JP2006195518A - Centralized monitoring system for gas using facility - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To propose a centralized monitoring system for a gas using facility capable of constructing each system of automatic gas meter reading, watching and crime prevention without causing the increase of an installation space and cost. <P>SOLUTION: The centralized monitoring system 1 for a general house is provided with a home device 5 and a centralized monitoring device 3 connected through a general communication line 6. The home device 5 is provided with a gas meter 11, a gas use state monitoring device 12 for monitoring a gas use state to perform watching service, and a crime preventive device 14 for performing crime preventive monitoring service based on the output of a crime prevention sensor 13, wherein these devices can communicate with each other through a common transmission device 15 and can communicate with an external centralized monitoring device 3 through a general communication line 6. Since a transmission system of meter read data of gas, a transmission system of watching service and a transmission system of crime preventive monitoring service are shared, a system having each function of meter reading, watching and crime prevention can be constructed in a small installation space and moreover at a low cost. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a centralized monitoring system for a gas use facility that also uses a gas automatic meter reading system to monitor a resident in a gas use facility and also provide a monitoring service for crime prevention of the gas use facility.

  In recent years, automatic meter reading systems in which gas meter reading in general homes is performed on the central monitoring center side via a general communication line have become widespread. In the automatic meter reading system, a gas meter and a transmission device are installed in a gas use facility such as a general household, and the transmission device sends meter meter reading data to a general communication line periodically or in response to a request from a central monitoring center. It is configured to automatically transmit to the centralized monitoring center via For example, Patent Document 1 discloses such an automatic meter reading system.

  Further, in a single-living house, particularly a nursing home, a service called a monitoring service for monitoring whether or not a resident lives normally is increasing. In the monitoring service, a system in which a communicator is attached to equipment regularly used by residents, for example, an electric pot, and when the electric pot is used, this is transmitted to the monitoring center via a transmission device. Is generally adopted. When a signal transmitted periodically cannot be received, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the resident, and the monitoring center notifies the resident's relatives and the like accordingly.

On the other hand, with the increase in crimes and the like in recent years, the use of surveillance services for crime prevention is also increasing in ordinary households. Also in this service, when it is detected that an emergency has occurred based on the output of a security sensor such as a door sensor attached to a general household, an emergency call is sent from the transmission device to the monitoring center via a communication line. Security guards are rushing to the source.
JP 2001-312784 A

  Here, conventionally, a system for providing each of these services is constructed in an independent state. Therefore, when introducing a plurality of systems into a general home, it is necessary to provide a plurality of communication paths and to arrange a number of transmission apparatuses or communication units corresponding to the communication paths.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when the automatic meter reading system 100, the monitoring system 110 and the security system 120 are introduced, the gas meter 101 for constructing the automatic meter reading system 100 in the house 130 and the center 102 side A transmission device 103 for communication with the communication device, an electric pot 111 with a transmitter for constructing the watching system 110, a transmission device 113 for communication with the center 112 side, and a security system 120 A security sensor 121 attached to a window, a door, etc., a security device 122 (main body unit) for monitoring the output of the security sensor 121, and a communication unit 124 for performing communication with the center 123 side are installed.

  As described above, when a plurality of systems are introduced, the number of communication systems and transmission apparatuses corresponding to the number of systems is required, which has a disadvantage that installation space and cost increase.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to propose a centralized monitoring system for a gas use facility capable of constructing each system for watching and crime prevention without increasing installation space and cost, centering on an automatic gas meter reading system.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a centralized monitoring system for a gas use facility according to the present invention includes a facility side device installed in a gas use facility and a centralized monitoring device that monitors the facility side device via a general communication line. The facility-side device includes a gas meter, a usage status monitoring device that monitors a gas usage status based on a measurement value of the gas meter, a security device, the gas meter, the usage status monitoring device, and the security device. And a common transmission device used for connecting them to the centralized monitoring device via a general communication line.

The usage monitoring device can be configured to determine that an abnormality has occurred in a resident of the facility of use and to generate an emergency call in at least one of the following cases. The notification is sent to the centralized monitoring device via the transmission device.
When the gas is not used in a predetermined time zone When the unused state of the gas continues for a predetermined time or more When the deviation from the average gas usage pattern at the gas using facility is a predetermined value or more

  Further, the security device is configured to generate a security crime emergency notification upon detecting that a door, window, etc. has been opened based on an output from a security sensor installed at a door, window, etc. of the gas use facility. The generated crime prevention emergency call is sent to the centralized monitoring device via the transmission device.

  Here, the usage monitoring device determines whether or not gas is used based on the measured value of the meter, and based on this, the security device can generate the emergency emergency notification when the gas is not used. It is possible to switch to a warning release mode that is set to a warning mode and does not generate a crime prevention emergency call when gas is used.

  In the centralized monitoring system of the gas use facility of the present invention, the gas metering data transmission system, the monitoring system transmission system, and the security system transmission system in the gas use facility are shared, and a common transmission device is used. These devices can communicate with each other, and can communicate with the centralized monitoring device from the transmission device via a general communication line. Therefore, it is possible to construct a system having meter reading, watching and crime prevention functions with a small installation space and at a low price.

