JP2005322193A - Usage display system, information terminal and its program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a usage display system for displaying usage without carrying out linkage such as direct exchange of database information between customer databases managed by separate companies nor inputting authentication information by a user; and to provide an information terminal and its program. <P>SOLUTION: Authentication information is provided to this information terminal 113 connected to a first server 104 from a first customer database 106, the authentication information is presented in connecting a second server 108, and thereafter, for instance, an installation worker of a usage measurement means 101 registers authentication information used for usage display in a second customer database 110 by using an authentication information variation means 111 provided by the second server 108, whereby data linkage between the first customer database and the second customer database by exchanging the authentication information via the information terminal, and usage can be displayed without carrying out customer database linkage nor inputting the authentication information every time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a usage amount display system, an information terminal, and a program for displaying the usage amount of electricity, gas, water, or the like on an information terminal installed in a home.

  An example of a usage amount display system and an information terminal that are conventionally used (see, for example, Patent Document 1) will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 10, 1001 is a usage amount measuring means, 1002 is a water heater, 1003 is a device, 1008 is a server, 1009 is a server control means, 1010 is a customer database, 1012 is a usage amount providing means, 1013 is an information terminal, and 1014 is a display. Means, 1015 is information terminal control means, 1016 is authentication information submitting means, and 1017 is the Internet.

  By operating the device 1003, gas is used in the water heater 1002, and the usage amount is measured by the usage amount measuring unit 1001. The information terminal 1013 connects the usage amount measured by the usage amount measurement unit 1001 to the server 1008 using the authentication information submitted by the authentication information submission unit 1016 according to an instruction from the information terminal control unit 1015, and passes through the server control unit 1009. The authentication information and the usage amount are registered in the customer database 1010 of the server 1008 to indicate that the connection is from the information terminal 1013 of a specific customer.

When the usage amount display instruction is issued by the user, the information terminal control unit 1015 connects to the server 1008 using the authentication information submitted by the authentication information submission unit 1016. The server control unit 1009 extracts the usage amount from the customer database 1010 using the submitted authentication information, generates an HTML file to be displayed on the information terminal 1013 using the usage amount providing unit 1012, and sends it to the information terminal 1013. Returns a response. In the information terminal 1013, the information terminal control means 1015 interprets the HTML file and displays the usage amount through the display means 1014.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-129677

  Although the conventional usage amount display system and information terminal have the following problems, they are not considered or described in the conventional patent literature.

  In many cases, a company that installs electricity, gas, and water usage measuring means and manages the usage is different from a company that provides information terminals and services that provide information from the Internet. Further, in order to manage and provide the usage amount to be measured, it is necessary to perform customer management using a database including personal information such as an individual address and a telephone number in order to charge the user. Similarly, companies that provide information terminals need to manage customers using a database that includes personal addresses and telephone numbers in order to charge users for information charges.

  Since data containing personal information must be strictly managed so that it is not leaked to others at the responsibility of the company that kept the customer information, in order to share customer database contents between different companies, It is necessary to prepare a complicated arrangement to prevent leakage and a secret function communication means with high maintenance cost. In addition, when displaying the usage amount, it is necessary to implement a mechanism for displaying the usage amount without requiring the user to input authentication information each time in order to ensure the convenience of the user and eliminate the mechanism for responding to inquiries from the user. .

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problem, and displays the usage amount without cooperation between the customer databases directly managed by different companies and without inputting authentication information by the user. An object of the present invention is to provide a usage display system, an information terminal and a program therefor.

  In order to solve the conventional problem, the usage amount display system, the information terminal, and the program thereof according to the present invention provide authentication information from the first customer database to the information terminal connected to the first server. After submitting this authentication information at the time of server connection, for example, the installation worker of the usage measuring means uses the usage measuring means information variable means provided by the second server to the second customer database. By registering the information used for display, the authentication information of the information terminal can be added to the association between the customer information and the usage amount on the second customer database. After the association, the authentication information from the information terminal is When the server 2 accepts, the usage amount to be displayed is pulled from the second customer database and passed to the information terminal, so that the customer database is not linked and every time. The amount that can display usage display system without entering a testimony information is obtained by the information terminal and the program.

  The usage amount display system, information terminal, and program therefor of the present invention provide two or more pieces of authentication information to the information terminal in the first customer database, and switch the authentication information for each server using the authentication information switching means. Thus, the usage amount can be displayed using the dedicated authentication information.

  Moreover, the usage amount display system, information terminal, and program therefor according to the present invention are such that the information terminal has temporary authentication information input means, and the information submitted from the authentication information submission means can be recognized in the second customer database. By assigning the temporary authentication information for setting, it is possible to perform the association setting between the information used for displaying the usage amount on the second customer database and the usage amount even when the network connection is not established.

  In addition, the usage amount display system, information terminal, and program thereof of the present invention are provided with a control function of a device that uses a target that is measured by the usage amount measuring means of the information terminal, so that a user can measure a target when using the device. Since the amount of use can be conscious, useless use can be suppressed.

