JP2015216600A - Remote metering system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that remote metering of gas, electricity, water supply, hot spring, steam, fuel and the like in conventional technology cannot quickly and appropriately cope with occurrence of an abnormal situation such as gas leakage when trying to achieve power saving, and has to continuously operate all functions when trying to quickly deal with the abnormal situation, which prevents the power saving and the coping with an abnormal situation from being made compatible.SOLUTION: By the remote metering system, each terminal device can be kept in an energy saving state in normal times, in which only required minimum function is operated, and when transmission and reception of metering data are required and when an abnormal situation occurs, other terminal devices in a network to which the system is connected are started sequentially so as to transmit an abnormal signal to an operational manager, so that a power saving state can be maintained in normal times and any occurrence of abnormality such as gas leakage can be reported quickly.

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote meter-reading system for metering the amount of gas, electricity, water, hot springs, steam, fuel and the like used.

  There is an invention related to the technology of remote meter reading.

Patent Publication 2002-142275

  Conventionally, the meter reading of the amount of gas used, etc., is actually conducted by reading the numerical value of the meter reading device installed in each household, and the meter reading slip An invoice was created (see Figure 1).

However, on-site meter reading, where the meter reader goes to each household and closes until the meter readings can be read, requires a lot of labor and time for meter reading, forgetting to read the meter, misreading the value, There was a situation that caused inconveniences such as false charges by.
Therefore, instead of actually reading the numerical value of the meter reading device, the meter reader goes to the range where the radio wave reaches and receives the radio wave including meter reading data from that place and acquires the meter reading data information It was done. However, even with this method, the meter reader must actually go to the meter reading, and when the meter reading device and the meter reading device are separated, the reading of the meter reading device is actually read. The inconvenience of not changing was not able to be solved.

  Then, next, in order to be able to perform meter reading unattended, a method has been devised in which transmission / reception equipment is installed in a meter-reading device installed in each home and the like and meter-reading data is transmitted and received within a predetermined period. However, in the prior art, the two requests of power saving and prompt notification when an abnormality such as gas leakage is detected cannot be achieved at the same time. In other words, in order to reduce power consumption, if the terminal devices in the network are designed to be in the sleep mode, there is a disadvantage that signals cannot be transmitted quickly when an abnormality such as a gas leak is detected. If an attempt is made to respond quickly when an abnormality such as a leak is detected, the terminal device in the system will always be in an active state, resulting in the inconvenience that power saving cannot be achieved. It was in a state where it was impossible to achieve both reports.

  Therefore, the inventor of the present application suppresses power consumption by setting each terminal of the controlled side terminal device and the controlled side terminal device, which will be described later, to transmit and receive the meter reading result of the meter reading device, and detects abnormal signals such as gas leaks. In this case, the terminal device itself that has detected a gas leak, by sequentially starting other terminal devices in the network to which it is connected, and transmitting an abnormal signal to the administrator, while maintaining a power-saving state at normal times, When there was an abnormality such as gas leakage, it was possible to promptly report (Fig. 2).

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides the following remote meter reading system. Specifically, as the first invention, the first communication unit for communication and whether the signal received by the first communication unit is a normal signal including meter reading data from the meter reading device or based on abnormality detection A first determination unit that determines whether the signal is an abnormal signal, and first meter-reading data that is held until all or part of the received normal signal is transmitted to another device when the received data is a normal signal The holding unit and itself based on a normal control signal that is a normal signal received via the first communication unit from another device based on a transmission schedule that determines a schedule for transmitting or receiving all or part of the normal signal A controlled energy-saving process execution unit that executes or stops the energy-saving process in the network, and another device in the network that includes itself when the received data is an abnormal signal. Providing the controlled terminal device comprising a first emergency control signal output unit for emergency control signal is abnormal signal containing instructions to start the terminal device is in the process performed through the first communication unit outputs, a.

  As a second invention, the first communication unit provides the controlled terminal device according to the first invention having non-Internet communication means for non-Internet communication.

  As a third invention, a second communication unit for communication and a signal received by the second communication unit is a normal signal including meter-reading data from a meter-reading device or an abnormality that is a signal based on abnormality detection A second determination unit that determines whether the signal is a signal, a second meter reading data holding unit that holds all or part of the received normal signal until it is transmitted to another device when the received data is a normal signal, A normal control signal, which is a normal signal for controlling other devices via the second communication unit based on a transmission schedule that determines a schedule for transmitting or / and receiving all or part of the signal, is output via the second communication unit. A normal control signal output unit, a self-control energy saving process execution unit that executes or stops its own energy saving process based on the transmission schedule, and the received data is an abnormal signal Second emergency control signal output that outputs an emergency control signal, which is an abnormal signal including a command for starting a terminal device that is executing another energy-saving process, in another device in the network that includes the second emergency control signal. A control-side terminal device.

  As a fourth invention, the second communication unit includes a non-Internet communication means for performing non-Internet communication and an Internet communication means for performing Internet communication. Providing equipment.

  As a fifth invention, there is provided a remote meter reading system comprising a meter-reading device, a controlled-side terminal device described in the first or second invention, and a control-side terminal device described in the third or fourth invention. provide.

  As a sixth invention, there is provided the remote meter reading system according to the fifth invention, further comprising a remote meter reading server device that communicates with the control side terminal device according to the fifth invention via the Internet.

  As a seventh invention, a first determination step for determining whether a received signal is a normal signal including meter reading data from a meter-reading device or an abnormal signal that is a signal based on abnormality detection, and a determination step A first meter reading data holding step for holding all or part of the received normal signal until it is transmitted to another device when the determination result is that the received data is a normal signal, and all of the normal signal Alternatively, it executes or stops its own energy saving process based on a normal control signal that is a normal signal received via the first communication unit from another device based on a transmission schedule that determines a schedule for transmitting or / and partially receiving When the controlled energy-saving process execution step and the determination result at the determination step are the determination result that the received data is an abnormal signal A first emergency control signal output step for outputting an emergency control signal that is an abnormal signal including a command to start a terminal device that is executing another energy-saving process that is another device in the included network. A method of operating a control-side terminal device is provided.

  As an eighth invention, a first determination step for determining whether the received signal is a normal signal including meter-reading data from the meter-reading device or an abnormal signal that is a signal based on abnormality detection, and a determination step A first meter reading data holding step for holding all or part of the received normal signal until it is transmitted to another device when the determination result is that the received data is a normal signal, and all of the normal signal Alternatively, it executes or stops its own energy saving process based on a normal control signal that is a normal signal received via the first communication unit from another device based on a transmission schedule that determines a schedule for transmitting or / and partially receiving When the controlled energy-saving process execution step and the determination result at the determination step are the determination result that the received data is an abnormal signal A first emergency control signal output step for outputting an emergency control signal that is an abnormal signal including an instruction to start a terminal device that is executing another energy-saving process in another device included in the network; A program written on the side terminal device so as to be readable and executable is provided.

