JP2020042373A - Gas meter system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a gas meter system capable of reducing a transmission frequency by effectively using a data amount that can be transmitted at a time by a communication standard so as to transmit multiple pieces of code data at a time.SOLUTION: A gas meter system includes: a gas meter; and a center device for performing communication with the gas meter by using a predetermined telegraphic message 50 according to a first communication standard. The predetermined telegraphic message 50 includes: an instruction code 52a; and additional data 52b obtained by collecting multiple pieces of code data where communication contents are defined in accordance with the first communication standard.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication method in a gas meter system including a gas meter and a center device.

  In this type of gas meter system, communication specifications for acquiring various data such as meter readings obtained by the gas meter or setting the time and the like for the gas meter have been standardized. Communication methods using communication standards called A-line communication for communication and N-line communication for LP gas have become widespread. In recent years, U-bus communication, which is a communication standard of higher speed (9600 bps) than the communication speed of A-line communication and N-line communication (200 to 300 bps), has been standardized, and a gas meter having an interface corresponding to the U-bus communication has been standardized. Is also spreading.

  Then, a centralized monitoring system using a converter for mutually converting different communication protocols between N-line communication and U-bus communication has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1). According to this, when a monitoring device that performs monitoring by U bus communication communicates with a gas meter having only the N-line communication function, the monitoring device conforms to the communication standard of U bus communication when requesting a plurality of data from the gas meter. After transmitting a plurality of request data collectively as one request telegram based on the specification, the converter converts the data according to the specification of the N-line communication having a low communication speed, and communicates each data with the gas meter for each, The configuration is such that a response message in which a plurality of data obtained from the gas meter is put together is created and transmitted to the monitoring device by U bus communication.

JP 2017-45227 A

  Since the communication standard of the N-line communication has a low communication speed and it is difficult to transmit and receive a plurality of data at a time, the message is composed of a request data type and a setting data type, a corresponding request data and a setting data. Data is defined as one command code, and a number of command codes corresponding to the type of request data and the type of response data are systematized and standardized.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of a message structure according to the U-bus communication standard. A message 100 includes a header 101 for specifying communication information such as a source address and a destination, and a data part 102. Reference numeral 102 denotes communication contents with the gas meter 10, which is defined as code data U1 for requesting a guideline value, security data, and the number of days of leakage. As shown in FIG. 6B, the code data U1 is composed of an instruction code 102a and additional data 102b added as needed corresponding to the instruction code 102a.

  In the message, a request message in which the center device requests data from the gas meter, a setting message in which the center device performs various settings for the gas meter, a control message in which the center device instructs the gas meter to shut off gas, and the like, There is a response message in which the gas meter transmits data or the like according to a message from the center device, and various codes are defined as command codes according to the type of data, the type of setting, the command, and the like.

The additional data to be added is added together with an instruction code as needed, such as a set value for a set message, a request data type value for a request message, and requested data for a response message.

  The code data used in the U-bus communication has a higher communication speed than the N-line communication, and the amount of information can be increased. Therefore, command data standardized in the N-line communication can be used alone according to the purpose. , Or a combination of a plurality of them, so that more information can be communicated at a time.

  FIG. 6C shows an example of the additional data of the U bus communication. The command data N1 requests the pointer value defined by the N-line communication, the command data N2 requests the security data, and the command requests the number of days of leakage. It is configured by linking data N3. The instruction code 102a in this case is a code defined as a code for requesting three data of the guideline value, the security data, and the number of leakage days.

  Therefore, when requesting three data of the guideline value, the security data, and the number of days of leakage, the N-line communication requires three times of communication by three messages, but the U-bus communication requires one communication of one message. It can be realized by one communication.

  As described above, in the U-bus communication, high-speed communication can be performed with respect to the N-line communication, so that a plurality of data which individually required communication in the N-line communication can be communicated at once. The type of request data and the type of response data correspond to the type standardized by N-line communication, so that a plurality of command data standardized by N-line communication are combined to form one code data. Is defined by a combination of a command code consisting of a type of setting data, a type of setting data, or a code for specifying a meter, and additional data as corresponding request data and setting data.

