JP2020077316A - Guideline value information self-report system, program, information terminal, server, and method - Google Patents

Abstract

To streamline acquisition of guideline value information from meters to reduce communication costs.SOLUTION: A guideline value information self-report system includes at least a meter (gas meter 4) and a server (8), and guideline value information acquired from the meter is self-reported from a user to the server, and the server provides the user with incentive information. The system includes (6) an information terminal for self-reporting the guideline value information, and a form of self-reporting the guideline value information includes any of a) provision of character information including the guideline value information, b) provision of image information including the guideline value information, c) provision of voice information including the guideline value information, and d) provision of the guideline value information from the information terminal interposed between the meter and the server.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a technique for acquiring meter-reading data from a meter such as a gas meter, a water meter, and an integrated electric power meter, which is self-reported by a user.

The guideline information of the meters on the user side such as the gas meter, water meter, and integrated electricity meter is obtained by the manual reading of the meter or automatically transmitted from the meter side, and is managed. Some meters have a communication module using a mobile phone communication line.
Regarding the system in which this meter with communication module connects the communication module to the monitoring center using the mobile phone communication line and secures the communication of meter reading data, etc., pay attention to the reception status of the communication module, and when the reception status is bad, the gas meter It is known to prohibit operation and operate the gas meter in a place where reception is good (for example, Patent Document 1).
In addition, regarding the management of gas usage status, the monitoring device and the gas meter reading device installed in the gas consuming area are connected via the Internet line, and the user accesses the monitoring device or the gas meter reading device using the mobile communication terminal to check the gas meter reading information. It is known that the charged amount can be confirmed (for example, Patent Document 2).

JP-A-2018-1119892 JP, 2016-81073, A

By the way, it is useful to connect the gas meter and the server with an internet line, provide the guideline value to the server by communication, calculate meter reading data and billing data, and provide it to the user, but it is not necessary for communication connection. There is a problem in that it is costly and it is not practical in terms of cost to always connect wirelessly to obtain the guideline value information. Superimposing the communication cost on the billing data causes a decrease in service and increases the burden on the user.
Also, if a high safety factor is set to avoid running out of gas in the gas container, the amount of gas remaining in the gas container to be replaced will increase, and the burden of gas delivery will increase. There is an issue of how to decide.
Regarding such a problem, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 do not mention or suggest how to determine the meter reading date and time.

Therefore, in view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to rationalize acquisition of guideline value information from a meter and reduce communication cost.

To achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the guideline value information self-reporting system of the present invention, at least a meter and a server are provided, and the guideline value information acquired from the meter is self-reported to the server by the user. Incentive information is provided from the server to the user.
In this guideline value information self-declaration system, an information terminal for self-declaring the guideline value information is provided, and as a form of self-declaration of the guideline value information, a) provision of character information including the guideline value information, a) the guideline Either providing image information including value information, c) providing voice information including the guideline value information, or d) providing the guideline value information from the information terminal interposed between the meter and the server. May be included.
In this guideline value information self-reporting system, the incentive information may be selectable according to the self-reporting of the guideline value information or its form.
In this guideline value information self-reporting system, the server calculates meter-reading data from the guideline value information, calculates a meter-reading date or a meter-reading period based on the meter-reading data, and monitors the arrival of the meter-reading date or meter-reading period. A meter reading request may be generated on the meter reading day or the meter reading period, and the pointer value information may be acquired from the information terminal on the meter reading day or the meter reading period.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of a program of the present invention, a program realized by a computer, having a function of receiving a meter reading request from a server and self-reporting guideline value information from the information terminal to the server The computer realizes the function of the information terminal, which self-reports the guideline value information, to receive the incentive information from the server.

In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of a program of the present invention, a program realized by a computer, in which a server generates a meter reading request and also receives guideline value information related to self-declaration of an information terminal And, the meter reading data is calculated by the guideline value information, the meter reading date or the meter reading period is calculated by the meter reading data, the arrival of the meter reading day or the meter reading period is monitored, and the meter reading request is issued on the meter reading day or the meter reading period. The function to generate is realized by a computer.
In this program, as a form of self-reporting the guideline value information from the information terminal, a) provision of character information including the guideline value information, a) provision of image information including the guideline value information, and c) guideline value information A computer may be provided with a function capable of selecting any one of provision of voice information including provision of voice information and provision of the guideline value information from the information terminal interposed between the meter and the server.
In this program, a computer may implement a function that allows the incentive information to be selected according to a self-report provided to the server.

In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the information terminal of the present invention, a communication unit that transmits pointer value information in response to a meter reading request from a server and receives incentive information from the server, and the acquired pointer. A processing unit that sends value information to the communication unit and acquires the incentive information from the communication unit, and a storage unit that stores one or more of the meter reading request, the guideline value information, and the incentive information. ..
In this information terminal, the processing unit has a form of self-reporting the guideline value information to the server: a) provision of character information including the guideline value information, a) provision of image information including the guideline value information, (C) Any of provision of voice information including the guideline value information and d) provision of the guideline value information intervening between the meter and the server may be selected.

To achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the server of the present invention, a processing unit that calculates meter reading data from the guideline value information declared by the user, and generates incentive information for the user who declared the guideline value information, A meter reading request is transmitted to an information terminal, a guideline value information is received from the information terminal, and a communication unit that transmits the incentive information, and the guideline value information, the meter reading data, the meter reading request, in association with identification information, A storage unit for storing any one or two or more of the incentive information.
In this server, the processing unit may self-declare the guideline value information from the information terminal as follows: a) provision of character information including the guideline value information; a) provision of image information including the guideline value information; ) Providing voice information including the guideline value information, d) Incentive information indicating an incentive corresponding to any selection of providing the guideline value information from the information terminal interposed between the meter and the server. May be generated.
In this server, the processing unit calculates meter-reading data from the guideline value information, calculates a meter-reading date or a meter-reading period based on the meter-reading data, monitors the arrival of the meter-reading date or meter-reading period, and reads the meter-reading date or meter-reading period. A meter reading request may be generated during the period, and the pointer value information may be acquired from the information terminal during this meter reading day or meter reading period.