  As a ninth invention, a second determination step for determining whether the received signal is a normal signal including meter-reading data from the meter-reading device or an abnormal signal that is a signal based on abnormality detection, and a second determination step A second meter reading data holding step for holding all or part of the received normal signal until it is transmitted to another device when the received data is a determination result that the received data is a normal signal; and a normal signal A normal control signal, which is a normal signal for controlling other devices via the second communication unit, is output via the second communication unit based on a transmission schedule that defines a schedule for transmitting or / and receiving all or part of A normal control signal output step, a self-control energy-saving process execution step for executing or stopping its own energy-saving process based on the transmission schedule, and reception Second emergency control that outputs an emergency control signal that is an abnormal signal including a command to start a terminal device that is executing another energy-saving process that is another device in the network in which the data is included when the received data is an abnormal signal And a signal output step. An operation method of a control side terminal device which is a computer is provided.

  As a tenth aspect of the invention, a second determination step for determining whether the received signal is a normal signal including meter-reading data from the meter-reading device or an abnormal signal that is a signal based on abnormality detection, and a second determination step A second meter reading data holding step for holding all or part of the received normal signal until it is transmitted to another device when the received data is a determination result that the received data is a normal signal; and a normal signal A normal control signal, which is a normal signal for controlling other devices via the second communication unit, is output via the second communication unit based on a transmission schedule that defines a schedule for transmitting or / and receiving all or part of A normal control signal output step, a self-control energy-saving process execution step for executing or stopping its own energy-saving process based on the transmission schedule, and reception Second emergency control that outputs an emergency control signal that is an abnormal signal including a command to start a terminal device that is executing another energy-saving process that is another device in the network in which the data is included when the received data is an abnormal signal And a signal output step. A program written in a readable manner is provided to a control-side terminal device that is a computer.

  The remote meter reading system according to the present invention makes it possible to achieve both power saving and reporting based on detection of abnormalities such as gas leakage.

Conceptual diagram of conventional field meter reading Conceptual diagram of this remote meter reading system Functional block diagram of Embodiment 1 Conceptual diagram of power saving and startup Hardware conceptual diagram of Embodiment 1 Flow chart showing an example of processing Flow chart showing an example of processing Flow chart showing an example of processing Functional block diagram of Embodiment 2 Hardware conceptual diagram of Embodiment 2 Flow chart showing an example of processing Flow chart showing an example of processing Flow chart showing an example of processing Conceptual diagram of Embodiment 3 ID of each device Conceptual diagram of normal signal including meter reading data Conceptual diagram of normal signal including meter reading data Conceptual diagram of emergency control signal that is an abnormal signal based on abnormality detection Conceptual diagram of normal control signal Conceptual diagram of execution and stop time schedule of energy saving process Conceptual diagram of the transmission / reception status of the terminal device when the energy-saving process is stopped

0300 Controlled terminal device 0301 First communication unit 0302 First determination unit 0303 First meter reading data holding unit 0304 Controlled energy saving process execution unit 0305 First emergency control signal output unit 0900 Control side terminal device 0901 Second communication unit 0902 First Second determination unit 0903 Second meter reading data holding unit 0904 Self-control energy saving process execution unit 0905 Second emergency control signal output unit 0906 Normal control signal output unit

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, the first embodiment is mainly for the first, second, seventh and eighth inventions, the second embodiment is mainly for the third, fourth, ninth and tenth inventions, and the third embodiment. Mainly relates to the fifth and sixth inventions. In addition, this invention is not limited to these embodiments at all, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof. Moreover, although the following description is given about the remote meter-reading apparatus and system in a gas installation, it can implement not only gas but electricity, water supply, hot spring, steam, fuel, etc.

Embodiment 1

<Overview>
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the controlled terminal device of the remote meter reading system according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, the controlled-side terminal device of this system is a terminal device that transmits and receives meter reading results of gas etc. installed at home etc. at a predetermined timing, etc., and the terminal device itself Meter reading data is transmitted to and received from other terminal devices in the network including the. In other normal times, an energy saving process described later is executed to reduce power consumption. On the other hand, when an abnormality such as a gas leak is detected, an emergency control signal is transmitted, and other devices that are executing the energy saving process in the network that includes the device are started, and the emergency control signal is sequentially transmitted. Send / receive to / from other devices and report to administrator. With such a function, an energy saving process is normally executed to reduce power consumption, and at the same time, when an emergency such as a gas leak occurs, the state can be quickly transmitted to the administrator.

<Functional configuration>

  The controlled-side terminal device of the present embodiment includes a first communication unit, a first determination unit, a first meter reading data holding unit, a controlled energy-saving process execution unit, and a first emergency control signal output unit. .

<Description of each configuration>
The configuration of each part will be described with reference to FIG.

(First Communication Department)
The “first communication unit” 0301 is configured to communicate with a meter-reading device, another controlled terminal device, and a control terminal device described later. The “meter reading device” is a meter that measures the usage of gas, electricity, water, hot springs, steam, fuel, etc., and is connected to the controlled terminal device to detect abnormalities such as gas leaks as a result of meter reading data and meter reading. In this case, an abnormal signal is transmitted to the controlled terminal device. The communication method of the first communication unit may be wireless communication or wired communication. However, the meter-reading device is usually installed outdoors, and the controlled terminal device connected to it is often installed outdoors. It is preferable that the communication means consumes as little power as possible. Specifically, ZigBee (ZigBee) or the like is preferable as such communication means.

  The communication route with another terminal device may be fixed in advance or may not be fixed, and may be performed by searching for an appropriate route each time communication is performed. Moreover, there may be one or more such routes. Regardless of whether the route is fixed or not, in order to ensure signal transmission / reception, the terminal device that has received the signal returns a message indicating that the signal has been properly received to the terminal device that has transmitted the signal. Is preferred.

(First judgment part)
The “first determination unit” 0302 determines whether the signal received from the meter-reading device and other controlled terminal devices is a normal signal including meter-reading data or an abnormal signal that is a signal based on abnormality detection. It is configured to determine and output the determination result. When the received signal is a normal signal, meter reading data included in the normal signal is held in a first meter reading data holding unit to be described later. The “normal signal” includes, for example, the following information. That is, its own transmitter ID, signal type, and meter reading data. On the other hand, when the received signal is an abnormal signal, the fact that the abnormal signal has been received is output to a first emergency control signal output unit described later. The “abnormal signal” includes, for example, the following information. That is, own transmission device ID, ID indicating an abnormal signal, meter-reading device ID that has detected an abnormality, abnormality occurrence time, abnormality type, and abnormality degree, if there is a degree attribute, the degree of abnormality is automatically corrected If so, this is a command that activates all the functions for the device ID that circulated this signal and the device that is executing the energy saving process. As the transmission subject of the abnormal signal, there are 2 cases of a signal from the meter-reading device that is connected to the controlled terminal device and detects an abnormality, and an emergency control signal that is an abnormal signal received from another controlled terminal device. There can be a kind.