  Therefore, when a plurality of necessary data (three data of the guideline value, the security data, and the number of leakage days) are defined as one code data U1 as described above, communication can be performed by one request message. However, when a plurality of necessary data is not defined as one code data, for example, three data of a guideline value, security data, and a detailed value of cutoff data are required, and the code data requesting the three data is defined. If not, after obtaining the guideline value, the security data, and the data of the number of days of leakage in a message using the code data U1, another code data (referred to as U2) including the data request of the detailed value of the blocking data is used. There has been a problem that it is necessary to further communicate by telegram.

  Alternatively, in order to acquire necessary data (guideline value, security data, and detailed value of cutoff data) in one communication, new code data (hereinafter referred to as code data U3) defining a combination of the data is added. There is a need.

  FIG. 7 shows a message including the code data U3. The message 200 includes a header portion 201 and a data portion 202 (code data U3). The code data U3 includes an instruction code 202a and additional data 202b. I have. The additional data 202b is configured as a set of command data N1 requesting a guideline value defined by N-line communication, command data N2 requesting security data, and command data N4 requesting a detailed value of cutoff data. Will be defined.

  However, in this case, unless the gas meter corresponds to the new code data U3, necessary data data could not be obtained by one communication. That is, in the case of a manufactured gas meter before the code data U3 is defined, it is not possible to acquire necessary data (guideline value, security data, and detailed data of cutoff data) by one communication.

  Once installed, the gas meter is not replaced during the expiration of the certification period (for example, 10 years), and since the gas meter uses a battery as a power source, code data newly defined in relation to the battery life is used. Since it is difficult to update the program corresponding to U3, it takes ten years until all the gas meters can support the newly defined code data U3.

  As described above, even in the U-bus communication, which is a high-speed communication standard, if multiple communication needs to be performed to obtain necessary data, communication traffic increases, and problems in the progress of smart metering. Becomes In addition, since the gas meter uses a battery as a power source, performing a plurality of communications involves an increase in current consumption, necessitating the mounting of a high-capacity battery, and causing a problem that the gas meter itself becomes large.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and obtains necessary data by using a command system defined by a low-speed communication standard and a command system defined by a high-speed communication standard, or It is an object of the present invention to provide a gas meter system that enables setting by one communication.

  In order to solve the conventional problem, a gas meter system according to the present invention includes a gas meter and a center device that communicates with the gas meter using a predetermined message conforming to a first communication standard, wherein the predetermined message is It is characterized by including additional data obtained by linking a plurality of code data whose communication contents are defined in accordance with the first communication standard.

  Thus, by effectively utilizing the amount of data that can be transmitted at one time according to the communication standard and transmitting a plurality of code data at a time, it is possible to reduce communication time and reduce wireless communication traffic.

  Also, by enabling the combination of existing message codes, it is not necessary to standardize a new message code, so that a plurality of code data can be transmitted at once without replacing the gas meter. .

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the gas meter system of this invention, while shortening communication time and reduction of the traffic of radio | wireless communication can be aimed at, it becomes unnecessary to standardize a new message code.

Configuration diagram of gas meter system according to first to third embodiments of the present invention (A) to (c) are diagrams for explaining a message configuration according to the first embodiment of the present invention. (A)-(c) The figure explaining the message composition in Embodiment 2 of this invention. (A)-(c) The figure explaining the message composition in Embodiment 3 of this invention. (A)-(c) The figure explaining the message structure of the other Example in Embodiment 3 of this invention. The figure explaining an example of the message composition of U bus communication standard FIG. 7 is a view for explaining another example of a message configuration of the U bus communication standard.

A first invention comprises a gas meter, and a center device for communicating with the gas meter using a predetermined telegram conforming to a first communication standard, wherein the predetermined telegram is a communication content conforming to the first communication standard. Is a gas meter system characterized by including additional data obtained by concatenating a plurality of defined code data, and transmitting a plurality of meter control codes at once by effectively using the amount of data that can be transmitted at one time according to the communication standard. By doing so, the number of transmissions can be reduced.

