JP2015126522A - Radio telemeter system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform remote meter reading with low power consumption while using the existing center polling.SOLUTION: A master unit 3 stores a request message from a center device 1. The master unit 3 transmits the request message to a slave unit 4. The slave unit 4 transmits terminal data acquired from terminal equipment to the master unit 3, so that the master unit 3 stores the terminal data collected from each slave unit 4. When the message is transmitted from the center device 1, the master unit 3 examines whether the same message as the stored request message is transmitted. In the case of the same request message, the master unit 3 transmits the stored terminal data to the center device 1.

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless telemeter system in which wireless communication is performed between a parent device and a child device, and data such as meter reading data of a meter collected from the child device by the parent device is transmitted to a center device.

  In a wireless telemeter system that performs remote meter reading of meters such as gas and water, a master unit is connected to a center device via a communication line such as a cellular phone network, and a slave unit to which a terminal device such as a meter is connected Wireless communication is performed with the parent device. The master unit collects terminal data such as a meter reading value of the terminal device from the slave unit, and transmits this terminal data to the center device. The master unit communicates with the slave unit by specific low-power radio and performs radio communication with the center device using a mobile phone network.

  Since the main unit is installed outdoors, wiring work is required to use a commercial power supply. Therefore, a power source using a lithium battery or a solar battery that does not require wiring work is used. The parent device communicates with a plurality of child devices and also communicates with the center device. Although the power consumption in communication with the slave unit is small, the communication with the center device uses a mobile phone network, and thus the power consumption is large. In particular, when performing center polling, the parent device communicates with the child device while maintaining communication with the center device. Communication with high power consumption is performed for a long time, the battery voltage decreases, and the parent device cannot perform communication. In addition, a power source using a solar cell cannot be applied to such a parent device with high power consumption. By shortening the communication time between the parent device and the center device, the power consumption of the parent device can be reduced.

  In order to collect data with low power consumption, in Patent Document 1, the master unit instructs the slave unit to collect data, collects terminal data from the slave unit in advance, and the data collection scheduled date is reached. , Transmitting collected terminal data to a center apparatus is described. Also, in Patent Document 2, the slave unit collects terminal data and transmits it to the master unit at a predetermined time. The master unit accumulates terminal data from the slave unit and responds to a request from the center device. It is described that terminal data is transmitted to a center device.

JP 2011-155556 A Registered Utility Model No. 3022948

  The master unit instructs the slave unit to collect terminal data in advance. Then, the master unit transmits the accumulated terminal data to the center device at a predetermined time or when requested by the center device. Such a series of processing is different from processing by normal center polling. Therefore, in order to execute this process, a new function must be added to the center device and the parent device. In other systems, in order to perform the same processing, the system must be changed and lacks versatility.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a wireless telemeter system that can perform remote meter reading with low power consumption while utilizing existing center polling.

  The present invention includes a master device that communicates with a center device and a plurality of slave devices that are connected to a terminal device and perform wireless communication with the master device, and the slave device is a terminal device according to a request message from the center device. Terminal data is collected, the terminal data is transmitted to the parent device, and the parent device transmits the received terminal data to the center device, and the parent device stores the request message from the center device. In addition, when not communicating with the center device, the request message is transmitted to the slave unit, the slave unit transmits the terminal data acquired from the terminal device to the master unit, and the master unit collects from each slave unit. When the terminal data is stored and the message transmitted from the center apparatus is the same as the stored request message, the master unit transmits the stored terminal data to the center apparatus.

  Terminal data is collected in advance from the slave using an existing request message used at the time of meter reading. As described above, since the parent device and the child device perform the same operation as when performing normal meter reading, it is not necessary to change the system. Then, when the center device makes a meter reading request, terminal data collected in advance is transmitted. Therefore, the master unit does not need to communicate with the slave unit for collecting terminal data, and accordingly, the communication time with the center device is shortened and the power consumption of the master unit can be reduced.

