JP2011097214A - Wireless meter reading device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem wherein meter-reading time is lengthened proportionally when the number of slave radio devices is increased since meter reading is started after a meter reader approaches a metering reading object. <P>SOLUTION: A handy terminal 300 sets time information to a relay radio terminal 400, the relay radio terminal 400 that has received the time information performs a meter-reading operation to the slave radio terminal 200 from a point of time when designated time is reached. The relay radio terminal uses an internal storage means to hold meter-reading information acquired from the slave radio terminal. The handy terminal 300 transmits an acquisition request for the meter-reading information stored by the relay radio terminal 400 to the relay radio terminal 400 by radio. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless meter reading device that collects meter reading data acquired from a meter.

  An automatic gas meter reading system has already been put to practical use as a wireless data collection system. The gas automatic meter reading system that has been put into practical use includes (1) a 1: 1 communication system that performs 1: 1 communication between a slave radio device installed in a gas meter and a master radio device connected to a telephone line; (2) 1: N communication system in which data collection of a plurality of gas meters is performed by a single parent wireless device using a parent wireless device that is installed on a utility pole and performs 1: N communication with a plurality of child wireless devices, and (3) a meter reader has a wireless device There is a handy terminal communication system that communicates with a child radio device installed in a gas meter by a built-in handy terminal.

  In the gas automatic meter reading system, in the case of the 1: 1 communication system, the master wireless device is installed at a position where it can communicate with the slave wireless device. In the case of a 1: N communication system, the communication range of the parent wireless device installed on the utility pole is arranged so as to overlap the communication range of the adjacent parent wireless device, and communication cannot be performed with the child wireless devices within the communication range. In this case, communication is performed with the incapable communication with the child wireless device via the adjacent parent wireless device. In the handy terminal communication system, the meter reader moves to a position where it can communicate with the child radio apparatus and performs communication.

  In the conventional gas automatic meter reading system, the above-described system is the mainstream, and a system for collecting data by arranging a wireless relay device between the slave wireless device and the master wireless device has not been put into practical use.

  However, automatic meter reading systems using wireless relay are being studied due to demands such as ease of installation and system cost reduction. There is also a proposal to use a relay wireless terminal as a secondary master unit and collect the meter readings of the meters connected to the slave wireless terminal managed by the request from the master unit, and then send it to the master unit in a batch. Yes (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-237551 A

  However, in the prior art, particularly in the handy terminal communication system in which the meter reader communicates with the child wireless device installed in the gas meter by the handy terminal with the built-in wireless device, after the meter reader approaches the meter reading target, In order to start meter reading, when the number of slave wireless devices increases, there is a problem that the meter reading time increases proportionally. In Patent Document 1, a relay wireless device is used as a sub-master device, and the sub-master device collectively reads a plurality of slave wireless devices, and the sub-master device obtains a meter reading value obtained from the plurality of slave wireless devices. Although the batch transmission is performed to the parent wireless terminal, even in that case, the meter reading operation is started after the meter reader approaches a distance capable of wireless communication with the meter reading target, and thus the meter reading time cannot be sufficiently shortened.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a reduction in meter reading time.

  In order to solve the conventional problem, the master wireless terminal of the present invention sets the next meter reading timing to the relay wireless terminal, and the previous relay wireless terminal performs meter reading in advance according to the meter reading timing and holds the meter reading information. It is set as the structure to carry out.

  As a result, since the meter reading information to be collected is already held in the relay wireless terminal at the next meter reading, the master wireless terminal only needs to communicate with the relay wireless terminal, so the meter reading time at the handy terminal is shortened. .

  The wireless meter reading device of the present invention can shorten the meter reading time at the handy terminal as compared with the conventional meter reading device.

