JP2003240597A - Meter inspection system, gas related apparatus maintenance system, and gas leakage automatic inspection system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem of labor costs since personnel in charge has to visit customers' homes and inspect meters at the inspection of gas meters. <P>SOLUTION: A meter inspection system is provided with a gas meter 5, an information processing device 4 connected to the Internet 1, and a difference computing means 11 for computing the difference between a meter inspection value of the gas meter 5 reported to a supplier by a customer from the information processing device 4 over the Internet 1 and a meter inspection value or the gas meter 5 inspected by the supplier. The customer who has reported the meter inspection value of the gas meter 5 is given a reduced gas rate reduced by the difference computed by the difference computing means 11. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a meter reading system for metering gas consumption, a gas related equipment maintenance system for maintaining gas related equipment, and a gas leak automatic inspection system for gas leakage inspection. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Natural gas supplied from a natural gas conduit to each customer's house has been widely used as a fuel for gas appliances such as water heaters, gas stoves, and heaters. Natural gas is liquefied natural gas (Liquified natural gas).
liquefied natural gas is vaporized at an LNG base that stores ral gas), and the vaporized natural gas is regulated to a predetermined pressure and supplied to ordinary households and the like by a city gas pipeline network.

A gas supply company that supplies natural gas to homes or the like usually sends a meter-reading person to each customer's house, the meter-reading person measures the amount of natural gas used, and collects gas charges. . That is, the person in charge of meter reading measures the amount of natural gas supplied from the gas conduit by reading the meter reading value of the gas meter. And the person in charge of meter reading has also performed a money collection operation by using natural gas based on such a meter reading value.

A construction company that has a contract with a gas supply company inspects and replaces such gas meters.

In addition, regarding the installation, inspection, and replacement of the gas leak alarm device of the lease contract, the person in charge of the gas shop goes to the customer's home and performs the corresponding work.

[0006] Further, regarding the regular security patrol of the customer's gas equipment and inner pipes, the employees of the gas company mainly visit the customer's home to perform the corresponding work.

As described above, conventionally, a person in charge of meter reading visits the customer's home to read the gas meter, and a construction company who has a contract with a gas supply company visits the customer's home to inspect the gas meter. The gas shop staff visits the customer's home to install, inspect, and replace the gas leak alarm, and the gas company employee visits the customer's home to install the gas equipment and I went to the regular security patrol of the pipe.

[0008]

However, with the above-mentioned meter reading, inspection and replacement of the gas meter, installation, inspection and replacement of the gas leak alarm, regular security patrol of the inner pipe of the gas equipment, etc. Since the contact person needs to go to the customer's home to perform the contact point work,
Spending huge human rights costs. It is important to know the site by selling gas appliances, etc. and to interact with customers, as it can be used as a reference for future product development and new service provision. The number of customers staying at home during the day is increasing. There is a tendency for people to be reluctant to make a reservation for a visit by telephone or the like and make them wait until they are at home. In this way, even if the customer visits their home, the customer is often out of the office, which further increases the personnel cost for the contact work with the customer.

[0009] Further, it is technically possible to connect the gas meter and the gas supplier via a network and automatically perform meter reading of the gas meter. By connecting the gas supplier to the gas meter via a network and automatically reading the meter instead of having the person in charge of meter reading perform the meter reading, it is possible to save an increase in human rights costs for contact work with customers. become. However, it is necessary to connect a gas meter and a gas supplier through a network and to newly introduce a facility capable of automatically measuring a meter, which requires a huge facility cost. As described above, if the meter reading and the like are completely automated, enormous equipment costs are required.

That is, the person in charge is always in charge of contact work with the customer such as meter reading, inspection and replacement of gas meter, installation and inspection and replacement of gas leak alarm, and periodic security patrol of gas equipment inner pipe. There is a problem that enormous human rights costs are required because it is necessary to visit the customer's home.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is directed to inspection and replacement of meter readings and gas meters, installation, inspection and replacement of gas leak alarms, and installation of gas appliances without going to the customer's home. The purpose is to provide a meter reading system, a gas related equipment maintenance system, and a gas leak automatic inspection system that can perform contact work with customers such as regular safety inspection of pipes and do not incur enormous equipment costs. To do.

[0012]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a first invention (corresponding to claim 1) of the present invention is a gas meter, an information processing device connected to the Internet, and a customer performing the information processing. It is a meter reading system comprising a difference amount calculation means for calculating a difference amount between a meter reading value of the gas meter declared by a device to the supplier through the Internet and a meter reading value of the gas meter read by the supplier.

A second aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 2)
Is a plurality of types of meters, an information processing device connected to the Internet, and the predetermined supply of meter reading values of the plurality of types of meters that the customer has declared from the information processing device to a predetermined supplier through the Internet. The meter reading system is provided with a notification means for notifying a supplier other than the above person of the corresponding meter reading value.

A third aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 3)
Is a plurality of types of meters, an information processing device connected to the Internet, and a customer who has an address in the meter reading area, and a customer who has individually made a proxy contract with a predetermined supplier exists in the meter reading area. A meter reading value for each of a plurality of types of meters is reported from the information processing device to the predetermined supplier through the Internet, and a meter reading value for each of the plurality of types of meters other than the predetermined supplier is provided. In the meter reading system, which includes a notification unit that notifies the supplier of the corresponding meter reading value, and the meter reading values of the plurality of types of meters also include the meter reading values of the plurality of types of meters related to the customer's house. is there.

A fourth invention (corresponding to claim 4)
And a second means including a charging means for performing a charging process according to the notification when a supplier other than the predetermined supplier is notified of the meter reading value corresponding to the plurality of types of meters from the notification means. Or 3 is the meter reading system of the present invention.

The fifth invention (corresponding to claim 5)
Is a meter-reading system according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, in which, when the customer makes the declaration, the charge to be paid by the customer is discounted as compared with the case where the customer is charged without making the declaration.

A sixth aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 6)
Is a gas-related device maintenance system that can be inspected or replaced by a customer or an agent who contracts with the customer, the gas-related device being a device related to gas supplied from a supplier. .

A seventh aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 7)
Is the gas-related equipment maintenance system according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, wherein the gas-related equipment is a gas meter that measures the amount of the gas supplied.

The eighth aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 8)
Is the gas-related equipment maintenance system according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, wherein the gas-related equipment is a gas leak alarm for warning the gas leak of the supplied gas.

The ninth invention (corresponding to claim 9)
Is the gas-related equipment maintenance system according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, wherein the gas-related equipment is a gas using apparatus that uses the supplied gas.

The tenth aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 10) is the case where the gas-related equipment is inspected or replaced by the agent, and the gas-related equipment is inspected or replaced by the agent. The gas related device maintenance system according to any one of the sixth to tenth aspects of the present invention, wherein the gas charge of the gas is collected by the agent when the replacement is performed.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 11), when the agent is inspecting or replacing the gas-related equipment, the agent supplies newspaper, water, electricity, telephone, or television. It is a gas-related equipment maintenance system according to the tenth aspect of the present invention, wherein at least one or more reception fees are collected.

A twelfth aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 12) is an information processing apparatus connected to the Internet.
An information providing device that provides explanatory information for inspecting or replacing the gas-related device to the information processing device via the Internet, and when the gas-related device is inspected or replaced by the customer, the explanatory information Is a gas related equipment maintenance system according to any one of the sixth to ninth inventions, wherein the inspection or replacement is performed by being used by the customer.

A thirteenth aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 13) includes an information processing apparatus connected to the Internet,
A case in which the gas related equipment is inspected or replaced by the customer, which comprises a receiving device that receives information transmitted from the information processing apparatus through the Internet, and the gas related equipment is inspected or replaced. The registration or change of the information relating to the time point and / or the information identifying the gas related device is performed by being input to the information processing terminal by the customer and being received by the receiving device through the Internet. 9 is a gas-related equipment maintenance system according to any one of the present inventions.

