JP2007024956A - Meter reading device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a meter reading device and a meter reading method capable of inputting an indicating value of a meter with voice and transmitting a signal indicated by the meter, by radio, to an information processing terminal in which the indicating value of the meter is stored. <P>SOLUTION: A voice input device 1 for inputting the indicating value of the meter and the portable information processing terminal 2 which establish radio communication with the voice input device 1, are included. The voice input device 1 comprises; a voice input section 12 for inputting voice and converting the voice to a voice signal; and a radio communication section 11 for transmitting the voice signal converted in the voice input section 12 by radio. The information processing terminal 2 comprises; a radio communication section 21 for receiving the voice signal which is transmitted from the voice input section 1 by radio; a voice recognizing means 25 for recognizing the voice signal received by the radio communication section 21 and converting the voice signal to indicating value information which indicates the indicating value of the meter; and a memory section 23 for storing the indicating value information which is converted in the voice recognizing means 25. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a meter-reading device and a meter-reading method for inputting meter indication values such as water, electricity, and gas by voice, and in particular, a voice input device for inputting meter indication values by voice and information processing for storing meter indication values. The present invention relates to a meter-reading device and a meter-reading method for wirelessly connecting to a terminal.

  In general, meter readings for metering usage such as water, electricity, gas, etc., meter readers carrying handy terminals visit each customer and input meter readings using the handy terminal keyboard, The entered information is displayed on the display unit for confirmation.

In addition, a meter reading system is disclosed in which an indication value of a meter is input to a terminal device by voice and the input information is confirmed by voice (for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-7-134793

  However, in the conventional meter reading system described in Patent Document 1, since the microphone for performing voice input is connected to the terminal device by wire, the terminal device cannot be stored in a pocket or a bag. For this reason, a structure for protecting from rain and snow is necessary, and the terminal device becomes large and the weight of the device becomes heavy.

  In addition, meter reading may be performed after a lid or the like provided on the meter is opened. For example, a water meter is installed in a meter tank buried in the ground, and a lid is provided on the meter. Further, the water meter is provided with a lid for protecting the glass of the display unit. At the time of meter reading of a water meter, it is necessary to open the lid of the meter and the lid of the water meter. The meter reader brings a meter bar with a hook and uses this meter bar to open the lid.

  However, since the terminal device used in the conventional meter reading system is connected to the microphone by wire and cannot be stored in a pocket or a bag, it becomes a hindrance when working as described above, and the workability is poor. .

  An object of the present invention is to provide a meter-reading device and a meter-reading method capable of inputting a meter indication value by voice and wirelessly transmitting a signal indicating the meter indication value to an information processing terminal that stores the meter indication value. is there.

  The present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above problems. The invention of claim 1 includes a voice input device that inputs a meter indication value by voice and a portable information processing terminal that performs wireless communication with the voice input device, wherein the voice input device inputs the voice, A voice input unit that converts the voice into a voice signal; and a wireless communication unit that wirelessly transmits the voice signal converted by the voice input unit, wherein the information processing terminal transmits wirelessly from the voice input device. A wireless communication unit that receives the voice signal, a voice recognition unit that recognizes the voice signal received by the wireless communication unit, and converts the voice signal into indication value information indicating an indication value of the meter; And a storage unit for storing the instruction value information converted by the voice recognition means.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the voice input device inputs the meter indication value by voice and transmits the voice signal wirelessly, and the information processing terminal recognizes the voice signal transmitted wirelessly from the voice input device. In addition, since the meter reading value obtained based on the voice signal is stored, there is no need to directly operate the information processing terminal at the time of meter reading, and the voice input device and the information processing terminal are connected wirelessly. Therefore, the information processing terminal can be stored in a pocket or a bag. For this reason, it can protect easily from rain, snow, etc., the workability | operativity at the time of stormy weather can be improved, and damage to an information processing terminal can be prevented.