  The base unit checks the time when the terminal data is collected, and transmits the terminal data collected after a predetermined time to the center device. If the time when the terminal data is collected is before a predetermined time, the accumulated terminal data is regarded as old data and is not transmitted to the center apparatus. Thereby, new terminal data can be transmitted.

  Based on the time at which the request message is transmitted from the center device, the master unit sets the collection time before this time, and when the collection time comes, the master unit communicates with the slave unit to obtain the terminal data. collect. Since the master unit collects the terminal data before the meter reading date, the center device can read the new terminal data.

  When the base unit receives a request message from the center unit, it collects the terminal data by transmitting the stored terminal data to the center unit or communicating with the base unit based on the connection status of the base unit. Select whether to send to the center device after that.

  Based on the connection state such as the number of slave units that communicate, the master unit selects a terminal data provider. That is, the time required to collect terminal data from the slave is taken into account, and when it takes time, the accumulated terminal data is transmitted. When it does not take much time, the latest terminal data is transmitted by the parent device collecting terminal data from the child device.

  When the master unit collects other information from the slave unit, it collects and stores terminal data. Opportunities to collect terminal data in advance increase, and new terminal data can be accumulated.

  According to the present invention, communication time during center polling can be shortened, and power consumption of the master unit can be reduced. Further, terminal data can be collected in advance using a request message from the center apparatus, and a versatile system can be realized.

The figure which shows schematic structure of the radio telemeter system of this invention Block diagram of main unit and sub unit The figure which shows operation | movement of the radio telemeter system at the time of the meter-reading request from a center apparatus The figure which shows operation | movement of a radio | wireless telemeter system when a meter-reading request | requirement is requested | required from a center apparatus after collecting terminal data in advance. Flow chart of operation of main unit when meter reading is requested from center device

(First embodiment)
The radio telemeter system of this embodiment is shown in FIG. In this system, a center apparatus 1 composed of a host computer and a terminal side are communicably connected via a communication line 2. The terminal side includes a parent device 3 connected to the communication line 2 and a plurality of child devices 4 that perform wireless communication with the parent device 3. A terminal device 5 such as a meter or a sensor is connected to the parent device 3 and each child device 4. A mobile telephone network is used as the communication line 2. Base unit 3 performs radio communication with radio base station 6 of mobile phone network 2. The master unit 3 and the slave unit 4 can communicate with each other by specific low-power radio.

  The base unit 3 has a function as the terminal network control device 7. The master unit 3 and the slave unit 4 perform processing instructed according to the message transmitted from the center device 1 and respond to the center device 1. The power supply unit 8 includes a lithium battery or a solar battery and supplies power to the parent device 3.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the master unit 3 includes a radio communication unit 11 having an antenna 10 for performing radio communication with the slave unit 4, a CPU 12, a communication module 13, a ROM 14, a RAM 15, a power supply unit 8, and necessary for radio communication. A data non-volatile memory 16 for storing information and data acquired from a terminal device, a switch 17 for performing various settings and inputs, and a display unit 18 are provided. A control unit configured by the CPU 12, the ROM 14, and the RAM 15 executes a function as the terminal network control device 7 and controls communication with the center device 1 and the slave unit 4.

  Similar to the parent device 3, the child device 4 includes an antenna 20, a wireless communication unit 21, a CPU 22, a meter, a sensor interface 23, a ROM 24, a RAM 25, a battery 26, a nonvolatile memory 27, a switch 28, and a display unit 29. Yes. A control unit configured by the CPU 22, the ROM 24, and the RAM 25 executes a function as a terminal network control device and controls communication with the parent device 3.