The fourteenth aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 14) is an automatic gas leakage inspection system for automatically inspecting for gas leakage, in which a communication means for communication and gas are supplied. Gas supply control means for blocking or passing the gas supplied from the gas pipe of the supply source, and gas pressure measurement for measuring the gas pressure of the gas pipe of the supply destination, which is the gas pipe on the downstream side of the gas supply control means. When the communication means is instructed to inspect for gas leakage, the gas supply control means shuts off the gas from the gas pipe of the supply source, and the gas pressure measuring means, When the gas pressure of the gas pipe of the supply destination is measured, the communication unit notifies the information regarding the measured gas pressure, and when the communication unit is notified that there is no gas leakage, the gas supply The control means A gas leakage automatic inspection system for passing the gas from the source of the gas pipe.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 15), the communication means, the gas supply control means, and the gas pressure measuring means are incorporated in a gas meter.
4 is an automatic gas leak inspection system of the present invention of No. 4.

The 16th aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 16) is the automatic gas leakage inspection system according to the 14th aspect of the present invention, wherein the gas pipe of the supply destination is an inner pipe or a common inner pipe.

In the seventeenth aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 17), the gas leak automatic inspection system according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the gas meter is installed in a house.

In the eighteenth aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 18), the inspection for gas leakage is performed according to any one of the fourteenth to seventeenth aspects of the present invention, which is performed during a gas construction of the gas pipe of the supply source. It is an automatic gas leak inspection system.

[0030]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) First, the first embodiment will be described.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the meter reading system of the first embodiment. Further, FIG. 2 shows an explanatory diagram of the meter reading system according to the first embodiment. The meter reading system of the present embodiment is composed of the customer home 2 side and the management center 3 side.

The meter reading system of the first embodiment is provided with a gas pipe 8, a hot water supply / heater 6, a gas stove 7, and an information processing device 2 in a customer's house 2, and a web page providing means 9 in a management center 3. , A meter reading value database 10, a difference calculation means 11, and a bill preparation means 12.

The gas meter 5 is a means for measuring the amount of gas supplied from the gas pipe 8, and the gas hot water heater 6 and the gas stove 7 that use the gas supplied from the gas pipe 8.
Is connected to the gas pipe 8. Also, the information processing device 4
Is a device connectable to the Internet network 1 and is, for example, a personal computer.

The web page providing means 9 is means for providing a web page for inputting the meter reading value of the gas meter 5 to the information processing device 4 connected to the Internet network 1.

The meter-reading value database 10 stores the meter-reading value declared by the information processing device 4 by the customer 2a of the customer house 2 and the meter-reading value of the gas meter 5 read by the person in charge 3a of the management center 3 in each customer house 2. It is a database stored for each.

In the difference calculation means 11, the customer 2a uses the information processing device 4 through the Internet network 1 to manage the management center 3
It is a means for calculating the difference between the meter reading value of the gas meter declared in the above and the meter reading value of the gas meter read by the person in charge 3a of the management center 3.

The bill preparation means 12 is a means for preparing a bill for gas charges based on the meter reading result of the gas meter 5.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

Gas is supplied from the gas supply company to the customer's house 2 through the gas pipe 8. A gas meter 5 is attached to the entrance of the gas pipe 8 to the customer's home 2, and the gas pipe 8 is an inner pipe of the customer's home 2 at a portion closer to the customer's home 2 than the gutter of the customer's home 2. The gas meter 5 measures the amount of gas supplied to the customer's home 2. Gas related equipment such as a gas hot water heater 6 and a gas stove 7 is attached to the customer's home 2 side of the gas pipe 8, that is, at the end of the inner pipe, and the hot water supply operation is performed by using the supplied gas. It is also used to generate heat for cooking.

The customer of the customer premises 2 has previously entered into a contract with the management center 3 on the gas supply company side to perform meter reading of the gas meter 5 in advance.

Therefore, the customer 2a measures the gas meter 5 at the customer's house 2 once a month and reports it to the management center 3 using the information processing device 4. As described above, the customer 2a performs the meter reading of the gas meter 5 by himself / herself, so that the gas charge is discounted as compared with the case where the customer 2a itself does not perform the meter reading of the gas meter 5. In the meter-reading system of the present embodiment, the customer 2a himself performs the meter-reading work conventionally performed by the person in charge of meter-reading, so that human rights costs can be saved accordingly. A part of the saved human rights cost is returned to the customer 2a who has performed the meter reading by discounting the gas charge.

When the customer 2a performs the meter reading of the gas meter 5, the customer 2a first reads the meter reading value of the gas meter 5. Then, the web page providing means 9 of the management center 3
Access the web page provided by. That is, the web page providing unit 9 transmits the password input screen to the information processing device 4 when receiving the access request from the information processing device 4. The customer 2a inputs the password 13 given in advance from the management center 3 on the password input screen displayed on the information processing device 4. When confirming that the customer 2a has input the correct password 13, the web page providing means 9 transmits the web page 14 for inputting the meter reading value to the information processing device 4. In this way, when the web page providing means 9 receives the access request from the information processing device 4, it first transmits the password input screen to the information processing device 4, so that the meter reading value of the gas meter 5 of the customer 2a is incorrect. It is possible to prevent the person from being falsely declared.

The customer 2a is the customer No. provided on the web page 14. 15 and the meter reading value 16 are entered in the input fields of the customer 2a. 15 and the meter reading value of the gas meter 5 are input. Customer No. Reference numeral 15 is a number assigned by the management center 3 of the gas supply company to uniquely identify the customer's home. The meter reading value of the gas meter 5 is made into a database as a meter reading value database 10, and the meter reading value stored in the meter reading value database 10 is stored. It is the number used to create a gas bill from the value and is equivalent to the number used conventionally.

The customer 2a is the customer NO. If the wrong number is entered as the password 15, the web page providing means 9 determines that the customer No. It was detected that the customer 2a entered an incorrect number as 15, and the customer No. 15 inputs for customer 2a
Can be urged. That is, the meter reading value database 10 stores personal information such as the address, name, and telephone number of the customer 2a, the customer number of the customer 2a, and the password 13 of the customer 2a as customer information for each customer 2a. . Therefore, the web page providing means 9 refers to the customer information of the customer 2a to refer to the customer No. entered from the password 13. It is possible to determine whether 15 is the correct customer number.

Customer No. input from the information processing device 4 by the customer 2a. 15 and the meter reading value 16 are received by the web page providing means 9 of the management center 3 through the Internet network 1. The web page providing means 9 uses the customer number No. notified by the information processing device 4. The customer information of the customer 2a in the meter reading database 10 is specified by 15, and the sent meter reading 16 is additionally registered in the customer information of the customer 2a.

The bill preparation means 12 prepares a bill for this month based on the meter reading values stored in the meter reading database 10. Further, the bill preparation means 12 also records the amount of gas used in the same month of the previous year and the gas charge of the same month of the previous year as reference information in the invoice of this month as a service to the customer 2a.

The invoice created by the invoice creating means 12 is sent from the person in charge 3a of the management center to the customer premises 2 as shown in the invoice sending 17 in FIG.

As described above, in the meter reading system of the present embodiment, the meter 2 of the gas meter 5 is carried out by the customer 2a in the customer's house. Therefore, the human rights cost is higher than that in the conventional case where the person in charge of meter reading carries out the meter reading of the gas meter 5. Can be saved. Further, by returning the saved human rights cost to the customer 2a, it becomes possible to discount the gas charge of the customer 2a who has performed the meter reading of the gas meter 5 by himself.

By the way, the customer 2a of the customer house 2 mistakenly reads the meter reading value of the gas meter 5 when performing the meter reading of the gas meter 5 by himself / herself, or makes a mistake when inputting the meter reading value of the gas meter 5 into the information processing device 4. It is possible to enter a wrong number. If this happens,
An incorrect gas charge will be described in the gas charge invoice sent from the person in charge 3a of the management center 3 to the customer 2a of the customer house 2.

In order to avoid such a situation, the person in charge 3a of the management center 3 measures the gas meter 5 in the customer premises 2 at least once a year. And the person in charge 3a is the person in charge 3
The meter reading value of the gas meter 5 performed by a is stored in the meter reading database 10.

