JP2002312431A - Remote meter inspection business support system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote meter inspection business support system capable of measuring an amount of use of a plurality of kinds of objects to be supplied, calculating use charge, and realizing the demand and settlement of use charge in a unified manner. SOLUTION: This remote meter inspection business support system collects use charge in accordance with use amount of objects to be supplied such as electric power, gas, and tap water used by a user and is provided with a consumer meter inspection system 2 and a data collection management center 1. This consumer meter inspection system 2 has a means for measuring use amount of the objects to be supplied and transmitting the measured use amount information to the data collection management center 1 through a communication network. The data collection management center 1 is provided with a means for receiving the use amount information and calculating use charge, a means for preparing settlement information based on the calculated use charge and transmitting the settlement information to a settlement agency through the communication network, and a means for receiving settlement completion notice transmitted from the settlement agency and transmitting the settlement completion notice to the user through the communication network.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a meter reading service support system for meters installed in each customer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Electricity, gas, water and the like, which are lifelines (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as supplies), are charged for use according to the amount of use. In general, the amount of consumption is measured by a person in charge of a supplier that supplies electric power, gas, water, etc., measures a meter indicating the amount of consumption of the electric power or the like provided in a house or the like of a customer, that is, by reading a meter. Is done. For this reason, the measurement of the usage amount of electric power or the like, that is, the meter reading operation, imposes a great effort on the supplier.

On the other hand, a system for alleviating the labor and the like of such meter reading work is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-326792. In this system, a water meter is read and a water charge is calculated at a center. However, in this system, only processing relating to water supply is performed, and other processing such as other gas and electric power is not disclosed. Further, data is transmitted using an ISDN line, and is not an electronic mail. Further, no billing means and settlement means are disclosed.

[0004] Also, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-231687 discloses a remote meter reading device for measuring and transmitting the usage of electricity, gas, water, and the like. Also, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-
JP-A-113359 discloses a remote meter reading device for transmitting usage information such as water supply and gas by FM broadcast. However, these documents do not disclose the use of electronic mail, nor do they disclose usage fee billing and settlement means. In addition, it is disclosed that the system can be applied to usage amounts of water, gas, and the like, but a system for centrally managing them is not disclosed.

[0005]

As described above, the prior art has the following problems.

(1) Services such as meter reading, billing of usage fees, payment to a clearing house, payment by collection, etc., are duplicated for each type of supply, requiring a great deal of labor for practical processing. Was.

[0007] (2) The increase in the labor is reflected in the usage fee, and the burden on the user is also increased. In addition, the user has to pay separately to a plurality of suppliers, and the payment of the fee is complicated.

(3) Existing equipment must be changed so that a meter for measuring the amount of use can be remotely read, increasing the initial cost.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a remote meter reading service support system that measures the amount of use of a plurality of types of supplies, calculates the usage fee, and realizes the billing and settlement of the usage fee in a unified manner. And

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A remote meter reading service support system according to the present invention is a remote meter reading service support system for collecting a usage fee according to the amount of a user using a supply. At least a customer meter reading system and a data collection management center, wherein the customer meter reading system measures the amount of use of the supply and transmits the measured usage information to the data collection and management center via a communication network. Means for receiving, the data collection management center receives the usage information, means for calculating a usage fee, and creates payment information based on the calculated usage fee,
Means for transmitting the payment information to the payment institution via the communication network, receiving the payment completion notification transmitted from the payment institution, and transmitting the payment completion notification to the user via the communication network Transmission means.
This will allow us to measure the amount of supplies used, calculate usage fees,
Billing and settlement of usage fees can be realized centrally.

On the other hand, another remote meter reading service support system according to the present invention is a remote meter reading service support system in which a user collects a usage fee according to the amount of use of a plurality of types of supplies. A customer meter reading system and a data collection management center, the customer meter reading system measures the usage of each of a plurality of types of supplies, and sends usage information including the measured usage via a communication network. Means for transmitting to the data collection and management center, the data collection and management center comprising means for receiving the usage amount information and calculating a usage fee for each of a plurality of types of supplies. Thereby, it is possible to efficiently execute the meter reading operation particularly for a plurality of types of supplies.