(First meter reading data holding unit)
The “first meter reading data holding unit” 0303 is configured to hold meter reading data transmitted from the meter reading device and other controlled terminal devices. There are two types of “holding” here: a case where the meter reading data is held momentarily and a case where the meter reading data is held for a certain period of time, such as holding until the meter reading data is transmitted based on the transmission schedule. The stored meter-reading data is batch-transmitted to another controlled terminal device or a control-side terminal device to be described later when a transmission command is received or at a predetermined date and time.

(Controlled energy-saving process execution department)
The “controlled energy saving process execution unit” 0304 is configured to execute an energy saving process in the controlled terminal device. The “energy saving process” is a state in which only a minimum communication function is activated and the remaining functions are not activated. Specifically, the first determination unit and the controlled energy-saving process execution unit are in a fully activated state, but a part of the first communication unit (function to output the received signal to the first determination unit), the first Only one part of the emergency control signal output unit (function to accept the judgment result from the first judgment unit) is activated, the subsequent functions are not activated, and all the functions of the first meter reading data holding unit are also activated No state. When the execution of the “energy saving process” is stopped, meter reading data is transmitted / received to / from the meter reading device, another controlled terminal device or a control terminal device described later. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing that the power saving state is repeated when the energy saving process is executed and the power saving state is entered, and when the activation state is entered for data transmission / reception or emergency control signal output. is there.

  The execution and stop of the energy saving process in the controlled terminal device is performed based on a normal control signal received from the controlling terminal device described later. The “normal control signal” includes, for example, the following information. That is, own transmission device ID, signal type, normal signal range to be transmitted or received, device ID that distributes this signal, schedule for determining start and stop of energy saving process, device that should distribute this signal It is. The normal control signal may be an energy saving process execution command transmitted from a remote meter reading server device, which will be described later, or a time table for voluntarily executing the energy saving process. Further, there are cases where such time table correction and rewriting commands transmitted from the remote meter reading server device are included.

  The emergency control signal, which is an abnormal signal that is transmitted when an abnormality such as a gas leak occurs, is a signal that activates all functions of the terminal device that is executing the energy-saving process. Even when an emergency control signal that is an abnormal signal is received when the execution of the energy saving process is stopped in the apparatus, the state in which the execution of the energy saving process is stopped is not changed.

(First emergency control signal output section)
The “first emergency control signal output unit” 0305 transmits an emergency control signal, which is an abnormal signal, to another controlled terminal device or / and a control side terminal device to be described later via the first communication unit. Composed. “Emergency control signal” means that when the meter reading result of the meter reading device is abnormal due to, for example, a gas leak, the result is abnormal, other controlled terminal devices that are executing the energy saving process, It is a signal containing the command which starts the control side terminal device to perform. The first emergency control signal output unit transmits an emergency control signal, which is an abnormal signal, to another controlled terminal device or control terminal device, and stops the execution of the energy saving process in the received device and activates all functions. In this state, the emergency control signal is sequentially transmitted to the other terminal devices in the network, and the abnormality is notified to the remote meter reading server device.

<Hardware description>

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a configuration when each functional configuration of the controlled terminal device of the remote meter reading system according to the present embodiment is realized as hardware. As shown in this figure, the controlled terminal device of the present embodiment has a “CPU” 0501 for executing various arithmetic processes. The storage device 0502 includes a first communication program 0511, a first determination program 0512, a first meter reading data holding program 0513, a controlled energy saving process execution program 0514, a first emergency control signal output program 0515, meter reading data 0516, emergency control. A signal 0517 is included. Furthermore, a “main memory” 0503 for reading out each program, a “communication interface” 0504, and an “I / O” 0505 are provided, and information is exchanged with an external peripheral device such as a “touch panel” 0508 via the I / O. Send and receive. Also, information is transmitted / received to / from “meter reading device” 0506, “other controlled terminal device” 0507, and the like via a communication interface. A specific mode of this communication interface can be provided regardless of wired or wireless. The storage device stores various programs as described below, and the CPU reads these various programs into the work area of the main memory, and develops and executes them. These components are connected to each other through a data communication path such as “system bus” 0509, and perform transmission / reception and processing of information.

(Hardware operation: Meter reading data processing)
First, the CPU reads out and executes the “first communication program” 0511 from the storage device to the main memory, and performs processing for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the meter-reading device or other controlled terminal devices.

  The CPU reads the “first determination program” 0512 from the storage device and executes it, and determines whether the received signal is a normal signal including meter reading data or an emergency control signal that is an abnormal signal based on abnormality detection. Perform the process.

  If the received signal is a normal signal including meter-reading data as a result of the determination, the CPU executes the “first meter-reading data holding program” 0513 that is ready to be read from the storage device and executed. Hold. There are two ways to hold meter reading data in this case, in addition to instantaneous data holding, holding until a timing for sending meter reading data, or holding after metering is continued to a certain extent. It is possible.

  The held meter-reading data is transmitted to another controlled terminal device and / or a controlling terminal device described later when the controlled terminal device is in an active state where the energy saving process is not executed.

(Hardware operation: Processing when an abnormal signal is received)
First, the CPU reads out and executes the “first communication program” 0511 from the storage device to the main memory, and performs processing for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the meter-reading device or other controlled terminal devices.

  The CPU reads the “first determination program” 0512 from the storage device and executes it, and determines whether the received signal is a normal signal including meter reading data or an emergency control signal that is an abnormal signal based on abnormality detection. Perform the process.

  As a result of the determination, if the received signal is an abnormality signal based on the abnormality detection in the meter-reading device, the energy saving process executed by the controlled energy saving process execution program that is executed in the main memory is stopped. Then, all functions are activated, and an emergency control signal, which is an abnormal signal, can be transmitted to another controlled terminal device to which the terminal device itself connects or a control side terminal device to be described later. As a result, the CPU executes the “first emergency control signal output program” 0515 that can be read from the storage device to the main memory and executed, and is executed by another device in the network that includes the device itself. A process of outputting an emergency control signal, which is an abnormal signal including a command for starting a terminal device, is output by the first communication program that is also developed on the main memory.

(Hardware operation: execution process of energy saving process)
First, the CPU reads out and executes the “first communication program” 0511 from the storage device to the main memory, and performs processing for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the meter-reading device or other controlled terminal devices.

  And the normal control signal which is a signal for performing an energy saving process is received. The normal control signal is held in the storage device in order to execute the energy saving process and is developed in the main memory to execute the energy saving process.

  The CPU executes an energy saving process based on the normal control signal. As described above, the energy saving process stops the function except for the part for processing the abnormal signal, and plays a role of suppressing power consumption. Specifically, the CPU reads the “controlled energy-saving process execution program” 0514 from the storage device into the main memory and executes it, and performs a process of executing or stopping its own energy-saving process based on the normal control signal.