In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the guideline value information self-reporting method of the present invention, a step of receiving a meter reading request from a server at an information terminal and self-reporting the guideline value information from the information terminal to the server. And a step of receiving incentive information from the server at the information terminal that has self-reported the guideline value information.
In this guideline value information self-reporting method, a step of generating a meter reading request and receiving the guideline value information relating to self-reporting, and meter reading data is calculated by the above-mentioned guideline value information, and the meter reading date or meter reading calculated from this meter reading data. Monitoring the arrival of a period and generating the meter reading request on the meter reading day or the meter reading period.
In this guideline value information self-declaration method, as a form of self-declaring the guideline value information from the information terminal to the server, a) provision of character information including the guideline value information, a) provision of image information including the guideline value information, C) A step of selecting any of provision of voice information including the guideline value information and selection of provision of the guideline value information from the information terminal interposed between the meter and the server may be included.
This guideline value information self-reporting method may further include a step of acquiring the guideline value information from the information terminal on the meter reading date or the meter reading period.

According to the present invention, any one of the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The user can self-declare the guideline value information to the server, and the user can receive incentive information from the server in response to this self-declaration, and the acquisition of the guideline value information on the server side can be simplified. it can.
(2) The server can calculate the meter reading data using the self-reported guideline value information, and can rationalize the acquisition of the guideline value information and acquire the guideline value information on the optimum meter reading date or meter reading period.
(3) Billing system that can reduce personnel expenses and communication costs for acquiring guideline value information, can provide incentives for self-reported users, improve services for users and reduce costs to users Can be built.

It is a figure which shows the guideline value information self-reporting system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flow chart which shows a processing sequence. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the guideline value information self-report system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a guideline value information self-report system according to the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows a guideline value information file. It is a figure which shows the 1st meter-reading information file. It is a figure for demonstrating calculation of a meter-reading day or a meter-reading period. It is a figure which shows the 2nd meter-reading information file. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence which calculates the replacement time of a gas container. It is a figure which shows the guideline value information self-reporting system which concerns on Example 2. It is a flow chart which shows a processing sequence. A is a diagram showing shooting on the meter display unit, and B is a diagram showing guide information. It is a figure which shows the guideline value information self-reporting system which concerns on Example 3. It is a flow chart which shows a processing sequence. It is a figure which shows the guideline value information self-reporting system which concerns on Example 4. It is a flow chart which shows a processing sequence.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 shows a guideline value information self-report system according to the first embodiment. The configuration shown in FIG. 1 is an example, and the present invention is not limited to such a configuration.
This guideline value information self-report system (hereinafter simply referred to as “self-report system”) 2 includes a gas meter 4, an information terminal 6 and a server 8 as an example.
The gas meter 4 is an example of a meter that outputs pointer value information, and as a meter-reading target that outputs pointer value information, for example, a water meter or an integrated power meter may be used. In the gas meter 4, the measuring unit 10 outputs a measured value and the measured value is displayed on the meter display unit 12.

The information terminal 6 is an example of means for self-declaring the guideline value information to the server 8. As long as there is a means for self-declaration, other user equipment may be used, and the information terminal 6 is not limited to the information terminal 6. The information terminal 6 is composed of a computer having a communication function. The information terminal 6 includes a processing unit 14, a storage unit 16, a communication unit 18, and a display unit 20. The processing unit 14 executes the program stored in the storage unit 16, acquires the pointer value information from the gas meter 4, and stores and stores it in the storage unit 16. The information value may be acquired voluntarily by the information terminal 6 or may be acquired in response to a meter reading request from the server 8.
The communication unit 18 communicates with the server 8 under the control of the processing unit 14 and receives a meter reading request from the server 8. In response to the meter reading request, the processing unit 14 transmits the guideline value information to the server 8 through the communication unit 18.
The display unit 20 is used to display various information such as communication control with the server 8 and transmission of guideline value information.

The server 8 is composed of a computer having a communication function. The server 8 includes a processing unit 22, a storage unit 24, and a communication unit 26. The processing unit 22 executes a program stored in the storage unit 24, and performs information processing such as generation of incentive information corresponding to self-report of guideline value information. In addition, information processing by the server 8 includes calculation of meter reading data based on guideline value information acquired from the information terminal 6, conversion of meter reading data into billing data, calculation of meter reading date or meter reading period from meter reading data, meter reading date or meter reading The processing includes monitoring of arrival of a period, generation of a meter reading request during a meter reading day or meter reading period, and transmission of a meter reading request to the information terminal 6.
The communication unit 26 communicates with the communication unit 18 of the information terminal 6 through the communication network 28 (FIG. 4) under the control of the processing unit 22, transmits a meter reading request to the information terminal 6, receives guideline value information from the information terminal 6, Send billing data and incentive information.

<Processing sequence of self-report system 2>
FIG. 2 shows the processing procedure of the processing sequence of the self-report system 2. This processing procedure is an example of the program or method of the present invention. In this processing procedure, S is a step, and the numbers attached to S are merely examples of the order.
The gas meter 4 generates guideline value information according to the use of gas (S101).
The server 8 monitors the meter reading date or meter reading period for each user of the gas meter 4 (S102), and transmits a meter reading request (S103). This meter-reading request is transmitted to the information terminal 6 belonging to the user, and the information terminal 6 receives this meter-reading request (S104).
In this case, the information terminal 6 acquires the guideline value information from the gas meter 4 (S105). The information terminal 6 may independently acquire this guideline value information from the gas meter 4 before receiving the meter reading request, and regarding this acquisition form, the user may read it from the meter display section 12 of the gas meter 4, or the gas meter 4 May be acquired through communication.

The information terminal 6 responds to the reception of the meter reading request (S104) and transmits the guideline value information (S106). The server 8 receives the guideline value information from the information terminal 6 (S107), and calculates the meter reading data using this guideline value information (S108). The server 8 converts the meter-reading data into billing data (S109), and generates incentive information as an example of a process corresponding to the self-report from the user (S110). This incentive information includes a reduction in the conversion rate from meter reading data to billing data, a reduction from billing data, and the like.
The server 8 transmits the billing data and the incentive information to the information terminal 6 which has transmitted the guideline value information (S111). The information terminal 6 receives the billing data and the incentive information from the server 8 (S112), and displays these information on the display unit 20 (S113).

