JP2003272075A - Radio transmission system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a radio transmission system for easily executing setting work, improving reliability, and requiring no excess time for investigating the cause when communication failure is caused. <P>SOLUTION: This radio transmission system is composed of a master machine 4 of a radio transmission device connected by a cable to an automatic reporting device 6, a slave machine 3 of the radio transmission device connected by radio transmission to the master machine 4 of this radio transmission device, and a setter 5 connected to the master machine 4 or the slave machine 3 of the radio transmission device, and controlling these machines, and setting and confirming various data. The setter 5 is connected by a cable to one of the master machine 4 or the slave machine 3 of the radio transmission device. The master machine 4 or the slave machine 3 of this radio transmission device carries out a radio transmission test between the master machine 4 and the slave machine 3 by transmitting indication data by a cable to the master machine 4 or the slave machine 3 of the connected radio transmission device. The master machine 4 or the slave machine 3 of the radio transmission device connected to the setter 5 transmits radio transmission test data 20 to the setter 5. <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 system for automatically transmitting meter-reading information such as electricity, gas and water detected by a meter, alarms and sensor information to a centralized monitoring center via a telephone line. In particular, the present invention relates to a wireless transmission system that wirelessly transmits the information of the meter to a higher-order automatic notification device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Prior Art Conventionally, electricity, gas, etc.
In order to rationally manage the usage of water, etc. on the central monitoring center side, various information was transmitted by an automatic notification device equipped with a communication function.

For example, taking LP gas as an example, in the current gas meters, the amount of gas used is integrated by a microcomputer incorporated in the meter, and when the amount of gas reaches a preset value, the meter automatically outputs a signal. , Has the function of transmitting information to the automatic notification device connected to the meter. Then, the automatic reporting device automatically dials a centralized monitoring center registered in advance and transmits information through a telephone line.

With such a system, the amount of gas used is automatically metered, and efficient delivery is achieved in the cylinder replacement work, which is the greatest difficulty of LP gas.

In the above-mentioned system, an automatic notification device is provided for each customer who installs a gas meter to perform centralized monitoring, but in consideration of apartments and the like where customers frequently move in and out, it is for an apartment house. The system also came out.

In this system for housing complex, by installing a meter transmission device downstream of the automatic notification device, it is possible to manage the information of a plurality of gas meters connected to the meter transmission device by wire, so that one unit Automatic notification device and 1
You can now manage multiple customers with a book phone line.

Many systems for apartment houses use a wired system for connection between the meter and the automatic reporting device, but recently, a wireless system has been proposed.

[0008] As an example of a wireless system, Patent No. 3
There is an example shown in 201064 publication. This is the master unit of the wireless transmission device that is connected to the automatic notification device by wire, the slave unit of the wireless transmission device that is wirelessly connected to the master unit of this wireless transmission device, and the master unit or slave unit of the wireless transmission device. Wirelessly connected,
It is a system that is configured with a setter that controls these and sets and checks various data.

This conventional example will be described with reference to FIG. Figure 5
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a conventional wireless transmission system. In the figure, 1 is a telephone line. Reference numeral 2 is a meter for measuring the amount of gas used and the like.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a slave unit of a wireless transmission device, which is connected to the meter 2 by wire and wirelessly transmits meter reading information and the like of the meter 2. Reference numeral 4 denotes a master unit of the wireless transmission device, which is connected to the automatic notification device 6 described later by wire and receives meter reading information and the like wirelessly transmitted from the slave device 3 of the wireless transmission device. Send to 6.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a setting device which is wirelessly connected to the master device 4 or the slave device 3 of the wireless transmission device, and controls these and sets and confirms various data. An automatic notification device 6 performs data communication with a centralized monitoring center 7 described later via a telephone line 1. The main content of this data communication is the meter-reading information of the meter 2 sent via the slave unit 3 of the wireless transmission device and the master unit 4 of the wireless transmission device.

A centralized monitoring center 7 centrally monitors the data sent from the automatic reporting device 6 via the telephone line 1.

The setting device 5 wirelessly transmits the instruction data to the master unit 4 or the slave unit 3 of the wireless transmission device, so that the master unit 4 or the slave unit 3 of the wireless transmission device is connected between the master unit 4 and the slave unit 3. Perform a wireless transmission test at, and perform setting work such as installation work.

