JP2002063243A - Bidirectional notification system for electricity/gas/ water counting information and necessary information concerned with the counting information - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bidirectional notification system for electricity counting information, etc., producing an energy saving effect and necessary related information. SOLUTION: The system is constituted of users 11 of electricity or the like, a supplier 31 of electricity or the like and a service provider 41 arranged between the users 11 and the supplier 31 and capable of managing necessary information. Each user 11 is provided with terminal equipment 12 including a communication function and capable of totalizing the counting information of electricity or the like and displaying necessary information, the supplier 31 is provided with a data processor 36 for executing the I/O processing of various kinds of information and the service provider 41 is provided with a server 42 for unitarily managing necessary information to be transmitted/received between the terminal equipment 12 and the data processor 36 through a communication network 51. The server 42 individually notifies necessary information including the charging data of electricity or the like which are received from each user 11 to the supplier 31 and notifies various necessary information including a calculated charge to the user 11 as a proxy.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric / gas / water supply system in which necessary information including electricity / gas / water measurement information can be automatically transmitted and received between related parties while maintaining bidirectionality. The present invention relates to a two-way notification system for measurement information and related necessary information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, meter readers go to the site where meter reading meters of individual users are installed, visually check and check the usage amount of electricity, gas, and water, and record the usage amount for the current month. A system is adopted in which the amount corresponding to the amount is calculated, and the supply company charges each user as a usage fee.

[0003]

However, in the case of the above-mentioned conventional system, monthly meter reading must be performed by a man-made tactic of dispatching meter readers. There was a problem in that the ratio of labor costs to expenses was excessive.

[0004] Further, under the above-mentioned conventional system, the notification of the usage fee and other necessary information from the supplier to the user is also performed via offline means such as mailing. Not only is it costly to prepare the notice document and deliver it, but also it takes time until the notice is actually sent to the other party and lacks promptness.

[0005] Further, the user can easily visually check and confirm the daily use amount and the monthly use amount of electricity, gas, and water due to the relationship with the installation location of the meter reading meter. Since the situation was not met, there was a problem that wasteful use was often caused due to lack of awareness of energy saving.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems encountered in the conventional system, and enables a supplier to acquire necessary information such as billing data without a meter reader, and to raise energy saving consciousness for a user. Its purpose is to provide a two-way notification system of electricity, gas and water metering information and related necessary information, which has the convenience of saving water costs and also having the ability to exchange information in real time in both directions. There is.

[0007]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to achieve the above-mentioned object, and its structural features include a user of electricity, gas and water and an electricity and gas supply to the user. A supplier that supplies at least one of the water supplies;
It is composed of a service provider that manages necessary information by interposing between these users and a supplier, and each of the users uses measurement information on electricity, gas and water consumption as measurement information. At least a terminal device having a measurement information aggregation function for totaling, a communication function for transmitting and receiving necessary information including the measurement information to and from the outside, and a display function for displaying various related information; Each of the
At least a data processing device for input / output processing of various necessary information to be transmitted and received, the service provider,
At least a server that centrally manages related information including various necessary information to be transmitted and received between the terminal device and the data processing device via a communication network, wherein the server is provided for each user received from each terminal device. The necessary information including billing data corresponding to the amount of electricity, gas and water used is supplied to the supplier via the data processing device, and various types of billing data including usage fees calculated for each user based on the billing data are provided. The object of the present invention is to separately notify necessary information to individual users via the terminal device.

In this case, the terminal device can display a banner advertisement managed and operated by a service provider.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an outline of a system configuration according to the present invention. The entire system is composed of users including companies and individuals using electricity, gas and water. 11, a supplier 31 that supplies at least one of electricity, gas, and water (including water and sewage) to the user 11, and intervenes between the user 11 and the supplier 31. A service provider 41 is provided.

[0010] Of these, each of the users 11 has at least a terminal device 12 with a communication function formed so as to be able to measure the usage of electricity, gas and water and to display necessary information.

The terminal device 12 is provided with a weighing information totalizing function for totalizing weighing information received from a weighing meter 28 composed of a power meter, a water meter, and a gas meter installed on each user 11 side. Communication means 2 provided with a communication function for transmitting and receiving required information including measurement information to and from a service provider 41 via a server 42.
0 and display means 2 comprising an LCD or the like provided with a function of displaying necessary information such as billing information and other real-time information.
6 is formed.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram as an example of the terminal device 12. According to the figure, when each weighing meter 28 is an existing one, the usage data (numerical value or the like) displayed on the weighing meter 28 is captured as image data by the CCD camera 15 and the optical information recognition processor 16 Processor 17 and interface 1
4 and is taken into the weighing information totaling means 13 side and tallied as weighing information. In this case, the signal processor 17 and the interface 14 are directly connected by wire or wirelessly using a transmitter 18 and a receiver 19.