Then, the difference calculating means 11 stores the meter reading value of the gas meter 5 stored in the meter reading value database 10 declared by the customer 2a and the meter reading value of the gas meter 5 read by the person 3a in charge of the management center 3. And calculate the difference in gas charges.

The bill preparation means 12 prepares a bill in which the above difference is added to the gas charge. Then, the person in charge 3a sends an invoice to the customer 2a of the customer house 2 in which the gas charge with the difference added is described.

As described above, the person in charge 3a of the management center 3 performs the meter reading of the gas meter 5 at least once a year, and the difference calculation means 11 is managed by the customer 2a from the information processing device 4 via the Internet network 1. If the customer 2a mistakenly reads the meter reading value by calculating the difference between the meter reading value reported to the center 3 and the meter reading value of the gas meter 5 performed by the person in charge 3a of the management center 3, Even if the customer 2a registers an incorrect numerical value as the meter reading value of the gas meter 5 on the web page 14, the difference calculated by the difference calculating means 11 should be added to the gas charge once or more per year. This makes it possible to correct reading errors and input errors in the meter reading value of the gas meter 5 of the customer 2a.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, by providing the difference calculation means 11, even when the customer 2a declares an incorrect meter reading value, or when an incorrect numerical value is declared as the meter reading value, Since the gas charge can be corrected once or more per year, the customer 2a can be charged with a valid gas charge.

The information processing apparatus 4 of the present embodiment is
Although it is described as a personal computer, it may be a mobile phone that is connected to the Internet network 1 and has a function of transmitting / receiving electronic mail and browsing web pages.

Further, in this embodiment, the password 1
In the web page 14 displayed after the input of 3, the customer 2a displays the customer NO. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the web page providing means 9 displays the customer No. of the customer 2a on the web page 14 displayed after the customer 2a inputs the password 13. It is also possible to display 15. That is, in this case, the web page providing means 9 searches the meter reading value database 10 from the password 13 entered by the customer 2a, and the customer N of the customer 2a.
O. No. 15 is specified, and the specified customer NO. A web page displaying 15 may be provided to the information processing device 4 through the internet network 1.

Further, the invoice created by the invoice creating means 12 may be sent to the customer 2a by e-mail by a contract with the customer in advance, and the web page providing means 9 may be used by the customer 2a. It is also possible to create the web page described in the bill and provide it to the customer 2a as a web page.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment will be described.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the meter-reading system of the second embodiment. Further, FIG. 4 shows an explanatory view of the meter-reading system of the second embodiment. The meter reading system of the present embodiment is composed of the customer home 2 side and the management center 21 side.

The meter reading system according to the second embodiment has a gas meter 5, a water meter 5b, an electric meter 5c, a gas pipe 8, a hot water heater 6 and a gas stove 7 in a customer's house 2.
And an information processing device 2. The configuration of the customer home 2 side of the meter reading system of the second embodiment is similar to the configuration of the customer home 2 side of the meter reading system of the first embodiment, in addition to the amount of water used in the customer home 2. It is provided with a water meter 5b for measuring and an electric meter 5c for measuring the amount of electric power supplied from the electric power company and used in the customer house 2.

Further, in the meter reading system of the second embodiment, in the management center 21, the web page providing means 9, the meter reading value database 10, the difference calculation means 11, the bill preparation means 12, the notification means 22 and the charging. Means 23
Is equipped with.

The web page providing means 9 creates a web page for inputting the meter reading value of the gas meter 5, the meter reading value of the water meter 5b, and the meter reading value of the electric meter 5c to the information processing device 4 connected to the Internet network 1. It is a means for providing.

The meter reading value database 10 stores the meter reading value of the gas meter 5, the meter reading value of the water meter 5b, the meter reading value of the electric meter 5c, the meter reading value of the electric meter 5c, and the management center 3 registered by the customer 2a of the customer house 2. For each customer, the meter reading value of the gas meter 5 measured by the person in charge 3a, the meter reading value of the water meter 5b measured by the person in charge of the Waterworks Bureau, and the meter reading value of the electric meter 5c measured by the person in charge of the electric power company It is a database stored for each house 2.

In the difference calculation means 11, the customer 2a uses the information processing apparatus 4 through the Internet network 1 to manage the management center 3
It is a means for calculating the difference between the meter reading value of the gas meter declared in the above and the meter reading value of the gas meter read by the person in charge 3a of the management center 3.

The bill preparation means 12 is means for preparing a bill for the gas charge using the calculation result of the difference calculation means 11 based on the meter reading result of the gas meter 5.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

Gas is supplied from the gas supply company to the customer house 2 through the gas pipe 8. A gas meter 5 is attached to the entrance of the gas pipe 8 to the customer's home 2, and the gas pipe 8 is an inner pipe of the customer's home 2 at a portion closer to the customer's home 2 than the gutter of the customer's home 2. The gas meter 5 measures the amount of gas supplied to the customer's home 2. Gas related equipment such as a gas hot water heater 6 and a gas stove 7 is attached to the customer's home 2 side of the gas pipe 8, that is, at the end of the inner pipe, and the hot water supply operation is performed by using the supplied gas. It is also used to generate heat for cooking.

The customer 2a of the customer house 2 has a management center 3 on the side of the gas supply company and a gas meter 5
A contract for the meter reading of the water meter 5b and the electric meter 5c is pre-established.

Therefore, the customer 2a measures the gas meter 5, the water meter 5b, and the electric meter 5c at the customer's house 2 once a month and reports it to the management center 3 using the information processing device 4. In this way, the customer 2a performs the meter reading of the gas meter 5, the water meter 5b, and the electric meter 5c by himself, compared to the case where the customer 2a himself does not perform the meter reading of the gas meter 5, the water meter 5b, and the electric meter 5c. Gas, water, and electricity charges are discounted respectively. In the meter-reading system of the present embodiment, the customer 2a himself performs these meter-reading operations, which were conventionally performed by the person in charge of meter-reading, so that human rights costs can be saved accordingly. A part of the saved human rights cost is returned to the customer 2a who has performed the meter reading by discounting the gas charge, the water charge, and the electricity charge.

Customer 2a has gas meter 5 and water meter 5
b, when performing meter reading of the electric meter 5c, first, the customer 2a
Is a gas meter 5, a water meter 5b, and an electric meter 5
Read the meter reading value of c. Then, the information processing device 4 is operated to access the web page provided by the web page providing means 9 of the management center 3.

Then, similar to the first embodiment, the information processing device 4 displays the web page 24 shown in FIG. 4 provided by the web page providing means 9.

The customer 2a is the customer No. provided on the web page 24. 15 and gas meter reading value 16 input fields, electricity meter reading value 25 input fields, and water meter reading value 26 input fields, respectively. 15, the meter reading value of the gas meter 5, the meter reading value of the water meter 5b, and the meter reading value of the electric meter 5c are input.

Customer No. entered from the information processing device 4 by the customer 2a. 15, the meter reading value 16 of gas, the meter reading value 25 of electricity, and the meter reading value 26 of water supply, through the Internet network 1, the web page providing means 9 of the management center 3.
Will be received at. The web page providing means 9 uses the customer number No. notified by the information processing device 4. The customer information of the customer 2a in the meter reading value database 10 is specified by 15, and the sent gas meter reading value 16, electric meter reading value 25, and water meter reading value 26 are additionally registered in the customer information of the customer 2a.
That is, similar to the first embodiment, the meter reading value database 10 stores personal information such as the address, name, and telephone number of the customer 2a, the customer number of the customer 2a, and the password 13 of the customer 2a as customer information. It is stored for each customer 2a, and the gas meter reading value 16, electricity meter reading value 25, and water meter reading value 25 of the customer 2a are also registered.

The bill preparing means 12 prepares a bill for this month based on the meter reading values stored in the meter reading database 10. Further, the bill preparation means 12 also records the amount of gas used in the same month of the previous year and the gas charge of the same month of the previous year as reference information in the invoice of this month as a service to the customer 2a.

The invoice created by the invoice creating means 12 is sent from the person in charge 3a of the management center to the customer premises 2 as shown in the invoice sending 17 in FIG.