By making the setting device 5 of the wireless system in this way, connection with the master unit 4 and the slave unit 3 of the wireless transmission device becomes unnecessary, and the setting work of these is facilitated.

[0015]

As described above, in the example disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3201064, the setting operation of the master unit 4 and the slave unit 3 of the wireless transmission device is easy, but the setting device 5 is used. Since the wireless system is used, if a communication failure occurs in the wireless transmission test, it may be due to a failure between the master unit 4 and the slave unit 3 of the wireless transmission device, or the setting device 5 and the master unit 4 or the slave unit of the wireless transmission device. There is a problem that it takes extra time to investigate where the cause of the communication failure is caused because it is not possible to determine whether or not the trouble with the No. 3 is the cause.

The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems, and facilitates setting work of a master unit and a slave unit of a wireless transmission device, improves reliability, and investigates a cause when a communication failure occurs. It is an object of the present invention to provide a wireless transmission system that does not require extra time.

Another object of the present invention is to carry out new installation work and survey maintenance easily and in a short time.

[0018]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention relates to an automatic notification device for performing data communication with a centralized monitoring center via a telephone line, and a wireless device connected by wire to the automatic notification device. The master unit of the transmission device, the slave unit of the wireless transmission device that is wirelessly connected to the master unit of the wireless transmission device, and the master unit or the slave unit of the wireless transmission device, and the control of these and setting of various data and In a wireless transmission system configured with a setting device that performs confirmation, etc., the setting device is connected to one of the parent device or the child device of the wireless transmission device by wire and is connected to the parent device or the child device of the connected wireless transmission device. By transmitting the instruction data by wire, the master unit or slave unit of this wireless transmission device performs a wireless transmission test between the master unit and slave unit, and the master unit or slave unit of the wireless transmission device connected to the setting device Wireless transmission test data to the setting device It is intended to be sent.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION As described above, the present invention is an automatic notification device for performing data communication with a centralized monitoring center via a telephone line, and a base unit of a wireless transmission device connected to the automatic notification device by wire. And a child device of the wireless transmission device that is wirelessly connected to the parent device of this wireless transmission device, and a setting that is connected to the parent device or the child device of the wireless transmission device and controls these and sets and checks various data. In the wireless transmission system configured with a device, the setting device is connected to one of the master device or the slave device of the wireless transmission device by wire, and the instruction data is wired to the master device or the slave device of the connected wireless transmission device. By transmitting, the master unit or the slave unit of this wireless transmission device performs a wireless transmission test between the master unit and the slave unit, and the master unit or slave unit of the wireless transmission device connected to the setting unit wirelessly transmits to the setting unit. It sends test data

With this, a wireless transmission system that facilitates setting work of the master unit and the slave unit of the wireless transmission device, improves reliability, and does not take extra time for cause investigation when a communication failure occurs Can be provided.

The wireless transmission test data is the first wireless reception level data when the master unit or the slave unit of the wireless transmission device which is not connected to the setting device receives wirelessly, and the wireless transmission test data connected to the setting device. The second wireless reception level data when the master device or the slave device of the transmission device wirelessly receives the data.

Thus, new installation work and survey maintenance can be carried out easily and in a short time.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is applied to a centralized monitoring system for LP gas.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a wireless transmission system of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a master unit and a slave unit of a wireless transmission device of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a wireless transmission test of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a procedure, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a wireless transmission test result display. It is assumed that there are N units of meters and wireless transmission devices.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a telephone line. Reference numeral 2 is a meter for measuring the amount of gas used and the like. The first of this meter 2 is 2-1, the second is 2-2, ...
Let N.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a slave unit of the wireless transmission device, which is connected to the meter 2 by wire and wirelessly connected to a master unit 4 of the wireless transmission device, which will be described later, and wirelessly transmits meter reading information of the meter 2. The first of the slave units 3 of this wireless transmission device is 3-1, the second is 3-2,
... N-th is 3-N.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a master unit of the wireless transmission device, which is connected to an automatic notification device 6 described later by wire, receives meter reading information wirelessly transmitted from the slave unit 3 of the wireless transmission device, and automatically notifies the meter reading information described later. Send to device 6.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a setting device, which is connected to the master unit 4 or the slave unit 3 of the wireless transmission device as required, controls these and sets and confirms various data, and is provided with a display unit and an operation unit. There is. The setting device 5 is connected to one of the parent device 4 or the child device 3 of the wireless transmission device by wire, and transmits instruction data to the parent device 4 or the child device 3 of the connected wireless transmission device, so that the wireless transmission device The parent device 4 or the child device 3 of the
A wireless transmission test is performed between them, and the master device 4 or the slave device 3 of the wireless transmission device connected to the setting device 5 transmits the wireless transmission test data to the setting device 5.