  Center polling is performed by a call from the center device 1. In the center polling, communication is performed via the parent device 3 and the child device 4 in order for the center device 1 to request the terminal data of each terminal device 5. When meter reading is performed periodically, such as once a month, meter reading is performed by center polling.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when remote meter reading is performed, the center device 1 transmits a request message to the parent device 3 via the communication line 2. When the wireless module 13 of the parent device 3 receives the message, the control unit is activated, a link is established between the center device 1 and the parent device 3, and a request message is transmitted to the child device 4. When receiving the request message, the slave unit 4 starts up and sends the request message to the terminal device 5. When the terminal device 5 receives the request message, the terminal device 5 performs transmission to the center device 1. The terminal device 5 transmits terminal data requested from the center apparatus 1, for example, meter reading data to the center apparatus 1 through the slave unit 4 and the master unit 3. The center device 1 acquires terminal data from the terminal device 5. The center device 1 sequentially transmits request messages to the plurality of slave devices 4, and each slave device 4 transmits the terminal data acquired from the terminal device 5 to the center device 1 through the master device 3. When the center device 1 finishes obtaining necessary terminal data, the link between the center device 1 and the Oyaki 3 is released, and the communication ends.

  While the center polling is being performed, the link between the parent device 3 and the center device 1 is maintained. Therefore, communication with high power consumption continues for a long time. In order to shorten the communication using the mobile phone network, the base unit 3 collects data before the center polling is performed. At this time, the base unit 3 stores the request message in the memory 16. When a request message is transmitted from the center device 1, the request message is stored. When the base unit 3 is not communicating with the center device 1, the base unit 3 collects terminal data from each handset 4 using the stored request message. When the center device 1 transmits a request message, the parent device 3 transmits terminal data collected in advance.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when the base unit 3 is not communicating with the center device 1, the base unit 3 reads out the request message from the memory 16 and transmits the request message to the handset 4 (S 1). The subunit | mobile_unit 4 transmits the terminal data of the terminal device 5 to the main | base station 3. FIG. The base unit 3 stores the collected terminal data in the memory 16. The base unit 3 sequentially transmits request messages to the plurality of handset 4 and accumulates the collected terminal data in the memory 16 (S2). Terminal data of a plurality of slave units 4 is accumulated.

  Here, the collection time for the parent device 3 to collect the terminal data in advance is set before this time based on the time when the request message is transmitted from the center device 1. For example, it is set several days before the monthly meter reading time. Here, the time is the day and time.

  When the meter reading time comes, the center device 1 transmits a request message to the parent device 3. Base unit 3 checks whether the received request message is the same as the request message stored in advance (S3). When they are the same request message, the base unit 3 reads the terminal data from the memory 16 and transmits the terminal data to the center device 1 (S4). Since the request message comes for each slave unit 4, the master unit 3 transmits the terminal data of each slave unit 4 to the center device 1 in order. When the master unit 3 finishes the communication with the center device 1, it deletes the transmitted terminal data from the memory 16.

  When the received request message is different from the stored request message, the received request message is a request message for other processing. The base unit 3 performs other processing according to this request message (S5).

  As described above, when there is a meter reading request from the center device 1, it is not necessary to communicate with the child device 4 by sending the terminal data collected from the child device 4 in advance, and the parent device 3 communicates with the center device 1. Communication time can be shortened. Communication using a mobile phone network consumes more power than communication using a specific low power radio. Since the communication time through the cellular phone network is shortened, power consumption can be reduced and the battery life can be extended.

  Further, when collecting terminal data in advance, it can be collected using a request message in center polling. Therefore, it is not necessary to create a new message for collecting in advance, and it is not necessary to update the center device 1 or the parent device 3 in order to add such a function. By using an existing request message in this way, the system becomes versatile. Therefore, the existing system can be used as it is without being changed, and the power consumption of the parent device 3 can be easily reduced even in other systems that perform center polling.

  Further, if the terminal data is collected in advance if it is before the previous day in view of the communication with the center device 1, the operation of the master unit 3 is dispersed on a daily basis with a power source using solar cells. By leveling the daily power consumption, it becomes easier to apply a power source using solar cells to the system.

(Second Embodiment)
In the radio telemeter system of this embodiment, an expiration date is set for terminal data collected in advance, and new terminal data is used as much as possible without using old terminal data. That is, the base unit 3 checks the time when the terminal data is collected, transmits the terminal data collected after the predetermined time to the center device 1, and discards the terminal data collected before the predetermined time. Communicate with the handset 4 to collect terminal data. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  When the collection time in which the collection is performed in advance with respect to the meter reading time from which the request message is transmitted from the center device 1 is a predetermined time or less, for example, within one week from the current time, the parent device 3 is a terminal within the expiration date. Judge as data. This terminal data is transmitted to the center apparatus 1.