  Hereinafter, a meter reading device and a meter reading method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following, a case will be described in which a headset is used as the voice input device of the present invention and a portable information terminal (hereinafter referred to as PDA: Personal Digital Assistance) is used as the portable information processing terminal of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a meter reading device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing an example of a meter reading device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the meter-reading apparatus which concerns on Example 1 of this invention is provided with the headset 1 and PDA2.

  First, the headset 1 will be described. The headset 1 corresponds to the voice input device of the present invention, and is a device that inputs a meter indication value by voice. As shown in FIG. 1, the headset includes a wireless communication unit 11, a microphone 12, a speaker 13, a memory 14, and a CPU 15.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the headset 1 is configured to be attachable to an operator's head, and includes a head arm 16, ear pads 17 a and 17 b provided on both ends of the head arm 16, ear pads 17 a and 17 b. Each includes a built-in speaker 13, a microphone arm 18 having one end attached to the ear pad 17 b, and a microphone 12 attached to the other end of the microphone arm 18. A battery (not shown) serving as a power source for the headset 1 is built in the ear pad 17b, and electronic circuits (not shown) such as the wireless communication unit 11, the memory 14, and the CPU 15 are built in the ear pad 17a.

  The microphone 12 inputs sound, converts the input sound into a sound signal, and outputs the sound signal. The speaker 13 converts the audio signal transmitted wirelessly from the PDA 2 into audio and outputs it. The wireless communication unit 11 transmits / receives an audio signal to / from the PDA 2 wirelessly. The wireless communication unit 11 performs wireless communication in accordance with, for example, the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard. The CPU 15 controls the entire headset 1. The memory 14 temporarily stores an audio signal output from the microphone 12 and an audio signal received by the wireless communication unit 11.

  Next, the PDA 2 will be described. The PDA 2 corresponds to the portable information processing terminal of the present invention, and is an apparatus that stores instruction value information indicating an instruction value of the meter. As shown in FIG. 1, the PDA 2 includes a wireless communication unit 21, a display / touch input unit 22, a memory 23, an external device connection unit 24, and a CPU 25.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the PDA 2 has a thin box-shaped housing 26 and is configured to have a size that can be easily stored in a pocket, a bag, or the like. The housing 26 incorporates electronic circuits (not shown) such as a wireless communication unit 21, a memory 23, and a CPU 25, and a display / touch input unit 22. A small number of buttons 27 are provided around the display / touch input unit 22. In addition, an external device connection unit 24 for transmitting / receiving information to / from an external device is provided at the lower portion of the housing 26.

  The PDA 2 performs a speech synthesis process for generating a speech recognition program that performs speech recognition processing on the speech signal and a synthesized speech that expresses information (described later) stored in the memory 23 of the PDA 2 and outputs a synthesized speech signal. A speech synthesis program is installed.

  The wireless communication unit 21 wirelessly transmits and receives audio signals to and from the wireless communication unit 11 of the headset 1. The CPU 25 controls the entire PDA 2. The CPU 25 is a voice recognition unit and a voice synthesis unit of the present invention, and executes a voice recognition program and a voice synthesis program installed in the PDA 2. The memory 23 stores an indication value of the meter obtained by meter reading. The display / touch input unit 22 can display information stored in the memory 23 and perform each operation of the PDA 2 by touch input.

  The meter reader downloads information necessary for meter reading (such as identification information of the meter to be metered) from the host computer to the PDA 2 and stores it in the memory 23 of the PDA 2 before meter reading. The meter reader uploads information collected by meter reading after meter reading to the host computer. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which the PDA 2 is connected to the host computer. As shown in FIG. 3, the PDA 2 is connected to the client terminal 32 via the I / F device 31, and the client terminal 32 is connected to the host computer 34 via the communication network 33. The main information downloaded from the host computer 34 to the PDA 2 before meter reading is the customer number, customer name, address, instrument number, meter reading order, previous indication number, previous usage amount, and previous usage amount. The main information uploaded from the PDA 2 to the host computer 34 after meter reading is the customer number, current number of instructions, and current usage.

