JP2006338254A - Water meter reading and water pipe leakage detection system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow common use of customer data to improve workability, in water meter reading and leakage detection of a water pipe. <P>SOLUTION: A portable terminal having a photographic function and a portable water leakage detection device are connected, and the portable terminal is made to store at least the customer data and a preceding water meter indication value of a customer. After performing first processing for detecting this water meter indication value from an image of the water meter of the customer photographed by the portable terminal, comparing this water meter indication value and the preceding water meter indication value to calculate a water use amount and to read the water meter, and performing second processing for detecting presence/absence of the leakage of the water pipe by the portable water leakage detection device by use of the customer data, results of the first processing and the second processing are printed, so that the portable terminal reading the water meter and the portable water leakage detection device are connected, and the customer data can be used in common to improve the workability. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a water meter meter and a water pipe leak detection system that can share customer information stored in a portable terminal when performing meter reading of a water meter and water leak detection of a water pipe.

  Conventionally, as a meter reading method of this type of water meter, for example, a meter reading method for managing meter information by acquiring information indicated by the meter and transmitting this information from a communication terminal to a meter reading center via a communication network Then, when acquiring the information indicated by the meter, the pointer value of the meter and the unique identification information written on the meter are photographed into one frame by using photographing means to form image information, There is a meter reading method configured to transmit this image information from the communication terminal (see Patent Document 1).

  In addition, as a method for detecting water leaks in water pipes, for example, the main body of a portable leak detection device that can be connected to a sensor, a high-precision frequency analysis circuit, a switch circuit, an energy time integration circuit, and an energy time integration A leak detection method by a portable leak detection device having a characteristic calculation circuit, a level display circuit, and a timer, wherein (a) the presence or absence of water leak is automatically determined by the high-precision frequency analysis circuit, When it is determined that there is no water leakage, it moves to the next measurement point. For measurement points that are determined to have water leakage, (b) every very short measurement unit time in synchronization with the pulse from the timer. , Time integration of the energy within the measurement unit time in the output signal of the sensor, and (c) energy time integration value of the measurement unit time as energy time integration characteristic data (D) The level that is the lowest value of the energy time integration characteristic data throughout the entire measurement time at one measurement point is set as the water leakage sound level at the measurement point, and this is also displayed on the level display circuit. (E) Of the leakage sound level data at each measurement point, the measurement point at which the maximum value of the leakage sound level is obtained is determined as the measurement point closest to the leakage point. There is a method for detecting a water leakage position by a water leakage position detection device (see Patent Document 2).

JP 2003-272076 A JP 2000-155066 A

  However, since the technologies of Patent Documents 1 and 2 are independent technologies, customer data must be read for each device every time measurement is performed, and the work is complicated.

  Accordingly, there is a problem that must be solved by improving the workability by allowing customer data to be used in common in meter reading of water meters and water leak detection of water pipes.

  The water meter meter reading and water pipe leak detection system according to the present invention as a specific means for solving the problems of the conventional example described above, a portable terminal having a photographing function and a portable leak detector are connected to the portable terminal. Stores at least customer data and the previous water meter guide value of the customer, detects the current water meter guide value from the image of the customer's water meter taken by the mobile terminal, and A first process of calculating a water consumption by comparing the value with the previous water meter guideline value and metering the water meter, and using the customer data, the portable leak detector detects water leakage in the water pipe The main feature is to record and / or print the results of the first process and the second process after the second process for detecting the presence or absence.

  In the present invention, the customer data includes at least a customer number and a meter number; the portable terminal has a communication function, and the first process and the second process are performed by the communication function. Can be sent to the server as an additional requirement.

  The water meter meter reading and water pipe leak detection system according to the present invention connects a portable terminal having a photographing function and a portable leak detector, and at least customer data and the previous water meter of the customer are connected to the portable terminal. Store the indicator value, detect the current water meter indicator value from the image of the customer's water meter taken by the mobile terminal, and compare the current water meter indicator value with the previous water meter indicator value After performing the first process of calculating the amount of water used and metering the water meter, and the second process of detecting the presence or absence of water leakage in the water pipe by the portable water leakage detection device using the customer data, Since the results of the first process and the second process are recorded and / or printed, a portable terminal for meter reading a water meter and a portable water leak detector are connected. Te, will be able to use these customer data in common, an excellent effect that the workability is improved.

Next, the present invention will be described in detail based on specific embodiments.
A schematic diagram of a water meter meter reading and water pipe leak detection system according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 is a portable terminal having a photographing function, 2 is a portable leak detector, 3 is a sensor of the portable leak detector, 4 is a water meter, and 5 is a water pipe. is there.

  For example, a mobile phone with a camera can be used as the mobile terminal 1. In the photographing function of the portable terminal 1, photographing is performed with a resolution of 1 million pixels or more, and after binary conversion (monochrome), dot analysis is performed, a pointer position is specified, and a numerical value is determined.

  Moreover, as the portable water leakage detection device 2, an existing portable water leakage detection device such as a time integration type is used, and the presence or absence of water leakage can be determined mechanically simply by bringing the sensor 3 into contact with the water pipe 5. Is.

  The portable terminal 1 and the portable water leakage detection device 2 are connected by a communication cable 6 such as RS-232C, for example, and the portable water leakage detection device 2 and the sensor 3 are connected by a cable 7. Instead of the communication cable 6, the portable terminal 1 and the portable water leak detection device 2 may be connected using a wireless communication means such as Bluetooth.