  The usage amount display system, information terminal, and program thereof of the present invention can perform usage amount display without cooperation between customer databases managed by different companies and without input of authentication information by the user.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided usage amount measuring means for measuring usage amounts of electricity, gas, water, and the like, a first customer database, and authentication information providing means for providing authentication information stored in the customer database. A first server, a second customer database, and a usage amount measuring unit information variable unit for providing an interface capable of inputting and changing information for identifying the usage amount measuring unit via a network; A second server having usage amount providing means for providing measurement data; and an information terminal having authentication information submitting means for storing authentication information acquired from the first server and submitting the information when connecting to the server, By using the usage amount display system capable of displaying the information of the usage amount measuring means on the terminal, the information terminal connected to the first server has the first customer data After providing the authentication information from the database and submitting this authentication information when connecting to the second server, for example, the installation operator of the usage measuring means uses the usage measuring means information variable means provided by the second server. By registering the information used for displaying the usage amount in the second customer database, the authentication information of the information terminal can be added to the association between the customer information and the usage amount on the second customer database. Later, when authentication information from the information terminal is received by the usage amount submitting means, the usage amount to be displayed is pulled from the second customer database and passed to the information terminal, so that authentication is performed without performing customer database cooperation. It is possible to provide a usage amount display system capable of displaying the usage amount without inputting information.

  In the second invention, the first customer database has two or more authentication information, and the information terminal switches two or more authentication information acquired from the first customer database for each server and connects to the server. By using the usage amount display system characterized in that the information terminal is provided with an authentication information switching means for providing the information terminal, two or more authentication information is provided to the information terminal in the first customer database, and the authentication information switching is performed. By switching the authentication information for each server using the means, the usage amount can be displayed using the dedicated authentication information.

  In a third aspect of the invention, the information terminal has temporary authentication information input means, and gives temporary authentication information for setting that can be recognized in the second customer database to information submitted from the authentication information submission means. Since information necessary for association can be embedded in the information terminal, the information used for displaying the usage amount on the second customer database can be associated with the usage amount by using the temporary authentication information even when the network is not connected. Settings can be made.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a usage amount display system in which the information terminal is provided with a control function for a device that uses an object to be measured by the usage amount measuring means. Therefore, it is possible to provide a usage amount display system capable of suppressing useless measurement target usage amounts.

  5th invention uses the information for identifying the said usage-amount measuring means in the said 2nd customer database for the temporary authentication information input from the said temporary authentication information input means, The said 2nd At least one item in the customer database can be reduced.

  In a sixth aspect of the present invention, the temporary authentication information input from the temporary authentication information input unit is copied and used for identifying the usage amount measuring unit in the second customer database. The system of data managed in the second customer database can be reduced by at least one.

  7th invention uses the result which calculated the information for identifying the said usage-amount calculation means in the said 2nd customer database for the temporary authentication information input from the said temporary authentication information input means. Thus, it is possible to reduce at least one data system managed in the second customer database so that the original data cannot be understood even if the data is directly viewed.

  An eighth invention is a program for executing at least a part of the function of the usage amount display system according to any one of the first to seventh inventions by a computer. Since it is a program, it is possible to easily realize at least a part of the usage amount display system of the present invention by cooperating hardware resources such as an electric / information device, a computer, and a server. In addition, the program can be distributed / updated and installed easily by recording on a recording medium or distributing the program using a communication line.

  A ninth invention includes a usage amount measuring means for measuring usage amounts of electricity, gas, water, etc., a first customer database, and an authentication information providing means for providing authentication information stored in the customer database. A first server, a second customer database, and a usage amount measuring means information variable means for providing an interface capable of inputting and changing information for identifying the usage amount measuring means via a network; An information terminal comprising an authentication information submitting means for communicating with a second server provided with a usage providing means for providing measurement data, storing authentication information acquired from the first server, and submitting it when the server is connected. Then, by using a usage amount display system capable of displaying information of the usage amount measuring means on the information terminal, the information terminal connected to the first server After providing authentication information from one customer database and submitting this authentication information when connecting to the second server, for example, an installation operator of the usage measurement means can change the usage measurement means information provided by the second server. By registering the information used for displaying the usage amount in the second customer database using the means, the authentication information of the information terminal can be added to the association between the customer information and the usage amount on the second customer database. After the association, when the authentication information from the information terminal is received by the usage amount submitting means, the usage amount to be displayed is extracted from the second customer database and passed to the information terminal, so that the customer database is not linked. It is possible to provide an information terminal capable of displaying the usage amount without inputting authentication information every time.

  In a tenth aspect of the invention, the first customer database has two or more authentication information, and the information terminal switches two or more authentication information acquired from the first customer database for each server and connects to the server. By providing an information terminal comprising authentication information switching means for providing the information terminal, two or more pieces of authentication information are provided to the information terminal in the first customer database, and each server is used using the authentication information switching means. By switching the authentication information, the usage amount can be displayed using the dedicated authentication information.

