JP2007232682A - Apparatus and system for centralized meter reading system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus and a system for centralized meter reading device which can obtain alarm information only from its continuously-generated period without any period for alarm determination cumulatively-increased by water meter. <P>SOLUTION: In this system, alarm information acquiring means 12 reads out alarm information of two or more water meters 20a-20n, while alarm information detecting means 13 detects specific type alarm information in accordance with predefined alarm information detecting conditions. Memory means 14 stores the room number of the water meter in which the detected alarm information has been generated, the type and status of the alarm information, the determined alarm information value established in the above water meter, and the current date time in memory section 15. After these information has been stored, reset process of alarm information is performed only for any alarm information-generated water meter. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a centralized meter-reading device that reads various information of water meters installed in each dwelling unit of an apartment house, and more specifically, a water leakage detection function, a zero flow rate detection function, a reverse flow detection function, an excessive flow rate detection function, and The present invention relates to a centralized meter reading device that reads alarm information from a water meter with a communication function having an alarm function such as an excess flow rate detection function, and a centralized meter reading system that includes a centralized meter reading device and a water meter.

  A water meter is used to measure the amount of tap water used and collect a fee from the user based on the measured result. Moreover, the water meter with a communication function which has various alarm functions, such as a water leak detection function, a zero flow rate detection function, a backflow detection function, an excessive flow rate detection function, and an excess flow rate detection function, is put to practical use.

  In general, a centralized meter reading device for centralized meter reading of a plurality of water meters is used in an apartment house or facility having a plurality of dwelling units. In the centralized meter reading device, a plurality of water meters are connected via connection lines, and each meter reading value (flow rate integrated value) measured by each water meter can be displayed on the display means of the central meter reading device.

The water meter determines that an abnormality has actually occurred in the usage state of tap water when the period of time that indicates an abnormality in the usage state of the water meter continues longer than a preset judgment value. generate. The alarm information judgment value is determined for each alarm function such as the water leakage detection function, the zero flow detection function, the reverse flow detection function, the excessive flow detection function, and the excess flow detection function as described above. An alarm is generated.
If it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the usage state of tap water, alarm information is displayed on the display of the water meter, and an alarm is issued in response to a request from an external device connected via a communication line. Information is transmitted and received.

As a technique for displaying an alarm when the usage condition of a water meter is abnormal, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a water usage remote display device that updates and displays a water usage measured by an electronic water meter on a display unit. ing. Here, when it is detected that the water usage amount transmitted from the electronic water meter is abnormal, the display of the water usage amount on the display unit is not updated, and a predetermined alarm display is performed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-219830

  Conventionally, after the alarm information is generated, the alarm information is not reset even if the tap water usage condition returns to the normal range, and if an abnormality occurs again based on the judgment value, The period indicating the abnormality is cumulatively added to the period indicating the abnormality at the time of the previous alarm.

  Specifically, for example, in the zero flow detection function that generates an alarm when the zero flow rate exceeds a predetermined determination value, the determination value is set to “5 days”. In this case, the zero flow rate state indicates a malfunction of the zero flow rate detection function. When this state continues for 5 days, alarm information related to zero flow rate detection is generated.

First, when the flow rate is zero from the first to the fifth day, the determination value “5 days” or more is reached on the fifth day, so that alarm information is generated.
After that, when the flow rate is not zero from the 6th day to the 10th day, and when the flow rate becomes zero again on the 11th day, the period of zero flow rate is cumulatively added. The period indicating an abnormality in “6” is “6 days”.

In this case, after a non-zero flow rate, there was a zero flow rate for one day, but the zero flow rate was counted as 6 days, and when the alarm occurred, how long It was not possible to confirm exactly whether it continued.
Also, Patent Document 1 does not disclose or suggest such a problem that period information related to alarm determination is cumulatively added.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in a centralized meter reading device capable of displaying the meter reading values of a plurality of electronic water meters, the alarm information is generated after the alarm information is generated by the water meter. When alarm information is generated again after a period when no alarm is generated, alarm information can be acquired only from the period when alarm information is continuously generated without accumulating the period for alarm judgment. It is an object of the present invention to provide a centralized meter reading device, and a centralized meter reading system including the central meter reading device and a water meter.