  In the mobile terminal 1, for example, customer data such as a customer number and a meter number and the previous water meter guideline value of the customer are stored in advance. In addition, as the customer data, information such as the customer's name, customer's address, where the water meter is installed at the customer's house, and the customer's family structure are stored. This customer data is stored according to the order of the circulation destinations and can be displayed in a list.

  The measurer calls customer data stored in the mobile terminal 1 and captures an image of the customer's water meter 4 using the imaging function of the mobile terminal 1 as a first process. In the portable terminal 1, this captured image is analyzed to detect the current water meter indicator value.

  The portable terminal 1 compares the detected current water meter guide value with the previous water meter guide value, and calculates the difference obtained by subtracting the previous water meter guide value from the current water meter guide value. The amount, that is, the amount billed this time is calculated and the water meter is read.

Next, using the called customer data, as a second process, the sensor 3 is brought into contact with the water pipe 5, and the portable water leakage detector 2 detects the presence or absence of water leakage in the water pipe 5. When detecting the presence or absence of water leakage in the water pipe 5, the water leakage sound detected by the sensor 3 is built into the main body of the portable water leakage detection device 2 by applying the sensor 3 to the exposed piping in the water meter 4. The presence / absence of water leakage is determined by the time integration type water leakage determination program.

  Thereby, since it can use in common, without calling customer data for every apparatus of the portable terminal 1 and the portable water leak detection apparatus 2, re-input of customer data can be abbreviate | omitted and operation becomes easy.

  The results of the first process and the second process may be recorded in the mobile terminal 1 or a notice may be printed using a portable printer or the like. Post to. That is, the result of the first process and the second process is recorded or printed on at least the portable terminal 1 so as to leave data. For example, the first process is printed and the second process is performed. The recording may be performed by the portable terminal 1. Then, an image of the previous water meter guide value and an image of the current water meter guide value may be printed on the notice. Further, when the mobile terminal 1 has a communication function, the results of the first process and the second process may be transmitted to the server.

  Next, the display screen of the portable terminal 1 in FIG. FIG. 2 shows a display screen of the mobile terminal 1 in the first process, and FIG. 3 shows a display screen of the mobile terminal 1 in the second process performed after the first process is completed. .

  First, on the display screen m1 of the mobile terminal 1 in FIG. 2, a list of travel destinations that are measured by the measurer stored in the mobile terminal 1, for example, the name of the customer is displayed. When a specific customer, for example, the first customer is selected from the circulation destination list, the display screen of the portable terminal 1 is switched to m2.

  The display screen m2 displays customer data such as the customer name d2, the customer address d3, the meter number d4, and the water meter installation position d5 at the customer's house, in addition to the selected customer name d1.

  The measurer confirms these customer data, and if there is no mistake, the image of the water meter 4 is photographed using the photographing function of the portable terminal 1. The photographed image of the water meter 4 is analyzed by the processing program of the portable terminal 1, and is detected and recognized as the current water meter indicator value.

  The portable terminal 1 calculates a difference by subtracting the previously stored water meter guideline value stored in advance from the detected current water meter guideline value, calculates the current bill, and reads the water meter.

  When the first process is completed in this way, the display screen of the portable terminal 1 is switched to m3, and it is displayed that the first process is completed. Next, a display for confirming whether or not to conduct a water leakage survey is displayed, and when the water leakage survey is selected here, the display screen of the portable terminal 1 is switched to m4.

  At this time, since the customer information selected on the display screen m1 is maintained, it is not necessary to select a customer again on the display screen m3. Therefore, the customer information in the first process is common in the second process. Can be used.

  Therefore, the customer's name d1 and customer number d2 similar to the display screen m2 are displayed on the display screen m4. When the sensor 3 is brought into contact with the exposed pipe in the water meter 4, a confirmation OK display f1 is displayed in the display screen m4.

  Next, the data setting f2, confirmation f3 whether the customer is away, confirmation of the faucet number d6 and confirmation of measurement start f4, the portable leak detector 2 automatically detects the presence or absence of water leakage The second process is performed.

  After these first processing and second processing are completed, these results are recorded in the storage device of the portable terminal 1, a notification is printed with a portable printer, etc., and posted to the customer's home mailbox, A series of work is completed. Note that the result of the first process and the second process may be either recording in the storage device of the portable terminal 1 or printing using a portable printer.

It is the schematic of the water meter meter-reading and water pipe leak detection system which concern on embodiment of this invention. It is a display screen of the portable terminal in a 1st process. It is a display screen of the portable terminal in a 2nd process.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Portable terminal 2 Portable water leak detection apparatus 3 Sensor 4 Water meter 5 Water pipe 6 Communication cable 7 Cable m1 to m4 Display screen d1 to d6 of mobile terminal Customer data f1 to f4 Operation on display screen of mobile terminal

Claims (3)

Connect a portable terminal with a shooting function and a portable water leak detector,
In the portable terminal, at least customer data and the previous water meter guideline value of the customer are stored,
The current water meter indicator value is detected from the image of the customer's water meter taken by the mobile terminal,
A first process of comparing the current water meter guideline value with the previous water meter guideline value to calculate the amount of water used and metering the water meter;
After performing the second process of detecting the presence or absence of water leakage in the water pipe by the portable water leakage detection device using the customer data,
A water meter meter reading and water pipe leak detection system characterized by recording and / or printing the results of the first treatment and the second treatment. The water meter meter reading and water pipe leak detection system according to claim 1, wherein the customer data includes at least a customer number and a meter number. The mobile terminal is
The water meter meter reading and water pipe leak detection system according to claim 1, further comprising a communication function, wherein the result of the first process and the second process can be transmitted to the server by the communication function.

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