<Effects of First Embodiment>
According to the first embodiment, any one of the following effects can be obtained.
(1) An information terminal that receives a meter reading value request from the server can self-report the guideline value information to the server, and the user can receive an incentive to self-report the guideline value information. You can utilize the merit of declaration.
(2) The server can acquire the guideline value information from the meter through the intermediary of the information terminal, and use this guideline value information to calculate the meter reading data.
(3) The communication cost for acquiring the guideline value information can be reduced.
(4) The server can calculate the meter reading date or meter reading period from the meter reading data calculated from the pointer value information, can acquire the pointer value information from the gas meter on the meter reading day or meter reading period, and can rationalize the acquisition of the pointer value information. The consumption of the battery on the gas meter side can be suppressed.
(5) It is possible to reduce labor costs and communication costs for acquiring meter reading data, and to reduce costs to users by improving services.
(6) With LP (Liquefied Petroleum) gas, the amount of gas remaining when replacing the gas container can be reduced, and the replacement cost of the gas container can be reduced.
(7) As the information terminal, the information terminal that the user uses everyday can be effectively utilized.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 3 shows a processing sequence of the self-report system 2 according to the second embodiment. Also in the second embodiment, the system configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, so the description of such system configuration will be omitted.
In the second embodiment, an information terminal 6 (FIG. 1) for self-reporting guideline value information to the server 8 is provided, and as a form of self-reporting guideline value information,
A) Provision of at least character information representing guideline value information [declaration pattern 1 ... Example 1 (FIGS. 4 to 9)]
B) Provision of image information representing guideline value information [declaration pattern 2 ... Example 2 (FIG. 10, FIG. 11, FIG. 12)]
C) Providing voice information representing guideline value information [declaration pattern 3 ... Example 3 (FIGS. 13 and 14)]
D) Provision of guideline value information from the information terminal 6 interposed between the gas meter 4 and the server 8 [reporting pattern 4 ... Example 4 (FIGS. 15 and 16)]
Is included. Therefore, when the user self-reports the guideline value information to the server 8, the user may select any one of a) to d). That is, in the second embodiment, by registering the use of the guideline value information self-declaration system in the server 8 from the information terminal 6 and self-declaring the guideline value information in any of the declaration patterns 1 to 4, Incentives corresponding to the declaration patterns 1 to 4 can be provided.

In this processing procedure, the information terminal 6 requests the server 8 to self-declare the guideline value information (S201). In response to this, the server 8 provides the selection information of the reporting patterns 1 to 4 (S202). As a result, the declaration patterns 1 to 4 are displayed as the presentation information on the display unit 20 of the information terminal 6 (S203).
The user selects from the report patterns 1 to 4 displayed on the information terminal 6 (S204), and notifies the server 8 of the selected report pattern (S205). Upon receiving this notification, the server 8 registers the notified declaration pattern in association with the user (S206). This declaration pattern is stored in the storage unit 24 of the server 8.
The user uses the information terminal 6 to self-report the guideline value information according to the registered reporting pattern (S207). The server 8 acquires the guideline value information declared from the information terminal 6 (S208), generates incentive information representing the incentives corresponding to the declaration patterns 1 to 4 (S209), and provides the information terminal 6 with the incentive information.
The information terminal 6 can obtain the incentive information (S210) and receive the incentive corresponding to the self-declaration of the guideline value information.

<Effect of Second Embodiment>
According to the second embodiment, any one of the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The same effect as the first embodiment can be obtained.
(2) It is possible to self-report guideline value information by selecting the reporting patterns 1 to 4 provided from the server 8.
(3) The user can receive an incentive to provide the guideline value information according to the reporting patterns 1 to 4, and can build an effective self-reporting system.

<Self-report system 2>
FIG. 4 shows the self-report system 2 according to the first embodiment. The configuration shown in FIG. 4 is an example, and the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. In this self-report system 2, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals.
The self-report system 2 according to the first embodiment corresponds to the report pattern 1 according to the second embodiment. According to one aspect of the self-report system 2, the server 8 transmits a meter reading request on a meter reading date or a meter reading period, and the information terminal 6 receiving the meter reading request receives the guideline value information (at least character information) related to the user input. Provide to the server 8. The server 8 calculates the meter reading data using the guideline value information provided from the information terminal 6. Therefore, according to the self-report system 2, the user who self-reports the guideline value information is provided with an incentive.

<Gas meter 4>
The gas meter 4 is installed in a gas supply path 34 that connects the gas container 30 and the gas device 32 on the gas user side. The gas meter 4 is, for example, a microcomputer meter, and the gas meter 4 includes a measuring unit 10 and a meter display unit 12. The measuring unit 10 measures the amount of gas used in the user's gas equipment and the amount of gas remaining in the gas container 30, outputs pointer value information including this measured value, and the meter display unit 12 displays the measured value.

  The gas container 30 in which the gas meter 4 is installed is equipped with two systems, for example, a supply system and a standby system, for example, gas containers 30-1 and 30-2. The gas container 30-1 is for normal gas supply, and the gas container 30-2 is for gas storage as a measure against out of gas. When the gas container 30-1 runs out of gas, the gas switching device 36 switches the gas container 30-1 as the gas supply source to the gas container 30-2 as the backup system, and gas is supplied from the gas container 30-2. .. The gas device 32 includes a plurality of gas devices 32-1, 32-2, ... Such as gas appliances and hot water supply devices.

<Information terminal 6>
The information terminal 6 is a computer having a communication function. The information terminal 6 includes a processing unit 14, a storage unit 16, a communication unit 18, a display unit 20, and an input unit 38. The processing unit 14 executes various programs such as the meter reading program stored in the storage unit 16. The information processing of the processing unit 14 includes a) acquisition of a meter reading request and b) execution of a self-report mode. The processing in the self-report mode includes processing such as c) acquisition of guideline value information, d) transmission of guideline value information, and e) reception of billing data and incentive information.
The communication unit 18 communicates with the server 8. Under the control of the processing unit 14, the communication unit 18 receives the meter reading request from the server 8 and transmits the pointer value information to the server 8 in response to the meter reading request.

The storage unit 16 includes storage elements such as a ROM (Read-Only Memory), a RAM (Random-Access Memory), and an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), and a meter reading date, a meter reading period, a meter reading request, and a guideline value. Stores information etc. A storage unit 16 is provided with, for example, a guideline value information file 40 (FIG. 5) that stores these pieces of information.
The display unit 20 is composed of, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). An image such as execution information in the self-report mode is displayed on the display unit 20 under the control of the processing unit 14.
The guideline value information is input to the input unit 38 under the control of the processing unit 14. An interface device such as a keyboard 39 is connected to the input unit 38 by wire or wirelessly, and the pointer value information read by the user from the meter display unit 12 is input by a user operation.