<Process flow>
(Processing of meter reading data)
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flow of meter reading data processing in the present embodiment. The flow of processing in the figure consists of the following steps. First, in the first communication unit, a signal is transmitted / received to / from the meter-reading device or another controlled terminal device (transmission / reception step S0601). Next, the first determination unit determines whether the received signal is a normal signal including meter-reading data or an emergency control signal that is an abnormal signal based on abnormality detection (first determination step S0602). As a result of the determination, if the received signal is a normal signal including meter reading data, the first meter reading data holding unit holds the meter reading data (first meter reading data holding step S0603). In this case, meter reading data can be held in two ways: holding data momentarily, holding data until it is time to transmit meter reading data, or holding data after transmission. sell. Next, the energy-saving process executed by the controlled energy-saving process execution unit is stopped, all functions are activated, and the other controlled-side terminal device connected to itself or the controlling-side terminal device described later is first A signal can be transmitted via the communication unit (energy saving process stop step S0604). The held meter reading data is transmitted to another controlled terminal device or a control terminal device described later (meter reading data transmission step S0605).

(Processing when an abnormal signal is received)
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing flow when an abnormal signal is received in the present embodiment. The flow of processing in the figure consists of the following steps. First, in the first communication unit, signals are transmitted to and received from the meter-reading device or other controlled terminal devices (transmission / reception step S0701). Next, the first determination unit determines whether the received signal is a normal signal including meter-reading data or an emergency control signal that is an abnormal signal based on abnormality detection (first determination step S0702). As a result of the determination, if the received signal is an abnormality signal based on abnormality detection in the meter-reading device, the energy saving process being executed by the controlled energy saving process execution unit is stopped, all functions are activated, and the self An emergency control signal, which is an abnormal signal, can be transmitted to the other controlled terminal device to be connected or the control side terminal device to be described later via the first communication unit (energy saving process stop step S0703). In the first emergency control signal output unit, the first communication unit sends an emergency control signal that is an abnormal signal including a command to start a terminal device that is another device in the network in which the first emergency control signal is included and that is executing the energy saving process. (First emergency control signal output step S0704).

(Energy saving process execution process)
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the flow of execution processing of the energy saving process in the present embodiment. The flow of processing in the figure consists of the following steps. First, the first communication unit transmits and receives signals to and from the meter-reading device or other controlled terminal device (transmission / reception step S0801). Next, a normal control signal that is a signal for executing the energy saving process is received (normal control signal receiving step S0802). The controlled energy saving process execution unit executes or stops the energy saving process based on the normal control signal (energy saving process execution or stop step S0803).

  The first communication unit of the controlled terminal device may use non-Internet communication means for non-Internet communication. By making the communication protocol unique, it is possible to prevent intrusion into the network from the outside and improve security.

  When trouble occurs in communication between a later-described control-side terminal device and a later-described remote meter-reading server device and an emergency control signal that is meter-reading data or an abnormal signal cannot be properly transmitted, the controlled-side terminal device is controlled It is good also as a structure converted into.

<Effect>
By using the controlled terminal device of the remote meter reading system having the above configuration, each terminal device is set to a sleep state at normal times to reduce power consumption, and when an abnormal signal such as a gas leak is detected, an abnormality is detected. The detected terminal device itself sequentially activates other terminal devices in the network to which it is connected to transmit an abnormality signal to the administrator, so that there is an abnormality such as a gas leak while maintaining a power saving state in normal times. It is possible to report promptly in the event of a failure.

<< Embodiment 2 >>

<Overview>
FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of the control side terminal device of the remote meter reading system according to the present invention. The control-side terminal device performs three processes of meter reading data processing, emergency control signal output processing, and normal control signal output processing.

  Meter reading data processing is a remote meter reading to be described later when it is time to hold meter reading data and transmit meter reading data when the signal received from the controlled terminal device is a normal signal including meter reading data. Send to server device.

  The emergency control signal output process is an emergency control that is an abnormal signal via the second communication unit in the second emergency control signal output unit when the signal received from the controlled terminal device is an abnormal signal based on the abnormality detection. A signal is transmitted to a remote meter reading server device or a controlled terminal device to be described later, the energy saving process state is stopped, all functions are activated, and an abnormality is reported to the administrator.

  The normal control signal output processing is an energy saving process execution command transmitted from a remote meter reading server device to be described later, or according to a time table for voluntarily executing the energy saving process, the controlling terminal device itself and the controlled terminal A normal control signal is transmitted to the device, and an energy saving state is maintained while leaving a function necessary for transmitting and receiving an emergency control signal.

  By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to reduce the power consumption by executing an energy saving process under normal circumstances, and at the same time, when an emergency such as a gas leak occurs, it is possible to quickly communicate the abnormality to the administrator. It becomes.

<Functional configuration>

  The control-side terminal device of the present embodiment includes a second communication unit, a second determination unit, a second meter-reading data holding unit, a normal control signal output unit, a self-control energy saving process execution unit, and a second emergency control signal. And an output unit.

<Description of each configuration>
The configuration of each part will be described with reference to FIG.

(Second Communication Department)
The “second communication unit” 0901 is configured to communicate with the controlled terminal device and a remote meter reading server device to be described later. Depending on the design, the control-side terminal device may be connected to the meter-reading device and receive a signal from the meter-reading device, like the controlled-side terminal device. Further, depending on the design, it may be connected to another control-side terminal device. The communication method of the second communication unit does not matter whether it is wireless communication or wired communication, but when installed outdoors, even if the power source is only a battery, so that the battery does not run out frequently, A communication means that consumes as little power as possible is preferable. Specifically, ZigBee (ZigBee) or the like is preferable as such communication means.

(Second judgment part)
The “second determination unit” 0902 determines whether the signal received from the controlled terminal device is a normal signal including meter-reading data or an abnormal signal that is a signal based on abnormality detection. Configured to output results. When the received signal is a normal signal, meter reading data included in the normal signal is held in a second meter reading data holding unit to be described later. The “normal signal” includes, for example, the following information. That is, its own transmitter ID, signal type, and meter reading data. On the other hand, when the received signal is an abnormal signal, the fact that the abnormal signal has been received is output to a second emergency control signal output unit described later. The “abnormal signal” includes, for example, the following information. That is, own transmission device ID, ID indicating an abnormal signal, meter-reading device ID that has detected an abnormality, abnormality occurrence time, abnormality type, and abnormality degree, if there is a degree attribute, the degree of abnormality is automatically corrected If so, this is a command that activates all the functions for the device ID that circulated this signal and the device that is executing the energy saving process. As the transmission subject of the abnormal signal, there are two types of signals, that is, a signal from a meter-reading device that detects an abnormality and an emergency control signal that is an abnormal signal received from the controlled terminal device. It is.