As described above, in the meter reading system according to the present embodiment, the customer 2a in the customer's house performs the meter reading of the gas meter 5, the water meter 5b, and the electric meter 5c. It becomes possible to save human rights costs as compared with the case of performing. Further, by returning the saved human rights cost to the customer 2a, it becomes possible to discount the gas fee of the customer 2a who has performed the meter reading by himself.

Further, the operation of the difference calculation means 11 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and therefore its explanation is omitted.

On the other hand, from the information processing device 4 to the web page providing means 9 through the Internet network 1, the customer N
O. The gas meter reading value 16, the electricity meter reading value 25, and the water meter reading value 26 sent together with 15 were stored in the meter reading value database 10 as described above. That is,
As described above, the meter reading value database 10 includes the customer 2a.
Personal information such as the address, name, and telephone number of the customer, the customer number of the customer 2a, and the password 13 of the customer 2a are stored as customer information for each customer 2a.
The gas meter reading value 16 of a, the electricity meter reading value 25, and the water meter reading value 26 are also registered as customer information.

The notification means 22 uses the meter reading value database 10
In the customer information stored in, the meter reading value 25 other than the gas meter reading value 16 is the electricity meter reading value 25 and the water meter reading value 2
6 is notified to the electric power company 27 and the waterworks 29, respectively.

That is, the notifying means 22 notifies the electric power company 27 of the meter reading value 25 of electricity and the waterworks station 29 of the meter reading value 26 of the water through the private line or the Internet network 1.

When the notifying means 22 notifies the electric power company 27 or the water station 29 of the corresponding meter reading value as described above, the charging means 23 notifies the electric power company 27 and the water station 29 of
A billing process for performing the corresponding meter reading work is performed.

Therefore, the electric power company 27 and the water supply station 29 charge the fee charged by the charging means 23 to the management center 21.
By paying to the customer, it becomes possible to acquire the meter reading result without sending the person in charge to the customer premises 2 and performing the meter reading work. In this way, the notification means 22 of the management center 21 sends the electricity meter reading value 25 to the electric power company 27 and the waterworks 29.
Since the electricity meter 27 and the water meter reading value 26 are notified, the electric power company 27 and the water station 29 do not have to send the person in charge to the customer premises 2 by themselves, and human rights costs can be saved. The human rights cost thus saved can be returned to the customer 2a of the customer house 2 by discounting not only the gas charge but also the water charge and the electricity charge.

The difference calculation means 11 of the present embodiment
Indicates that the customer 2a is from the information processing device 4 to the internet 1
It is described that the difference between the meter reading value of the gas meter declared to the management center 3 and the gas meter reading value of the gas meter read by the person in charge 3a of the management center 3 is calculated through the above, but the present invention is not limited to this. The difference calculation means 11 calculates the difference between the meter reading value of the water meter 5b reported by the customer 2a from the information processing device 4 to the management center 3 through the Internet network 1 and the meter reading value of the water meter 5b measured by the person in charge of the water station 29. You can calculate it. It is also a difference means. In addition, the difference calculation means 11 reads the meter reading value of the electric meter 5c that the customer 2a has declared from the information processing device 4 to the management center 3 through the Internet network 1 by the customer 2a and the meter reading of the electric meter 5c that the person in charge of the power company 27 has read. The difference from the value may be calculated. In these cases, the invoice preparation means 12 determines not only the gas charge based on the calculation result of the difference calculation means 11,
You may create invoices for water and electricity bills. Therefore, in this case, the water charge and the electricity charge can be corrected once a year in the same manner as the gas charge, so that it is possible to prevent miscollection of the charge due to an input error or a meter reading error of the customer 2a. become.

Further, the invoice created by the invoice creating means 12 may be sent to the customer 2a by e-mail by a contract with the customer in advance, and the web page providing means 9 may send the invoice to the customer 2a. It is also possible to create the web page described in the bill and provide it to the customer 2a as a web page.

In the present embodiment, the bill preparation means 12 is based on the meter reading value of gas stored in the meter reading value database 10, the gas meter reading value 16, the electric meter reading value 25, and the water meter reading value. In the above description, a bill for each meter reading value is created, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is,
Only the meter-reading work is performed by the meter-reading system of this embodiment, the bill preparation means 12 prepares a bill only for gas, and the electric power company and the water bureau make their own customers based on the corresponding meter-reading values. You may charge the price.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment will be described.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the meter-reading system of the third embodiment. That is, the configuration of the meter reading system of the third embodiment is similar to that of the second embodiment. Further, FIG. 5 shows an explanatory view of the meter-reading system of the third embodiment. The meter reading system of the present embodiment is composed of the customer premises 2 side and the management center 21 side, and since these are the same as those in the second embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with a focus on the differences from the second embodiment.

In the third embodiment, the customer 2 of the customer home 2
a has a contract with the management center 21 of the gas supply company in advance, and the gas meter 5 in a predetermined area including the address of the customer 2a.
The customer 2a collectively performs the meter reading, the water meter 5b meter, and the electric meter 5c meter reading. Note that the predetermined area including the address of the customer 2a corresponds to, for example, a town in which single-family houses are lined up, and one area of a multi-family house in a region where multi-family houses are lined up. Equivalent to. For example, regarding the water charge, 1
A form of meter reading as a collective housing of a building and paying water charges collectively as a collective house, and a form of meter reading for each individual house of a collective house and paying water charges individually for each house And exist. Therefore, when the customer's house 2 of the customer 2a is a collective housing as the predetermined area including the address of the customer 2a, the predetermined area including the address of the customer 2a is set as one collective housing, thereby There is no conflict with the payment form.

The customer 2a of the customer house 2 performs the meter reading of the gas meter 5, the water meter 5b, and the electric meter 5c in the above-mentioned predetermined area once a month. Then, the customer 2a reports these meter reading values from the information processing device 4 to the management center 21 through the Internet network 1.

That is, as in the second embodiment, when the customer 2a inputs the password 13 from the information processing device 4, the web page providing means 9 makes the web page 24
A plurality of web pages such as a, 24b, ... Are provided. These plural web pages are web pages for inputting the meter reading value of the gas meter 5 of each house existing in a predetermined area including the address of the customer 2a, the meter reading value of the water meter 5b, and the meter reading value of the electric meter 5c. .

For example, the web page 24a is a web page for inputting the meter reading value of a house in a predetermined area including the address of the customer 2a. The customer 2a is a customer N of the customers registered as the representative of the house on the web page 24a.
O. Enter 15 and read the meter reading of gas in the house 1
6. Input meter reading value 25 for electricity and meter reading value 26 for water supply. In this way, the customer 2a successively inputs the meter reading value of each door in the predetermined area including the address of the customer 2a from the information processing device 4 in the customer home 2.

The meter reading value of each house thus inputted from the information processing device 4 is received by the web page providing means 9 through the Internet network 1 and registered in the meter reading value database 10 as customer information of each house. It For customer information, refer to the first embodiment and the second embodiment.
It is similar to that described in the embodiment.

The operations of the notification means 22 and the charging means 23 are the same as those in the second embodiment, and the electric power company 27 and the water station 2 are operated.
9 is also notified of the corresponding meter reading value performed by the customer 2a.

As described above, in the meter reading system of this embodiment, unlike the second embodiment, the customer 2a performs the meter reading of each door existing in a predetermined area including the address of the customer 2a. As described above, the customer 2a who is familiar with the meter reading work performs the meter reading work on behalf of
The management center 21 can collect an accurate meter reading value by a predetermined date, because an elderly person or a customer who is not accustomed to operating the information processing device 4 does not need to perform the meter reading operation by himself. Note that other operations are the same as those in the second embodiment, so description thereof will be omitted.

(Fourth Embodiment) Next, a fourth embodiment will be described.

FIG. 6 shows the meter-reading system of this embodiment. Further, FIG. 7 shows an explanatory view of the meter reading system of the present embodiment.

In addition to the meter reading system of the first embodiment, the meter reading system of the present embodiment is such that the customer 43a himself also inspects and replaces the gas meter 5 and the gas alarm device 45.