Configuration diagram of radio apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention Block diagram of a handy terminal in an embodiment of the present invention Block diagram of a relay radio apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention The block diagram of the child radio equipment in an embodiment of the invention Sequence diagram of the system in the embodiment of the present invention Flow diagram of relay radio apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention The flowchart of the child radio apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention Cooperation sequence diagram between relay radio apparatuses in an embodiment of the present invention

  1st invention carries out radio communication with the meter, the child radio terminal which transmits the meter-reading data of the meter by radio, the relay radio terminal which carries out radio communication with the child radio terminal, the relay radio terminal and the child radio terminal A wireless meter reading system configured with a parent wireless terminal, wherein the relay wireless terminal obtains time information for collecting meter reading data of the meter from the parent wireless terminal via the child wireless terminal, and the time information The meter reading data of the meter is collected via the slave wireless terminal at a predetermined time based on the above, so that the meter reading data is held in the relay wireless terminal at the next meter reading, and the master wireless terminal The meter reading time can be shortened by communicating with only the terminal.

  According to a second aspect of the invention, the relay wireless terminal of the first aspect of the invention transmits a broadcast signal for collecting meter reading data of the meter via the child wireless terminal at a predetermined time based on the time information. By doing so, the meter reading operation can be performed at the designated time, and the meter reading can be performed even if there is no request from the master unit.

  In the third invention, in particular, the relay radio terminal of the first or second invention is configured to perform individual communication with the child radio terminal that has not returned a response to the broadcast signal. Thus, the meter reading of the child radio terminal that cannot be measured by the broadcast signal is performed again, and the success rate of meter reading can be improved.

  In particular, the fourth aspect of the invention relates to the relay radio terminal of the third aspect of the invention when the slave radio terminal cannot communicate with the slave radio terminal even if the individual radio communication is performed. By adopting a configuration in which the meter reading of the terminal is entrusted, it is possible to avoid a communication failure occurring between the relay wireless terminal entrusted with the meter reading and the child wireless terminal, and to perform meter reading from another wireless relay terminal , Can improve the success rate of meter reading.

In the fifth invention, in particular, the relay radio terminal of the third or fourth invention communicates with a child radio terminal entrusted to another relay radio terminal, regardless of whether or not the meter reading of the child radio terminal is successful. By adopting a configuration in which the meter reading result is transmitted to the relay wireless terminal as a consignor, the communication result can be returned when the meter reading result is requested, and the communication result can be reliably answered.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in particular, the child wireless terminal according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a receiving unit that receives a broadcast signal, and after a time set randomly when receiving the broadcast signal by the receiving unit or for each device. Response signal transmitting means for transmitting a response signal to the broadcast signal after a predetermined time defined in (2), and timer means for starting an operation when the response signal is transmitted by the response signal transmitting means. The means is configured not to transmit a response signal when a broadcast signal is received by the receiving means before the timer means times out, thereby preventing interference with radio waves transmitted by other child radio terminals. The reliability of communication with the child wireless terminal and other child wireless terminals can be improved.

  In the seventh aspect of the invention, in particular, when receiving the broadcast signal, the child radio terminal of the second or sixth invention transmits a response signal to the broadcast signal when the received signal strength does not exceed a predetermined level. By not having a configuration, it is possible to avoid communication with the parent wireless terminal with poor operation due to noise and communication reliability, improve the reliability of communication with the child wireless terminal and other child wireless terminals, The current consumption of the child radio terminal can be reduced.

  In the eighth aspect of the invention, in particular, when the wireless device of the second to seventh aspects of the invention detects timer means stop information in a broadcast signal received wirelessly or a signal addressed to itself, the timer means operates as described above. Stopping and sending a response signal for broadcast signal reception allows the state where no response signal is transmitted to be released at an arbitrary timing, and the meter reader communicates with the wireless device at an arbitrary timing. It can be performed.

  In particular, the ninth aspect of the invention relates to a meter, a slave wireless terminal that wirelessly transmits meter reading data of the meter, a relay wireless terminal that performs wireless communication with the slave wireless terminal, and wireless communication with the relay wireless terminal and the slave wireless terminal. A wireless meter reading method of a wireless meter reading system configured with a parent wireless terminal that performs time information for collecting meter reading data of the meter via the child wireless terminal from the parent wireless terminal. By obtaining a wireless meter reading method for a wireless meter reading device, comprising the step of obtaining and collecting meter reading data of the meter via the slave wireless terminal at a predetermined time based on the time information, The corresponding meter reading can be performed, and the meter reading time can be shortened.