  On the other hand, when the collection time is before a predetermined time, for example, one week or more before the current time, the parent device 3 determines that the terminal data has expired. Since this terminal data is old, the terminal data is discarded. At this time, terminal data is collected from the handset 4, and the latest collected terminal data is transmitted to the center device 1.

  Thereby, it is possible to prevent old terminal data from being provided, and to provide new terminal data, thereby enabling highly reliable meter reading.

(Third embodiment)
In the wireless telemeter system according to the present embodiment, a terminal data provider is selected according to the connection state of the handset 4. That is, when the base unit 3 receives a request message from the center device 1 based on the number of the handset units 4 or the connection form of the handset unit 4, the base unit 3 transmits the stored terminal data to the center unit 1 or It communicates with the machine 4 to collect terminal data and select whether to transmit to the center apparatus 1. Other configurations are the same as those in the first and second embodiments.

  A terminal data provider is selected based on the number of handset 4 communicating according to the request message. For example, when the handset 4 to be subject to meter reading is designated, the number of handset 4 to communicate with is determined. When the number of slave units 4 is greater than the specified number, the base unit 3 transmits the accumulated terminal data to the center device 1. When the number of slave units 4 is less than the specified number, the base unit 3 collects the terminal data and collects the center device 1. Send to. The specified number is set based on the time required to communicate with all the slave units 4.

  By the way, when the subunit | mobile_unit 4 is cascade-connected, the number of the subunit | mobile_unit 4 increases. In addition, when the lowermost slave unit 4 and the master unit 3 communicate with each other, a number of the slave units 4 are routed, so that the communication time for collecting terminal data becomes longer. In this case, base unit 3 selects to transmit the accumulated terminal data. When the handset 4 is connected in parallel, a terminal data provider is selected based on the number of handset 4.

  Thus, by selecting the terminal data provider according to the connection state of the slave unit 4, the communication time between the master unit 3 and the center device 1 can be shortened as much as possible, and the reduction of the battery is reduced. Can do.

(Fourth embodiment)
In the radio telemeter system of this embodiment, the latest terminal data can be collected. For this purpose, the master unit 3 collects and accumulates terminal data when collecting other information from the slave unit 4. Other configurations are the same as those in the first to third embodiments.

  When the center device 1 transmits a message for acquiring information other than meter reading, the parent device 3 transmits a request message to the child device 4 together with the received message. The slave unit 4 transmits the desired information and terminal data to the master unit 3. Base unit 3 accumulates terminal data received from handset 4. When terminal data is already stored in the memory, new terminal data is overwritten and stored. Thereby, the latest terminal data can be accumulated. When there is a meter reading request from the center device 1, the parent device 3 transmits the accumulated terminal data to the center device 1.

  Thus, terminal data is collected at any time and new terminal data is accumulated. Thereby, terminal data can be transmitted before the expiration date of terminal data passes.

  As described above, the wireless telemeter system of the present invention includes the parent device 3 that communicates with the center device 1 and the plurality of child devices 4 that are connected to the terminal device and perform wireless communication with the parent device 3. Collects terminal data of the terminal device in response to a request message from the center device 1 and transmits the terminal data to the parent device 3, and the parent device 3 transmits the received terminal data to the center device 1. And the main | base station 3 memorize | stores the request | requirement message from the center apparatus 1, transmits a request | requirement message to the subunit | mobile_unit 4 when not communicating with the center apparatus 1, and the subunit | mobile_unit 4 is acquired from a terminal device. Terminal data is transmitted to the parent device 3, and the parent device 3 accumulates the terminal data collected from each child device 4, and when the message transmitted from the center device is the same as the stored request message, the parent device 3 Transmits the accumulated terminal data to the center device 1.