The configuration of the customer's home 43 side of the meter reading system of this embodiment has a gas alarm 45 in addition to the configuration of the customer's home 2 of the meter reading system described in the first embodiment.

The gas alarm device 45 is a device for alerting the customer 43a by sounding an alarm when the gas leaks in the customer's home 43.

In addition, in the meter reading system of this embodiment, the configuration on the side of the management center 44 is the same as the configuration of the management center 3 of the meter reading system described in the first embodiment, plus the explanation information 46 and the gas-related equipment. The database 47 is provided.

The explanation information 46 is a web page for explaining a method of inspection or replacement when the customer 43a inspects or replaces the gas meter 5 or the gas alarm device 45.

Further, the gas-related equipment database 47 is
It is a database of gas-related devices such as the gas meter 5 and the gas alarm device 45, and is a database including device numbers that specify these devices and information regarding the date when these devices were replaced.

Since the other points are the same as those in the first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

As in the case of the first embodiment, the customer 43a of the customer home 43 performs the meter reading of the gas meter 5 once a month by himself,
The information processing device 4 reports to the management center 44 through the Internet network 1.

Further, once a year, a person in charge is dispatched from the management center 44 to read the gas meter 5 on behalf of the customer 43a.

These operations have been described in detail in the first embodiment.

Normally, the gas meter 5 is required by law to be replaced once every 10 years, and the gas supply company voluntarily inspects it regularly.

Therefore, it is assumed that the customer 43a of the customer house 43 has a contract with the management center 44 of the gas supply company for the inspection and replacement of the gas meter 5 in advance.

When the gas meter 5 is inspected or replaced, the management center 44 notifies the customer's home 43 by mail that the gas meter 5 will be inspected or replaced.

When the customer 43a receives the above notification from the management center 43, the information processing apparatus 4 accesses the web page provided by the web page providing means 9 of the management center 44. When the web page providing means 9 can confirm that the password 13 input by the customer 43a is valid, as in the first embodiment,
The web page providing means 9 sends the gas meter 5 to the customer 43a.
The explanation information 46 which is a web page for explaining the replacement method is provided to the information processing device 4 through the Internet network 1. The customer 43a of the customer home 43 performs the replacement work of the gas meter 5 according to the explanation information 46 displayed on the information processing device 4.

Next, when the information processing device 4 notifies the customer 43a that the replacement work of the gas meter 5 is completed, the web page providing means 9 provides the web page 48 shown in FIG. Web page 48 is gas meter 5
This is a web page for replacing the customer ID.
15, meter reading value 16, gas meter replacement date 62, which is the date when the gas meter 5 was replaced, gas meter NO. Four
9, an input field for inputting a new meter reading value 50 and an old meter reading value 51 is provided.

Customer No. 15 is the same as that described in the first embodiment, and is information for identifying the customer 43a of the customer home 43. The meter reading value 16 is a meter reading value of the gas meter 5 read by the customer 43a when the gas meter 5 is also read at the same time when the gas meter 5 is replaced. Gas meter replacement date 62 is gas meter 5
It is the date when the replacement was made. Gas meter NO. 49
Is a number for identifying the replaced gas meter 5. The old meter reading value 51 and the new meter reading value 50 are respectively
The meter reading value of the gas meter 5 immediately before being replaced and the meter reading value of the gas meter 5 immediately after being replaced, and when the gas charge is calculated by the difference calculation means 11 and the bill preparation means 12, the new meter reading value 50 and the old meter reading value. This is information for calibrating the amount of gas used according to 51.

At the time when the replacement work of the gas meter 5 is completed, the customer 43a becomes the customer NO. 15, meter reading value 16,
Gas meter replacement date 62, gas meter NO. 49, the new meter reading value 50, and the old meter reading value 51 are input by operating the information processing apparatus 4.

These pieces of information are transmitted from the information processing device 4 to the web page providing means 9 through the internet network 1. When the web page providing means 9 receives the information, the gas related equipment database 47 and the meter reading database. Store in 10.

That is, regarding the meter reading value 16 among these pieces of information, the web page providing means 9 determines the customer number as in the case of the first embodiment. It is registered in the meter reading value database 10 as customer information corresponding to 15. In addition, the web page providing means 9 selects the gas meter replacement date 62, the meter NO. 49, the new meter reading value 50, and the old meter reading value 51. It is registered in the gas-related equipment database 47 in association with 15. That is, in the gas-related equipment database 47, the customer NO. 15, the gas meter replacement date 62, and the gas NO. 49, new meter reading 5
0 and the old meter reading value 51 are associated and registered as customer information. Therefore, the difference calculation means 11 and the bill preparation means 1
In addition to the operation in the first embodiment, 2 also includes the customer information stored in the above-mentioned gas-related equipment database 47 when the period for calculating the gas charge includes the time when the gas meter 5 is replaced. Calculate gas charges by reference. By doing so, even when the period for calculating the gas charge includes the time when the gas meter 5 is replaced, the gas charge can be calculated accurately, and as described in the first embodiment. In addition, once a year, a person in charge of the management center 21 performs meter reading of the gas meter 5 to
Even when the customer 43a of No. 3 inputs an incorrect numerical value into the web page 48, or when the meter reading of the gas meter 5 is made and a reading error of the meter reading value is made, the gas charge can be corrected correctly.

Although the case where the gas meter 5 is replaced has been described in the present embodiment, the case where the gas meter 5 is regularly inspected can be performed in the same manner as in the present embodiment. In this case, the work of replacing the battery of the gas meter 5 at the time of the periodic inspection of the gas meter 5 and the work of adjusting the time of the clock if the gas meter 5 has a built-in clock are included. It is possible for the customer 48a to perform such work in the same manner as described above.

The gas alarm device is also required by law to be replaced once every five years, so the gas alarm device 45
Alternatively, the customer 43a can carry out regular inspections of the hot water supply / heater 6, the gas stove 7, and the like, and when these devices are leased products, the replacement work of these devices can be performed on their behalf.

In the present embodiment, the management center 4
Although it has been described that the inspection or replacement of the gas meter 5 from 4 is notified to the customer home 43 by mail, the present invention is not limited to this, and the management center 43 may notify the customer 43a by e-mail. (Fifth Embodiment) Next, a fifth embodiment will be described.

FIG. 6 shows a meter reading system of the fifth embodiment. The configuration of the meter reading system of the fifth embodiment is the fourth
It has the same configuration as the meter reading system of the embodiment. Further, FIG. 8 shows an explanatory view of the meter reading system of the fifth embodiment.

The configuration of the meter-reading system of the fifth embodiment is similar to that of the meter-reading system of the fourth embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

In the fourth embodiment, the customer 43a of the customer home 43 inspects or replaces the gas meter 5, the gas alarm 45, the hot water heater 6 and the gas stove 7, but the customer 43a of the customer home 43. Is an elderly person, a customer who is unfamiliar with the operation of the information processing device 4, or the gas meter 5
There may be customers who are not handling gas related equipment such as. In such a case, the customer 43 of the customer home 43
It is sufficient for a to conclude an agency contract with the agency 43b in FIG. 8 and entrust these tasks to the agency.

As described above, in this embodiment, the work performed by the customer 43a in the fourth embodiment is performed by the agency 43b.
, And the agency 43b acts on their behalf.

Although the agency 43b acts on behalf of the customer 43a of the fourth embodiment, it usually concludes an agency contract with a plurality of customers 43a. In this way the agency 43b
When an agent contracts with a plurality of customers 43b and the customer 43a acts on behalf of the fourth embodiment, the agent 43b goes to the customer's house 43 to act on behalf of them. In addition, for customers who have not completed bank transfer procedures, they will also collect gas, water, newspaper, electricity, telephone, and TV reception fees. As described above, in the present embodiment, the agency 43b contracts with the customer 43a to perform the work performed by the customer 43a in the fourth embodiment. Even if it is a customer who is unfamiliar with the operation of the information processing apparatus 4 or a customer who is not handling gas-related equipment such as the gas meter 5, it is possible to easily inspect and replace the gas-related equipment. I can.

(Sixth Embodiment) Next, a sixth embodiment will be described.