<Server 8>
The server 8 is a computer having a communication function and is installed at a gas consumption management center or the like.
The processing unit 22 executes a program stored in the storage unit 24, and performs information processing such as acquisition of guideline value information, calculation of meter reading data, generation of a meter reading request, calculation of billing data, and generation of incentive information. For this information processing, f) monitoring of meter reading date or meter reading period, g) generation of meter reading request, h) transmission of meter reading request, i) acquisition of guideline value information, j) acquisition of meter reading data and meter reading date or meter reading period Calculation, k) conversion of meter reading data into billing data, l) generation of incentive information, m) transmission of billing data and incentive information, and the like.

The storage unit 24 includes storage elements such as ROM, RAM, and EEPROM. The storage unit 24 stores user identification information, meter reading date, meter reading period, pointer value information, meter reading data, billing data, incentive information, and the like. For example, the meter reading information files 42 (FIG. 6) and 44 (FIG. 8) that store these pieces of information are provided in the storage unit 24. The identification information includes information for identifying the user, such as terminal information indicating the information terminal 6 registered in the server 8, user information indicating a specific user, and meter information indicating the gas meter 4. The meter information is identification information such as a meter number and a meter ID (IDentification) that specify the gas meter 4 of a specific user.
The communication unit 26 is used for communication with the information terminal 6 via the communication network 28 such as a public line. The communication unit 26 transmits a meter reading request under the control of the processing unit 22 and receives pointer value information from the information terminal 6.

<Information processing of the information terminal 6>
a) Acquisition of meter reading request The processing unit 14 acquires a meter reading request from the server 8 through the communication unit 18.
b) Execution of self-report mode When the meter reading request is obtained, the processing unit 14 executes the self-report mode. The processing unit 14 shifts to the self-report mode by issuing a response to the meter reading request. This self-report mode is a process that is executed prior to other processes in the information terminal 6. This self-report mode includes processing such as response to the meter reading request received from the server 8, acquisition of guideline value information, and transmission thereof.
c) Acquisition of pointer value information The processing unit 14 acquires the pointer value information input by the user, which is read from the gas meter 4, and stores it in the storage unit 16.
d) Transmission of guideline value information The processing unit 14 transmits the guideline value information to the server 8 by the communication unit 18 in response to the meter reading request from the server 8.
e) Reception of billing data and incentive information The processing unit 14 acquires the billing data and incentive information transmitted from the server 8. That is, the user who provided the guideline value information can receive the incentive information as a reward (privilege) for providing the guideline value information together with the charging data.

<Information processing of server 8>
f) Monitoring of meter reading date or meter reading period The processing unit 22 monitors the arrival of the meter reading date or meter reading period stored in the storage unit 24 for each user with a timer or the like.
g) Generation of meter-reading request When the meter-reading day or the meter-reading period comes, the processing unit 22 generates a meter-reading request for each user.
h) Transmission of meter reading request The processing unit 22 transmits a meter reading request to the information terminal 6 by the communication unit 26 on the meter reading day or the meter reading period.
i) Acquisition of guideline value information The processing unit 22 acquires, via the communication unit 26, the guideline value information from the information terminal 6 that has received the meter reading request.

j) Acquisition of meter-reading data and calculation of meter-reading date or meter-reading period The processing unit 22 acquires meter-reading data from the pointer value information, calculates the meter-reading date or meter-reading period using this meter-reading data, and stores it in the storage unit 24.
In the processing unit 22, when the meter reading data is acquired several times, the out-of-gas date can be calculated from the transition information on the gas usage amount and the gas remaining amount for the specific user. The date and time or the period before reaching the gas exhaustion date can be calculated as the next meter reading date or meter reading period. That is, it is possible to calculate a meter reading date or a meter reading period in which the remaining amount of gas in the gas container 30 is low without falling out of gas.

k) Conversion of meter reading data into billing data The processing unit 22 converts the calculated meter reading data into billing data using a conversion coefficient, and calculates this billing data.
l) Generation of incentive information The processing unit 22 generates incentive information for the user who has self-declared the guideline value information, as well as conversion into billing data.
m) Transmission of billing data and incentive information The processing unit 22 notifies the information terminal 6 of the billing data and incentive information by the communication unit 26. That is, the gas user who has received the guideline value information at the information terminal 6 is notified of the gas charge and the incentive information at an appropriate time from the meter reading day to the next meter reading day or the meter reading day.

<Processing sequence>
The processing sequence of the self-report system 2 in the first embodiment is the same as the processing sequence (FIG. 2) of the above-described embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

<Measurement of gas usage or gas remaining amount>
The measurement of the gas G includes measurement of the amount of gas used or the amount of remaining gas. The measurement value of the measurement unit 10 represents the gas flow rate. The remaining gas amount represents the remaining gas amount in the gas container 30. When the total amount of the gas container 30 is "100" and the meter reading value changes from, for example, the initial meter reading value = 40 to "42", the remaining gas amount changes from "100" to "98".
This remaining gas amount can be expressed by the following equation.
Gas remaining amount = total container amount- (meter reading value-initial meter reading value) (1)
From equation (1),
Gas remaining amount = 100- (42-40) = 98 (2)
Becomes
Either the amount of gas used in the gas container 30 or the amount of remaining gas is used as the meter reading data. This meter reading data is calculated from the guideline value information on the server 8 side.

<Guideline value information file 40>
The guideline value information file 40 is stored in the storage unit 16 of the information terminal 6 and constitutes a database. As shown in FIG. 5, the guideline value information file 40 includes a number section 45, an identification information section 46, a meter reading date section 48, a meter reading period section 50, a guideline value section 52, a billing data section 54, and an incentive information section 56. Be prepared.
A data number is stored in the number portion 45. The identification information section 46 includes a terminal section 46-1, a user section 46-2, and a meter section 46-3. Terminal information indicating the user terminal, such as a mail address, is stored in the terminal unit 46-1. Identification information such as a user ID is stored in the user section 46-2. Meter identification information such as a gas meter number related to the user is stored in the meter unit 46-3.

  The meter reading part 48 stores the meter reading date provided from the server 8 and the actual meter reading date. The meter reading period section 50 stores time information representing the meter reading period provided from the server 8. The pointer value portion 52 stores the pointer value information acquired from the gas meter 4. The billing data portion 54 stores the billing data provided from the server 8. The incentive information section 56 stores incentive information provided by the server 8.