In the above-mentioned system, the data collection and management center further includes means for transmitting an e-mail indicating a meter reading instruction, and the customer meter reading system indicates the meter reading instruction transmitted from the data collection and management center. The measurement of the used amount of the supply may be started in response to receiving the e-mail. With such a configuration, meter reading can be performed with a simple configuration using the electronic mail system.

[0013] Further, the customer meter reading system may transmit usage amount information to the data collection management center by e-mail.

Further, the measurement of the used amount in the customer meter reading system may be executed by an image pickup means for taking an image of a meter indicating the used amount and outputting it as image data. This makes it possible to measure the used amount without modifying the existing meter.

Further, the data collection and management center is provided with a conversion means for receiving the image data and converting the image data into numerical information indicating the usage based on the image data. Thus, the usage amount can be detected without manual intervention.

Further, the data collection and management center includes storage means for storing usage information for each user, and presentation means for appropriately presenting the usage information stored in the storage means to the user. You may. As a result, the past usage amount information can be presented to the user, so that it is possible to provide useful information for the user by comparing with the current usage amount.

On the other hand, a remote meter reading service supporting method according to the present invention is a remote meter reading service supporting method in which a user collects a usage fee according to the amount of use of a supply, and measures the usage of the supply. Transmitting the measured usage information via a communication network, receiving the usage information, calculating a usage fee, creating payment information based on the calculated usage fee, Transmitting payment information to a payment institution via the communication network; receiving a payment completion notification transmitted from the payment institution; and transmitting the payment completion notification to the user via the communication network. Transmitting. As a result, it is possible to unify the measurement of the usage amount of the supply, the calculation of the usage fee, the billing of the usage fee, and the settlement.

Another method of supporting a remote meter reading operation according to the present invention is a method of supporting a remote meter reading operation in which a user collects a usage fee according to the amount of use of a plurality of types of supplies. Measuring the usage of each of the supplies and transmitting usage information including the measured usage to the data collection and management center via a communication network; receiving the usage information and providing a plurality of types of supply Calculating the usage fee for each product. Thereby, it is possible to efficiently execute the meter reading operation particularly for a plurality of types of supplies.

[0019]

FIG. 1 shows a system configuration diagram of a remote meter reading service support system according to the present invention. This system includes a data collection management center 1, a customer meter reading system 2, a supplier system 3, a settlement institution system 4, and a communication network 5 in a broad sense.

The data collection and management center 1 collects usage information collected by the customer meter reading system 2, calculates a usage fee based on the usage information, and performs billing processing and settlement for each user. It has a function to execute the payment processing. A configuration example will be described later.

The customer meter reading system 2 is a system provided in a user's house, building, or the like that uses supplies such as electric power, gas, and water, and performs a basic process of measuring the amount of use of the supplies. Function. Here, the user has the power, gas,
Consumers of water supply and the like, including those who use the supply in factories and buildings, and individuals who use the supply in so-called homes. A configuration example will be described later.

The supply company system 3 is a system of a company that supplies supplies such as electric power, gas, and water, and in this system, receives and stores information on the amount of use of the supply and the usage fee. And so on. The system is configured by, for example, a computer system and includes communication means for transmitting and receiving information via the communication network 5.

The settlement institution system 4 is a system for receiving settlement information relating to the usage fee of the supply and executing settlement. Such clearing houses include banks and credit card companies. In this system, various settlement processes such as withdrawal of a bank account, payment by a credit card, and transfer to a bank can be performed in accordance with the needs of the user. The system includes, for example, a computer system, includes communication means for transmitting and receiving information via the communication network 5, and includes general settlement means.

The communication network 5 is a communication network such as the Internet, a public network, and a dedicated line.

Next, a configuration example of the data collection management center 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, the data collection management center 1 includes a control unit 11, a communication control unit 12, an input unit 13, a storage unit 14, and a display unit 15. These units are connected by a bus and are in a state where data and information can be exchanged. The control unit 11 includes, for example, a CPU (central control unit), an RO
M, RAM, etc., and have a function of implementing various processes based on the control program. Communication control unit 1
2 has a function of communicating with the customer meter reading system 2 and the like via the communication network 5. In particular, the communication control unit 12 includes an e-mail processing system for exchanging information with the customer meter reading system 2 by e-mail. The input unit 13 is an input unit such as a keyboard and a mouse, and the operator of the data collection management center 1 can perform various input processes with the input unit 13. The storage unit 14 includes a hard disk, a RAM,
And storage means for storing data and information in a readable state. The display unit 15 is a display unit including a liquid crystal display, a CRT, and the like, and having a function of displaying data and information to an operator of the data collection management center 1 and the like.