  Next, the operation of the meter reading device according to the first embodiment of the present invention and the meter reading method according to the first embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. First, the meter reader goes around the customer according to the meter reading sequence stored in the memory 23 of the PDA 2. When the meter reader arrives at the meter reading target area and the PDA 2 is turned on, the CPU 25 of the PDA 2 displays a synthesized voice that represents the meter identification information (for example, customer name and instrument number) stored in the memory 23. And a voice signal indicating the synthesized voice is wirelessly transmitted to the headset 1 via the wireless communication unit 21.

  The CPU 15 of the headset 1 outputs the audio signal received by the wireless communication unit 11 of the headset 1 to the speaker 13, and outputs the meter identification information from the speaker 13 by audio. For example, a voice guidance such as “Next customer is ...” is output to prompt the meter reader to confirm the meter to be metered (step S1).

  The meter-reader confirms the meter-reading meter, and if correct, inputs a voice to the effect that the meter-reading meter is confirmed to the microphone 12 of the headset 1 and responds. For example, the meter reader inputs “OK” to the microphone 12 by voice. The sound input to the microphone 12 is converted into an audio signal and transmitted wirelessly to the PDA 2 via the wireless communication unit 11 (step S2).

  The CPU 25 of the PDA 2 performs voice recognition processing on the voice signal received by the wireless communication unit 21 and generates a synthesized voice that prompts the meter to input an instruction value when information indicating that the meter-reader has confirmed the meter-reading target meter is obtained. Then, a voice signal indicating the synthesized voice is wirelessly transmitted to the headset 1 via the wireless communication unit 21.

  The headset 1 outputs the sound signal received by the wireless communication unit 11 to the speaker 13 and outputs sound prompting the meter 13 to input the meter indication value. For example, “What is the instruction value?” Is output (step S3).

  The meter reader inputs the indicated value of the meter by voice according to the voice instruction. For example, the meter reader inputs “1234.5” to the microphone 12 by voice. The sound input to the microphone 12 is converted into an audio signal and transmitted wirelessly to the PDA 2 via the wireless communication unit 11 (step S4).

  The CPU 25 of the PDA 2 performs voice recognition processing on the voice signal received by the wireless communication unit 21, converts the voice signal into instruction value information indicating an instruction value of the meter, and stores the instruction value information in the memory 23. At this time, the CPU 25 of the PDA 2 generates a synthesized voice representing the instruction value information stored in the memory 23 and wirelessly transmits a voice signal indicating the synthesized voice to the headset 1 via the wireless communication unit 21. To do.

  The CPU 15 of the headset 1 outputs the audio signal received by the wireless communication unit 11 of the headset 1 to the speaker 13, and outputs the instruction value of the meter input immediately before from the speaker 13 by voice. The user is prompted to confirm the value (step S5).

  The meter-reader confirms this sound and, if correctly input, inputs a sound indicating that the indicated value of the meter has been confirmed. For example, a meter reading slip printing instruction is input by voice. The meter reader inputs “reading the meter reading slip” to the microphone 12 by voice. The voice input to the microphone 12 is converted into a voice signal and transmitted wirelessly to the PDA 2 via the wireless communication unit 11 (step S6).

  When the CPU 25 of the PDA 2 performs voice recognition processing on the audio signal received by the wireless communication unit 21 and obtains information indicating that the meter instruction value has been confirmed (information indicating the meter reading slip printing instruction) The operation | movement which inputs the meter instruction value of a house is complete | finished, and the operation | movement which inputs the meter instruction value of the next consumer is started (it returns to step S1).

  The meter reading slip may be printed by a printer (not shown) by an operation from the PDA 2 after the meter reading is finished, or may be printed by a signal transmitted from the headset 1 by radio. A general-purpose Bluetooth printer can also be used as a printer for printing the meter reading slip.