<First meter reading information file 42>
The meter reading information file 42 is stored in the storage unit 24 of the server 8 and constitutes a database. As shown in FIG. 6, the meter reading information file 42 stores meter reading information. For example, a number section 58, an identification information section 60, a meter reading date section 62, a meter reading period section 64, a pointer value information section 66, and a meter reading data section 68. A conversion coefficient unit 70, a billing data unit 72, and an incentive information unit 74 are provided.
A data number is stored in the number portion 58. The identification information section 60 includes a terminal section 60-1, a user section 60-2, and a meter section 60-3. Similar to the guideline value information file 40, the terminal unit 60-1 stores terminal information representing a user terminal, such as a mail address. Similar to the guideline value information file 40, the user portion 60-2 stores identification information such as a user ID. Similar to the guideline value information file 40, the meter unit 60-3 stores meter identification information such as a gas meter number related to the user.

The meter reading date portion 62 stores the meter reading date calculated using the meter reading data and the actual meter reading date, and the meter reading period portion 64 stores time information having a certain width based on the meter reading date.
The guideline value information unit 66 stores the guideline value information acquired from the information terminal 6. The meter reading data portion 68 stores the meter reading data calculated from the pointer value information. The conversion coefficient unit 70 stores a conversion coefficient for converting meter reading data into billing data. This conversion coefficient may be an individual coefficient for the gas user who provides the guideline value information. The billing data section 72 stores billing data calculated using the meter reading data and the conversion coefficient. The incentive information section 74 stores the incentive information generated by self-declaring the guideline value information in association with the identification information.

<Calculation of meter reading date or meter reading period>
FIG. 7 shows information processing such as transition of the remaining amount of gas in the gas container 30, acquisition of meter reading data S, trend data TD, generation of a meter reading request interval T, and meter reading request timing ST.
In FIG. 7, A is a gas remaining amount line LC indicating the gas remaining amount Gn, B is trend data TD, C is a meter reading request interval T, and D is a meter reading request timing signal St1 to St7 at a meter reading request timing ST. The gas residual amount line LC is shown as a straight line as an example, but it may be a curved line or a curved line depending on the gradual decrease tendency of the gas residual amount.
As shown in A of FIG. 7, the server 8 acquires the meter reading data S1, S2, S3, ..., S7 from the plurality of pointer value information provided from the information terminal 6 from the time t1 to the time t8. It Time point t1 is a meter reading request timing at the replacement timing of the gas container 30, that is, corresponds to the first meter reading date of the gas container 30. The remaining gas amount Gn is gradually reduced from the maximum remaining gas amount Gmax at the time point t1 in accordance with the use of gas, the minimum remaining gas amount Gmin is at the time point t7 when the gas container 30 is replaced, and the time point t8 is the out of gas time. The remaining amount G0 = 0.

By the acquisition of the meter reading data S, as shown in B of FIG. 7, the server 8 acquires a plurality of trends as time trend data indicating trend of the gas usage amount or the gas remaining amount from the acquired meter reading data S. Data TD1, TD2, TD3, ..., TD7 are created. The trend data TD1 is created from the meter reading data S for a certain period of time t1 to t2, the trend data TD2 is created from the meter reading data S for a certain period of time t2 to t3, and the trend data TD3 is created for the certain period of time t3 to t4. The trend data TD4, TD5, TD6, and TD7 are similarly created from the meter reading data S.
In the server 8, as shown in FIG. 7C, meter reading request intervals T1-2, T2-3, ..., T6-7, which are data collection periods, are generated. T1-2 is an initial meter reading request interval (T1-2 = t2-t1) in a fixed period from time t1 on the first meter reading day, and T2-3 is a meter reading request interval from time t2 (T2-3 = t3). -T2), T3-4 is a meter reading request interval from time t3 (T3-4 = t4-t3), T4-5 is a meter reading request interval from time t4 (T4-5 = t5-t4), and T5-6 is The meter reading request interval from time t5 (T5-6 = t6-t5), T6-7 is the meter reading request interval from time t6 (T6-7 = t7-t6).

Then, the server 8 generates meter-reading request timing signals St1, St2, St3, ... St7 for acquiring the meter-reading data S, as shown in D of FIG. That is, the meter reading request timing signal St1 corresponds to the meter reading request timing on the first meter reading day. The trend data TD requires the meter reading data S obtained at a plurality of meter reading request timings, for example. As an example, in D of FIG. 7, trend data TD2 is created from the meter reading data S1 and S2 at the times t1 and t2 of the meter reading request timing, and the meter reading request timing signal St3 is generated using this trend data TD2. Similarly, the trend data TD3 is generated from the meter reading data S2 and S3 at the time points t2 and t3 of the meter reading request timing, and the meter reading request timing signal St4 is generated using the trend data TD3. Such processing is repeated until the trend data TD7 is created. The time t2 of the meter reading request may be set using an appropriate initial value or a past trend, and the trend data TD1 is set from the initial value or the past meter reading data.
In this example, the trend obtained from the latest meter reading data S is used, but the meter reading request timing ST may be calculated by adding the latest trend to the past trend. For each meter reading request timing signal St of D in FIG. 7, as an example, H indicates a high level section and L indicates a low level section, but these may have the opposite relationship.
The meter reading date or meter reading period thus calculated is stored in the second meter reading information file 44 (FIG. 8).

<Second meter reading information file 44>
The meter reading information file 44 is stored in the storage unit 24 of the server 8 and constitutes a database regarding meter reading information. As shown in FIG. 8, the meter reading information file 44 includes a time point section 76, a meter reading data section 78, a trend data section 80, a meter reading request timing section 82, and a replacement timing section 84.
The meter reading date is stored in the time section 76 as the time t. The meter reading data section 78 stores the above-described meter reading data S. Trend data TD is stored in the trend data section 80. The meter reading request timing portion 82 stores the meter reading request interval T and the timing signals St1, St2, ... St7 as the meter reading request timing ST. The replacement timing portion 84 stores the replacement timing CH of the gas container 30.

  The meter reading request intervals T2-3, T3-4, T4-5, T5-6, T6-7 are corrected and updated at every meter reading request timing ST by grasping the trend obtained from the trend data TD. As a result, the meter-reading request interval and the meter-reading request timing signal obtained by the trend corresponding to the transition of the remaining gas amount can be obtained. As a result, the replacement timing CH representing the replacement date of the gas container 30 is optimized.