  Further, the operation of the crime prevention device (switching between the warning mode and the warning cancellation) can be linked to the monitoring result of the gas usage monitoring device via the transmission device. In ordinary houses, when there are residents, the security mode by the security device is canceled and the security mode is set only during absences. It may be transmitted to the center device side. According to the present invention, when the gas is being used, it is determined that the resident is at home and the warning mode is canceled, so that a notification is issued due to such forgetting to operate. Can be prevented.

  An example of a centralized monitoring system to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(overall structure)
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a centralized monitoring system to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram showing a device configuration. As shown in these drawings, the centralized monitoring system 1 of this example includes a centralized monitoring device 3 installed in a centralized monitoring center 2, a housing-side device 5 installed in a general house 4 that is a gas use facility, A general communication line 6 such as a telephone line that can be connected to each other, and a communication terminal 7 that can use an Internet mail service owned by an emergency person in charge of managing the general house 4. Yes. As the communication terminal 7, for example, a cellular phone that can use the character information service “i-mode” (registered trademark) of NTT DoCoMo can be used.

  The centralized monitoring device 3 of the centralized monitoring center 2 is a system that functions as an Internet server, for example, and manages and operates a browsing site for various information such as a history of gas usage in each general house 4 on the Internet. Those that have been given access rights in advance, such as emergency personnel, can access the browsing site.

  The house-side device 5 of the ordinary house 4 includes a gas meter 11 that measures the gas use flow rate in the ordinary house 4, a use state monitoring device 12 that monitors the gas use state based on the measured value of the gas meter 11, and the ordinary house 4. A crime prevention device 14 (main unit) that monitors the detection output of a security sensor 13 such as a door sensor installed on a door, window, or the like, and a transmission device 15 are provided.

  The meter reading data of the gas by the gas meter 11 is supplied to the transmission device 15 via the gas usage status monitoring device 12. The transmission device 15 transmits meter reading data to the centralized monitoring device 3 via the communication line 6 periodically or when there is a request from the centralized monitoring device 3. The basic configuration of the gas meter 11 is the same as that generally used, and a meter main body 21 including a measuring unit (not shown) for measuring the flow rate of gas flowing through a gas pipe (not shown), and this And a control unit 22 including an electronic counter attached to the meter body 21. In general, a unit flow rate pulse signal representing a gas flow rate is supplied from the meter body 21 to the control unit 22. The control unit 22 calculates and displays integrated values of various gas usage flows based on signals obtained from the meter main body 21.

  The usage status monitoring device 12 creates usage status data representing the gas usage status based on the gas meter reading data acquired from the gas meter 11. The gas usage status data is transmitted to the centralized monitoring device 3 from the transmission device 15 via the communication line 6 periodically or when requested by the centralized monitoring device 3. In addition, the actual gas usage status is constantly monitored, and when the actual gas usage status is different from the gas usage status data, a watchful emergency call is generated. The generated monitoring emergency call is sent from the transmission device 15 to the centralized monitoring device 4 via the communication line 7.

  The security device 14 can be switched between a warning mode and a warning release mode. In the warning mode, the doors and windows are opened based on the output from the security sensor 13 installed in the doors and windows of the general house 4. If it is detected, an emergency call is generated. The generated crime prevention emergency call is sent to the centralized monitoring device 3 through the transmission device 15.

  FIG. 3A shows a functional block diagram showing the operation of the usage status monitoring device 12 as an example. The gas usage status data D (12) transmitted from the usage status monitoring device 12 to the centralized monitoring device 3 via the transmission device 15 includes a gas usage status data table T in which each row is a time zone and each column is a day of the week. It is possible to see at a glance whether or not gas is used in each time zone on each day of the week.

  When the central monitoring device 3 receives the gas usage status data D (12), the central monitoring device 3 transfers the data D (12) by mail to the communication terminal 7 of the emergency staff using the Internet mail service. When the emergency officer receives the forwarded mail, the gas usage status read from the gas usage status data table T displayed on the screen indicates, for example, that the gas usage has not been performed for a certain period of time. It can be determined that the gas is not being used normally, or that there is an incident in the home away from home.

  Further, the usage status monitoring device 12 is based on the gas usage status data, when the gas is not used in the time zone where the gas is always used, and when the gas is not used for a predetermined time or more. If it continues, it will be judged that an abnormality has occurred in the resident, and an emergency call will be issued. Also, for example, comparing the daily gas usage status data with the actual gas usage status, and if the amount of deviation between them is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the resident, and is monitored. An emergency call can also be generated. The generated monitoring emergency notification is sent to the centralized monitoring device 3 via the transmission device 15, and the centralized monitoring device 3 transfers this notification to the communication terminal 7 of the emergency staff.