  By using the request message, the terminal data can be collected in advance with the same operation as a normal meter reading. There is no need to add a new function to the center device 1 or the base unit 3, and a versatile system can be realized.

  The base unit 3 checks the time when the terminal data is collected, and transmits the terminal data collected after the predetermined time to the center device 1. Recently collected terminal data can be transmitted.

  The base unit 3 discards terminal data collected before a predetermined time, communicates with the handset 4 and collects terminal data. The old terminal data is not transmitted, and the latest terminal data can be transmitted.

  Based on the time when the request message is transmitted from the center device 1, the base unit 3 sets the collection time before this time, and when the collection time comes, the base unit 3 communicates with the handset 4 Collect terminal data. Before receiving a request from the center apparatus 1, terminal data to be transmitted can be prepared.

  When the base unit 3 receives a request message from the center device 1, it transmits the accumulated terminal data to the center unit 1 based on the connection state of the handset 4 or communicates with the handset 4, Whether terminal data is collected and transmitted to the center apparatus 1 is selected.

  For the purpose of reducing the power consumption of the base unit 3, it is selected to transmit the accumulated terminal data, but when the effect of reducing the power consumption is small, the terminal data is collected from the handset 4 and transmitted. The latest terminal data can be provided.

  The base unit 3 selects a terminal data provider based on the number of slave units 4 to communicate with, and when the number of slave units 4 is large, transmits the accumulated terminal data to the center device 1 and the number of slave units 4 When there is little, terminal data is collected and transmitted to the center apparatus 1.

  When the number of slave units 4 is large, it takes time to collect terminal data from the slave units 4, the communication time of the master unit 3 becomes long, and power consumption cannot be reduced. Therefore, it is selected to transmit the accumulated terminal data. When the number of slave units 4 is small, it does not take much time to collect terminal data from the slave units 4, so that a significant increase in power consumption is not caused. Therefore, collecting the latest terminal data is selected.

  When the parent device 3 collects other information from the child device 4, it collects and stores terminal data. By collecting terminal data as needed, the latest terminal data can be accumulated.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, Of course, many corrections and changes can be added to the said embodiment within the scope of the present invention. The parent device 3 may collect terminal data from the child device 4 periodically. For example, if collection is performed every week, new terminal data is accumulated and the expiration date does not expire. Therefore, the accumulated terminal data can be transmitted without fail. Therefore, when there is a meter reading request from the center device 1, communication for collecting terminal data from the handset 4 can reliably shorten the communication time, and power consumption during meter reading can be reduced.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Center apparatus 2 Communication line 3 Base unit 4 Sub unit 5 Terminal equipment 8 Power supply

Claims (5)

A master device that communicates with the center device and a plurality of slave devices that are connected to the terminal device and perform wireless communication with the master device, the slave device receives terminal data of the terminal device according to a request message from the center device. Collecting and transmitting terminal data to the parent device, the parent device is a wireless telemeter system that transmits the received terminal data to the center device, and the parent device stores a request message from the center device, When not communicating with the center unit, a request message is transmitted to the slave unit. The slave unit transmits the terminal data acquired from the terminal device to the master unit. The master unit transmits the terminal data collected from each slave unit. A radio telemeter system, wherein when a message stored and transmitted from a center apparatus is the same as a stored request message, the master unit transmits the accumulated terminal data to the center apparatus. The radio telemeter system according to claim 1, wherein the base unit checks a time when the terminal data is collected, and transmits the terminal data collected after a predetermined time to the center device. Based on the time at which the request message is transmitted from the center device, the master unit sets the collection time before this time, and when the collection time comes, the master unit communicates with the slave unit to obtain the terminal data. The radio telemeter system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the data is collected. When the base unit receives a request message from the center unit, it collects the terminal data by transmitting the stored terminal data to the center unit or communicating with the base unit based on the connection status of the base unit. 4. The radio telemeter system according to claim 1, wherein transmission to the center apparatus is selected after the first transmission. 5. The wireless telemeter system according to claim 1, wherein the base unit collects and accumulates terminal data when collecting other information from the slave unit.

Images