<Processing procedure of meter reading data>
FIG. 9 shows a processing procedure of the meter-reading data S according to the transition of the remaining gas amount. This processing procedure is processing for calculating gas container replacement timing using the meter reading data S.
In this processing procedure, when the processing is started, it is determined whether the gas container 30 is replaced (S301).
If the gas container 30 has been replaced (YES in S301), the first meter reading date is determined (S302). Following this process, i = 0 is set and the data is initialized (S303). The processing unit 22 acquires the meter reading data S from the storage unit 24 for a certain period T (i)-(i + 1) from the replacement timing (S304), and generates the trend data TD (i + 1) from the meter reading data S (S305). In this case, the first trend data TD1 after the replacement of the gas container 30 is a preset value, or if there is trend data TD at the time of the previous replacement of the gas container, one of these values is used as the initial trend. The data TD may be used. Alternatively, the initial data collection may be skipped and the trend data TD may be generated from the regular data collection.

The processing unit 22 determines the trend from the trend data TD (i + 1), corrects the time points t (i + 1), t (i + 2) and the gas out time point tx, and sends the meter reading request timing signal St (i + 1) (S306).
Next, the processing unit 22 determines whether it is time to replace the gas container 30 (S307). If it is not the time to replace the gas container 30 (NO in S307), the time point t is updated (i = i + 1) (S308), and the processes from S304 to S307, that is, acquisition of the meter reading data S, creation of trend data TD, and trend Is repeated, the time points t (i + 1), t (i + 2), the out-of-gas time point tx are corrected, and the meter reading request timing signal is sent to determine whether it is time to replace the gas container 30 (S307).
If it is the time to replace the gas container 30 (YES in S307), the processes in S302 to S307, that is, acquisition of the meter reading data S, creation of trend data TD, indexing of trends, time points t (i + 1), t (i + 2). Then, the correction of the out-of-gas time tx and the sending of the meter reading request timing signal are repeated to determine whether it is time to replace the gas container 30 (S307).

<Effect of Example 1>
According to the first embodiment, one of the following effects can be obtained.
(1) Users can receive incentive information and receive incentives for their self-declaration of guideline value information.
(2) The server 8 acquires the guideline value information from the information terminal 6, calculates the meter reading data from the guideline value information, and can calculate the meter reading date or the meter reading period.
(3) It is possible to utilize user devices such as smartphones and mobile phones that the user uses daily for the information terminal 6, reduce communication costs for obtaining guideline value information, and improve service for users. You can
(4) When the amount of remaining gas, such as LP gas, affects the delivery cost, you can perform meter reading on the meter reading date or the meter reading period predicted from the meter reading data, you can replace the gas container with a small amount of gas remaining, and deliver the gas container. The cost can be reduced.

FIG. 10 shows the self-report system 2 according to the second embodiment. The configuration shown in FIG. 10 is an example, and the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. In this self-report system 2, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 or 4 are designated by the same reference numerals.
In the second embodiment, the information terminal 6 is provided with the image capturing unit 86. The photographing unit 86 enters a photographing operation under the control of the processing unit 14, photographs the measurement value and the identification information displayed on the meter display unit 12 of the gas meter 4, and acquires the pointer value information (image information) including the pointer image. To do. The input unit 38 is used for inputting identification information and control information.

<Processing sequence>
FIG. 11 shows a processing sequence of the self-report system 2 according to the second embodiment. The processing in this processing sequence is a flowchart showing the above-described information processing as a processing procedure that is an example of the program or the meter reading method of the present invention.
The processing unit 22 of the server 8 registers the user information, the meter information, the meter reading date, and the meter reading period in the storage unit 24 (S401). The processing unit 22 determines to each user whether the meter reading date or the meter reading period has arrived (S402). When the processing unit 22 determines that the meter-reading date or the meter-reading period has arrived (YES in S402), the processing unit 22 sends a meter-reading request to the information terminal 6 for the user who has the meter-reading date or meter-reading period. 6 is transmitted (S403).

The information terminal 6 receives the meter reading request (S404), transmits a response signal to the meter reading request to the server 8 (S405), and shifts to the meter photographing mode (S406).
The server 8 transmits the guide information for acquiring the guideline value information to the specific user with respect to the information terminal 6 that has issued the response (S407).
The information terminal 6 that has received this guide information captures a pointer image by photographing the meter display unit 12 of the gas meter 4 according to this guide information (S408), and transmits this pointer image to the server 8 (S409).

The server 8 receives the pointer image (S410), acquires the meter reading data from the pointer image (S411), and stores it in the storage unit 24. The processing unit 22 calculates a meter reading date or a meter reading period using the meter reading data (S412), and stores it in the storage unit 24. Then, the processing unit 22 converts the meter reading data into billing data (S413) and generates incentive information (S414).
The billing data and the incentive information are transmitted to the information terminal 6 (S415). The information terminal 6 receives this billing data and incentive information (S416).

<Shooting on the meter display and guide information>
In the meter photographing mode, the information terminal 6 photographs the meter display unit 12 of the gas meter 4 by the photographing unit 86 (FIG. 10), as shown in A of FIG. At this time, the guide information screen 90 provided from the server 8 is expanded on the display screen 88 of the display unit 20 of the information terminal 6. On this guide information screen 90, as shown in FIG. 12B, a guideline value / identification information acquisition unit 92, which is an example of guide information, is displayed. The user may copy the indicator value 94 and the identification information 96 of the meter display unit 12 on the indicator value / identification information capturing unit 92. In this example, the pointer value image 98 includes the pointer value 94 and the identification information 96. The processing unit 14 stores the pointer value image 98 in the storage unit 16 and determines the pointer value 94 and the identification information 96.
The pointer value image 98 transmitted from the information terminal 6 is stored in the meter reading information file 42 (FIG. 6) in the storage unit 24 on the server 8 side.

<Metering information file 42 according to the second embodiment (FIG. 6)>
In the meter reading information file 42 according to the second embodiment, the guideline value information section 66 stores the guideline value image information, which is an example of the guideline value information, and the other information is the same as that of the first example, and thus the description thereof is omitted. ..