  The eleventh invention has provisional authentication information input means for inputting provisional authentication information used for setting, and the provisional authentication information input means that can be recognized by the second customer database in the information submitted from the authentication information submission means. By giving the authentication information, information necessary for association can be embedded in the information terminal, so even when the network is not connected, the temporary authentication information can be used to display the usage amount on the second customer database. It is possible to set the association between the information used and the usage amount.

  According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, an information terminal is provided with a control function for a device that uses a target to be measured by the usage measuring means, so that the user is aware of the usage when using the device. Therefore, it is possible to provide an information terminal that can suppress useless measurement target usage.

  A thirteenth invention is a program for executing at least a part of the functions of the usage amount display system according to any one of the ninth to twelfth inventions by a computer. Since it is a program, it is possible to easily realize at least a part of the information terminal of the present invention by cooperating hardware resources such as an electric / information device, a computer, and a server. In addition, the program can be distributed / updated and installed easily by recording on a recording medium or distributing the program using a communication line.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a usage amount display system and an information terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, 101 is a usage amount measuring means, 102 is a water heater, 103 is a device, 104 is a first server, 105 is a first server control means, 106 is a first customer database, 107 is an authentication information providing means, 108 is the second server, 109 is the second server control means, 110 is the second customer database, 111 is the usage amount measuring means information variable means, 112 is the usage amount providing means, 113 is the information terminal, 114 is the display means 115 is an information terminal control means, 116 is an authentication information submitting means, and 117 is the Internet.

  The usage metering means 101 is a gas meter, the water heater 102 is a gas combustion device, the equipment 103 is a bath, the first server 104 and the second server 108 are workstations, the first server control means 105 and The second server control means 109 is equipped with an OS, a memory, a storage device, a motherboard having a network connection function, the first customer database 106, the second customer database 110 includes database software, authentication information providing means 107, The authentication information submission means 116 is software built on the control means, the usage measurement means information variable means 111 is web server software having a CGI providing function for data input, and the display means 114 is a display and display to the user. The touch panel that can accept operations and the information terminal control means 115 include a microcomputer. By using the data, the configuration can be easily realized.

  In addition to the bath, the device 103 may be a hot water faucet, a hot water floor heater that functions using hot water generated by the hot water heater 102, a bathroom dryer, or the like. The water heater 102 may be a gas water heater, an oil water heater, an electric water heater, a heat pump water heater, or the like that uses electricity for control.

  The Internet 117 is not limited to the Internet and may be a communication network.

  The operation and action of the usage amount display system and information terminal configured as described above will be described below.

  The operation of this system requires the following three preparation operations. The first is a preparation operation for submitting authentication information on the information terminal 113 side for displaying the usage amount, and the second is a usage on the second server 108 side for submitting the usage amount measured by the usage amount measuring means 101. Preparatory operation for quantity submission The third is a preparatory operation for information association in order to associate the authentication information submitted by the information terminal 113 with the second customer database 110.

  When these three preparation operations are completed, the information terminal 113 submits authentication information to the second server 108 when the user gives an instruction from the display means 114 of the information terminal 113, so that the second customer The usage amount can be specified from the database 110, and a display operation for displaying the usage amount measured by the usage amount measuring means 101 of the house where the information terminal 113 is installed can be performed. The flow of information in each preparation operation and display operation is shown in FIG.

  Here, the first server 104 and the information terminal 113 are provided by the information providing company, and the second server 108 and the usage amount measuring means 101 are provided separately from the information providing company by the electricity, gas, and water supply company. Shall. The first server 104 provides information such as news, weather forecasts, cooking recipes, and local circulation boards to the information terminal 113, and the second server 108 manages the usage measured by the usage measuring means 101. And charge the user.

  The information terminal 113 displays an operation instruction screen on the touch panel provided by the display unit 114 in response to a command from the information terminal control unit 115, receives a user instruction, displays the usage amount of the usage amount measuring unit 101, An operation for displaying information provided by the first server 104 is performed.

  First, the authentication information submission preparation operation on the information terminal 113 side will be described. After purchasing the information terminal 113, the user is required to submit a temporary password for initial registration and customer information (name, address, telephone number, etc.) together with the unique information (for example, the information terminal serial number) of the information terminal 113. The submitted customer information is registered in the first customer database 106. The information providing company that operates the first server can use the information in the first customer database 106 to charge a charge for the information or send management information to the customer.

  When the information terminal 113 is installed, the information terminal control means 115 connects to the first server 104 as an initial setting operation. At this time, the information terminal 113 submits the unique information (for example, the serial number of the information terminal) stored in the memory, and at the same time, the installer or the user uses the interface displayed on the display unit 114 to make the initial registration temporary. By submitting the password (S1 in FIG. 11), authentication information (for example, an authentication character string “0001”) uniquely determined from the authentication information providing means 107 is given (S2). In the information terminal 113, the information terminal control means 115 receives this authentication information and stores it in the authentication information submission means 116.