FIG. 9 shows the configuration of the automatic gas leakage inspection system of this embodiment.

In the automatic gas leakage inspection system of the present embodiment, the supply of gas supplied from the gas pipe 8 is shut off by the shutoff valve 76a for the construction 91 of replacing the deteriorated gas pipe 8b with a new gas pipe. It is a system that automatically inspects for gas leaks.

In the customer's house 2, a gas pipe 8 including a gas pipe 8b that needs replacement because it has deteriorated is buried up to the side groove 77. The gas pipe 8 is provided at a predetermined position.
Shutoff valves 76a and 76b for shutting off the gas supplied for replacement and periodic inspection are attached.

The gas pipe 8 becomes the inner pipe 8a from the side groove 77 and is drawn into the customer's house 2. A gas meter 71 is attached to the inner pipe 8a,
The shutoff valve 7 that can be opened and closed by electronic control from the gas meter 71 is provided on each of the upstream side and the downstream side of the gas meter 71 of a.
5, 74 are attached. Further, the inner pipe 8a is branched into a plurality of parts on the downstream side of the shutoff valve 74 of the inner pipe 8a, and former cocks 72, 73 are attached to the respective ends of the branched inner pipe 8a. Then, gas-related devices such as the hot water supply heater 6 and the gas stove 7 are attached to the ends of the original cocks 72 and 73.

FIG. 10 shows the structure of the gas meter 71.
The gas meter 71 includes a communication unit 81, a control unit 82, a gas flow rate measuring unit 83, and a gas pressure measuring unit 84. The inner pipe 8a on the gas supply source side is connected to the gas meter 71, and is connected to the inner pipe 8a on the downstream side of the gas meter 71. A gas flow rate measuring means 83 and a gas pressure measuring means 84 are attached to the gas supply passage in the gas meter 71.

The gas flow rate measuring means 83 is means for measuring the flow rate of the supplied gas, and is, for example, a film type meter,
These include fluidic gas meters and ultrasonic gas meters.

The gas pressure measuring means 84 is means for measuring the gas pressure in the gas supply passage under the control of the control means 82.

The control means 82 has control signal wirings 85, 8
By outputting a control signal to 6, the shutoff valve for control 7
It is a means for controlling the opening and closing of Nos. 4 and 75 and controlling the measuring operation of the gas pressure measuring means 84.

The communication means 81 is means for performing two-way communication with the construction management center 92 provided in the gas supply company.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

As the construction 91, since the gas pipe 8b which is a part of the gas pipe 8 is deteriorated, the construction is to be replaced with a new gas pipe. Such construction 91
Prior to starting the work, the person in charge of the construction management center 92 preliminarily sends the construction period to the customer such as the customer house 2 on the downstream side of the gas pipe 8b corresponding to the construction 91 of the gas pipe 8 by mail beforehand. Some notice that the gas supply will be stopped. Then, before starting the construction 91, the person in charge of the construction management center 92 operates the shutoff valve 76b on the upstream side and the shutoff valve 76a on the downstream side of the gas pipe 8b which is a part of the gas pipe 8 to be replaced with a new gas pipe. Shut off.

Further, the construction management center 92 transmits a control command for shutting off the shutoff valve 75 to the gas meter 71. This control command is received by the communication means 81 of the gas meter 71 through the Internet network, wireless communication, or the like. The communication means 81 outputs the received control command to the control means 82.

When the control means 82 receives a control command to shut off the shutoff valve 72, it outputs a control signal for closing the shutoff valve 75 to the signal wiring 85, and when the control signal is input to the shutoff valve 75, the control is performed. The shutoff valve 75 is closed by the signal, the upstream side and the downstream side of the inner pipe 8a are shut off, and the gas inside the inner pipe 8a on the downstream side is isolated. Shut-off valve 7
5 is a signal wiring 8 which indicates a signal indicating that the signal is in a closed state.
5 to the control means 82, and the control means 82
When this signal is received, a response command indicating that the execution of the control command has been normally completed is output to the communication means 81. When the communication unit 81 receives the response command from the control unit 82, the communication unit 81 transmits the response command to the construction management center 92 via the Internet network or wireless. The construction management center 92 can confirm that the shutoff valve 75 is normally closed by receiving the response command from the gas meter 71.

As described above, after the person in charge of the construction management center 92 confirms that all the shutoff valves 75 of the customer premises 2 located downstream of the shutoff valve 76a have been shut off, the construction 9
1 is started. While the construction 91 is being carried out in this way, the construction management center 92 also carries out a gas leak inspection of the inner pipe 8a on the downstream side of the shutoff valve 75.

That is, the control command for measuring the gas pressure is transmitted from the construction management center 92 to the communication means 81 via the Internet network or wireless.

Upon receiving this control command, the communication means 81 outputs the received control command to the control means 82. When the control means 82 receives this control command, it outputs a control signal for measuring the gas pressure to the gas pressure measuring means 84. The gas pressure measuring means 84 measures the gas pressure in the supply passage of the gas meter 71 according to the control signal output from the control means 82, and notifies the control means 82 of the measurement result. Upon receiving the measurement result from the gas pressure measuring means 82, the control means 82 outputs and outputs it to the communication means 81, and the communication means 81.
Transmits the measurement result to the construction management center 92. The transmitted measurement result is received and stored at the construction management center 92.

By performing the above operation a predetermined number of times at a predetermined time interval, the gas pressure measurement result at a predetermined time interval is stored in an information processing device (not shown) installed in the construction management center 92. It In this way, the information processing apparatus analyzes the measurement result of the gas pressure stored in the information processing apparatus of the construction management center 92, so that the shutoff valve 7
It is possible to determine whether gas leakage has occurred on the downstream side of 5. That is, during the construction 91,
Since the shutoff valve 75 is closed and the shutoff valve 74 is open, the measured gas pressure has a constant value when no gas leakage occurs on the downstream side of the shutoff valve 75. However, when a gas leak occurs on the downstream side of the shutoff valve 75, the gas gradually leaks from the leak location. Therefore, the measurement result of the gas pressure stored in the information processing device of the construction management center 92 gradually decreases. Therefore, as a result of analyzing the gas pressure measured by the information processing device of the construction management center 92, when the gas pressure is lower than a predetermined value per unit time, gas leakage occurs on the downstream side of the shutoff valve 75. You can judge that you are doing. In such a case, the person in charge of the construction management center 92
This person in charge is inspected for the inner pipe on the downstream side of the shutoff valve 75 and repairs the gas leakage point.

When the construction work 91 is completed, the shutoff valve 76b and the shutoff valve 76a are opened after the leak inspection of the newly replaced gas pipe 8b is performed. Then, after that, the shutoff valve 7 is connected from the construction management center 92 to the communication means 81.
A control command for opening 5 is sent.

When the communication means 81 receives this control command, it outputs it to the control means 82. Upon receiving the control command output from the communication unit 81, the control unit 82 outputs a control signal for opening the shutoff valve 75 to the signal wiring 85. The shutoff valve 75 is opened by a control signal from the signal wiring 85. In this way, the gas supply is restarted at the customer premises 2.

The gas meter 71 is the construction management center 92.
Since the shut-off valve 75 can be automatically opened and closed by remote control from, the person in charge of the construction management center 92 goes to the customer premises 2 to open and close the shut-off valve 75 when performing the construction 91 as in the conventional case. No need to do. Further, by remote control at the construction management center 92, it is possible to automatically perform a gas leak inspection on the downstream side of the shutoff valve 75 in the inner pipe 8a in the customer's house 2.

Therefore, even when the customer 2a is not at the customer's home 2, it is possible to carry out the gas leak inspection and the opening / closing operation of the shutoff valve 75.

In the present embodiment, the shutoff valve 75 is closed during the construction work 91.
Not limited to this, the shutoff valve 8 may be used during the construction work 91.
It is also possible to leave 5 open and close the shut-off valve 74. By doing so, the gas between the shutoff valve 74 and the shutoff valve 76a becomes isolated, and the gas pressure measuring means 84 measures the gas pressure in this state, so that the shutoff valve in the gas pipe 8 is cut off. A gas leak test from 76a to the shutoff valve 74 can be performed.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the gas leak inspection is performed by remote control during the construction 91, but it is also possible for the customer 2a of the customer house 2 to use gas at midnight. By closing the shutoff valve 75, a gas leak test can be automatically performed by remote control.