  Since the tenth invention is a program for causing a computer to implement at least a part of the wireless devices according to the first to ninth inventions, hardware resources such as electrical / information equipment, a computer, etc. are made to cooperate. Thus, at least a part of the present invention can be realized with simple hardware. In addition, the program can be distributed / updated and installed easily by recording on a recording medium or distributing the program using a communication line.

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

(Embodiment 1)
The present embodiment relates to an automatic gas meter reading system shown in FIG. In the automatic gas meter reading system, meter reading information obtained by connecting to gas meters installed in each room of the apartment house 100 such as an apartment is converted into radio signals by the child radio terminals 200 (200-1 to 200-24), and each floor The data is transmitted to the handy terminal 300 owned by the meter reader via the relay wireless terminal 400 (400-1 to 400-6) installed in the terminal.

  Next, the configuration of the handy terminal will be described with reference to FIG. The handy terminal 300 includes an antenna 301, a transmission / reception unit 302, a reception level detection unit 303, a time setting unit 304, a meter reading information request unit 305, a storage unit 306, and a control unit 307.

  The reception level detection unit detects the reception intensity of the signal received via the antenna 301 and the transmission / reception unit 302.

  The time acquisition unit 304 is called from the control unit 307 and transmits time information to the relay wireless terminal 400 via the antenna 301 and the transmission / reception unit 302.

  The meter reading information request unit 305 is called from the control unit 307 and acquires meter reading information via the antenna 301 and the transmission / reception unit 302.

  In the storage unit 306, the meter reading information obtained by using the meter reading information request unit 305 is written by the control unit 307. Further, the relay wireless terminal 400 for which time information is to be set by the time setting means 304 and information on the slave unit that is to be metered by the relay wireless terminal are held and read by the control means.

  Next, the configuration of the relay wireless terminal will be described with reference to FIG. The relay radio terminal 400 includes an antenna 401, a transmission / reception unit 402, a reception level detection unit 403, a broadcast signal detection unit 404, a stop information detection unit 405, a time information detection unit 406, a storage unit 407, a time delay unit 408, and a timer unit 409. , Time management means 410, intermittent reception control means 411, response signal transmission means 412, meter reading information acquisition means 413, and control means 414.

  Reception level detection means 403 detects the reception intensity of signals received via antenna 401 and transmission / reception means 402.

  The broadcast signal detection unit 404 identifies whether the signal is a broadcast signal based on control information included in signals received via the antenna 401 and the transmission / reception unit 402.

  The stop information detection unit 405 identifies whether stop information is included in the signals received via the antenna 401 and the transmission / reception unit 402.

  The time information detection unit 406 identifies whether the time information is included in the signal received via the antenna 401 and the transmission / reception unit 402.

  The time delay means 408 generates a random time delay using a random number.

  The timer means 409 activates a timer to measure the time from when the response signal transmission means 412 wirelessly transmits a response signal for the broadcast signal.

  The time management means 410 measures the time from when the time information detection means 406 detects the time information until the meter reading operation is performed.

  The intermittent reception control means 411 is for the transmission / reception means 402 to perform control necessary for intermittent reception.

  The response signal transmission means 412 receives the broadcast signal via the antenna 401 and the transmission / reception means 402 when the broadcast signal detection means 404 identifies that the signal received via the antenna 401 and the transmission / reception means 402 is a broadcast signal. A response signal to the signal is wirelessly transmitted.

  The meter reading information acquisition unit 413 acquires meter reading information from the child radio terminal via the antenna 401 and the transmission / reception unit 402 when the time measurement until the time management unit 410 performs the meter reading operation is completed.

  In the storage unit 407, the meter reading information collected by the meter reading information acquisition unit 413 is written by the control unit 414. When the meter reading information is transmitted to the handy terminal, the meter reading information is read by the control unit 414.

  Next, the configuration of the child radio terminal will be described with reference to FIG. The slave radio terminal 200 includes an antenna 201, transmission / reception means 202, reception level detection means 203, broadcast signal detection means 204, stop information detection means 205, storage means 206, time delay means 207, timer means 208, intermittent reception control means 209. , A response signal transmission unit 210 and a control unit 211.