  A second invention comprises a gas meter and a center device that communicates with the gas meter using a predetermined message conforming to a first communication standard, wherein the predetermined message has a lower communication speed than the first communication standard. A gas meter system including additional data obtained by connecting a plurality of command data in which communication contents are defined in accordance with a second communication standard.

  A third invention comprises a gas meter and a center device that communicates with the gas meter using a predetermined telegram conforming to a first communication standard, wherein the predetermined telegram is a communication content based on the first communication standard. Characterized in that the gas meter includes additional data obtained by connecting a plurality of command data whose communication contents are defined in accordance with a second communication standard having a lower communication speed than the first communication standard. System.

  In a fourth aspect based on the third aspect, the additional data is connected while designating types of the first communication standard and the second communication standard, and a data length of the code data and the command data. It is characterized by comprising.

  A fifth invention is characterized in that, in any one of the first to third inventions, the additional data is formed by concatenating the code data or the command data while separating them with a predetermined code. It is.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of any one of the first to fifth aspects, the additional data includes a request code for requesting predetermined data from the gas meter, a setting code for setting the gas meter, and a setting code for the gas meter. It is characterized by including any two or more of control codes for instructing gas shutoff or the like.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited by the embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a gas meter system according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the gas meter system communicates with a gas meter 10, a wireless slave device 20 connected to the gas meter 10, and a wireless slave device 20. , And a center device 40 that communicates with the wireless master device 30 and monitors the gas meter 10.

  The gas meter 10 has a function of measuring and integrating gas consumption by a flow meter side (not shown) or a function of shutting off gas, and has an interface 11 for U bus communication. Based on the electronic message, the integrated value can be transmitted and the gas can be shut off according to an instruction from the center device 40.

  The wireless slave device 20 includes an interface 21 for U bus communication for communicating with the gas meter 10 and a wireless communication unit 22 for communicating with the wireless master device 30. The wireless master device 30 has a wireless communication unit 31 for communicating with the wireless slave device 20 and a communication unit 32 for communicating with the center device 40. Although only one wireless slave device is shown in the figure, Communication with a plurality of wireless slaves is possible.

  Communication between the center device 40 and the wireless master device 30 can use various line networks A such as a telephone line, a mobile telephone line, a net line, or wireless communication, and is not particularly limited.

  With the above configuration, the center device 40 can communicate with the gas meter 10 via the wireless master device 30 and the wireless slave device 20 by communicating with the wireless master device 30. The communication conforms to a predetermined communication standard. Compliant messages are used.

  Note that the configuration of the gas meter system of the present embodiment is an example, and a configuration in which a wireless slave unit is built in a gas meter, a configuration in which a wireless master unit has the function of a wireless slave unit of another gas meter, or a wireless slave unit Has a relay function, various configurations such as performing multi-stage relay are conceivable.

  In addition, a configuration is also conceivable in which the gas meter and the center device directly communicate with each other via the mobile phone line, so that relaying by the wireless master device is not required.

  Hereinafter, a specific message configuration according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 shows a message structure according to the present embodiment. A message 50 is composed of a header section 51 and a data section 52 which are basic structures of U bus communication, and a data section 52 is composed of an instruction code 52a and additional data. 52b.

  In the present embodiment, the additional data 52b is configured as a combined code in which two code data U1 and code data U2 corresponding to the U bus communication standard are connected with a separating code 53 interposed therebetween. At this time, the instruction code 52a is a code defined as indicating that the additional data 52b is connected to a plurality of existing code data defined by the U-bus communication standard by being separated by a separation code 53. .

  According to this message configuration, the gas meter 10 that has received this message 50 can recognize that the subsequent additional data 52b is a code obtained by combining a plurality of existing code data by recognizing the instruction code 52a. The code data can be divided for each determination, and the instruction from the center device 40 can be decoded.

  Therefore, the gas meter 10 that has decrypted the message 50 transmits the guideline value, the security data, the number of days of leakage based on the code data U1, and the other data including the detailed value of the shutoff data as a response message based on the code data U2. Since the data can be transmitted to the center device 40 via the device 20 and the wireless master device 30, the center device 40 can acquire the required data of the guideline value, the security data, and the detailed value of the cutoff data in one communication. it can.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, a message structure according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The configuration of the gas meter system is the same as that of FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the first communication standard will be described as a U-bus communication standard, and the second communication standard slower than the first communication standard will be described as an N-line communication standard.