  The unique information (information terminal serial number) submitted here is registered in the first customer database 106, and is associated with authentication information ("0001") and customer information (name, address, telephone number, etc.). (FIG. 2A). Thereafter, when the information terminal 113 connects to a server that provides information, the authentication information submitting means 116 submits this authentication information, so that the server can recognize which customer terminal the connected information terminal 113 is. It is possible to provide different information for each information terminal 113.

  Next, the usage amount submission preparation operation on the second server 108 side will be described.

  The usage amount measuring unit 101 is directly connected to the device 103 or connected to the device 103 via the water heater 102 and measures the usage amount of the measurement target used by the device 103. The usage amount measured by the usage amount measuring means 101 is related to the user and the usage amount data in the second customer database 110 of the second server 108 by a report from a usage amount meter reading worker. Stored in form. At this time, the usage amount measuring means 101 is provided with an Internet connection function and means for communicating with the second server 108 so that the measured usage amount is directly stored in the second customer database 110 via the Internet 117. It may be built. In the second customer database 110, in addition to associating the user with the usage amount, for example, the serial number of the usage amount measuring unit 101 is associated with the usage amount, and if the serial number of the usage amount measuring unit 101 is known, the user number is used. It is set so that the amount can be extracted.

  Next, the information association operation will be described.

  When the information terminal 113 is installed and the use amount display setting operation is started from the use amount display setting screen displayed on the display unit 114 by the installer or the user, the information terminal 113 is connected to the second server 108. I do. The second server 108 sends the HTML file for displaying the interface for inputting the serial number of the usage amount measuring means 101 to the information terminal 113 by the usage amount measuring means information varying means 111 and requests the submission of the serial number.

  The setter inputs a serial number by inputting numbers and alphabets written on a document engraved or attached to the usage amount measuring unit 101 from an interface displayed on the touch panel prepared by the display unit 114 from the touch panel. .

  The second server control unit 109 uses the input serial number and the authentication information submitted simultaneously by the information terminal (S3) to execute the association between the authentication information and the usage amount on the second customer database 110. (FIG. 2B). By performing this operation, the serial number of the usage measuring means 101 once registered in the second customer database 110 can be updated later.

  By constructing the authentication mechanism in this way, for example, even when the usage measuring unit 101 is replaced due to a failure, the usage amount display request is sent from the information terminal 113 of the house where the usage measuring unit 101 is installed to the same authentication information. Therefore, it is not always necessary to change the second customer database using the usage measuring means information variable means 111, and the system should be operated by a simple means that directly changes the contents of the customer database 109. Can do.

  Further, even when the information terminal 113 breaks down and is replaced, the authentication information is operated so that the authentication information of the house is provided again from the first server, so that the authentication information to be used is not changed. Can be operated.

  Finally, display operations of the usage amount display system and the information terminal will be described.

  When the usage amount display is instructed by the user through the touch panel interface prepared by the display unit 114, the information terminal 113 displays the authentication information (for example, the authentication information submission unit 116 in the authentication information submission preparation operation (for example, The authentication character string “0001”) is submitted to the second server 108 as user agent information of the HTTP protocol, for example (S4). In the second server 108, the second server control unit 109 instructs the usage amount providing unit 112.

  The usage amount submitting means 112 searches the second customer database for the serial number of the usage amount measuring means 101 corresponding to the authentication information “0001” based on the authentication information “0001” submitted from the information terminal 113, and Pull out the amount to use. The usage amount submitting means 112 processes the HTML file that can be displayed on the information terminal 113 using the extracted usage amount, and then returns a response to the information terminal 113 (S5). The information terminal 113 interprets the HTML file returned from the second server 108 by the information terminal control means 115 and displays information to the user through the display means 114.

  As described above, the authentication information is provided from the first customer database 106 to the information terminal 113 connected to the first server 104 and the authentication information is submitted when the second server 108 is connected. The installation operator of the measuring means 101 registers the information used for the usage amount display in the second customer database 110 using the usage amount measuring means information variable means 111 provided by the second server 108, so that the second The authentication information of the information terminal 113 can be added to the association between the customer information and the usage amount on the customer database 110. In addition, after associating the authentication information held by the information terminal 113 on the second customer database 110, when the second server 108 accepts the authentication information from the information terminal 113, the usage amount to be displayed is set to the second customer database. By passing it from the database 110 to the information terminal 113, it is possible to provide a usage amount display system and an information terminal capable of displaying the usage amount without performing customer database cooperation and without inputting authentication information each time.

  In the present embodiment, the display unit 114 has been described as a touch panel capable of displaying and accepting operations. However, other means may be used for accepting operations.

  Needless to say, security can be improved by performing encrypted communication for data transmission / reception.

  Moreover, although only the usage amount display has been described in the present embodiment, it goes without saying that the usage fee can be displayed by multiplying the unit price or the monthly usage amount can be changed.