An automatic notification device 6 performs data communication with a centralized monitoring center 7 described later via a telephone line 1. The main content of this data communication is the meter-reading information of the meter 2 sent via the slave unit 3 of the wireless transmission device and the master unit 4 of the wireless transmission device.

A centralized monitoring center 7 centrally monitors data sent from the automatic reporting device 6 via the telephone line 1.

Next, the master unit 4 and the slave unit 3 of the wireless transmission device.
The internal configuration of will be described with reference to FIG. The internal configurations of the parent device 4 and the child device 3 of the wireless transmission device are the same. In FIG. 2, numeral 8 is an antenna for transmitting and receiving radio waves. An antenna matching circuit 9 adjusts the characteristics of the antenna 8. Reference numeral 10 denotes an RF receiving circuit, which takes in the received wireless signal as data into a microcomputer 16 described later.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a receiving sensitivity detecting circuit, which detects a radio receiving level when the RF receiving circuit 10 receives the signal. Reference numeral 12 denotes an RF transmission circuit, which converts data transmitted from the microcomputer 16 described later into a radio signal and propagates it to the antenna 8. Reference numeral 13 denotes a storage circuit, which holds identification information and the like that must be held as a wireless device.

An external device interface circuit 14 is a circuit for communicating with an external device. When the wireless transmission device is the master device 4, it is connected to the automatic notification device 6 and the wireless transmission device is the slave device 3. In some cases, it is connected to the meter 2.

Reference numeral 15 is an interface circuit for the setting device.
This is a circuit for communicating with the setting device 5, and by connecting the setting device 5, various data necessary for the parent device 4 or the child device 3 of the wireless transmission device is set, confirmed, and controlled. 1
Reference numeral 6 is a microcomputer for controlling these. 1
A power supply circuit 7 serves as a power supply for all the circuits described above.

The overall operation of the above configuration will be described. When newly installing the slave units 3-1 to 3-N of the wireless transmission device in the housing complex, first, the master unit 4 of the wireless transmission device is installed in the vicinity of the automatic notification device 6, and then the slave unit 3-of the wireless transmission device 3-.
The arrangement of 1-3 to N is provisionally determined. At this time, before performing these arrangements, the master unit 4 and the slave units 3-1 to 3-of the wireless transmission device are arranged.
The setting data is collectively registered for each N.
This saves the trouble of moving by registering the setting data.

Next, the child device 3 of the temporarily installed wireless transmission device 3-
A wireless transmission test is performed on 1 to 3-N. here,
Since the new installation of the slaves 3-1 to 3-N of the wireless transmission device is taken as an example, the wireless transmission test is performed from each slave 3-1 to 3-N of the wireless transmission device to the master device 4. . Hereinafter, the procedure of the wireless transmission test will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

First, in order to perform a wireless transmission test from the slave unit 3-1 of the wireless transmission device, the setting device 5 is connected to the slave device 3-1 of the wireless transmission device by wire, and the operation unit of the setting device 5 is operated. Then, select the command to execute the wireless transmission test. Then, the setting device 5 transmits the instruction data of the wireless transmission test to the slave device 3-1 of the wireless transmission device by wire.

As a result, the slave unit 3-1 of the wireless transmission device starts executing the wireless transmission test, and the master unit 4 of the wireless transmission device starts.
A wireless transmission test instruction is wirelessly transmitted to. The master unit 4 of the wireless transmission device, which has received the wireless transmission test instruction wirelessly from the slave unit 3-1 of the wireless transmission device, receives the wireless transmission test instruction described above and, at the same time, receives the wireless reception level by the reception sensitivity detection circuit 11. Is detected and used as the first wireless reception level data 18.