(Second meter reading data holding unit)
The “second meter reading data holding unit” 0903 is configured to hold meter reading data received from the controlled terminal device. The held meter reading data is batch-transmitted to a remote meter reading server device to be described later when a transmission command is received from a remote meter reading server device to be described later or based on a predetermined time table. Data retention in the second meter reading data holding unit is not only momentary holding of meter reading data transmitted from the controlled terminal device, but also meter reading data received from all controlled terminal devices to a remote meter reading server device described later. It includes both cases in which the information is transmitted and held continuously to a certain extent until a reply indicating that it has been received from the remote meter reading server device is received.

(Self-control energy-saving process execution department)
The “self-control energy-saving process execution unit” 0904 is configured to execute an energy-saving process in the control-side terminal device itself. Specifically, the second determination unit and the self-control energy saving process execution unit are in a fully activated state, but a part of the second communication unit (function to output the received signal to the second determination unit), the first Only part of the emergency control signal output unit (function to accept the judgment result from the second judgment unit) is activated, the subsequent functions are not activated, and all the functions of the second meter reading data holding unit are also activated No state. When the execution of the “energy saving process” is stopped, the meter is completely activated, and the meter reading data is transmitted / received to / from the controlled terminal device or the remote meter reading server device.

  Execution and stop of the self-control energy-saving process in the control-side terminal device are performed based on a time table regarding execution and stop of the energy-saving process of the control-side terminal device.

  The emergency control signal, which is an abnormal signal that is transmitted when an abnormality such as a gas leak occurs, is a signal that activates all the functions of the terminal device that is executing the energy-saving process. Even when the emergency control signal that is an abnormal signal is received while the execution of the energy saving process is stopped in FIG. 3, no change occurs in the state in which the execution of the energy saving process is stopped.

(Second emergency control signal output unit)
The “second emergency control signal output unit” 0905 is configured to transmit an emergency control signal that is an abnormal signal to the controlled terminal device via the second communication unit. “Emergency control signal” refers to a command to start a controlled terminal device that is executing an energy-saving process, indicating that the result is abnormal when the meter reading result is abnormal due to, for example, gas leakage It is a signal that contains. The second emergency control signal output unit transmits an emergency control signal that is an abnormal signal to the controlled terminal device, activates the terminal device that is executing the energy saving process, and sequentially transmits and receives emergency control signals between the terminals. Then, the remote meter reading server device is notified of the abnormality.

(Normal control signal output unit)
The “normal control signal output unit” 0906 transmits a normal control signal, which is a normal signal for controlling other devices, to the second communication based on a transmission schedule that determines a schedule for transmitting or receiving all or part of the normal signal. Output through the section. The “normal control signal” is a signal including a command for holding each terminal device in an energy saving state in order to reduce power consumption. The terminal device that has received this signal is described above in the description of the self-control energy saving process execution unit. As described above, the abnormal signal is detected from the meter-reading device, and only the function necessary for outputting the emergency control signal that is an abnormal signal is left, and the other functions are not activated and the energy saving state is maintained. Is done. This signal includes, for example, the following information. That is, own transmission device ID, signal type, normal signal range to be transmitted or received, device ID that distributes this signal, schedule for determining start and stop of energy saving process, device that should distribute this signal It is. The “normal control signal” may be an energy saving process execution command transmitted from a remote meter reading server device described later, or may be a time table for voluntarily executing the energy saving process. Further, there are cases where such time table correction and rewriting commands transmitted from the remote meter reading server device are included.

<Hardware description>

  FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a configuration when each functional configuration of the control-side terminal device of the remote meter reading system according to the present embodiment is realized as hardware. As shown in this figure, the control-side terminal device of this embodiment has a “CPU” 1001 for executing various arithmetic processes. The storage device 1002 includes a second communication program 1011, a second determination program 1012, a second meter reading data holding program 1013, a normal control signal output program 1014, a self-control energy saving process execution program 1015, and a second emergency control signal output program 1016. Meter reading data 1017, normal control signal 1018, and emergency control signal 1019. Further, a “main memory” 1003 for reading out each program, a “communication interface” 1004, and an “I / O” 1005 are provided, and information is transmitted to an external peripheral device such as a “touch panel” 1008 via the I / O. Send and receive. In addition, information is transmitted / received to / from a “controlled terminal device” 1006, a “remote meter reading server device” 1007, and the like via a communication interface. A specific mode of this communication interface can be provided regardless of wired or wireless. The storage device stores various programs as described below, and the CPU reads these various programs into the work area of the main memory, and develops and executes them. These components are connected to each other through a data communication path such as a “system bus” 1009 to transmit / receive information and process information.

(Hardware operation: Meter reading data processing)
First, the CPU reads out and executes the “second communication program” 1011 from the storage device to the main memory, and performs processing for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the controlled terminal device or the remote meter reading server device.

  The CPU reads the “second determination program” 1012 from the storage device and executes it, and determines whether the received signal is a normal signal including meter reading data or an emergency control signal that is an abnormal signal based on abnormality detection. Perform the process.

  If the received signal is a normal signal including meter-reading data as a result of the determination, the CPU executes a “second meter-reading data holding program” 1013 that can be read from the storage device and executed to hold the meter-reading data. To do. There are two ways to hold meter reading data in this case, in addition to instantaneous data holding, holding until a timing for sending meter reading data or holding it after sending it to a certain extent. sell.

  The stored meter-reading data is transmitted to a remote meter-reading server device, which will be described later, when the control-side terminal device is in an active state where the energy-saving process is not executed.

(Hardware operation: Processing when an abnormal signal is received)
First, the CPU reads out and executes the “second communication program” 1011 from the storage device to the main memory, and performs processing for transmitting and receiving signals to / from the controlled terminal device or a remote meter reading server device described later.

  The CPU reads the “second determination program” 1012 from the storage device and executes it, and determines whether the received signal is a normal signal including meter reading data or an emergency control signal that is an abnormal signal based on abnormality detection. Perform the process.

  As a result of the determination, when the received signal is an abnormality signal based on the abnormality detection in the meter-reading device, the energy saving process executed by the self-control energy saving process execution program 1015 that is executed in the main memory is executed. It stops, all functions are activated, and an emergency control signal, which is an abnormal signal, can be transmitted to other control side terminal devices. As a result, the CPU executes the “second emergency control signal output program” 1016 that can be read from the storage device to the main memory and executed, and an abnormality including a command for starting the terminal device that is executing the energy saving process. A process of outputting an emergency control signal, which is a signal, by the second communication program also developed on the main memory is performed.

(Hardware operation: execution process of energy saving process)
First, the CPU reads out and executes the “second communication program” 1011 from the storage device to the main memory, and performs processing for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the remote meter-reading server device or the controlled terminal device.

  And the normal control signal which is a signal for performing an energy saving process is received. The normal control signal is held in the storage device in order to execute the energy saving process and is developed in the main memory to execute the energy saving process.

  The CPU executes an energy saving process based on the normal control signal. As described above, the energy saving process stops the function except for the part for processing the abnormal signal, and plays a role of suppressing power consumption. Specifically, the CPU reads the “self-control energy-saving process execution program” 1015 from the storage device into the main memory and executes it, and performs a process of executing or stopping its own energy-saving process based on the normal control signal.