  The invention of claim 1 is a centralized meter-reading device in which a plurality of water meters with communication functions having a plurality of types of alarm functions are connected by a communication line, and alarm information generated by each water meter is read out. Alarm information acquisition means for reading the alarm information of the plurality of water meters according to the read time condition, and alarm information of a specific type according to a predetermined alarm detection condition from the alarm information acquired by the alarm information acquisition means. Alarm information detection means to detect, the room number of the water meter in which the detected alarm information is generated, the type and state of the alarm information, the alarm information determination value set as a threshold for performing alarm determination, and the year and month Having storage means for storing the date and time in a predetermined storage unit A.

  In the centralized meter-reading apparatus that reads out the alarm information of each water meter, a plurality of water meters with communication functions having a plurality of types of alarm functions are connected to each other and have been called. Alarm information acquisition means for reading alarm information of the water meter, and alarm information detection means for detecting specific types of alarm information from the alarm information acquired by the alarm information acquisition means in accordance with a predetermined alarm detection condition; , The room number of the water meter in which the detected alarm information is generated, the type and state of the alarm information, the alarm information determination value set as a threshold for performing the alarm determination, and the year / month / day / hour / minute in a predetermined storage unit And storing means for storing.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the alarm function includes a water leakage detection function, a zero flow rate detection function, a reverse flow detection function, an excessive flow rate detection function, and an excess flow rate detection function. It is characterized by including a part or all of.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided input means for receiving an input from an operator, and the predetermined read time condition can be set using the input means. It is what.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the alarm according to the first or second aspect, further comprising an input unit that receives an input from an operator, and the alarm information detecting unit detects using the input unit. This is characterized in that the type of information can be set.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the information processing apparatus includes a display unit capable of displaying information and an input unit that receives an input from an operator, and according to a predetermined input to the input unit. Each information stored in the storage unit is displayed on the display unit.

  The invention of claim 7 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the room number of the water meter, the type and state of alarm information, and the alarm information judgment value set in the water meter , And the current year / month / date / time are stored in the storage unit, and then the alarm information is reset only for the water meter for which the alarm information is generated.

  The invention of claim 8 includes the centralized meter reading device according to the invention of claim 7, and a water meter that resets the held alarm information in accordance with an alarm information reset instruction from the centralized meter reading device. It is a centralized meter reading system.

  According to the present invention, in a centralized meter reading device that can display meter reading values of a plurality of electronic water meters, alarm information is generated again after a period in which alarm information is not generated after the alarm information is generated by the water meter. When the alarm information is generated, the alarm information can be acquired only from the period in which the alarm information is continuously generated without accumulating the period for the alarm determination.

  That is, according to the centralized meter-reading device of the present invention, the year / month / day / hour / minute when the alarm information was acquired, the type and state of the alarm information, the determination value for performing the alarm determination, and the room in which the water meter in which the alarm information occurred is installed Numbers can be stored, and after storing these information, the water meter resets past alarm information, so if alarm information is generated again after a period when alarm information was not generated as described above However, the alarm information can be acquired and displayed only from the period in which the alarm information is continuously generated without accumulating and adding the periods for alarm determination.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the centralized meter reading device of the present invention.
In the centralized meter reading device 10, a plurality of water meters 20 a to 20 n are connected to each other via a connection line L. And each meter-reading value (flow integrated value) measured with each water meter 20a-20n can be transferred to the centralized meter-reading apparatus 10, and can be displayed on the display part 16 of the centralized meter-reading apparatus 10. FIG.

  The alarm information acquisition means 12 periodically reads and acquires alarm information of the water meters 20a to 20n connected to the centralized meter reading device 10 in accordance with a command from the timepiece 11 based on a predetermined read time condition. The predetermined readout time condition is set so that alarm information is read out at predetermined time intervals. Alternatively, daily time information, day of the week, date information, and the like may be directly specified.