  The reception level detection unit 203 detects the reception intensity of the signal received via the antenna 201 and the transmission / reception unit 202.

  The broadcast signal detection unit 204 identifies whether the signal is a broadcast signal based on the control information included in the signals received via the antenna 201 and the transmission / reception unit 202.

  The stop information detection unit 205 identifies whether or not the timer unit 208 stop information is included in the signal received via the antenna 201 and the transmission / reception unit 202.

  The time delay means 207 generates a random time delay using a random number.

  The timer means 208 starts a timer in order to measure the time from when the response signal transmission means 210 wirelessly transmits a response signal for the broadcast signal.

  The intermittent reception control means 209 is for the transmission / reception means 202 to perform control necessary for intermittent reception. The response signal transmission unit 210 transmits the broadcast signal via the antenna 201 and the transmission / reception unit 202 when the broadcast signal detection unit 204 identifies that the signal received via the antenna 201 and the transmission / reception unit 202 is a broadcast signal. A response signal to the signal is wirelessly transmitted.

  The storage unit 206 stores a gas usage flow rate measured by a gas meter (not shown), and is read out by the control unit 211 when the gas usage flow rate is transmitted to the handy terminal 300 or the relay wireless terminal 400.

  Next, an example of collecting meter reading data from all the houses in the apartment house 100 using the operations of the relay wireless terminal 400 and the handy terminal 300 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The operation of the entire system is roughly divided into three phases.

  First, there is a time setting phase as the first phase. In the time setting phase, the handy terminal 300 sets time information for the relay wireless terminal 400.

  Next, there is a meter reading phase as the second phase. In the meter reading phase, the relay wireless terminal 400 that has received the time information performs a meter reading operation on the child wireless terminal 200 from the time when the designated time comes. The meter reading may be individual communication for communicating with each of the child wireless terminals one by one, or may be broadcast communication for communicating with a plurality of child wireless terminals at once. Here, the relay wireless terminal holds the meter reading information acquired from the child wireless terminal using the internal storage means.

  Finally, there is a batch response phase as the third phase. In the collective response phase, the handy terminal 300 wirelessly transmits an acquisition request for meter reading information stored in the relay wireless terminal 400 to the relay wireless terminal 400. The handy terminal 300 may make an acquisition request to the relay wireless terminal 400 by individual communication, or may make an acquisition request by broadcast communication.

  In the handy terminal, the control means transmits the time information set by the meter reader to the relay wireless terminal using the time setting procedure and the transmission / reception means.

  At the time of meter reading, the control means transmits to the relay wireless terminal using the meter reading information request means and the transmission / reception means, and receives the response from the relay wireless terminal using the transmission / reception means. The received meter reading information is held in the storage means via the control means.

  The operation of the relay wireless terminal will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the time setting phase will be described.

  When time information is set for the relay wireless terminal, the time management means checks whether the designated time is reached (S601).

  When the designated time is not reached or time information is not set, the intermittent reception control means performs an intermittent reception operation in the relay wireless terminal (S602).

  The reception level detection means is used to detect the level of the radio wave acquired during the intermittent reception operation (S603). If there is not a sufficient reception level, the relay radio device returns to step S601.

  When there is a sufficient reception level, the received radio wave is analyzed to determine whether it is addressed to the relay radio terminal or the child radio terminal. Whether the received content is a relay wireless terminal is confirmed by a unique content embedded in a message. For example, the last two digits of the destination ID can be confirmed by “TR” or the like for the relay wireless terminal.

  Here, if it is a message addressed to the relay wireless terminal, a message analysis is further performed to determine whether the time information detection means is a time setting message (S606).

  If it is time setting, the time management procedure manages the time information acquired by the time information detecting means (S607).

  The relay wireless terminal that has set the time information starts time measurement and shifts to a standby state (S608).

  Here, in step 604, if the message is not addressed to the relay radio terminal but addressed to the child radio terminal, the relay radio terminal 400 operates as a child radio terminal until the subsequent communication is completed (S605).

  Next, the collective meter reading phase will be described.