<Process flow>
(Processing of meter reading data)
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flow of meter reading data processing in the present embodiment. The flow of processing in the figure consists of the following steps. First, the second communication unit transmits and receives signals to and from the controlled terminal device (transmission / reception step S1101). Next, the second determination unit determines whether the received signal is a normal signal including meter-reading data or an emergency control signal that is an abnormal signal based on abnormality detection (second determination step S1102). As a result of the determination, if the received signal is a normal signal including meter reading data, meter reading data is held in the second meter reading data holding unit (second meter reading data holding step S1103). There are two ways to hold meter reading data in this case, in addition to instantaneous data holding, holding until a timing for sending meter reading data or holding it after sending it to a certain extent. sell. The energy-saving process executed by the self-control energy-saving process execution unit is stopped, all functions are activated, and a signal is transmitted to the other control-side terminal device or remote meter-reading server device via the second communication unit. (Energy saving process stop step S1104). The held meter reading data is transmitted to another control side terminal device or a remote meter reading server device described later (meter reading data transmission step S1105).

(Processing when an abnormal signal is received)
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing flow when an abnormal signal is received in the present embodiment. The flow of processing in the figure consists of the following steps. First, in the second communication unit, signals are transmitted / received to / from the controlled terminal device and other controlling terminal devices (transmission / reception step S1201). Next, the second determination unit determines whether the received signal is a normal signal including meter-reading data or an emergency control signal that is an abnormal signal based on abnormality detection (second determination step S1202). As a result of the determination, when the received signal is an abnormality signal based on abnormality detection in the meter-reading device, the energy saving process being executed by the self-control energy saving process execution unit is stopped, all functions are activated, and the self An emergency control signal, which is an abnormal signal, can be transmitted to the other control-side terminal device to be connected or a remote meter reading server device to be described later via the second communication unit (energy saving process stop step S1203). Then, in the second emergency control signal output unit, the second communication unit sends an emergency control signal that is an abnormal signal including a command for starting a terminal device that is executing another energy-saving process that is another device in the network including the second emergency control signal. (Second emergency control signal output step S1204).

(Energy saving process execution process)
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of the flow of execution processing of the energy saving process in the present embodiment. The flow of processing in the figure consists of the following steps. First, in the second communication unit, signals are transmitted / received to / from the controlled terminal device, another control terminal device, or the remote meter reading server device (transmission / reception step S1301). Next, when an energy saving process execution command transmitted from a remote meter reading server device described later is received, or based on a time table for voluntarily executing an energy saving process, or for executing an energy saving process based on a time table A normal control signal, which is a signal, is transmitted (normal control signal transmission step S1302). The self-control energy-saving process execution unit executes or stops its own energy-saving process (energy-saving process execution or stop step S1303).

  The second communication unit of the control-side terminal device may use non-Internet communication means for non-Internet communication. By making the communication protocol unique, it is possible to prevent intrusion into the network from the outside and improve security.

  When a problem occurs in communication with a remote meter reading server device to be described later with respect to the control side terminal device and the emergency control signal that is meter reading data or an abnormal signal cannot be transmitted, the controlled side terminal device is switched to the control side terminal device. It is good also as a structure.

<Effect>
By using the terminal device on the control side of the remote meter reading system having the above configuration, each terminal device is set to a sleep state at normal times to reduce power consumption, and when an abnormal signal such as a gas leak is detected, an abnormality is detected. The terminal device itself started other terminal devices in the network to which it is connected in order to transmit an abnormality signal to the administrator, so that there was an abnormality such as gas leakage while maintaining the power saving state at normal times. In some cases, it is possible to report promptly.

<< Embodiment 3 >>

<Overview>
The third embodiment is a remote meter reading system including the controlled terminal device described in the first embodiment and the control terminal device described in the second embodiment.

<Functional configuration>

  In addition to the functional configuration of the controlled-side terminal device according to the first embodiment and the functional configuration of the control-side terminal device according to the second embodiment, the remote meter-reading server device is included.

<Description of each configuration>

  The description of the configuration of the present embodiment is omitted for the same components as those described in the functional configuration of the controlled terminal device of the first embodiment and the functional configuration of the control side terminal device of the second embodiment.

(Remote meter reading server device)
The “remote meter reading server device” is a server installed on the center side (distribution subject on the meter reading target (gas, electricity, water, hot spring, steam, fuel, etc.)), from the controlled side terminal device and the controlling side terminal device. It is configured to receive meter-reading data associated with the meter-reading device to receive and issue a bill according to the amount of gas used at each home and office associated with the meter-reading device. Also, when an emergency control signal is reported, in the remote meter reading server device, an alarm for dispatching workers to the site is output, or the contents of the abnormality are notified to the workers and the work conductor. It is comprised so that this process may be performed. Furthermore, it is comprised so that the schedule information concerning execution and a stop of an energy saving process may be transmitted with respect to a controlled terminal device via a controlling terminal device.

<Specific Description of Embodiment>

  In the following, Embodiment 3 will be described with reference to the drawings for each of meter reading data processing (Processing 1), abnormality notification processing at the time of gas leak occurrence (Processing 2), and energy saving process processing (Processing 3). FIG. 14 is a conceptual diagram of the remote meter reading system of the present invention. The transmission path of the meter reading data or the emergency control signal which is an abnormal signal in the drawing is set as follows. That is, the meter reading device “X” 1401 transmits the meter reading result to the connected controlled terminal device “A” 1402, and “A” transmits this signal to the controlled terminal device “F” 1407. F ”transmits this signal to the controlled terminal device“ G ”1408,“ G ”transmits a signal to the controlling terminal device“ P ”1409, and“ P ”indicates the remote meter reading server device“ S ”. ”1410 (“ X ”→“ A ”→“ F ”→“ G ”→“ P ”→“ S ”). In this case, the most downstream controlled terminal device is “A”, and the most controlled terminal device is “G”. “B” 1403, “C” 1404, “D” 1405 are other controlled terminal devices in the network including “A”, and are the most downstream controlled terminal devices at the same position as “A”. , “E” 1406 exists. The identification numbers of the terminal devices “X” to “S” are “X”: 045-011156, “A”: 0300-0007-021, “B”: 0300-0007-022, “C”: 0300. -0007-023, "D": 0300-0007-024, "E": 0300-0007-025, "F": 0300-0006-012, "G": 0300-0005-003, "P": 0130 -050, “S”: 001-01 (FIG. 15). Hereinafter, each process is explained in full detail.

(Process 1: Meter reading data processing)
In order to receive the meter reading data for April from the meter reading device “X”, the controlled terminal device “A” stops the controlled energy saving process at 23:59:50 on April 30, 2014 according to the program. The meter reading data can be sent and received.