When each weighing meter 28 is of an electric distance measuring type, it is directly connected to the interface 14 via a signal processor 17 by wire, or a transmitter 18 is provided between the signal processor 17 and the interface 14.
And the receiver 19 are connected directly by wireless, so that it is taken into the weighing information totaling means 13 and is tallied as weighing information.

The display means 26 can display various necessary information. Necessary information in this case includes, in addition to the usage status of electricity, gas, and water, notification information individually issued from each supply company 31 to each user 11, and each user 11 Notification information issued separately to the address 31 and information from local governments (prefectures, municipalities) and local communities (such as neighborhood associations) can be displayed.

In this case, the following items can be cited as examples of display on the display means 26 regarding the usage status of electricity, gas and water. Daily usage status (usage, usage fee, hourly transition, relative to target) Monthly usage status (usage, usage fee, target ratio, previous month, previous month) Annual usage (cumulative usage) Note that the display items described above are merely examples, and a simple and useful combination of various necessary information is selected in consideration of the convenience of the user 11 when using the items. (Eg, monthly cumulative usage, monthly cumulative usage fee, etc.). Further, in addition to the numerical items as described above, the display means 26 is provided with a luminous body composed of, for example, an LED or the like that emits light for each color of green, yellow, and red, so that the usage status of electricity, gas, water, etc. May be displayed in a list.

In addition, the communication means 20 constituting the terminal device 12 is provided with a browser box 24 by interposing an expandable interface 21 so that a communication network such as the Internet can be used on a television 23 at home. In this way, the personal computer 22 can be used to connect to the Internet, or the e-mail terminal 25 can be used. In addition, the electric / gas /
By incorporating water supply control software and connecting to household appliances and gas products, it is also possible to automatically perform energy-saving operation according to usage conditions. Further, by connecting the terminal device 12 to a home television 23 via a connection terminal, it is possible to distribute a program by a cable television, for example, via an optical cable network. In addition, the display means 26 can use a home television or can be prepared as an independent dedicated device so that necessary information can be received wirelessly.

On the other hand, the supply company 31 manages and operates water supply, for example, a power company 32 that manages and operates power supply, a gas company 33 that manages and operates gas supply, and the like. And a sewerage operator 35 that manages and operates the sewerage.

Further, each of the supply companies 31 has at least a data processing device 36 such as a computer system for performing input / output processing of various information transmitted / received while being connected to a communication network 51 such as the Internet. I have.

The service provider 41 includes at least a server 42 for centrally managing necessary information to be transmitted and received between the terminal device 12 and the data processing device 36 via a communication network 51 such as the Internet. I have.

The server 42 is connected to each user 11
It is necessary to receive, via the communication unit 20, the measurement / aggregation information corresponding to the electricity / gas / water usage amount aggregated by the measurement information aggregation unit 13 of the terminal device 12 included in the terminal device 12, perform necessary processing, and include billing data. Data processing device 3 as information
The terminal device 1 sends various necessary information including the usage fee calculated based on the billing data to the supplier 31 via the terminal device 1.
The user can be separately notified to the user via the second display means 26.

That is, the service provider 41 uses the server 42 to respond to the usage of electricity, gas, and water transmitted from the terminal device 12 of each user 11 via the communication network 51. After performing the charging data distribution process, the data can be notified to the supplier 21 through the data processor 36 together with other necessary information.

Further, the service provider 41 uses the server 42 so that the user 11 sent from each supplier 31 through the data processor 36 can be used.
Various necessary information including different usage charges can be notified to the corresponding user 11 side on behalf of each user via the display means 26 of the terminal device 12.

In addition, the server 42 classifies various types of information to be transmitted and received and, for example, totals the amount of electricity, gas, and water used by each user 11 and classifies the totalized data. In addition to storing various other necessary information in a database, it can be used to provide energy saving information to the user 11, provide Internet provider services, and manage and operate banner advertisements. Functional can also be provided.

Since the present invention is configured in this way, each supplier 31 can control the electricity, gas,
By using the water usage amount from each terminal device 12 via the communication network 51 and the service provider 41, the billing data for each of the users 11 is classified into electricity, gas, and water by the data processing device 36. Can be obtained in real time via

[0025] For this reason, it is not necessary to send the meter reader to the user 11 side, which is conventionally required every month, so that the labor cost to be borne by the supplier 31 can be greatly reduced. Can be.

Moreover, since the individual supply companies 31 can notify the users 11 of the usage fee and other necessary information in real time via the communication network 51, the labor of mailing or the like can be omitted, and the amount can be reduced. Not only can the work cost be suppressed, but also the user 11 can quickly and thoroughly disseminate necessary information to the user 11.