Since the master unit 4 of the wireless transmission device replies that the wireless transmission test has been successfully completed, an affirmative response to the normal reception and the first wireless reception level data 18 are sent to the slave unit 3-of the wireless transmission device. 1 is transmitted wirelessly. The slave unit 3-1 of the wireless transmission device that has received this radio detects the wireless reception level from the master unit 4 of the wireless transmission device by the reception sensitivity detection circuit 11, similarly to the parent unit 4 of the wireless transmission device described above. Then, let this be the second radio reception level data 19.

Then, the slave unit 3-1 of the wireless transmission apparatus includes in the setting unit 5 information on the normal end of the wireless transmission test, the first wireless reception level data 18 and the second wireless reception level data 19. The wireless transmission test data 20 is transmitted through the setter interface circuit 15.

Through the series of processes described above, the setting device 5 displays the result of the wireless transmission test on the display unit in the form as shown in FIG. In the figure, "Musentest Seijou"
Indicates that the wireless transmission test between the parent device 4 and the child device 3-1 of the wireless transmission device has been normally performed.
"4, Koki ... 45" represents the respective wireless reception levels, and in this case, the first wireless reception level data is 44 and the second wireless reception level data is 45.

Here, in utilizing the above-mentioned wireless reception level, the limit reception level at which the master unit 4 or the slave unit 3-1 of the wireless transmission device causes a communication failure and the reception level with respect to the line-of-sight distance are grasped in advance. I need to put it. For example, assume that the wireless transmission limit distance is 200 m and the wireless reception level at that time is “20”. Line-of-sight distance is 150m
When the reception level is "30", and when it is 100 m, "4"
Assuming that the higher the numerical value such as “50” at 0 ”and 50 m, the better the reception sensitivity, the result of the wireless transmission test reveals how much the current installation state corresponds to the line-of-sight distance.

As described above, when the wireless reception level of the wireless transmission test result is "Oyaki ... 44, Koki ... 45", the line-of-sight distance is approximately 75 m, which is 2 with respect to the limit reception level. It can be determined that there is no problem in wireless transmission because the margin is more than double. This completes the installation work of the slave unit 3-1 of the wireless transmission device.

Next, in the same manner as described above, the slave unit 3 of the wireless transmission device is used.
-2, a wireless transmission test is performed, and the test result is "Oki ... 25, Koki ... 25". In this case, the line-of-sight distance is about 175 m, which means that there is almost no margin for the limit distance of wireless transmission. Therefore, it is better to re-install either the master unit 4 or the slave units 3-1 and 3-2 of the wireless transmission device, but the installation position of the slave unit 3-1 of the wireless transmission device has already been determined. Therefore, considering the time and effort of the test, the slave unit 3 of the wireless transmission device
It would be good to move -2.

Then, after changing the installation position of the slave unit 3-2 of the wireless transmission device, the wireless transmission test is performed again.
Also in this case, it is possible to save the trouble of moving by performing the wireless transmission test not from the master unit 4 of the wireless transmission device but from the slave unit 3-2 of the wireless transmission device that has moved to a different place. Similarly, the wireless transmission test is also performed on the slaves 3-3 to 3-N of the wireless transmission device to determine the installation position.

In this way, the wireless transmission test is conducted for each one to install the slave units 3-1 to 3-N of the wireless transmission device. Machine 3-1
Approximately 3-N will be able to understand the wireless transmission status due to the installation position relationship, and by checking the aircraft with the higher risk, such as the one with the longest distance or the one with a shield, other aircraft Can also be judged to be good.

As described above, when newly installing the child devices 3-1 to 3-N of the wireless transmission device, the installation work and the wireless transmission test are performed at the same time. Considering the movement accompanying installation work of 1-3-N,
The connection position of the setting device 5 is the child device 3-1 to 3-3- of the wireless transmission device.
N side is desirable.

When an abnormality is confirmed by investigation or maintenance, the slave units 3-1 to 3-3 of the abnormal wireless transmission device are detected.
Since it is only necessary to support N, the work after replacing the abnormal machine body only needs to perform the wireless transmission test from the slave units 3-1 to 3-N of the replaced wireless transmission device as in the case of the new installation work. become.

However, it is better to connect to the base unit 4 side of the wireless transmission device in order to make a confirmation without carrying out the confirmation for inspection or maintenance. The reason is that by confirming the wireless transmission state from the master device 4 of the wireless transmission device,
Handsets 3-1 to 3-N of all installed wireless transmission devices
This is because it is possible to grasp the wireless transmission state of, and to save the trouble of moving.