Next, an example of the configuration of the customer meter reading system 2 will be described with reference to FIG. The customer meter reading system 2 includes a control unit 21, an e-mail transmission / reception control unit 22, a power supply unit 23, a communication control unit 24, and a memory 25, and is used together with an imaging unit 26 for photographing various meters. These units are connected by a bus and are in a state where data and information can be exchanged.

The control unit 21 includes, for example, a CPU (central control unit), a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and has a function of implementing various processes based on a control program.
The e-mail transmission / reception control unit 22 starts the operation of measuring the usage in response to the reception of the e-mail, and executes processing such as transmitting the measured usage information attached to the e-mail. The power supply unit 23 supplies power to the system,
Power is also supplied to the imaging unit 26 and the like. The communication control unit 24 has a function of communicating with the customer meter reading system 2 and the like via the communication network 5. The memory 25 includes a hard disk, a RAM, and the like, has a function of storing various data, and has a function of, for example, temporarily storing information captured by the imaging unit 26. Imaging means 26
Is a means for photographing a display unit indicating the usage amount of the meter such as the power meter 101, the gas meter 101, and the water meter 102 and outputting the image as image data.
It is composed of a one-dimensional image sensor such as an IS or a two-dimensional image sensor.

Subsequently, using the flowchart of FIG.
The processing flow of the remote meter reading service support system according to the present invention will be described. In order for the user to receive the system, after installing the customer meter reading system,
Need to register meter reading. The meter reading registration, for example,
This is performed using an e-mail system. FIG. 5 shows a screen display example of the electronic mail. As shown in FIG. 5, information on the user's “name”, “address”, “telephone number”, “mail address”, “payment method”, and “target meter” is input and transmitted for meter reading registration. . Further, an initial value meter reading instruction is issued from the data collection and management center 1, and image data of the meter to be used, which is obtained by taking an image with the initial imaging device 26, is attached and transmitted to an e-mail. You need to make sure that it is correctly converted to. The input information is stored as a user file in the storage unit 14 of the data collection management center 1. With respect to the image data attached to the electronic mail, a meter value is read by pattern recognition using an image recognition technique, and is stored in the user file as an initial value. FIG. 6 shows an example of data of this user file. FIG.
The input information and the meter information are stored in association with each other as shown in FIG.

The data collection management center 1 sends a meter reading instruction to each customer meter reading system 2 by e-mail once a month on a predetermined day via the communication network 5 (S401). Specifically, in the data collection center 1, the control unit 11 operates according to the control program to store the storage unit 1.
Read out the e-mail transmission form stored in 4.
An e-mail is created based on the e-mail address information of each customer meter reading system 2 stored in advance. And
The electronic mail is transmitted by the communication control unit 12 to each customer meter reading system. FIG. 7 shows an example of an e-mail relating to the meter reading instruction. The e-mail is composed of a message "Please send meter reading data."

Next, the customer meter reading system 2 which has received the e-mail concerning the meter reading instruction,
The meters 100, 101, and 102 are photographed, and the photographed image data is attached to an e-mail and returned to the data collection management center 1 via the communication network 5 (S402). Specifically, the customer meter reading system 2 is set in a mail reception waiting state by the electronic mail transmission / reception control unit 22, and shifts to a photographing process when an electronic mail according to the meter reading instruction is received. In the photographing process, first, the power supply unit 2
By 3, power is supplied to the imaging means 26, the illumination is turned on, and the meter for measuring the usage is illuminated.
Then, the imaging unit 26 photographs the meter illuminated by the illumination and generates photographed image data. The photographing is executed for all types of meters registered in advance. The photographed image data is temporarily stored in the memory 25. The control unit 21 further reads the electronic mail related to the meter reading instruction from the memory 25, creates a reply mail,
The photographed image data stored in No. 5 is attached. Then, the reply mail is transmitted.