  In addition, the description has been made using the serial number of the usage amount measuring unit 101 as information for displaying the usage amount. However, since the usage amount measuring unit 101 exists for each house, for example, a usage fee corresponding to the usage amount is used. Any number may be used as long as it is a number different for each house such as a billing number and can be handled by the second customer database 110.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a usage amount display system and an information terminal according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 3, 301 is an authentication information switching means for switching authentication information for each server to be connected, 302 is a first customer database having two or more authentication information, and 303 is an authentication for storing and submitting two or more authentication information. It is an information submission means. This configuration can be easily realized by using a microcomputer or the like for the authentication information switching means 301.

  The operation and action of the usage amount display system and information terminal configured as described above will be described below.

  The differences between the second embodiment and the first embodiment are the authentication information submission preparation operation on the information terminal 113 side, the usage amount display system, and the display operation of the information terminal. In the second embodiment, since two or more pieces of authentication information are handled, the authentication information having the same action as that described in the first embodiment is described as the authentication information 1 so as to be easily distinguished. I do. The flow of information in each preparation operation and display operation is shown in FIG.

  First, the authentication information submission preparation operation on the information terminal 113 side will be described. After purchasing the information terminal 113, the user is required to submit a temporary password for initial registration and customer information (name, address, telephone number, etc.) using the unique information (eg, information terminal serial number) of the information terminal 113 as a key. The submitted customer information is registered in the first customer database 106. The information providing company that operates the first server can use the information in the first customer database 106 to charge a charge for the information or send management information to the customer.

  Next, when the information terminal 113 is installed, the information terminal control means 115 connects to the first server 104 as an initial setting operation. At this time, the information terminal 113 submits the unique information (for example, the serial number of the information terminal) stored in the memory, and at the same time, the installer or the user uses the interface displayed on the display unit 114 to make the initial registration temporary. By submitting the password (S11 in FIG. 12), authentication information 1 (for example, authentication character string “0001”) and authentication information 2 (for example, authentication character string “abcd”) are given from the authentication information providing means 107 (S12). In the information terminal 113, the information terminal control means 115 receives the authentication information 1 and the authentication information 2 and stores them in the authentication information submission means 116.

  This authentication information is registered in the first customer database 302, and is associated with customer information (name, address, telephone number, etc.) (FIG. 4 (a)). Thereafter, when the information terminal 113 connects to the server providing the information, the authentication information switching unit 301 monitors the connection destination, and is stored in the authentication information switching unit 301 in advance, for example, “connection to the first server 104 Authentication information 2 is used, authentication information 1 is used for the second server, and authentication information is not used when connecting to other servers. , And the server can recognize the difference between the information terminals 113 and can receive different information for each information terminal 113. Note that the setting information stored in the authentication information switching means 301 is downloaded from the first server 104 and written or updated even if it is written in the authentication information switching means 301 in advance when the information terminal 113 is manufactured. You can go.

  As described above, when the second server 108 is set to use the authentication information 1, the information association operation is similar to the operation described in the first embodiment (S3 in FIG. 11) in the information association operation. 4 and the authentication information 1 submitted simultaneously by the information terminal (S13), the authentication information 1 on the second customer database 110 is associated with the usage amount (FIG. 4B). ).

  Next, display operations of the usage amount display system and the information terminal will be described. When the usage amount display is instructed by the user through the touch panel interface prepared by the display unit 114, the authentication information switching unit 301 acquires the connection destination, and the connection destination is the second server based on preset information. Authentication information 1 (for example, “0001”) is selected from authentication information 1 (for example, “0001”) and authentication information 2 (for example, “abcd”), which are authentication information for submission that is held only at certain times. By submitting the selected information from the authentication information submission 116 as, for example, HTTP protocol user agent information (S14), the authentication information for connecting to the second server is handled as the second server-specific authentication information. Will be able to.

  The subsequent operation is the same as that of the first embodiment, and in the second server 108, the second server control unit 109 instructs the usage amount providing unit 112. The usage amount submitting means 112 retrieves the usage amount corresponding to “0001” from the second customer database based on the authentication information 1 “0001” submitted from the information terminal 113 and can display the usage amount. And a response is returned to the information terminal 113 (S15). The information terminal 113 interprets the HTML file returned from the second server 108 by the information terminal control means 115 and displays information to the user through the display means 114.

  As described above, two or more pieces of authentication information are provided to the information terminal 113 in the first customer database 106, and the authentication information switching unit 301 is used to switch the authentication information for each server, thereby using the dedicated authentication information. Thus, a usage amount display system and an information terminal capable of performing usage amount display can be provided.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of a usage amount display system and an information terminal according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 5, 501 is temporary authentication information input means for inputting temporary authentication information for usage amount, and 502 is an authentication that submits temporary authentication information for usage amount and authentication information acquired from the first server when connecting to the server. Information submitting means, 503 is a usage amount measuring means information variable means for providing an authentication information input screen or accepting information submitted from the authentication information submitting means 502 and performing registration processing in the database, and 504 is a second customer database. It is. The temporary authentication information input means 501 is an SD card drive, the authentication information submission means 502 is a microcomputer, the usage measurement means information variable means 503 is a web server software having a CGI providing function for data input, and a second customer database. This configuration can be easily realized by using database software 504.