  FIG. 3 shows a message structure according to the present embodiment. A message 60 is composed of a header section 61 and a data section 62 which are the basic structure of U-bus communication, and a data section 62 is composed of an instruction code 62a and additional data. 62b.

In the present embodiment, the additional data 62b is configured by connecting a plurality of command data conforming to the N-line communication standard. More specifically, the additional data 62b is composed of command data N1 for requesting a pointer value, command data N2 for requesting security data, and command data N4 for requesting a detailed value of cutoff data, which are linked together by inserting a delimiter code 63 into the composite code. It is constituted as. At this time, the instruction code 62a is a code defined as indicating that the additional data 62b is a plurality of command data conforming to the N-line communication standard separated by a partition code 63 and connected.

  According to this message structure, the gas meter 10 receiving the message 60 can recognize that the subsequent additional data 62b is data constituted by a plurality of command data according to the N-line communication standard by recognizing the command code 62a. The command data can be divided for each delimiter code 63 and discriminated, and the instruction from the center device 40 can be decoded.

  Therefore, based on the command data N1, N2, and N4 of the N-line communication standard, the gas meter 10 that has decrypted the electronic message 60 transmits the guideline value, the security data, and the cutoff data detailed value as a response electronic message, and Can be transmitted to the center device 40 through the central device 40, so that the center device 40 can acquire the required values of the guideline value, the security data, and the detailed value of the cutoff data in one communication, and can acquire it in a single time. .

(Embodiment 3)
Next, a message configuration according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The configuration of the gas meter system is the same as that of FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the first communication standard will be described as a U-bus communication standard, and the second communication standard slower than the first communication standard will be described as an N-line communication standard.

  FIG. 4 shows a message structure according to the present embodiment. A message 70 is composed of a header section 71 and a data section 72, which are the basic structures of U-bus communication, and the data section 72 includes an instruction code 72a and additional data. 72b.

  In the present embodiment, the additional data 72b is a command value for requesting a guide value, security data, code data U1 for requesting the number of days of leakage, and a detailed value of cut-off data conforming to N-line communication, in accordance with the U bus communication standard. The command data N4 is configured as a composite code in which a type 73 of a communication standard (in this embodiment, U bus communication and N-line communication) and a data length 74 are specified and connected. At this time, in the instruction code 72a, a plurality of additional data 72b are connected to code data based on the U-bus communication standard and command data based on the N-line communication standard by designating the type 73 of the communication standard and the data length 74. Is a code defined to indicate that

  According to this message structure, the gas meter 10 receiving this message 70 recognizes the command code 72a, and the subsequent additional data 72b is formed by connecting a plurality of U-bus communication standard code data and N-line communication standard command data. The additional data 72b can be divided and determined based on the type 73 and the data length 74, and the instruction from the center device 40 can be decoded.

  FIG. 5 shows a message structure of another example of the present embodiment. A message 80 is composed of a header section 81 and a data section 82 which are the basic structure of U bus communication. , An instruction code 82a and additional data 82b.

Then, the additional data 82b is converted into a guide value, security data, code data U1 for requesting the number of days of leakage, and command data N4, which is a command for requesting a cutoff data detailed value based on N-line communication, according to the U bus communication standard. It is configured as a composite code by adding delimiter codes 83 and 84 indicating the type of communication standard and connecting them. At this time, the instruction code 82a is composed of a plurality of additional data 82b obtained by adding, after the data, a separation code in which code data based on the U-bus communication standard and command data based on the N-line communication standard are divided according to the type of the communication standard. A code defined to indicate that they are linked.

  According to this message structure, the gas meter 10 receiving the message 80 recognizes the command code 82a, and the subsequent additional data 82b is formed by connecting a plurality of U-bus communication standard code data and N-line communication standard command data. Thus, the additional data 82b can be divided and determined based on the division codes 83 and 84, and the instruction from the center device 40 can be decoded.