Next, the data collection and management system 1 receives an e-mail from each user with attached image data of the meter. Then, photographed image data is extracted from the e-mail, and the meter value is read as numerical data by pattern recognition using an image recognition technique. The read data is stored in the storage unit 14 of the data collection management system 1 as appropriate. FIG. 9 shows an example of stored data.
Shown in As shown in the figure, for each user, "User I
D "," meter reading date "," meter reading mail transmission date "," meter reading mail reply date "," power meter value "," gas meter value ",
“Water meter value”, “invoice issue date”, and “receipt issue date” are stored in association with each other. The parentheses of the meter values are the previous meter reading data. Therefore, the difference between the current meter value and the previous meter reading data value is the usage amount on which the current usage fee calculation is based.

The data collection and management system 1 calculates a usage fee based on the usage amount data and issues a bill for each user (S403). The calculation of the usage fee is executed according to a calculation algorithm obtained in advance from each supplier 3. The bill is issued to the clearing house and each user. This bill can be sent by mail, but in this system, the communication network 5
Via e-mail. FIG. 10 shows an example of an e-mail relating to a bill (payment information) transmitted to the clearing house. In this e-mail, the settlement method is account transfer, and the account number and account holder name for specifying the transfer source account, the company name of the transfer destination, and the transfer amount are specified. FIG. 11 shows an example of an e-mail concerning a bill transmitted to the user. In the email,
The total billed amount and its breakdown for January 2001 are specified. In the breakdown, the billing amount and the usage amount are specified for each supply such as electricity, gas, and water. FIG. 12 shows an example of a bill with a comment for the user. As shown in the figure, the invoice discloses the usage amount for the same month in the previous year in addition to the usage amount for the current month to be charged. A comment based on the result of comparing the usage amount of this month with the usage amount of the same month of the previous year is also disclosed.

[0033] The settlement institution that has received the invoice settles the usage fee using a settlement method designated in advance (S405). When the settlement is completed, the settlement institution transmits a completion notice to the data collection and management center 1 via the communication network 5 by e-mail or the like (S40).
6). The data collection management center 1 receives the completion notification and transmits the completion notification to each supplier company and each user by e-mail via the communication network 5 (S40).
7). FIG. 13 shows an example of an e-mail associated with the completion notification transmitted to the user. As shown in the figure, a transfer completion date (January 31, 2001), a transfer amount, a transfer destination, and a next transfer date are specified.

Here, the conventional system and the system of the present invention will be compared. FIG. 14 shows an outline of a processing flow in a conventional system, and FIG. 15 shows an outline of a processing flow in a remote meter reading service support system according to the present invention. In the figure, A, B... N indicate users. Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 14, each person in charge of each supplier goes directly to a meter for electric power, water, gas, or the like, and measures the meter, and reports the meter reading value to each supplier. In addition, each supplier has performed procedures such as payment and transfer to a bank designated by each user. In the present invention,
As shown in FIG. 15, information on the usage is acquired from each meter, and the usage information is transmitted to the data collection management center 1 as a service company via a communication network. Then, for each user, the usage fee for all supplies is settled in the designated account. Further, FIG.
As shown in the above, payment of the usage fee may be entrusted to a credit company. As a result, account settlement can be performed in a lump with the use of other credits, and the number of settlements with a settlement institution can be reduced, and commissions can be reduced. Along with this, a discount service for commissions is also possible.

The above-mentioned data collection management center 1
Since the power supply business 3-1 and the gas supply business 3-1 etc. perform the meter reading business and the settlement business for the usage amount, it is possible to collect the agency fee from the power supply business or the like.
The data collection and management center 1 is operated by the agency fee, and commissions with banks, credit companies and the like are set individually.

As described above, in the remote meter reading service support system according to the present invention, the usage amount of supplies related to lifelines such as electric power, gas, water supply and the like necessary for daily life is read from a remote place, and the metered data is read. Based on the above, the usage fee is calculated, the billing process is performed, and a series of business procedures for issuing a receipt after completion are collectively managed, so that the labor for meter reading and the like is greatly reduced for the supply company. Also, for the user, the trouble of the transfer and the like can be omitted, and the commission can be reduced. In addition, the data collection and management center accumulates usage data for each user so that when a receipt is issued,
Since the consumption result graph such as a monthly or previous year comparison can be shown to the user, it is possible to contribute to an increase in energy saving awareness.