  The operation and action of the usage amount display system and information terminal configured as described above will be described below. The flow of information in each preparation operation and display operation is shown in FIG.

  In the first embodiment, when the information association operation is performed, the input is performed using the serial number input interface of the usage amount measuring unit 101 provided by the usage amount measuring unit information variable unit 111 of the second server 108. The side where the installation provider on the side providing the information terminal 113 and the first server 104 performs this work does not perform the network setting and operates the usage measurement unit 101 and the second server 108. Even if it is performed by the installation contractor or the network setting is completed, the connection to the second server 108 is not always possible through the Internet 117 at the time of installation because the connection is disconnected irregularly due to construction. Not necessarily.

  However, if the installer goes to visit many times, the labor cost for the setting increases, so that even if the connection to the Internet 117 is not possible, the installer can finish the setting. When connecting to the second server 108, provisional temporary authentication information for automatically terminating the procedure needs to be prepared.

  Therefore, in the preparation operation for submitting authentication information according to the second embodiment, the information terminal control means 115 passes the SD card drive as the temporary authentication information input means 501 through the display means 114 in order to prepare temporary authentication information for setting. Use it to make the installer input temporary authentication information for setting. This setting temporary authentication information is issued by the company that operates the usage measuring means 101 and the second server 108, and the information is registered in the second customer database 504 (FIG. 8).

  Here, when the temporary authentication information is issued, the serial number itself of the usage amount measuring unit 101 attached (or scheduled to be attached) to the installation home is used as the temporary authentication information, so that the setting shown in FIG. The temporary authentication information for use and the serial number of the measuring means can be combined into one.

  Further, when issuing the temporary authentication information, the serial number of the usage amount measuring unit 101 attached (or scheduled to be attached) to the house to be installed is duplicated and used as temporary authentication information in FIG. Since the temporary authentication information for setting and the serial number of the measuring means can be information created by the same system, the information system managed by the second customer database 504 can be reduced by one.

  In addition, when issuing temporary authentication information, the temporary number obtained by performing a predetermined calculation (for example, BASE64 encoding) on the serial number of the usage amount measuring unit 101 attached (or scheduled to be attached) to the house to be installed. By using the authentication information, the setting temporary authentication information in FIG. 8 and the measuring means serial number can be made into the same system, so the information system managed by the second customer database 504 is reduced by one. I can do it. In addition to reducing the information system by one, since the data is converted by calculation by performing the calculation, it is possible to obtain information whose original number is not known even if the data is viewed directly, so that the security of authentication is enhanced. .

  At this time, if the connection to the Internet 117 is established, after the authentication information submission preparation operation on the information terminal 113 side as in the first embodiment is performed as shown in FIG. 113 is stored in the authentication information submission means 502.

  If connection to the Internet 117 is not established, provisional authentication information for setting is stored in the authentication information submission means 502 of the information terminal 113 as shown in FIG. Operation is performed.

  Next, the information association operation will be described.

  Regardless of the order of installation, when the temporary authentication information for setting and the authentication information are prepared as in the final state of FIGS. 6 and 7, the authentication information is obtained from the first server 104, the second This means that the environment for connecting to the server 108 is ready. Therefore, when the setting temporary authentication information and the authentication information are prepared, the authentication information submitting means 502 requests the information terminal control means 115 to start executing the information association operation.

  When the information terminal control means 115 receives the request and connects to the second server 108, the usage measurement means information variable means 503 requests the submission of authentication information, and authentication information is sent as a response to the request as shown in FIG. The submitting means 502 submits the temporary authentication information for setting and the authentication information to the usage measuring means information varying means 503 (S23). The setting temporary authentication information is registered in the second customer database 504 as described above, and the usage amount measuring unit information variable unit 503 associates the setting temporary authentication information, the authentication information, and the measuring unit serial number. .

  By using the temporary authentication information for setting in this way, the temporary authentication information for setting that cannot be reset without input by the setter is not used for a long period of time. There is an advantage that the usage amount can be displayed using the authentication information that can be rewritten periodically from the server 104. This authentication information rewriting operation may be executed when the display information is not returned when the connection is made to the second server 108 by the usage amount display instruction.

  Similarly to the first embodiment, when the use amount display setting operation is started from the use amount display setting screen displayed on the display unit 114 by the installer or the user, the information terminal 113 displays the second server 108. Make a connection to. The second server 108 sends an HTML file for displaying the interface for inputting the serial number of the usage measuring means 101 to the information terminal 113 by the usage measuring means information varying means 503, and requests the submission of the serial number.

  The setter inputs a serial number by inputting numbers and alphabets written on a document engraved or attached to the usage amount measuring unit 101 from an interface displayed on the touch panel prepared by the display unit 114 from the touch panel. . The second server control unit 109 associates the authentication information with the usage amount on the second customer database 504 using the input serial number and the authentication information submitted simultaneously by the information terminal (S23). ). Thereby, the serial number of the usage amount measuring means 101 registered in the customer database 504 can be updated.