  It is assumed that the consumption of gas for April in the home where the meter-reading device “X” is installed was 30 cubic meters as a result of the meter-reading by the meter-reading device. The meter reading device “X” transmits the meter reading data for April to “A” at 23:59:55 on the same day, and the first determination unit of “A” indicates that the meter reading data transmitted by “X” The meter reading data “A” was determined to be a normal signal including meter reading data indicating that the usage amount was 30 cubic meters, and the meter reading data “A” was held in the first meter reading data holding unit. Next, “A” transmitted the meter reading data of “A” to the next controlled terminal device “F” in the network to which it was connected at 23:59:56 on the same day. Further, “F” transmitted the meter reading data of “A” to the next controlled terminal device “G” at 23:59:57 on the same day. At this time, the meter reading data transmitted from “F” to “G” includes “B”, “C”, “D”, “E”, and “F” own meter reading data in addition to the meter reading data of “A”. It was. The meter reading data was sequentially transmitted from the downstream side to the upstream side between the controlled terminal devices in the network through the above-described route.

  The G that has received the meter reading data from “A” to “F” transmitted the meter reading data and the meter reading data of “G” itself to the control side terminal device “P”. At this time, in order to ensure the transmission and reception of meter reading data, the controlled terminal device at the most upstream in one route has received all the meter reading data of the controlled terminal device in the route. By the way, it is assumed that all meter reading data in the route is transmitted to the control side terminal device.

  The control side terminal device “P” transmits all received meter reading data to the remote meter reading server device “S” at 23:59:59 on the same day, and the meter reading data received from all the meter reading devices The data was transmitted to the device, and the meter reading data transmission process was completed.

  Identification information for identifying each meter-reading device is given to the meter-reading device (the identification number of “X” is “045-011156”). The meter-reading device identification number information is the remote meter-reading server device “ Since it is associated with the customer number information in “S”, it was recognized that the amount of gas used for April in the home where the meter reading device “X” is installed is 30 cubic meters.

  FIG. 16 is an example of data in a case where a normal signal including “X” meter reading data received by the remote meter reading server device “S” is transmitted by the HTML / XML method.

  FIG. 17 is an example of data in a case where a normal signal including “X” meter reading data received by the remote meter reading server device “S” is transmitted in a packet-defined manner. The header stores the transmission device ID of this signal, the type of signal, and the information of the device that transmitted this signal, and the data storage area stores information about the data transmission source device ID, the time of data generation, and the data attribute. Option information is stored to the extent that there is.

(Process 2: Anomaly reporting process when a gas leak occurs)
The meter-reading device “X” has been continuously decreasing from 15:30 on May 3 at 15:30 on the same day, and two hours have passed since the time when the slight decrease in gas started. It is assumed that a slight gas decrease over 2 hours is a setting for transmitting an abnormal signal by judging that there is a risk of “gas leakage”. An abnormal signal based on the abnormality detection is transmitted to the controlled terminal device “A” to which “X” is connected. “A” was not the timing for transmitting meter reading data at the same time, and because no other abnormal signal was received, the controlled energy saving process was being executed. However, when the abnormal signal is received and the first determination unit of the controlled terminal device determines that this is an emergency control signal that is an abnormal signal, execution of the energy saving process is stopped, and all functions are activated. Thus, the first emergency control signal output unit transmits the emergency control signal that is an abnormal signal to “F” that is the next controlled terminal device in the same network.

  “F” having received the emergency control signal that is an abnormal signal from “A” was executing the controlled energy-saving process, but the first determination of “F” was made for the signal received through the first communication unit. Since the unit has determined that it is an emergency control signal that is an abnormal signal, execution of the controlled energy-saving process is stopped, all functions are activated, and the next emergency control signal output unit in the same network An emergency control signal which is an abnormal signal is transmitted to “G” which is a controlled terminal device.

  “G” that has received the emergency control signal that is an abnormal signal from “F” is executing the controlled energy saving process, but the first determination of “G” is performed on the signal received through the first communication unit. Since the control unit determines that the emergency control signal is an abnormal signal, the execution of the controlled energy saving process is stopped, all functions are activated, and the control side terminal device “P” is notified with an abnormal signal. An emergency control signal was sent.

  “P” was executed in “P” because the second determination unit determined that the signal from “G” received via the second communication unit is an emergency control signal that is an abnormal signal. The execution of the self-control energy saving process was stopped, all functions were activated, and the received signal was transmitted to the remote meter reading server device “S”.

  The remote meter reading server device “S” recognized that “X” detected a gas leak based on the content of the signal received from “P”.

  FIG. 18 shows an example in which an emergency control signal that is an abnormal signal received by the remote meter-reading server device “S” is transmitted by the HTML / XML method.

(Process 3: Energy saving process)
In the present embodiment, the execution and stop of the energy saving process is performed by the control-side terminal device receiving the normal control signal from the remote meter-reading server device and transmitting the normal control signal from the control-side terminal device to each controlled-side terminal device. Suppose that it is a setting. In addition, for the transmission / reception of meter reading data, the most downstream controlled terminal device including “A” stops the execution of the energy saving process at 23:59:50 on the last day of the month, and completes the transmission / reception of meter reading data. The execution of the energy saving process is set to start at 0:01:00 on the next day.

  Based on the setting of this time table, the remote meter-reading server device “S” executes or stops the self-energy-saving process in the control-side terminal device and executes the controlled energy-saving process in the controlled-side terminal device for the control-side terminal device “P”. Or the normal control signal which made the content of a stop transmitted.

  The control-side terminal device “P” that has received the command from “S” has transmitted a normal control signal to the controlled-side terminal device “G”. “G” transmitted a normal control signal to the controlled terminal device “F” in the same network. “F” transmitted a normal control signal from the controlled terminal device “A” to “E” in the same network.

  “A” executes or stops the energy saving process based on the received normal control signal.

  Unlike the above setting, the control-side terminal device has a program related to the schedule for sending and receiving meter-reading data. Based on this, a command for sending and receiving meter-reading data is sent from the control-side terminal device to the controlled-side terminal device. In this case, the meter-reading data may be received from the meter-reading device to which the control-side terminal device is connected and transmitted to another controlled-side terminal or the control-side terminal device.

  FIG. 19 shows an example in which the normal control signal transmitted from the remote meter reading server device “S” and received by “A” is transmitted in the HTML / XML method.

  The number of meter-reading devices and controlled-side terminal devices connected to the meter-reading devices increases and decreases as the meter-reading device is installed in a household or the like. Therefore, in order to reduce the burden on the remote meter-reading server device, it is preferable to design the number of controlled-side terminal devices in one route to be grasped by the controlling-side terminal device.

  FIG. 20 shows an example of a time table of normal control signals. First, based on the reservation schedule for the stop and execution of the energy saving process transmitted during the previous stop of the energy saving process (notice time; vertical axis of the table), the controlled-side terminal device “A” is 23 April 2014 23 At 59:50, execution of the controlled energy-saving process was stopped, all functions were activated, and April meter reading data was sent to “F” (actual time. Horizontal axis of table) .) When the meter reading data is transmitted and the remote meter reading server device “S” receives the meter reading data of all the controlled terminal devices, the information about the start time of the current energy saving process execution and the next energy saving process stop time is displayed as “P This information was sent to “F” via “G”. “A” starts the execution of the controlled energy-saving process from “F” on May 1st, 01:00, 10:00 on the following day, and the meter reading in May at 23:59:50, May 31 Received schedule information of stopping controlled energy saving process to send data.