  It is also possible to create a gas usage data table using the integrated value of the gas flow rate per unit time transmitted from the control unit 22 of the gas meter 11 as it is. For example, the unit time is “2 hours”. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3B, a gas usage data table T ′ every two hours is created. In addition, the usage status monitoring device 12 uses the gas usage pattern that can be read from the data table T or T ′ when the gas is used at the gas usage location 4 for a predetermined time or longer or is not used for a predetermined time or longer. It is also possible to configure so as to issue an emergency alert indicating that in the event of a failure. When the center device 3 receives the emergency alert, the center device 3 immediately transfers the content to the emergency contact person's communication terminal 7 by mail.

  Next, FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing the operation of the security device in the alert mode. When the security device 14 detects that the door or the like has been opened based on the detection output of the security sensor 13, the security device 14 generates a security emergency notification D (14). This notification is sent to the centralized monitoring device 3 via the transmission device 15. The centralized monitoring device 3 creates transmission data I including information such as the time when an abnormality occurs and information on a house, and uses the Internet mail service to communicate with a communication terminal 7 of an emergency person 8 such as a house owner. Send an email to Upon receipt of the forwarded mail, the emergency officer 8 confirms the content of the emergency alert displayed on the screen, goes to the general home 4 where the report is generated, and contacts the police etc. if necessary.

  Here, the operation mode of the security device 14 is switched according to the presence or absence of gas use. That is, the security device 14 can communicate with the gas usage monitoring device 12 via the transmission device 15, and when it is confirmed that the gas usage has started in the gas usage monitoring device 12. That fact is supplied to the security device 14 via the transmission device 15. Further, when it is confirmed that the use of gas is stopped, the fact is supplied to the security device 14. The security device 14 is normally set in a warning mode, and switches to a warning release mode while gas is being used. Therefore, it is possible to prevent or suppress the adverse effect that the crime prevention emergency notification is issued from the crime prevention device 14 based on the detection signal of the crime prevention sensor even though the resident is at home.

  As described above, in the centralized monitoring system 1 of the gas use facility of this example, the communication system of the monitoring system and the communication system of the security system are integrated into the communication system for automatic meter reading of the gas meter 11, and a single transmission device is provided. 15, on the side of the centralized monitoring center 2, meter reading, monitoring service and crime prevention monitoring service of the general house 4 are performed. Therefore, compared to the case of constructing an individual system as in the prior art, the number of constituent devices can be reduced, and the installation space and cost can be reduced. Further, since communication can be performed between the gas usage status monitoring device 12 and the security device 14 via the common transmission device 15, the operation modes can be switched in conjunction with each other.

  In addition, the centralized monitoring center 2 that manages the gas meter 11 enters the relevant field by providing a monitoring service and a crime prevention service to the customer of the centralized monitoring center 2, so that business in other fields can be performed. Can be expanded. Furthermore, the user of the system of the present example has conventionally paid the gas usage fee, the monitoring service fee, and the crime prevention service fee separately to each individual service provider. So convenient. In addition, it is very economical because the basic fee required for each service can be reduced.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the centralized monitoring system to which this invention is applied. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the apparatus structural example of the system of FIG. (a) is a functional block diagram which shows the function by a use condition monitoring apparatus, (b) is explanatory drawing of a gas usage-amount data table. It is a functional block diagram which shows the function by a security device. It is explanatory drawing which shows the conventional system structure.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Centralized monitoring system 2 Centralized monitoring center 3 Centralized monitoring apparatus 4 General house 5 Housing-side apparatus 6 General communication line 7 Communication terminal 8 Emergency person 11 Gas meter 12 Gas use condition monitoring apparatus 13 Security sensor 14 Security apparatus 15 Transmission apparatus

Claims (4)

Facility-side equipment installed in gas-using facilities;
A centralized monitoring device for monitoring the facility side device via a general communication line,
The facility side device is:
A gas meter,
A usage monitoring device that monitors the gas usage based on the measured value of the gas meter;
A security device,
The gas meter, the usage monitoring device, and the security device are mutually connected, and a common transmission device used for connecting to the centralized monitoring device via the general communication line is provided. A centralized monitoring system for gas use facilities. In claim 1,
In the case of at least one of the following cases, the usage status monitoring device determines that an abnormality has occurred in a resident of the use facility and generates a watch emergency call, and the watch emergency call is transmitted via the transmission device. A centralized monitoring system for a gas use facility, which is sent to the centralized monitoring device.
When the gas is not used in a predetermined time zone When the unused state of the gas continues for a predetermined time or more When the deviation from the average gas usage pattern at the gas using facility is a predetermined value or more In claim 2,
When the security device detects that a door, window or the like has been opened based on an output from a security sensor installed in a door or window of the gas use facility, it generates a security emergency report,
The centralized monitoring system for a gas use facility, wherein the security emergency call is sent to the centralized monitoring device via the transmission device. In claim 3,
The usage monitoring device determines whether gas is being used based on the measurement value of the gas meter,
The said crime prevention device is set to a warning mode capable of generating the crime prevention emergency notification when the gas is not used, and is switched to a warning release mode in which the crime prevention emergency notification does not occur when the gas is used. system.

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