In the above example, various programs installed in the storage means such as the data collection management center and the customer meter reading system can be stored in various types of storage media. Can be communicated via Here, examples of the storage medium include a flexible disk, a hard disk, a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD, and a ROM.
Includes cartridges, RAM memory cartridges with battery backup, flash memory cartridges, nonvolatile RAM cartridges, and the like. In addition, communication media include
It includes a wired communication medium such as a telephone line, a wireless communication medium such as a microwave line, and the like, and includes the Internet.

[0038]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a remote meter reading service support system that measures the usage amount of a plurality of types of supplies, calculates the usage fee, and realizes the charging and settlement of the usage fee in a unified manner. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a remote meter reading service support system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a data collection management center according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a customer meter reading system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the remote meter reading service support system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an electronic mail for meter reading registration according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of data of a user file according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an e-mail of a meter reading instruction according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an electronic mail of a meter reading result according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a data example of a meter reading data file according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an electronic mail of a bill to a clearing house according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an electronic mail of a bill to a user according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an electronic mail of a bill for a user according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an electronic mail of a receipt for a user according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a conventional flow.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a flow of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Data collection and management center 2 Customer meter reading system 3 Supplier 4 Settlement organization

──────────────────────────────────────────────────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 331 331Z

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A remote meter reading service support system for collecting a usage fee according to an amount of use of a supply by a user, the system including at least a customer meter reading system and a data collection management center, The customer meter reading system has means for measuring the usage of the supply and transmitting the measured usage information to the data collection and management center via a communication network. Means for receiving the amount information and calculating a usage fee; generating payment information based on the calculated usage fee; and transmitting the payment information to a payment institution via the communication network; Means for receiving a payment completion notification transmitted from an institution and transmitting the payment completion notification to the user via the communication network. 2. A remote meter reading service support system for collecting a usage fee according to the amount of a plurality of kinds of supplies used by a user, the system comprising a customer meter reading system and a data collection management center. The customer meter reading system has means for measuring the usage of each of a plurality of types of supplies and transmitting usage information including the measured usage to the data collection management center via a communication network. The data collection management center receives the usage amount information and calculates a usage fee for each of a plurality of types of supplies. 3. The data collection management center includes means for transmitting an e-mail indicating a meter reading instruction, and the customer meter reading system receives the e-mail indicating the meter reading instruction transmitted from the data collection management center. The remote meter reading service support system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the measurement of the amount of use of the supply is started in response. 4. The remote meter reading service support system according to claim 3, wherein the customer meter reading system transmits usage information to the data collection management center by electronic mail. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the measuring of the amount of use in the customer meter reading system is performed by an image pickup means for photographing a meter indicating the amount of use and outputting it as image data. Remote meter reading business support system described. 6. The remote control system according to claim 5, wherein said data collection management center includes a conversion means for receiving said image data and converting the image data into numerical information indicating a usage amount based on said image data. Meter reading business support system. 7. The data collection and management center includes storage means for storing usage information for each user, and presentation means for appropriately presenting the usage information stored in the storage means to the user. The remote meter reading service support system according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. 8. A remote meter reading service supporting method for collecting a usage fee according to the amount of use of a supply by a user, comprising: measuring the use of the supply; and transmitting the measured usage information to a communication network. Transmitting the data via the communication network, generating the payment information based on the calculated usage fee, and transmitting the payment information via the communication network. Transmitting the payment completion notification transmitted from the payment institution to the user, and transmitting the payment completion notification to the user via the communication network. Method. 9. A remote meter reading service support method in which a user collects a usage fee according to the amount of use of a plurality of types of supplies, wherein the usage amount of each of the plurality of types of supplies is measured and measured. Transmitting the usage information including the usage amount to the data collection management center via a communication network, and receiving the usage information and calculating a usage fee for each of a plurality of types of supplies. Remote meter reading support method.