By connecting the setting device 5 to the parent device 4 of the wireless transmission device by wire and operating the operation unit of the setting device 5 to select a command for executing the wireless transmission test, the parent device of the wireless transmission device is selected. The wireless transmission test in which the device 4 and the slave devices 3-1 to 3-N are replaced can be similarly performed.

[0051]

As described above, according to the wireless transmission system of the present invention, an automatic notification device for performing data communication with a centralized monitoring center via a telephone line, and a wireless device connected by wire to the automatic notification device. The master unit of the transmission device, the slave unit of the wireless transmission device that is wirelessly connected to the master unit of the wireless transmission device, and the master unit or the slave unit of the wireless transmission device, and the control of these and setting of various data and In a wireless transmission system configured with a setting device that performs confirmation, etc., the setting device is connected to one of the parent device or the child device of the wireless transmission device by wire and is connected to the parent device or the child device of the connected wireless transmission device. By transmitting the instruction data by wire, the master unit or slave unit of this wireless transmission device performs a wireless transmission test between the master unit and slave unit, and the master unit or slave unit of the wireless transmission device connected to the setting device The wireless transmission test data Provides a wireless transmission system that makes it easier to set up the master and slave units of a wireless transmission device, improves reliability, and does not require extra time to investigate the cause when a communication failure occurs. There is an effect that can be done.

Further, since the wireless transmission test can be carried out from both the master unit and the slave unit of the wireless transmission device, the on-site movement can be minimized regardless of new installation work or investigation maintenance.

Further, the wireless transmission test data is first wireless reception level data when wirelessly received by a parent device or a child device of a wireless transmission device which is not connected to a setting device,
The second wireless reception level data when the master unit or the slave unit of the wireless transmission device connected to the setting device wirelessly receives the data.

Thus, there is an effect that new installation work and survey maintenance can be carried out easily and in a short time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a wireless transmission system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration block diagram of a master unit and a slave unit of the wireless transmission device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a wireless transmission test procedure of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a wireless transmission test result display.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a conventional wireless transmission system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 telephone line 3 (3-1 to 3-N) Wireless transmission device slave unit 4 Base unit of wireless transmission device 5 setting device 6 Automatic reporting device 7 Centralized monitoring center 18 First wireless reception level data 19 Second radio reception level data 20 Wireless transmission test data

Continued front page    F term (reference) 2F073 AA07 AA08 AA09 AB01 BB02                       BB04 BB09 BC01 BC02 CC01                       CC06 CC07 CC08 DD07 EE03                       EE16 FF02 GG01                 5K033 BA01 BA11 DA17                 5K042 AA08 CA02 DA16 EA01 EA10                       JA07 JA08 LA11 MA08                 5K101 KK13 KK14 LL01 LL11 MM07                       VV01 VV06

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An automatic notification device (6) for performing data communication with a centralized monitoring center (7) through a telephone line (1), and a parent of a wireless transmission device connected to the automatic notification device (6) by wire. Machine (4), slave unit (3) of the wireless transmission device wirelessly connected to the master unit (4) of this wireless transmission device, and the master unit (4) or the slave unit (3) of the wireless transmission device A setting device (5) for performing these controls and setting and checking of various data
In the wireless transmission system configured by, the setting device (5) is connected to one of the parent device (4) and the child device (3) of the wireless transmission device by wire, and the parent device of the connected wireless transmission device ( 4) or the slave unit (3), the master unit (4) or the slave unit (3) of this wireless transmission device is wirelessly transmitted between the master unit (4) and the slave unit (3) by transmitting the instruction data to the slave unit (3) by wire. A master device (4) or a slave device (3) of the wireless transmission device connected to the setting device (5) performs a test and sends wireless transmission test data (20) to the setting device (5). Wireless transmission system. 2. The wireless transmission test data (20) comprises:
Connect to the setting device (5) with the first wireless reception level data (18) when the master device (4) or the slave device (3) of the wireless transmission device that is not connected to the setting device (5) receives wirelessly. The wireless transmission according to claim 1, further comprising second wireless reception level data (19) when the master unit (4) or the slave unit (3) of the wireless transmission device is wirelessly received. system.