  As described above, the water meters 20a to 20n are actually abnormal in the usage state of the tap water when the period indicating the abnormality in the usage state of the water meter continues longer than a preset alarm judgment value. Alarm information is generated by determining that it has occurred. That is, the alarm information determination value for performing the alarm determination is set as a threshold for performing the alarm determination.

  The alarm information judgment value is determined for each alarm function such as the water leakage detection function, the zero flow detection function, the reverse flow detection function, the excessive flow detection function, and the excess flow detection function as described above. Information is generated. “Zero flow rate” indicates that the flow rate of tap water in the water meter is zero, and “Leakage” indicates that there is leakage from the water pipe. “Back flow” indicates that tap water is flowing back in the water meter, “Excess flow” indicates that the flow rate is higher than the specified flow rate, and “Excess flow rate” indicates an increase in flow rate that exceeds the specified flow rate. It shows that.

And the alarm information acquisition means 12 of the centralized meter-reading apparatus 10 acquires each alarm information produced | generated by water meter 20a-20n.
In the above example, the alarm information acquisition unit 12 acquires the alarm information from the water meters 20a to 20n according to a predetermined readout time condition, but instead of or in addition to this operation, the water meter When an alarm event occurs at 20a to 20n and alarm information is generated, the central meter-reading device 10 is called from the water meters 20a to 20n, and the alarm information acquisition means 12 generates an alarm from the water meters 20a to 20n accordingly. Information may be acquired.

  The alarm information detection means 13 detects specific types of alarm information from various alarm information acquired by the alarm information acquisition means 12 according to predetermined alarm detection conditions. Here, for a plurality of types of alarm information as described above, the type of alarm to be detected as an alarm by the centralized meter reading device 10 is designated in advance and held as the above-described alarm detection condition. Then, the alarm information detection means 13 detects specific alarm information from the acquired alarm information according to the alarm detection condition. A specific example of the alarm detection condition will be described later.

  When the alarm information of the specific water meters 20a to 20n is detected by the alarm information detecting means 13, the storage means 14 stores the room number of the room where the water meter is installed, the type and state of the alarm information, the water meter The alarm information determination value set to 20a to 20n and the year / month / date / time when the information is obtained are stored in the storage unit 15. Specific examples of the stored information will be described later.

The input means 17 can accept an input operation by an operator. And by the input means 17, the alarm information acquisition means 12 can set the read time condition which reads alarm information from the water meters 20a-20n.
When the time condition for the alarm information acquisition means 12 to read alarm information from the water meters 20a to 20n is set to, for example, “30-day intervals”, the command from the clock 11 is issued every 30 days. The read time condition can be changed by the input means 17. For example, when the read time condition is changed to “1 day interval” using the input means 17, a read command from the clock 11 is issued every day. Is called.
The display unit 16 can display each piece of information stored in the storage unit 15 in accordance with a predetermined operation on the input unit 17.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of specific contents of information stored in the storage unit of the centralized meter reading device.
As described above, the alarm information acquisition unit 12 of the centralized meter-reading device 10 is configured to receive alarm information from the water meters 20a to 20n according to a preset alarm information read time condition or according to a call from the water meters 20a to 20n. And alarm information is detected by the alarm information detecting means 13.

  Here, it is assumed that the alarm information reading time condition by the alarm information acquisition means 12 is set to “1 day interval”. When the alarm information detection means 13 detects alarm information according to a predetermined alarm detection condition, the room number of the water meter that generated the alarm information, the type of alarm information, the state of alarm information, the judgment value of alarm information, and Information for the year, month, and date is stored in the storage unit 15.