<Effect of Example 2>
According to the second embodiment, one of the following effects can be obtained.
(1) Also in the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the user can receive the incentive information and receive the incentive for the self-declaration of the guideline value information of the user.
(2) A meter reading request or guide information is sent from the server 8 to the user's information terminal 6 on the meter reading day or meter reading period. Therefore, the user responds to the meter reading request by the information terminal 6, and the gas meter 4 guides according to the guide information. By acquiring the value image and transmitting it to the server 8, the guideline value information can be self-reported.
(3) The server 8 can convert the acquired pointer value image into meter reading data, calculate the next meter reading date or meter reading period from this meter reading data, and convert into billing data.
(4) The meter reading date or meter reading period, meter reading request, meter reading data, and billing data can be centrally managed based on the self-report based on the meter reading data obtained from the guideline value image.
(5) The labor cost, acquisition cost, and communication cost of meter reading data can be reduced.
(6) When the amount of remaining gas such as LP gas affects the delivery cost, it is possible to perform meter reading on the meter reading date or the meter reading period predicted from the meter reading data, and it is possible to replace a gas container with a small amount of gas remaining and deliver the gas container. The cost can be reduced.

FIG. 13 shows the self-report system 2 according to the third embodiment. The configuration shown in FIG. 13 is an example, and the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. In this self-report system 2, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 or 4 are designated by the same reference numerals.
The self-report system 2 according to the third embodiment corresponds to the report pattern 3 according to the second embodiment. According to one aspect of the self-report system 2, the server 8 transmits a meter-reading request on the meter-reading day or the meter-reading period, and the information terminal 6 that has received the meter-reading request receives guideline value information (voice information) related to the user's voice input. Are provided to the server 8. The server 8 calculates the meter reading data using the guideline value information provided from the information terminal 6. Therefore, the self-report system 2 also provides an incentive to the user who self-reports the guideline value information.

In the self-report system 2, as shown in FIG. 13, the information terminal 6 is provided with a voice input unit 100 and a voice output unit 102. The voice input unit 100 is used for voice input of the guideline value information. That is, as a response to the meter reading request from the server 8, the user reads the indicator value from the meter display unit 12 of the gas meter 4, and this indicator value is input to the voice input unit 100 by voice as the indicator value information.
The voice output unit 102 is used for voice output of guide information. When the self-report mode is executed, the voice output unit 102 outputs the guide information by voice.

<Display procedure>
FIG. 14 shows a processing sequence of the self-report system 2 according to the third embodiment. The processing in this processing sequence is a flowchart showing the above-described information processing as a processing procedure that is an example of the program or the meter reading method of the present invention.
The processing unit 22 of the server 8 registers the user information, the meter information, the meter reading date, and the meter reading period in the storage unit 24 (S501). The processing unit 22 determines to each user whether the meter reading date or the meter reading period has arrived (S502). When the processing unit 22 determines that the meter-reading date or the meter-reading period has arrived (YES in S502), the processing unit 22 sends a meter-reading request to the information terminal 6 for the user who has the meter-reading date or meter-reading period. 6 is transmitted (S503).

The information terminal 6 receives the meter reading request (S504), transmits a response signal to the meter reading request to the server 8 (S505), and shifts to the guideline value reporting mode by voice (S506).
The server 8 transmits the guide information for acquiring the guideline information to the specific user with respect to the information terminal 6 that has issued the response (S507).
The information terminal 6 that has received this guide information acquires voice information indicating the pointer value read by the user from the meter display unit 12 according to this guide information (S508), and transmits this voice information to the server 8 (S509). ).

The server 8 receives this voice information (S510), calculates meter reading data from this voice information (S511), and stores it in the storage unit 24. The processing unit 22 calculates a meter reading date or a meter reading period using this meter reading data (S512) and stores it in the storage unit 24. Then, the processing unit 22 converts the meter reading data into billing data (S513) and generates incentive information (S514).
The billing data and the incentive information are transmitted to the information terminal 6 (S515). The information terminal 6 receives the billing data and the incentive information (S516).

<Voice guideline value declaration mode and guide information>
In the guideline value reporting mode, the guide information provided from the server 8 to the information terminal 6 is output from the voice output unit 102 of the information terminal 6. The user reads the pointer value on the meter display unit 12 of the gas meter 4 according to the guide information and inputs it by voice from the voice input unit 100. The processing unit 14 stores the guideline value information related to the voice input in the storage unit 16. At that time, the user also inputs the identification information according to the guide information.
This guideline value information is transmitted from the information terminal 6 to the server 8 and stored in the meter reading information file 42 (FIG. 6) in the storage unit 24 on the server 8 side.

<Metering information file 42 according to the third embodiment (FIG. 6)>
In the meter reading information file 42 according to the third embodiment, the guideline value information section 66 stores guideline value information related to voice information, which is an example of the guideline value information, and other information is the same as in the first and second embodiments. So I will omit the explanation.

<Effect of Example 3>
According to the third embodiment, any one of the following effects can be obtained.
(1) Also in the third embodiment, the user can receive the incentive information and receive the incentive in response to the self-declaration of the guideline value information of the user as in the first or second embodiment.
(2) A meter reading request or guide information is sent from the server 8 to the user's information terminal 6 on the meter reading day or the meter reading period. Therefore, the user responds to the meter reading request by the information terminal 6 and the voice from the gas meter 4 according to the guide information. By acquiring the guideline value information related to the input and transmitting it to the server 8, the guideline value information can be self-reported.
(3) The server 8 can convert the pointer value information related to voice input into meter reading data, calculate the next meter reading date or meter reading period from this meter reading data, and convert into billing data.
(4) The meter reading data, the meter reading period, the meter reading request, the meter reading data, and the billing data can also be centrally managed based on the self-report based on the guideline value information related to the voice input.
(5) In addition, also in the third embodiment, the same effect as that of the first or second embodiment can be obtained.

FIG. 15 shows the self-report system 2 according to the fourth embodiment. The configuration shown in FIG. 15 is an example, and the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. In this self-report system 2, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 or 4 are designated by the same reference numerals.
The self-report system 2 according to the fourth embodiment corresponds to the report pattern 4 of the second embodiment.
According to one aspect of the self-report system 2, the server 8 transmits a meter reading request on a meter reading day or a meter reading period, and the information terminal 6 that has received the meter reading request communicates with the gas meter 4 and guideline value information from the gas meter 4. Is acquired and provided to the server 8. The server 8 calculates the meter reading data using the guideline value information provided from the information terminal 6. Therefore, according to the self-declaration system 2, the user self-declares the guideline value information acquired from the gas meter 4 through the information terminal 6 and provides an incentive to the user related to the self-declaration.

