransmission is not waiting. The monitor unit 15 turns on the LED 5 while waiting for retransmission, and turns off the LED 5 when not waiting for retransmission.

Operation is confirmed and operation is started (resume).
During normal operation, the monitor unit 15 is separated from the power supply unit 2 and the microcomputer port of the control unit 4 by the switch unit 16 so as not to display the operation mode, thereby eliminating waste of standby current consumption.

The following is an example of the state of the automatic notification device 1 that can be determined from the lighting state of the LED.

[0058]

[0059]

According to the present invention, after the installation of the automatic notification device or when performing an operation test for maintenance, if the switch section to be displayed is turned on, the operation mode is switched to the LED indicating each operation mode. Lights up to indicate the operation mode of the automatic notification device, so that during the installation work and maintenance of the automatic notification device, the progress of operation and the timing at which problems occur can be monitored by the monitor unit,
It is also useful for investigating the cause of abnormal operation.

Further, by knowing that the automatic notification device is operating, it is possible to prevent an invalid operation from being performed during the operation of the automatic notification device.

In a normal operation, if the display is turned off by the switch unit, the current consumption in the monitor unit is eliminated, so that a useful automatic notification device that can be operated with the same low current consumption as before can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an automatic notification device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Power supply unit 3 Bell detection unit 4 Control unit 5 Setting unit connection unit 6 External interface unit 7 Transmission / reception unit 8 Slow polarity reversal detection unit 9 Telephone line 10 External device 11 Centralized monitoring center 12 Setting unit 13 Sensor connection unit 14 External sensor 15 Monitor Part 16 Switch part

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A transmitting / receiving unit (7) for performing data communication with a centralized monitoring center (11) via a telephone line (9), an external interface unit (6) for inputting a signal from an external device (10), and various data Setting unit connection unit (5) for connecting a setting unit (12) for setting and confirming, a bell detection unit (3) for detecting an incoming call of a bell, and a weak polarity reversal detection for detecting a ringing service call Department (8)
And a control unit (4) for controlling these, and an automatic notification device comprising a power supply unit (2), wherein the control unit (4)
An automatic notification device comprising a monitor unit (15) having a function of outputting a signal from the control unit (4) to indicate what operation mode is in and displaying the signal so that it can be visually confirmed. 2. The monitor section (15) relays the power supply to the monitor section (15) for confirming the operation mode and the connection between the control section (4) and "displays" or "does not display". 2. The automatic notification device according to claim 1, further comprising a switch unit that can be switched between ON and OFF.