  In step S601, the time management means starts confirmation of the designated time, and when the designated time comes, stops the confirmation operation of the designated time, and the meter reading information acquisition means starts batch meter reading. (S609). Then, when the batch meter reading is completed, the process shifts to a standby state (S610).

  Finally, the batch response phase will be described. In step S606, when it is confirmed that the time information detection means is not a time setting message, the message analysis is continued to confirm whether it is a batch response request message (S611).

  When it is confirmed in step S611 that the response message is a collective response request message, the response signal transmitting unit collectively responds to the data collected in the collective meter reading phase (S613). Then, after transmitting the batch response message, the relay wireless terminal shifts to a standby state (S614).

  If it is confirmed in step S611 that the message is not a batch response message, the relay wireless terminal continues the reception operation as communication addressed to the relay wireless terminal (S612).

  Next, the operation of the child radio terminal will be described with reference to FIG.

  The child radio terminal performs intermittent reception by the intermittent reception control means (S701). Then, the reception level detection means is used to detect the level of the radio wave acquired during the intermittent reception operation (S702).

  If there is no sufficient reception level in step S702, the child radio terminal returns to step S701.

  If there is a sufficient reception level in step S702, the child radio terminal checks the broadcast signal using the broadcast signal detection means (S703). Here, in the broadcast signal, data for the broadcast signal is set in the destination ID (for example, “FFFF” or the like is set in the ID).

  When the relay wireless terminal operates as a child wireless terminal, the process starts from step 703. This is because the relay wireless terminal has already detected an input with a sufficient radio wave level.

  In step S703, when the broadcast signal detecting means detects the broadcast signal, the time delay means starts measuring the transmission waiting time (S704). The transmission waiting time is a randomly set time for shifting the transmission timing in order to prevent the slave wireless terminals that received the broadcast signal from responding all at once and interfering with each other and reducing the communication success probability. It is. This prevents interference and improves the communication success probability.

  The child wireless terminal that has received the broadcast signal in step S704 acquires meter reading information from a connected gas meter (not shown) (S705). And it waits for the random transmission waiting time which started measurement after receiving a broadcast signal to pass (S706).

  After the random transmission waiting time elapses, the child wireless terminal stops measuring the transmission waiting time (S707).

  After the transmission waiting time is measured, the response signal transmission means returns the meter reading information as a response via the transmission / reception means (S708).

  After transmitting the response signal, the child radio terminal operates a timer for an arbitrary timing (for example, 20 seconds) (S709). While this timer is operating, the slave wireless terminal does not return a response even if it receives the broadcast signal. Then, after the timer time is over, the process shifts to a standby state (S711).

In step S703, if the broadcast signal detecting means cannot detect the broadcast signal, it is determined as individual communication addressed to the child radio terminal, and the meter reading information is acquired from the connected gas meter (S712). After acquiring the meter reading information, the response signal transmitting means returns the meter reading information as a response (S713). After the response signal is transmitted, the slave wireless terminal ends the meter reading operation (S714) and shifts to a standby state.

  Next, a cooperative operation between relay radio terminals when the relay radio terminal cannot read the child radio terminal will be described with reference to FIG.

  The relay wireless terminal 1 performs broadcast communication to the child wireless terminal based on the time information. If the response cannot be received, the relay wireless terminal 1 further performs individual communication. If the response cannot be received, the relay wireless terminal 1 performs a retry operation. When the response from the wireless terminal cannot be received, the relay wireless terminal 1 entrusts the other relay wireless terminal 2 to perform meter reading of the child wireless terminal.

  The relay wireless terminal 1 reads alternative route information from the child wireless terminal information to be measured stored in the storage unit 407, and sends a child wireless terminal metering commission signal to the relay wireless terminal 2 specified by the route information. (S801) is transmitted.

  The relay wireless terminal 2 performs a meter reading operation in individual communication with the target child wireless terminal based on the received child wireless terminal metering commission signal (S801).

  When the alternative wireless route information stored in the storage unit 407 does not include child wireless terminal information, the relay wireless terminal 1 sets information indicating that communication is impossible in the meter reading information as meter reading information. The meter reading operation is finished.