Further, when the customer's home 2 is an apartment house,
When the gas meter 71, the shutoff valve 75, and the shutoff valve 74 are attached to the upstream end portion of the shared inner pipe shared by the housing complex, that is, the connection portion with the gas pipe 8, the same operation as described above is performed. By performing the operation, it is also possible to inspect whether or not there is a leak in the common inner pipe by remotely operating the gas meter 71 when all the apartments do not use gas.

Further, in the present embodiment, the shutoff valves 74 and 75 are mounted on the upstream side and the downstream side of the gas meter 71 of the inner pipe 8a, but the invention is not limited to this.
Both the shutoff valves 74 and 75 of the gas meter 71 may be incorporated. Alternatively, only one of the shutoff valves 74 and 75 may be built in the gas meter 71. Further, a part of the communication unit 81, the control unit 82, the gas flow rate measuring unit 83, and the gas pressure measuring unit 84 of the gas meter 71 may be built in a case different from the rest of the other units.

The present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute the functions of all or part of the above-described meter reading system, gas-related equipment maintenance system, or gas leak automatic inspection system of the present invention, It may be a program that operates in cooperation with a computer.

Furthermore, the present invention is a medium carrying a program for causing a computer to execute all or a part of the functions of the above-described meter reading system, gas related equipment maintenance system or gas leak automatic inspection system of the present invention, The medium may be a computer-readable medium in which the read program cooperates with the computer to execute the function.

Incidentally, a part of the above-mentioned invention (or device,
Element, circuit, section, etc.), and a part of the steps (or steps, operations, actions, etc.) of the above invention means some means or steps among those plural means or steps, or It means some functions or some operations in one means or step.

The present invention also includes a computer-readable recording medium in which the program of the present invention is recorded.

[0158] Further, one usage form of the program of the present invention may be a mode in which the program is recorded in a computer-readable recording medium and operates in cooperation with the computer.

Further, one usage form of the program of the above invention may be a mode in which the program is transmitted through a transmission medium, read by a computer, and operates in cooperation with the computer.

Further, the data structure of the above invention includes a database, a data format, a data table, a data list, a data type, and the like.

Further, the recording medium includes a ROM and the like, and the transmission medium includes a transmission medium such as the Internet,
Light, radio waves, sound waves, etc. are included.

The computer of the above-mentioned invention is a CP
The hardware is not limited to pure hardware such as U, and may include firmware, an OS, and peripheral devices.

As described above, the structure of the present invention is
It may be realized by software or hardware.

The mutual relations of the inventions disclosed in the present specification are as follows.

That is, the first invention (corresponding to claim 1)
Is a gas meter, an information processing device connected to the internet, and the difference between the meter reading value of the gas meter that the customer has declared to the supplier through the internet from the information processing device and the meter reading value of the gas meter read by the supplier. The meter reading system is provided with a difference calculation means for calculating.

The second invention (corresponding to claim 2) is
A plurality of types of meters, an information processing apparatus connected to the Internet, and a meter reading value of each of the plurality of types of meters that a customer has declared to a predetermined supplier from the information processing apparatus via the Internet, other than the predetermined supplier. And a notification means for notifying the other supplier of the corresponding meter reading value.

The third aspect of the present invention is a customer who has a plurality of types of meters, an information processing device connected to the Internet, and an address in the meter reading area, and has individually made a proxy contract with a predetermined supplier. A customer has declared the meter reading value of each of the plurality of types of meters existing in the meter reading area to the predetermined supplier through the Internet from the information processing device, and indicates the meter reading value of each of the plurality of types of meters. And a notification means for notifying the corresponding meter reading value to a supplier other than the predetermined supplier, wherein each of the meter reading values of the plurality of kinds of meters has a plurality of kinds of meters related to the customer's house. It is a meter reading system that also includes the meter reading value of.

In a fourth aspect of the invention, when a supplier other than the predetermined supplier is notified by the notification means of the corresponding meter reading value of the plurality of types of meters, a billing process according to the notification is performed. It is the meter-reading system of the 2nd or 3rd invention provided with the charging means which performs.

The fifth invention (corresponding to claim 5) is
The meter-reading system according to any one of the first to third inventions, wherein when the customer makes the declaration, the charge to be paid by the customer is discounted as compared with the case where the customer is charged without making the declaration.

Further, the sixth invention comprises a gas-related device which is a device related to the gas supplied from the supplier, and the gas-related device can be inspected or replaced by the customer or an agent contracting with the customer. It is a gas related equipment maintenance system.

[0171] The seventh invention is the gas-related equipment maintenance system according to the sixth invention, wherein the gas-related equipment is a gas meter for measuring the amount of the gas supplied.

The eighth invention is the gas-related equipment maintenance system according to the sixth invention, wherein the gas-related equipment is a gas leak alarm for warning the gas leak of the supplied gas.

[0173] The ninth invention is the gas-related equipment maintenance system according to the sixth invention, wherein the gas-related equipment is a gas using apparatus that uses the supplied gas.

[0174] The tenth aspect of the invention is a case where the gas related equipment is inspected or replaced by the agent, and the agent is checked when the gas related equipment is inspected or replaced. It is the gas-related equipment maintenance system according to any one of the sixth to tenth inventions, in which the gas charge of the gas is collected by a trader.

The eleventh aspect of the invention is the tenth aspect of the invention, in which, when the agent is inspected or replaced, the agent also collects at least one of newspaper, water, and electricity. It is a gas related equipment maintenance system of the invention.

The twelfth invention includes an information processing device connected to the Internet, and an information providing device for providing the information processing device with explanatory information for checking or replacing the gas-related equipment through the Internet. When the gas related device is inspected or replaced by the customer, the gas related device according to any one of the sixth to ninth inventions, wherein the inspection information or the replacement is performed by using the explanation information by the customer. It is a maintenance system.

The thirteenth invention comprises an information processing apparatus connected to the Internet and a receiving apparatus for receiving information sent from the information processing apparatus via the Internet, and the gas related equipment by the customer. Registration or change of information relating to the time when the inspection or replacement of the gas-related equipment and / or information identifying the gas-related equipment is performed by the customer. It is the gas related equipment maintenance system in any one of the 6th-9th invention performed by being input into a terminal and received by the said receiver via the said internet.

The fourteenth aspect of the present invention is a gas leakage automatic inspection system for automatically inspecting for gas leakage, which is supplied from a communication means for communication and a gas pipe of a gas supply source. The communication means comprises: a gas supply control means for blocking or passing the incoming gas; and a gas pressure measuring means for measuring a gas pressure of a gas pipe at a supply destination which is a gas pipe on the downstream side of the gas supply control means. Is instructed to inspect for gas leakage, the gas supply control means shuts off the gas from the gas pipe of the supply source, and the gas pressure measuring means of the gas pipe of the supply destination. When measuring the gas pressure, the communication means notifies the measured gas pressure information, and when the communication means is notified of no gas leakage, the gas supply control means determines that Gas piping A gas leakage automatic inspection system for passing the gas al.

The fifteenth invention is the automatic gas leakage inspection system according to the fourteenth invention, wherein the communication means, the gas supply control means and the gas pressure measuring means are built in a gas meter.

The sixteenth invention is the automatic gas leakage inspection system according to the fourteenth invention, wherein the gas pipe of the supply destination is an inner pipe or a common inner pipe.

The seventeenth invention is the automatic gas leakage inspection system according to the fifteenth or sixteenth invention, wherein the gas meter is installed in a house.

The eighteenth invention is the automatic gas leakage inspection system according to any one of the fourteenth to seventeenth inventions, wherein the gas leakage inspection is carried out during the gas construction of the gas pipe of the supply source.