  The type of alarm information, the state of alarm information, and the judgment value of alarm information are generated as alarm information by the water meters 20a to 20n. In the centralized meter-reading apparatus 10, these alarm information, the room number of a water meter, and the information for the year, month, and date when this information is acquired are recorded in the storage unit 15. In addition, the information for the year, month, and date may not be the acquisition time by the alarm information acquisition means 12, but may be the time information when the alarm information is generated by the water meters 20a to 20n.

As the room numbers of the water meters 20a to 20n, the room number information of the rooms where the water meters are actually installed is used. Here, information such as “Room 0101” and “Room 0102” is stored in the storage unit 15.
As the type of alarm information, predetermined type information such as “zero flow” or “leakage” is stored. Other types of alarm information include “reverse flow”, “excessive flow rate”, “excess flow rate” and the like as described above.

The state of the alarm information is information indicating how long a period indicating an abnormality in the usage state of the water meter continues for each type of alarm information. In this case, period information such as “5 days” or “3 hours” or time information is stored in the storage unit 15.
The alarm information determination value is period information for determining that an abnormality has actually occurred and generating alarm information when the period indicating the abnormality has occurred continuously. In this case, period information or time information such as “5 days” or “3 hours” is set in advance. Moreover, the state which shows abnormality is preset, respectively according to each alarm function.
In the water meters 20a to 20n, when the state indicating the abnormality of tap water continues for a period longer than the alarm information determination value, it is determined that the state is an alarm state, and alarm information is generated.

When the storage information based on the alarm information as described above is stored, conventionally, the state of the alarm information is cumulatively added, and the alarm generation period cannot be confirmed.
On the other hand, in the embodiment according to the present invention, the centralized meter-reading device 10 includes the room numbers of the water meters 20a to 20n, the types and states of alarm information, the alarm information determination values set in the water meters, and the year and month. After the date and time are stored in the storage unit 15, the alarm information reset process is executed only for the water meter for which the alarm information is generated. Thereby, in the water meters 20a to 20n, the past alarm information is reset. For example, even when alarm information is generated again after a period when alarm information is not generated, the period for alarm determination is not cumulatively added. The alarm information can be generated only from the period when the alarm information is continuously generated.

This will be specifically described with reference to the example of FIG. In the stored information 31 in the first row in FIG. 2, the alarm information type is “flow rate zero”, the alarm information state is “5 days”, the alarm information determination value is “5 days”, and the year / month / date / time is “ 05/08/15 00:05 ".
In the memory information 32 on the second line, the alarm information type is “leakage”, the alarm information state is “3 hours”, the alarm information determination value is “3 hours”, and the year / month / day / hour / minute is “05/08 / 21:00:06 ".
In the storage information 33 in the third row, the alarm information type is “flow rate zero”, the alarm information state is “5 days”, the alarm information determination value is “5 days”, and the year / month / day / hour / minute is “05/09/01”. 00:05 ".

  In the above example, the alarm information is generated from the stored information 31 in the first row because the type of alarm information is “zero flow rate” and the zero flow rate continues for five days in the room 0101 and exceeds the alarm judgment value. I understand that. This means that a flow rate of zero occurred from August 11th to 15th.

  Then, after storing the memory information 31 in the first row, the centralized meter-reading apparatus 10 sends an instruction to reset the alarm information to the water meter in the room 0101 that generated the alarm information. In response to this, the water meter resets the alarm information held by itself. Then, the alarm state is monitored again, alarm information is generated based on the alarm determination value, and the alarm information is sent to the alarm information acquisition means 12 of the centralized meter reading device 10.

  Looking at the stored information 33 in the third row in FIG. 2, zero flow rate again occurred for 5 days at 0:05 on September 1, 2005 in the same room number 0101. This means that a flow rate of zero occurred from August 28 to September 1 for five days. This also shows that no flow rate is generated in the room number 0101 from August 16 to August 27.