  The relay wireless terminal 2 that has received the slave wireless terminal meter reading commission signal (S801) transmits a meter reading request signal (S802) and receives a response signal (S803) from the wireless slave device. The response signal (S803) includes meter reading information.

  The relay wireless terminal 2 sets information indicating that communication is impossible when the response signal (S803) cannot be received even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the meter reading request signal (S802) was transmitted. In addition, when the relay wireless terminal 2 can receive the response signal (S803) even after a predetermined time has elapsed after transmitting the meter-reading request signal (S802), the relay wireless terminal 1 sends a commission result report signal (S804) to the relay wireless terminal 1. Send. Then, the relay wireless terminal 1 analyzes the response of the relay wireless terminal 2, holds the meter reading information of the child wireless terminal or the information indicating that communication is impossible using the storage means, and ends the meter reading operation.

  As described above, the wireless device, the wireless system, the wireless communication method, the wireless communication method, and the program according to the present invention perform meter reading based on the set time information, so even at a meter reading place where there are a plurality of child wireless terminals. A wireless meter reading system that can complete meter reading in a short time can be constructed.

100 Apartment house 200 (1-24) Child wireless terminal 300 Handy terminal 400 (1-6) Relay wireless terminal

Claims (10)

A meter, a child wireless terminal that wirelessly transmits meter reading data of the meter, a relay wireless terminal that performs wireless communication with the child wireless terminal, and a parent wireless terminal that performs wireless communication with the relay wireless terminal and the child wireless terminal Wireless meter reading system,
The relay wireless terminal obtains time information for collecting meter reading data of the meter from the parent wireless terminal via the child wireless terminal, and the meter via the child wireless terminal at a predetermined time based on the time information. A wireless meter reading device configured to collect meter reading data. 2. The wireless meter reading device according to claim 1, wherein the relay wireless terminal is configured to transmit a broadcast signal for collecting meter reading data of the meter via the child wireless terminal at a predetermined time based on the time information. . The wireless meter reading apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the relay wireless terminal is configured to perform individual communication with respect to the child wireless terminal that has not returned a response to the broadcast signal. The relay radio terminal is configured to entrust meter reading of the child radio terminal to another relay radio terminal when communication with the child radio terminal cannot be performed even though the individual communication is performed. The wireless meter-reading apparatus of any one of 3. The relay radio terminal communicates with a child radio terminal entrusted to another relay radio terminal, and transmits a meter reading result to the relay radio terminal as a delegation source regardless of the success or failure of meter reading of the child radio terminal. The wireless meter-reading apparatus of any one of Claims 1-4 comprised as follows. The child radio terminal is
Receiving means for receiving a broadcast signal;
A response signal transmitting means for transmitting a response signal for the broadcast signal after a time set at random when receiving the broadcast signal by the receiving means or after a predetermined time determined for each device;
Timer means for starting the operation from the time when the response signal is transmitted by the response signal transmitting means,
3. The wireless meter reading device according to claim 2, wherein the response signal transmitting means is configured not to transmit a response signal when a broadcast signal is received by the receiving means before the timer means times out. The child radio terminal is
The wireless meter reading device according to claim 2 or 6, wherein a response signal is not transmitted in response to the broadcast signal when the broadcast signal is received and there is no received signal strength exceeding a predetermined level. The child radio terminal is
Claims wherein the timer means stop operation is detected when a broadcast signal received by radio or a signal addressed to the own station is detected, and a response signal for transmission of the broadcast signal can be transmitted. The wireless device according to any one of 2 to 7. A meter, a child wireless terminal that wirelessly transmits meter reading data of the meter, a relay wireless terminal that performs wireless communication with the child wireless terminal, and a parent wireless terminal that performs wireless communication with the relay wireless terminal and the child wireless terminal A wireless meter reading method for a wireless meter reading system,
The relay wireless terminal obtains time information for collecting meter reading data of the meter from the parent wireless terminal via the child wireless terminal, and via the child wireless terminal at a predetermined time based on the time information. A wireless meter reading method of a wireless meter reading device comprising the step of collecting meter reading data of the meter. The program for making a computer implement | achieve at least one part of the wireless meter-reading apparatus of any one of Claims 1-9.

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