A nineteenth aspect of the invention is a meter reading system of the first aspect of the invention, in which a meter reading value of the gas meter declared by a customer to the supplier from the information processing apparatus through the Internet and a gas meter measured by the supplier are provided. It is a program for causing a computer to function as all or part of difference calculation means for calculating a difference from a meter reading value.

The twentieth aspect of the present invention is the meter reading system of the second aspect, wherein the meter reading value of each of the plurality of types of meters that the customer has declared to the predetermined supplier from the information processing device through the Internet. It is a program for causing a computer to function as all or a part of notifying means for notifying a corresponding meter reading value to a supplier other than the supplier.

The twenty-first aspect of the invention is a customer of the meter-reading system of the third invention, having an address in the meter-reading area, who has a private contract with a predetermined supplier on the meter-reading area. The meter reading values of each of the plurality of types of meters that have been declared to the predetermined supplier through the Internet from the information processing device, and the meter reading values of each of the plurality of types of meters other than the predetermined supplier It is a program for causing a computer to function as all or a part of notifying means for notifying another supplier of the corresponding meter reading value.

A twenty-second aspect of the present invention is a gas leak automatic inspection system according to the fourteenth aspect of the invention, in which the communication means for performing communication and the gas supplied from the gas pipe of the gas supply source are shut off. Alternatively, the computer may function as all or a part of the gas supply control means for passing the gas and the gas pressure measuring means for measuring the gas pressure of the gas pipe of the supply destination which is the gas pipe on the downstream side of the gas supply control means. It is a program.

The twenty-third invention is a medium carrying the program of the nineteenth invention, which can be processed by a computer.

The twenty-fourth invention is a medium carrying the program of the twentieth invention, which can be processed by a computer.

The twenty-fifth invention is a medium carrying the program of the twenty-first invention, which can be processed by a computer.

The twenty-sixth invention is a medium carrying the program of the twenty-second invention, which can be processed by a computer.

[0191]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, it is possible to inspect and replace a meter, a gas meter, and install, inspect, and replace a gas leak alarm device without going to the customer's home. We also have a meter reading system, gas related equipment maintenance system, and gas leak automatic inspection system that can perform contact work with customers such as regular safety patrols of the inner pipe of gas equipment and do not generate enormous equipment costs. Can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a meter reading system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a meter reading system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a meter reading system according to second and third embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a meter reading system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a meter reading system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a meter reading system according to fourth and fifth embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a meter reading system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a meter reading system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a gas leakage automatic inspection system according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a gas meter 71 according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Internet network 2 Customer house 2a Customer 3 management centers 3a person in charge 4 Information processing equipment 5 gas meters 6 Hot water heater 7 gas stove 8 gas piping 8a gas piping 8b gas piping 9 Web pages 10 meter reading database 11 Difference calculation means 12 Bill preparation means 22 Notification means 23 Charging means 71 gas meter 72 ex cock 73 ex cock 74 shut-off valve 75 shutoff valve 76a shutoff valve 77b shutoff valve 81 Communication means 82 control means 83 Gas flow rate measuring means 84 Gas pressure measuring means 85 Control signal wiring 86 Control signal wiring 91 Construction site 92 Construction Management Center

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G08B 25/08 G08B 25/08 A G08C 15/00 G08C 15/00 BF term (reference) 2F030 CB02 CC13 CE09 CE22 CE25 CE26 CE27 CF05 2F073 AA08 AB02 AB03 BB20 CC01 GG01 2F075 GG04 GG15 GG16 5C087 AA03 AA10 AA24 AA25 BB12 BB65 BB74 DD07 DD24 EE05 EE19 FF01 FF04 FF19 FF20 GG07 GG11 GG11 GG11 GG11 GG11

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A gas meter, an information processing device connected to the Internet, a meter reading value of the gas meter which a customer has declared to the supplier through the Internet from the information processing device, and a meter reading value of the gas meter read by the supplier. A meter reading system having a difference calculation means for calculating the difference between 2. A plurality of types of meters, an information processing device connected to the Internet, and a meter reading value of each of the plurality of types of meters declared by a customer from the information processing device to a predetermined supplier through the Internet. To other suppliers than the prescribed supplier,
A meter reading system comprising: a notification unit that notifies the corresponding meter reading value. 3. A meter having a plurality of types, an information processing apparatus connected to the Internet, and a customer having an address in the meter reading area, who has a contract with a predetermined supplier individually on the meter reading area. The meter reading value of each of the existing plurality of types of meters is declared from the information processing device to the predetermined supplier through the Internet, and the meter reading value of each of the plurality of types of meters other than the predetermined supplier To other suppliers, and a notification means for notifying the corresponding meter reading values, and the meter reading values of the plurality of types of meters also include the meter reading values of the plurality of types of meters for the customer's home. Meter reading system. 4. When a supplier other than the predetermined supplier is notified of meter reading values corresponding to the plurality of types of meters from the notification means, a charging means is provided for performing charging processing according to the notification. The meter reading system according to claim 2 or 3. 5. The meter-reading system according to claim 1, wherein when the customer makes the declaration, the charge to be paid by the customer is discounted as compared with the case where the customer is charged without making the declaration. 6. Gas-related equipment maintenance, comprising gas-related equipment, which is equipment related to gas supplied from a supplier, wherein the gas-related equipment can be inspected or replaced by a customer or an agent contracting with the customer. system. 7. The gas-related equipment maintenance system according to claim 6, wherein the gas-related equipment is a gas meter that measures the amount of the gas supplied. 8. The gas-related equipment maintenance system according to claim 6, wherein the gas-related equipment is a gas leak alarm that warns a gas leak of the supplied gas. 9. The gas-related equipment maintenance system according to claim 6, wherein the gas-related equipment is a gas using apparatus that uses the supplied gas. 10. The gas of the gas, which is checked or replaced by the agent when the gas related apparatus is checked or replaced by the agent when the gas related apparatus is checked or replaced by the agent. The gas-related equipment maintenance system according to claim 6, wherein charges are collected. 11. The agent also collects at least one of newspaper, water, electricity, telephone, and television reception fees when the agent checks or replaces the gas-related equipment. 10. The gas related equipment maintenance system according to 10. 12. An information processing apparatus connected to the Internet, and an information providing apparatus for providing the information processing apparatus with explanatory information for checking or replacing the gas related apparatus through the Internet, the gas related apparatus The gas-related equipment maintenance system according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the inspection information or the replacement is performed by the customer when the inspection information or the replacement is performed by the customer. 13. An information processing apparatus connected to the Internet, and a receiving apparatus for receiving information transmitted from the information processing apparatus via the Internet, wherein the customer inspects or replaces the gas-related equipment. Registration or change of information regarding the time when the gas-related equipment is inspected or replaced and / or information identifying the gas-related equipment,
The gas related device maintenance system according to claim 6, which is performed by being input to the information processing terminal by the customer and being received by the receiving device through the Internet. 14. A gas leakage automatic inspection system for automatically inspecting for gas leakage, wherein the communication means for communication and the gas supplied from a gas pipe of a gas supply source are shut off. Or a gas supply control means for passing the gas supply control means, and a gas pressure measuring means for measuring a gas pressure of a gas pipe of a supply destination which is a gas pipe on the downstream side of the gas supply control means, and the communication means inspects for gas leakage. When instructed to do so, the gas supply control means shuts off the gas from the gas pipe of the supply source, the gas pressure measuring means measures the gas pressure of the gas pipe of the supply destination, The communication unit notifies the measured gas pressure information, and when the communication unit is notified that there is no gas leakage, the gas supply control unit, the gas from the gas pipe of the supply source. To Gas leakage automated inspection system that umbrella. 15. The automatic gas leakage inspection system according to claim 14, wherein the communication unit, the gas supply control unit, and the gas pressure measuring unit are built in a gas meter. 16. The automatic gas leakage inspection system according to claim 14, wherein the gas pipe of the supply destination is an inner pipe or a common inner pipe. 17. The automatic gas leakage inspection system according to claim 15, wherein the gas meter is installed in a house. 18. The automatic gas leakage inspection system according to claim 14, wherein the gas leakage inspection is performed during a gas construction of the gas pipe of the supply source.