  Thus, according to the meter-reading apparatus and the meter-reading method which concern on Example 1, the headset 1 inputs the instruction | indication value of a meter with an audio | voice, transmits an audio | voice signal by radio | wireless, PDA2 transmits by radio | wireless from the headset 1. The meter indication value obtained based on the voice signal is stored, so that it is not necessary to directly operate the PDA 2 at the time of meter reading, and the headset 1 and the PDA 2 are wirelessly connected. Since it is connected, the PDA 2 can be stored in a pocket or a bag. For this reason, it can protect easily from rain, snow, etc., the workability | operativity at the time of stormy weather can be improved, and damage to PDA2 can be prevented.

  In addition, since PDA2 can be stored in a pocket, bag, etc., meter reading can be performed hands-free. For example, when the meter lid needs to be opened at the time of meter reading, such as water meter meter reading. The PDA 2 does not get in the way and the workability is improved.

  Further, the PDA 2 generates synthesized speech that expresses the instruction value information stored in the memory 23, converts the synthesized speech into a synthesized speech signal, and wirelessly transmits the synthesized speech signal via the wireless communication unit 21. Converts the synthesized voice signal wirelessly transmitted from the PDA 2 into voice and outputs it, so that the meter indication value inputted immediately before from the headset 1 can be confirmed by voice, and input mistakes can be easily prevented. it can.

  Further, the memory 23 of the PDA 2 stores in advance the identification information of the meter to be metered, and the PDA 2 generates a synthesized voice that represents the meter identification information stored in the memory 23, and this synthesized voice is used as a synthesized voice signal. The headset 1 transmits wirelessly via the wireless communication unit 21 and the synthesized voice signal wirelessly transmitted from the PDA 2 is converted into voice and output. Therefore, the meter to be measured is checked before meter reading. It can be done easily.

  The meter-reading apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention performs voice recognition processing and voice synthesis processing inside the headset 1. The other configuration is the same as the configuration of the meter-reading apparatus according to the first embodiment, and a duplicate description is omitted. That is, in the second embodiment, the CPU 15 of the headset 1 has a voice recognition processing function and a voice synthesis processing function, and is a voice recognition unit and a voice synthesis unit of the present invention.

  Next, the operation of the meter reading device according to the second embodiment and the meter reading method according to the second embodiment will be described in detail. First, the meter reader goes around the customer according to the meter reading sequence stored in the memory 23 of the PDA 2. When the meter reader arrives at the meter reading target area and the PDA 2 is turned on, the CPU 25 of the PDA 2 uses the identification information (for example, customer name and instrument number) of the meter reading target stored in the memory 23 to the wireless communication unit 21. Via wireless to the headset 1.

  The CPU 15 of the headset 1 generates a synthesized voice representing the identification information of the meter received by the wireless communication unit 11 of the headset 1, outputs a voice signal indicating this synthesized voice to the speaker 13, and outputs the voice signal from the speaker 13 to the meter. The identification information is output by voice. For example, a voice guidance such as “Next customer is ...” is output to prompt the meter reader to confirm the meter to be read.

  The meter-reader confirms the meter-reading meter, and if correct, inputs a voice to the effect that the meter-reading meter is confirmed to the microphone 12 of the headset 1 and responds. For example, the meter reader inputs “OK” to the microphone 12 by voice. The sound input to the microphone 12 is converted into a sound signal, subjected to sound recognition processing by the CPU 15, and the recognition result is wirelessly transmitted to the PDA 2 via the wireless communication unit 11.

  When the CPU 25 of the PDA 2 obtains information indicating that the meter reader has confirmed the meter to be metered based on the recognition result received by the wireless communication unit 21, the CPU 25 sends a signal prompting the input of the meter instruction value to the wireless communication unit 21. Via wireless transmission to the headset 1.