That is, since the alarm information corresponding to the storage information 31 in the first row is already reset in the water meter in the room 0101, the storage information 33 related to the new alarm information is stored in the storage unit 15 of the centralized meter reading device 10. Can be made.
Thereby, in the centralized meter-reading apparatus 10, it becomes possible to confirm exactly when the alarm of each water meter occurred and how long it continued.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an alarm detection condition set in the alarm information detection means. As described above, the types of alarm information to be alarmed can be set to “water leakage detection”, “zero flow detection”, “backflow detection”, “excessive flow detection”, and “excess flow detection”. In each case, it is possible to set whether or not to detect alarm information. These set values are used as an alarm detection condition by the alarm information detection means 13. These alarm detection conditions can be input and set by an operator using the input means 17.

In the example of FIG. 3, “leakage detection”, “zero flow detection”, and “excessive flow detection” are set as the types of alarm information for detecting alarm information, and “reverse flow detection” and “excess flow detection” The alarm information is set not to be detected. The type of alarm information can be added or deleted as appropriate.
As described above, by determining the type of alarm information and the possibility of detection for each type, the alarm information stored in the storage unit 15 and displayed on the display unit 16 from the alarm information acquired from the water meters 20a to 20n. Information can be selected.

It is the block diagram which showed one Example of the intensive meter-reading apparatus of this invention. It is the figure which showed an example of the specific content of the information memorize | stored in the memory | storage part of a centralized meter-reading apparatus. It is the figure which showed an example of the alarm detection conditions set to an alarm information detection means.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Centralized meter-reading apparatus, 11 ... Clock, 12 ... Alarm information acquisition means, 13 ... Alarm information detection means, 14 ... Memory | storage means, 15 ... Memory | storage part, 16 ... Display part, 17 ... Input means, 20a-20n ... Water meter 31-33 ... Stored information.

Claims (8)

A centralized meter-reading device in which a plurality of water meters with communication functions having a plurality of types of alarm functions are connected by a communication line, and the alarm information generated by each water meter is read out,
Alarm information acquisition means for reading alarm information of the plurality of water meters according to a predetermined read time condition;
Alarm information detection means for detecting a specific type of alarm information from the alarm information acquired by the alarm information acquisition means in accordance with a predetermined alarm detection condition;
The room number of the water meter in which the detected alarm information is generated, the type and state of the alarm information, the alarm information determination value set as a threshold value for performing the alarm determination, and the year / month / date / time are stored in a predetermined storage unit. A centralized meter reading device comprising storage means for storing. In a centralized meter-reading device that reads a plurality of water meters with a communication function having a plurality of types of alarm functions connected to each other by a communication line and reads the alarm information of each water meter,
Alarm information acquisition means for reading alarm information of the water meter that has been called when an alarm event occurs;
Alarm information detection means for detecting a specific type of alarm information from the alarm information acquired by the alarm information acquisition means in accordance with a predetermined alarm detection condition;
The room number of the water meter in which the detected alarm information is generated, the type and state of the alarm information, the alarm information determination value set as a threshold for performing the alarm determination, and the year, month, day, hour and minute are stored in a predetermined storage unit A centralized meter-reading device comprising:   3. The alarm function according to claim 1, wherein the alarm function includes a part or all of a water leakage detection function, a zero flow detection function, a backflow detection function, an excessive flow detection function, and an excess flow detection function. Centralized meter reading device. Having input means for receiving input from an operator;
2. The centralized meter reading device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined readout time condition can be set using the input means. Having input means for receiving input from an operator;
The centralized meter reading device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the type of alarm information detected by the alarm information detecting means can be set using the input means. A display unit capable of displaying information, and an input means for receiving input from an operator;
The centralized meter reading device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each information stored in the storage unit is displayed on the display unit in accordance with a predetermined input to the input unit.   The water meter in which the alarm information is generated after storing the room number of the water meter, the type and state of the alarm information, the alarm information judgment value set in the water meter, and the current year / month / day / hour / minute in the storage unit The centralized meter reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the alarm information reset process is executed only for the alarm.   8. A centralized meter reading system comprising: the centralized meter reading device according to claim 7; and a water meter that resets the held alarm information in accordance with an alarm information reset instruction from the centralized meter reading device.

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