On the other hand, each user 11 obtains various necessary information including a usage fee sent from the supplier 31 through the communication network 51 in real time via the display means 26 of the terminal device 12. can do.

Further, since each user 11 can construct a necessary communication system including the terminal equipment 12 at the burden of the supplier 31, no extra burden is imposed.

Further, each user 11 can easily view and confirm the necessary information such as the current energy consumption of electricity, gas, and water by using the display means 26 to easily view and confirm the energy saving information. Since the consciousness is aroused, the utility cost can be kept low, and as a result, it can be effectively contributed as a help to suppress the waste of resources.

Since the system according to the present invention is constructed via the communication network 51, for example, the sewerage optical fiber under the supervision of the Ministry of Construction, the optical fiber network owned by each company such as electric power, electric railways and roads, etc. And linking them together can help in building a high-speed, large-capacity Internet environment on a nationwide scale. In addition, the system according to the present invention can
If the elderly alone, the service provider 41 side
It can also be used effectively as a nursing care communication network for elderly people living alone, such as checking the daily usage of gas and water to check for abnormal situations. Furthermore, if a banner advertisement managed and operated by the service provider 41 can be displayed on the display means 26, the banner advertisement can be expanded to other businesses in other industries than the supplier 31. For example, the system according to the present invention can be provided with further extended functions.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, each of the supply companies has determined the amount of electricity, gas, and water used by each user according to the user, and classified into electricity, gas, and water. Since billing data can be obtained in real time, it is possible to eliminate the need for meter readers and to greatly reduce labor costs.

Furthermore, since each supplier can notify each user of the usage fee and other necessary information in real time, it is possible not only to save time and labor by mailing, but also to reduce the work cost. In addition, the user can quickly and thoroughly disseminate necessary information.

On the other hand, each user can obtain in real time various necessary information including the usage fee sent from the supplier, and establish a necessary communication system including terminal equipment on the supplier's side. Can be built at the expense of
There is no extra burden.

Further, each user can easily see and confirm the necessary information such as the energy saving information and the current consumption of electricity, gas and water on the display means constituting the terminal device. Since the energy-saving consciousness is always raised, it is possible to keep the utility costs low, and as a result, it is possible to effectively contribute to helping to suppress the waste of resources.

If the display means can display a banner advertisement or the like managed and operated by the service provider, the system of the present invention can be used by businesses of other industries besides the supplier. The use can be encouraged and further expanded functions can be given to expand the functions.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a system configuration example of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration example of a terminal device installed on a user side in the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 User 12 Terminal device 13 Measurement information totaling means 14 Interface 15 CCD camera 16 Optical information recognition processor 17 Signal processor 18 Transmitter 19 Receiver 20 Communication means 21 Interface 22 Personal computer 23 Television 24 Browser box 25 E-mail terminal 26 Display Means 28 Metering meter 31 Supply company 32 Electricity company 33 Gas company 34 Water supply company 35 Sewerage company 36 Data processing device 41 Service provider 42 Server 51 Communication network

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] August 22, 2000 (2008.2.
2)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claim 2

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04Q 9/00 311 H04Q 9/00 311H F term (Reference) 5B049 BB00 BB49 CC02 CC36 EE01 EE02 FF03 FF04 GG04 GG07 GG09 5B055 BB20 CB10 CC10 EE02 EE05 EE21 EE27 PA02 PA34 PA37 5K048 AA05 BA36 CA08 DA02 DB01 DC01 DC04 DC07 EA11 EB02 EB03 EB10 EB15 FB08 FB09 FC01 HA01 HA02 HA05 HA07 HA13 HA21 5K101 NN12 NN03 NN03 NN12 NN03 NN01 NN12 NN01 NN01 NN01 NN01 LL01 UU16

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A user of electricity, gas and water, a supplier for supplying at least one of electricity, gas and water to the user, and an intervening user between the user and the supplier. A service provider that manages the necessary information, and each of the users has a measurement information aggregation function that aggregates measurement information regarding electricity, gas, and water usage as measurement information,
A communication function of transmitting and receiving necessary information including the weighing information to and from the outside, and at least a terminal device having a display function of displaying various related information, each of the supply business operators, various types of transmission and reception At least a data processing device that performs input / output processing of the necessary information of the related information including the various necessary information to be transmitted and received between the terminal device and the data processing device via a communication network. At least a server that centrally manages the information, and the server supplies necessary information including billing data corresponding to the usage amount of electricity, gas, and water for each user received from each terminal device through the data processing device. Various necessary information including the usage fee calculated for each user based on the charging data is transmitted to each user via the terminal device. Bidirectional announcement system metering information and necessary information related to the electric, gas and water, characterized in that the notification to another, respectively each. 2. The server provided by the service provider,
2. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device can display a banner advertisement managed and operated by a service provider. 3.
Two-way notification system of water metering information and related necessary information.