  The CPU 15 of the headset 1 generates a synthesized voice that represents the signal received by the wireless communication unit 11, outputs a voice signal indicating the synthesized voice to the speaker 13, and prompts the meter 13 to input a meter instruction value. Is output. For example, “What is the indicated value?” Is output.

  The meter reader inputs the indicated value of the meter by voice according to the voice instruction. For example, the meter reader inputs “1234.5” to the microphone 12 by voice. The voice input to the microphone 12 is converted into a voice signal, subjected to voice recognition processing by the CPU 15, and the instruction value information indicating the obtained meter instruction value is wirelessly transmitted to the PDA 2 via the wireless communication unit 11.

  The CPU 25 of the PDA 2 stores the instruction value information received by the wireless communication unit 21 in the memory 23. At this time, the CPU 25 of the PDA 2 wirelessly transmits the instruction value information stored in the memory 23 to the headset 1 via the wireless communication unit 21.

  The CPU 15 of the headset 1 performs voice recognition processing on the voice signal received by the wireless communication unit 11 of the headset 1 to generate synthesized voice that expresses the instruction value information obtained by the voice recognition processing, and uses this synthesized voice as the voice. An audio signal is output to the speaker 13 and the meter instruction value input immediately before is output from the speaker 13 by voice to prompt confirmation of the meter instruction value.

  The meter-reader confirms this sound and, if correctly input, inputs a sound indicating that the indicated value of the meter has been confirmed. For example, a meter reading slip printing instruction is input by voice. The meter reader inputs “reading the meter reading slip” to the microphone 12 by voice. The sound input to the microphone 12 is converted into a sound signal, subjected to sound recognition processing by the CPU 15, and the recognition result is wirelessly transmitted to the PDA 2 via the wireless communication unit 11.

  When the CPU 25 of the PDA 2 obtains information indicating that the meter instruction value has been confirmed from the recognition result received by the wireless communication unit 21 (information indicating the meter reading slip printing instruction), the meter instruction value of one consumer Is finished, and the operation of inputting the meter indication value of the next consumer is started.

  The meter reading slip may be printed by a printer (not shown) by an operation from the PDA 2 after the meter reading is finished, or may be printed by a signal transmitted wirelessly from the headset 1. A general-purpose Bluetooth printer can also be used as a printer for printing the meter reading slip.

Thus, according to the meter-reading apparatus and the meter-reading method concerning Example 2, headset 1 inputs the indicator value of a meter with a voice, converts a voice signal into the indicator-value information of a meter, and transmits wirelessly, Since the PDA 2 stores the indicated value information of the meter wirelessly transmitted from the headset 1, it is possible to obtain the same effect as the effect of the first embodiment. Also, the PDA 2 wirelessly transmits the indicated value information stored in the memory 23. Wirelessly transmitted via the communication unit 21, the headset 1 generates synthesized speech representing the instruction value information and outputs it from the speaker 13, so that the meter instruction value input immediately before by the microphone 12 of the headset 1 can be obtained. It can be confirmed by voice, and input mistakes can be easily prevented.

  Further, the memory 23 of the PDA 2 stores in advance the identification information of the meter to be metered, and the PDA 2 wirelessly transmits the meter identification information stored in the memory 23 via the wireless communication unit 21, and the CPU 15 of the headset 1. Generates a synthesized voice representing the identification information of the meter and outputs it from the speaker 13, so that the meter to be metered can be easily confirmed before meter reading.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used as a meter reading device and a meter reading method used for meter reading of water, electricity, gas and the like.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the meter-reading apparatus which concerns on Example 1 of this invention. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows an example of the meter-reading apparatus which concerns on Example 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the state which connected the meter-reading apparatus which concerns on Example 1 of this invention to the host computer. It is a block diagram which shows the meter-reading method which concerns on Example 1 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Headset 2 ... PDA
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Wireless communication part 12 ... Microphone 13 ... Speaker 14 ... Memory 15 ... CPU
16 ... Head arms 17a, 17b ... Ear pad 18 ... Microphone arm 21 ... Wireless communication unit 22 ... Display / touch input unit 23 ... Memory 24 ... External device connection unit 25 ... CPU
26 ... Case 27 ... Button 31 ... I / F device 32 ... Client terminal 33 ... Communication network 34 ... Host computer