  FIG. 21 is a conceptual diagram in a case where information on the meter reading data transmission status, the start of the energy saving process, and the next stop time at the time before and after “A” is received. Since “A” is the most downstream controlled terminal device, the transmission time of the meter reading data to the next controlled terminal device “F” in the route is the earliest. In addition, the remote meter reading server device determines the execution time of the current energy saving process after receiving the meter reading data of all the controlled terminal devices, and sends the schedule information to the controlled terminal via the controlling terminal device. Since “A” is transmitted to the device, “A” receives information on the execution and next stop of the controlled energy saving process later than the controlled terminal device located upstream.

  With the remote meter reading system having the above configuration, each terminal device is set in a sleep state at normal times to reduce power consumption, and when an abnormal signal such as gas leak is detected, the terminal device itself that has detected the abnormality is connected by itself By sequentially starting other terminal devices in the network to transmit an abnormal signal to the administrator, it is possible to promptly notify when there is an abnormality such as gas leakage while maintaining the power saving state in normal times It becomes possible.

Claims (10)

A first communication unit for communicating;
A first determination unit that determines whether the signal received by the first communication unit is a normal signal including meter-reading data from the meter-reading device or an abnormal signal that is a signal based on abnormality detection;
A first meter reading data holding unit for holding all or part of the received normal signal until it is transmitted to another device when the received data is a normal signal;
Based on a normal control signal, which is a normal signal received via the first communication unit from another device based on a transmission schedule that defines a schedule for transmitting or / and receiving all or part of the normal signal, A controlled energy saving process execution unit to be executed or stopped;
When the received data is an abnormal signal, the first communication unit sends an emergency control signal that is an abnormal signal including an instruction to start a terminal device that is another device in the network in which the received data is being executed and is executing an energy saving process. A first emergency control signal output unit for output via
A controlled terminal device.   The controlled terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the first communication unit includes non-Internet communication means for performing non-Internet communication. A second communication unit for communicating;
A second determination unit that determines whether the signal received by the second communication unit is a normal signal including meter reading data from the meter reading device or an abnormal signal that is a signal based on abnormality detection;
A second meter reading data holding unit that holds all or part of the received normal signal until it is transmitted to another device when the received data is a normal signal;
A normal control signal, which is a normal signal for controlling other devices via the second communication unit based on a transmission schedule that defines a schedule for transmitting or receiving all or part of the normal signal, via the second communication unit A normal control signal output section to output,
A self-control energy-saving process execution unit that executes or stops its own energy-saving process based on the transmission schedule;
When the received data is an abnormal signal, the second communication unit sends an emergency control signal, which is an abnormal signal including an instruction to start a terminal device that is executing another energy-saving process, which is another device in the network including itself. A second emergency control signal output unit for outputting via
A control-side terminal device.   The controlled-side terminal device according to claim 3, wherein the second communication unit includes non-Internet communication means for performing non-Internet communication and Internet communication means for performing Internet communication. A meter reading device;
The controlled terminal device according to claim 1 or 2,
The control-side terminal device according to claim 3 or 4,
Remote meter reading system consisting of   The remote meter-reading system according to claim 5, further comprising a remote meter-reading server device that communicates with the control-side terminal device according to claim 5 via the Internet. A first determination step of determining whether the received signal is a normal signal including meter-reading data from the meter-reading device or an abnormal signal that is a signal based on abnormality detection;
A first meter reading data holding step for holding all or part of the received normal signal until it is transmitted to another device when the determination result in the determination step is a determination result that the received data is a normal signal;
Based on a normal control signal, which is a normal signal received via the first communication unit from another device based on a transmission schedule that defines a schedule for transmitting or / and receiving all or part of the normal signal, A controlled energy saving process execution step to be executed or stopped; and
When the determination result in the determination step is a determination result that the received data is an abnormal signal, it includes a command for starting a terminal device that is another device in the network including itself and that is executing an energy saving process A first emergency control signal output step for outputting an emergency control signal which is an abnormal signal;
A method of operating a controlled terminal device which is a computer having A first determination step of determining whether the received signal is a normal signal including meter-reading data from the meter-reading device or an abnormal signal that is a signal based on abnormality detection;
A first meter reading data holding step for holding all or part of the received normal signal until it is transmitted to another device when the determination result in the determination step is a determination result that the received data is a normal signal;
Based on a normal control signal, which is a normal signal received via the first communication unit from another device based on a transmission schedule that defines a schedule for transmitting or / and receiving all or part of the normal signal, A controlled energy saving process execution step to be executed or stopped; and
When the determination result in the determination step is a determination result that the received data is an abnormal signal, it includes a command for starting a terminal device that is another device in the network including itself and that is executing an energy saving process A first emergency control signal output step for outputting an emergency control signal which is an abnormal signal;
Is written on the controlled terminal device, which is a computer, so that it can be read and executed. A second determination step of determining whether the received signal is a normal signal including meter-reading data from the meter-reading device or an abnormal signal that is a signal based on abnormality detection;
A second meter reading data holding step for holding all or part of the received normal signal until it is transmitted to another device when the determination result in the determination step is a determination result that the received data is a normal signal;
A normal control signal, which is a normal signal for controlling other devices via the second communication unit, is output via the communication unit based on a transmission schedule that determines a schedule for transmitting or receiving all or part of the normal signal. A normal control signal output step;
A self-control energy-saving process execution step for executing or stopping its own energy-saving process based on the transmission schedule;
When the received data is an abnormal signal, a second emergency that outputs an emergency control signal that is an abnormal signal including a command to start a terminal device that is another device in the network in which the received data is included and is executing an energy saving process A control signal output step;
The operation method of the control side terminal device which is a computer having A second determination step of determining whether the received signal is a normal signal including meter-reading data from the meter-reading device or an abnormal signal that is a signal based on abnormality detection;
A second meter reading data holding step for holding all or part of the received normal signal until it is transmitted to another device when the determination result in the determination step is a determination result that the received data is a normal signal;
A normal control signal, which is a normal signal for controlling other devices via the second communication unit, is output via the communication unit based on a transmission schedule that determines a schedule for transmitting or receiving all or part of the normal signal. A normal control signal output step;
A self-control energy-saving process execution step for executing or stopping its own energy-saving process based on the transmission schedule;
When the received data is an abnormal signal, a second emergency that outputs an emergency control signal that is an abnormal signal including a command to start a terminal device that is another device in the network in which the received data is included and is executing an energy saving process A control signal output step;
A computer program that can be read and executed by a control-side terminal device that is a computer having

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