  By constructing the authentication mechanism in this way, for example, even when the usage measuring unit 101 is replaced due to a failure, the usage amount display request is sent from the information terminal 113 of the house where the usage measuring unit 101 is installed to the same authentication information. Therefore, it is not always necessary to change the second customer database by using the usage measurement means information variable means 503, and the system can be configured by simple means such as directly changing the contents of the second customer database 110. It can be operated. Further, even when the information terminal 113 breaks down and is replaced, the authentication information is provided from the first server, so that the system can be operated without changing the authentication information used.

  In addition, the display operation of the usage amount display system and the information terminal after the association is executed is the same as in the first embodiment, and the user instructs the usage amount display through the touch panel interface prepared by the display unit 114. Then, the information terminal 113 uses the authentication information (for example, the authentication character string “0001”) stored in the authentication information submission unit 502 in the authentication information submission preparation operation as the user agent information of the HTTP protocol, for example, as the second server 108. (S24).

  In the second server 108, the second server control unit 109 instructs the usage amount providing unit 112. Based on the authentication information “0001” submitted from the information terminal 113, the usage amount submitting means 112 searches the second customer database 504 for the serial number of the usage amount measuring means 101 corresponding to “0001”, and corresponds. Pull out usage. The usage amount submitting means 112 uses the extracted usage amount to process it into an HTML file that can be displayed on the information terminal 113 and returns a response to the information terminal 113. The information terminal 113 interprets the HTML file returned from the second server 108 by the information terminal control means 115, and displays information to the user through the display means 114 (S25).

  As described above, in the usage amount display system and information terminal of the present invention, the information terminal has temporary authentication information input means, and the information submitted from the authentication information submission means can be recognized in the second customer database. Usage amount display system and information terminal capable of setting association between information used for usage amount display on second customer database and usage amount even when not connected to network by providing temporary authentication information for setting Can be provided.

  Needless to say, the input medium through the temporary authentication information input unit 501 is not limited to the SD card, and any storage medium may be used. Further, the input may be performed through the display unit 114 without using the storage medium.

  In the present embodiment, the temporary authentication information is used to register the authentication information in the second customer database 110 and display the usage amount. However, the authentication information is registered in the second customer database 110. Of course, even when only the setting temporary authentication information is used, since the setting temporary authentication information can be used as a keyword for extracting the usage amount, it goes without saying that the operation of the usage amount display system can be realized.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of a usage amount display system and an information terminal according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram in which the information terminal control means 115 is connected to the water heater 102 in FIG. The operation and action of the usage amount display system and information terminal configured as shown in FIG. 9 will be described below.

  By the same operation as in the first embodiment, the information terminal 113 can connect to the second server 108 and display the usage amount measured by the usage amount measuring unit 101. The information terminal 113 is connected to the water heater 102 and is configured to transmit a user command from a touch panel provided by the display unit 114. The information terminal 113 can control the operation of the device 103 by displaying a command for instructing the start and stop of the operation of the terminal device 103 connected to the water heater 102 on the display unit 114 and transmitting a user instruction. As a result, the user can check the amount of gas used by the device 103 on the information terminal 113 that controls the operation of the device 103.

  As described above, the usage amount display system and the information terminal of the present invention are provided with a control function of a device that uses a target measured by the usage amount measuring means by the information terminal, so that the user can measure a target when using the device. Since the amount of use can be conscious, useless use can be suppressed.

  Although only the operation start and stop have been described as the control function of the information terminal 113, it goes without saying that various operations such as reservation and temperature setting can be performed by the interface displayed on the display unit 114. Nor.

  In addition, the means described in the first, second, third, and fourth embodiments include a CPU (or a microcomputer), a RAM, a ROM, a storage / recording device, an electric / information device including an I / O, a computer, a server, and the like. You may implement with the form of the program which cooperates these hard resources. In the case of a program, the program can be distributed / updated and installed easily by recording it on a recording medium such as magnetic media or optical media, or by distributing it using a communication line such as the Internet.

  As described above, the usage amount display system, the information terminal, and the program thereof according to the present invention have a complicated arrangement for sharing a database between servers having two or more independent customer databases, and high management and maintenance costs. Data linkage can be achieved without preparing a secret function communication means.

  This operation can be applied not only to the usage amount display but also to uses such as GPS location information display and security system status display by the function of the second server at the connection destination.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the usage-amount display system and information terminal in Embodiment 1 of this invention. (A) The figure which shows the state of the 1st customer database and information terminal of the usage-amount display system in Embodiment 1 of this invention (b) The 2nd customer database of the usage-amount display system in Embodiment 1 of this invention That shows the status of information terminals The block diagram which shows the structure of the usage-amount display system and information terminal in Embodiment 2 of this invention (A) The figure which shows the 1st customer database of the usage-amount display system in Embodiment 2 of this invention, and the state of an information terminal (b) The 2nd customer database of the usage-amount display system in Embodiment 1 of this invention That shows the status of information terminals The block diagram which shows the structure of the usage-amount display system and information terminal in Embodiment 3 of this invention. The figure which shows the state of the 1st customer database and information terminal of the usage-amount display system in Embodiment 3 of this invention. The figure which shows the state of the 1st customer database and information terminal of the usage-amount display system in Embodiment 3 of this invention. The figure which shows the state of the 2nd customer database and information terminal of the usage-amount display system in Embodiment 3 of this invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the usage-amount display system and information terminal in Embodiment 4 of this invention The block diagram which shows the structure of the usage-amount display system which is a prior art example, and an information terminal The figure explaining the flow of the information in each preparation operation | movement and display operation in Embodiment 1 of this invention The figure explaining the flow of the information in each preparation operation | movement and display operation in Embodiment 2 of this invention The figure explaining the flow of the information in each preparation operation | movement and display operation in Embodiment 3 of this invention