Claims (9)

A voice input device for inputting a meter indication value by voice and a portable information processing terminal for performing wireless communication with the voice input device;
The voice input device includes:
A voice input unit that inputs the voice and converts the voice into a voice signal;
A wireless communication unit that wirelessly transmits the voice signal converted by the voice input unit;
With
The information processing terminal
A wireless communication unit that receives the audio signal transmitted wirelessly from the audio input device;
Voice recognition means for recognizing the voice signal received by the wireless communication unit and converting the voice signal into instruction value information indicating an instruction value of the meter;
A storage unit for storing the instruction value information converted by the voice recognition unit;
A meter-reading device comprising: The information processing terminal
A speech synthesizer configured to generate synthesized speech representing the instruction value information stored in the storage unit and convert the synthesized speech into a synthesized speech signal; and the synthesized speech signal converted by the speech synthesizer Wirelessly transmitted by the wireless communication unit,
The voice input device includes:
The meter-reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a voice output unit that converts the synthesized voice signal transmitted wirelessly from the information processing terminal into voice and outputs the voice. The storage unit stores identification information of the meter,
The meter reading according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the speech synthesizer generates synthesized speech representing the identification information stored in the storage unit and converts the synthesized speech into a synthesized speech signal. apparatus. A voice input device for inputting a meter indication value by voice and a portable information processing terminal for performing wireless communication with the voice input device;
The voice input device includes:
A voice input unit that inputs the voice and converts the voice into a voice signal;
Voice recognition means for recognizing the voice signal converted by the voice input unit and converting the voice signal into instruction value information indicating an instruction value of the meter;
A wireless communication unit that wirelessly transmits the instruction value information converted by the voice recognition unit;
With
The information processing terminal
A wireless communication unit that receives the instruction value information transmitted wirelessly from the voice input device;
A storage unit for storing the instruction value information received by the wireless communication unit;
A meter-reading device comprising: The information processing terminal
The instruction value information stored in the storage unit is transmitted wirelessly by the wireless communication unit,
The voice input device includes:
A synthesized voice that expresses the instruction value information transmitted wirelessly from the information processing terminal is generated, and a voice synthesizer that converts the synthesized voice into a synthesized voice signal is provided, and the synthesized voice signal is converted into voice and output. The meter-reading apparatus of Claim 4 provided with the audio | voice output part which performs. The storage unit stores identification information of the meter,
The wireless communication unit of the information processing terminal wirelessly transmits the identification information stored in the storage unit,
6. The voice synthesis unit according to claim 4, wherein the voice synthesis unit generates a synthesized voice representing the identification information transmitted wirelessly from the information processing terminal, and converts the synthesized voice into a synthesized voice signal. The meter reading device described.   The meter reading device according to claim 1, wherein the voice input device is a headset. A voice input step of inputting an indication value of the meter by voice and converting the voice into a voice signal;
A wireless transmission step of wirelessly transmitting the audio signal;
A wireless reception step of wirelessly receiving the audio signal;
A voice recognition step of recognizing the voice signal received wirelessly and converting the voice signal into indication value information indicating an indication value of the meter;
A storage step for storing the indicated value information;
The meter-reading method characterized by having. A voice input step of inputting an indication value of the meter by voice and converting the voice into a voice signal;
A voice recognition step of recognizing the voice signal and converting the voice signal into indication value information indicating an indication value of the meter;
A wireless transmission step of wirelessly transmitting the indicated value information;
A storage step of storing the indicated value information received wirelessly;
The meter-reading method characterized by having.

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