  Therefore, based on the code data U1 and the command data N4, the gas meter 10 that has decrypted the messages 70 and 80 transmits the pointer value, the security data, the number of days of leakage, and the detailed value of the cutoff data as response messages, and uses the wireless slave device 20 and the wireless master device 30 as response messages. Can be transmitted to the center device 40 via the communication device, the center device 40 can acquire the guideline value, the security data, and the detailed value of the cutoff data, which are necessary data, in one communication.

  In this way, if the type of communication standard and the data length or the delimiter code are specified and linked, code data that can handle a plurality of data standardized by U bus communication by one and N code communication standardized Since it is possible to create a message by mixing command data, a plurality of necessary data can be obtained by one communication.

  In the above embodiment, the additional data 72b and 82b are described as a composite code of the two codes of the U-bus communication code data U1 and the N-line communication command data N4, but only the U-bus communication code data or It goes without saying that the composite code can be composed of only the command data of the N-line communication, and that the composite code can be composed not only of two codes but also of three or more codes.

  As described above, according to the first to third embodiments, by effectively utilizing the amount of data that can be transmitted at one time according to the communication standard and transmitting a plurality of code data at a time, communication time can be reduced and wireless communication can be reduced. Communication traffic can be reduced.

  Further, by enabling the combination of existing message codes, it is not necessary to standardize a new message code.

  Further, the electronic message decoding process in the gas meter can be realized by a microcomputer program. However, a program capable of decoding the electronic message structure in the present embodiment, that is, an additional program corresponding to the definition of the instruction codes 52a, 62a, 72a, and 82a is added. If the gas meter incorporates a program capable of decoding the data 52b, 62b, 72b, and 82b, necessary communication can be performed with one electronic message even if the gas meter does not correspond to the above-described new code data U3.

  Note that, even in the U-bus communication standard, there is a limit to the communication capacity that can be performed in one communication, but it is necessary for the center device to set a combination of code data and command data in consideration of the limit. Needless to say.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the request message for acquiring various data possessed by the gas meter 10 by the center device 40 has been specifically described. However, in the communication message, the center device 40 requests data from the gas meter 10. Request message, the setting message for the center device 40 to perform various settings for the gas meter 10, the control message for the center device 40 to instruct the gas meter 10 to shut off gas, etc., and the gas message for the gas meter 10 from the center device 40. There is a response message that transmits data or the like in response to the request message. Among the response message, the center device 40 transmits two or more of the request message, the setting message, and the code corresponding to the control message to the gas meter 10 as additional data. By doing so, it may be configured to be sent in the same message.

  As described above, the gas meter system according to the present invention can be applied as communication standards for various gas meters.

10 Gas meter 40 Center device 50, 60, 70, 80 Telegram U1, U2, U3 Code data N1, N2, N3, N4 Command data 52b, 62b, 72b, 82b Additional data 53, 63, 83, 84 Separation code

Claims (6)

A gas meter, a center device that communicates with the gas meter using a predetermined message conforming to a first communication standard,
The gas meter system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined message includes additional data obtained by connecting a plurality of code data whose communication contents are defined according to the first communication standard. A gas meter, a center device that communicates with the gas meter using a predetermined message conforming to a first communication standard,
The gas meter system, wherein the predetermined message includes additional data obtained by connecting a plurality of command data whose communication contents are defined in accordance with a second communication standard having a lower communication speed than the first communication standard. A gas meter, a center device that communicates with the gas meter using a predetermined message conforming to a first communication standard,
The predetermined telegram may have code data whose communication content is defined in accordance with the first communication standard and / or communication content defined in accordance with a second communication standard having a lower communication speed than the first communication standard. A gas meter system comprising additional data obtained by connecting a plurality of command data. 4. The additional data according to claim 3, wherein the additional data is connected by designating types of the first communication standard and the second communication standard, and a data length of the code data and the command data. 5. The gas meter system as described. The gas meter system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the additional data is configured by connecting the code data or the command data while separating them with a predetermined code. The additional data may include any two or more of a request code for requesting predetermined data from the gas meter, a setting code for setting the gas meter, and a control code for instructing the gas meter to shut off gas. The gas meter system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that:

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