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Usage amount measurement means 102 Hot-water heater 103 Equipment 104 1st server 105 1st server control means 106 1st customer database 107 Authentication information provision means 108 2nd server 109 2nd server control means 110 2nd customer Database 111 Usage amount measuring means Information varying means 112 Usage amount providing means 113 Information terminal 114 Display means 115 Information terminal control means 116 Authentication information submitting means 117 Internet 301 Authentication information switching means 302 First customer database 303 Authentication information submitting means 501 Temporary Authentication information input means 502 Authentication information submission means 503 Usage amount measurement means information variable means 504 Second customer database 1001 Usage amount measurement means 1002 Water heater 1003 Equipment 1008 Server 1009 Server control means 1010 Customer Database 1012 amount providing unit 1013 information terminal 1014 display unit 1015 information terminal controller 1016 credentials submitted means 1017 Internet

Claims (13)

A first server comprising: a usage measuring means for measuring usage such as electricity, gas and water; a first customer database; and an authentication information providing means for providing authentication information stored in the customer database; Use amount measurement means information variable means for providing an interface for inputting / changing information for identifying the second customer database and the use amount measurement means via a network, and use for providing measurement data of the use amount measurement means A second server comprising a quantity providing means, and an information terminal comprising an authentication information submitting means for storing the authentication information acquired from the first server and submitting it when connected to the server, and authenticating through the information terminal Realizing data linkage between the first customer database and the second customer database by passing information, and measuring the usage amount at the information terminal Utilization display system capable of displaying the information of the stage. The first customer database has two or more authentication information, and the information terminal switches authentication information for switching two or more authentication information acquired from the first customer database for each server to connect to the server. The usage amount display system according to claim 1, wherein the usage amount display system is an information terminal comprising means. The information terminal has provisional authentication information input means, and the authentication information of the information terminal is obtained even when the information terminal is not connected to the network by adding provisional authentication information for setting to the information submitted from the authentication information submission means. The usage amount display system according to claim 1, wherein a setting for registering in the customer database is possible. The usage amount display system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the information terminal has a control function of a device that uses a target measured by the usage amount measuring means. By using the information for identifying the usage amount measuring means in the second customer database as the temporary authentication information input from the temporary authentication information input means, the items in the second customer database are changed. 4. The usage amount display system according to claim 3, wherein at least one is reduced.   In the second customer database, the temporary authentication information input from the temporary authentication information input means is copied and used for identifying the usage amount measuring means in the second customer database. 4. The usage amount display system according to claim 3, wherein at least one data system managed in the system is reduced.   By using, as the temporary authentication information input from the temporary authentication information input means, a result obtained by performing an operation on information for identifying the usage amount calculation means in the second customer database, the second 4. The usage amount display system according to claim 3, wherein the data system managed in the customer database is reduced by at least one and the original data is not understood even if the data is directly viewed. The program for performing at least one part of the function of the usage-amount display system of any one of Claims 1-7 by a computer. A first server comprising: a usage measuring means for measuring usage such as electricity, gas and water; a first customer database; and an authentication information providing means for providing authentication information stored in the customer database; Use amount measurement means information variable means for providing an interface through which information for identifying the second customer database and the use amount measurement means can be input / changed via a network, and use for providing measurement data of the use amount measurement means An information terminal comprising authentication information submitting means for communicating with a second server comprising a quantity providing means, storing the authentication information acquired from the first server, and submitting the information when connecting to the server, Realizing data linkage between the first customer database and the second customer database by passing authentication information through a terminal, the usage amount measuring means Information terminal capable of displaying the information. The first customer database has two or more authentication information, and comprises an authentication information switching means for switching two or more authentication information acquired from the first customer database for each server and connecting to the server. The information terminal according to claim 9. The temporary authentication information input means for inputting the temporary authentication information used for setting, and the information even when not connected to the network by adding the temporary authentication information for setting to the information submitted from the authentication information submission means The information terminal according to any one of claims 9 to 10, wherein setting for registering authentication information of the terminal in the second customer database is possible. The information terminal according to any one of claims 9 to 11, further comprising a control function of a device that uses an object to be measured by the usage amount measuring unit. The program for performing at least one part of the function of the information terminal of any one of Claims 9-12 by a computer.

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