<Gas meter 4>
The gas meter 4 according to the fourth embodiment includes a measuring unit 10, a processing unit 104, and a communication unit 106. The measuring unit 10 measures the amount of gas used by the user's gas equipment 32 and the amount of gas remaining in the gas container 30, and outputs guideline value information including this measured value.
The processing unit 104 receives the meter-reading request received by the communication unit 106, and in response thereto, sends the guideline value information to the communication unit 106. Therefore, the information processing of the processing unit 104 includes a) acquisition of guideline value information, b) acquisition of a meter reading request, and c) response to the meter reading request.
The communication unit 106 receives the meter reading request from the information terminal 6 and transmits the guideline value information to the information terminal 6. For the transmission and reception of information between the gas meter 4 and the information terminal 6, near field communication may be used, for example.

<Information terminal 6>
The information terminal 6 is equipped with a computer having a communication function, mediates between the gas meter 4 and the server 8, acquires guideline value information from the gas meter 4 in response to a meter reading request from the server 8, and uses this guideline value information in the server. Provide to 8. The information terminal 6 includes a processing unit 14, a first communication unit 18, a second communication unit 108, a storage unit 16, and a display unit 20. The processing unit 14 executes various programs such as the meter reading program stored in the storage unit 16. The information processing of the processing unit 14 includes d) acquisition of a meter reading request and e) execution of a self-report mode. The processing in the self-reporting mode includes processings such as f) sending a meter reading request, g) obtaining guideline value information, h) sending guideline value information, and i) receiving billing data and incentive information.
The communication unit 18 communicates with the server 8. Under the control of the processing unit 14, the communication unit 18 receives the meter reading request from the server 8 and transmits the pointer value information to the server 8 in response to the meter reading request.
The communication unit 108 performs short-range wireless communication with the communication unit 106 of the gas meter 4. Under the control of the processing unit 14, the communication unit 108 transmits a meter reading request to the gas meter 4 and receives pointer value information from the gas meter 4.

The storage unit 16 includes storage elements such as a ROM, a RAM, and an EEPROM, and stores a meter reading date, a meter reading period, a meter reading request, pointer value information, incentive information, and the like. A storage unit 16 is provided with, for example, a guideline value information file 40 (FIG. 5) that stores these pieces of information.
Under the control of the processing unit 14, an image such as execution information of the self-report mode is displayed on the display unit 20.

<Server 8>
Since this server 8 is the same as that of the first embodiment, its explanation is omitted.

<Information processing of gas meter 4>
a) Acquisition of pointer value information The processing unit 104 acquires pointer value information from the measuring unit 10.
b) Acquisition of meter reading request The processing unit 104 receives the meter reading request issued from the server 8 by the communication unit 106 through communication with the information terminal 6, and acquires the meter reading request.
c) Response to meter reading request The processing unit 104 responds to the meter reading request and transmits the guideline value information acquired from the measuring unit 10 from the communication unit 106.

<Information processing of the information terminal 6>
d) Acquisition of meter reading request The processing unit 14 receives the meter reading request issued from the server 8 by the communication unit 18, and acquires this meter reading request.
e) Execution of self-report mode When the meter reading request is acquired, the processing unit 14 executes the self-report mode. The processing unit 14 shifts to the self-report mode by issuing a response to the meter reading request. This self-report mode is a process that is executed prior to other processes in the information terminal 6. This self-report mode includes processing such as transmission of a meter reading request received from the server 8, acquisition of guideline value information, and transmission thereof.
f) Transmission of meter reading request In the execution of the self-report mode, the processing unit 14 transmits a meter reading request to the gas meter 4 through the communication unit 108. The meter reading request is a command issued from the server 8 to the information terminal 6, that is, a command for acquiring pointer value information.

g) Acquisition of pointer value information The processing unit 14 receives and acquires the pointer value information transmitted from the gas meter 4 by the communication unit 108. This guideline value information is stored in the storage unit 16.
h) Transmission of pointer value information The processing unit 14 transmits the pointer value information to the server 8 by the communication unit 18 in response to the meter reading request from the server 8.
i) Receipt of billing data and incentive information The processing unit 14 receives the billing data and incentive information transmitted from the server 8.

<Information processing of server 8>
The description is omitted because it is the same as in the first embodiment.

<Processing sequence>
FIG. 16 shows a processing sequence of the self-report system 2. This processing sequence is an example of the program or method of the present invention.
In the gas meter 4, the processing unit 104 acquires the guideline value information from the measurement value of the measurement unit 10 (S601).
In the server 8, the processing unit 22 monitors the meter reading date or the arrival of the meter reading period of the specific user (S602). When the meter reading date or the meter reading period arrives, the server 8 transmits a meter reading request of the guideline value information to the information terminal 6 of the corresponding user (S603).
The information terminal 6 receives the meter reading request through the communication unit 18 (S604), and transmits the meter reading request to the gas meter 4 through the communication unit 108 (S605).

The gas meter 4 receives the meter reading request by the communication unit 106 (S606), and in response thereto, transmits the guideline value information by the communication unit 106 (S607).
The information terminal 6 receives the guideline value information by the communication unit 108 (S608), stores the guideline value information in the guideline value information file 40 (FIG. 5) of the storage unit 16 and transmits it to the server 8 through the communication unit 18. (S609).
The server 8 receives the guideline value information from the information terminal 6 (S610), stores the guideline value information in the meter reading information file 42 (FIG. 6) of the storage unit 24 in association with the identification information of the information terminal 6, and Meter reading data is calculated from the pointer value information (S611). The server 8 converts the meter-reading data into billing data (S612), and generates incentive information because the guideline value information is self-reported (S613). The billing data and the incentive information are stored in the storage unit 24 and transmitted to the information terminal 6 (S614). The information terminal 6 receives the billing data and the incentive information from the server 8 (S615), stores them in the storage unit 16 and displays them on the display unit 20.

<Guideline value information file 40>
In the fourth embodiment, the indicator value portion 52 of the indicator value information file 40 stores the indicator value information acquired from the gas meter 4 by the communication unit 108. Others are the same as those in the first embodiment, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

<First meter reading information file 42>
The pointer value information unit 66 of the meter reading information file 42 according to the fourth embodiment stores the pointer value information acquired from the information terminal 6. Others are the same as those in the first embodiment, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

<Effect of Example 4>
According to the fourth embodiment, any one of the following effects can be obtained.
(1) Also in the fourth embodiment, the same effect as that of the first, second or third embodiment can be obtained.
(2) In the fourth embodiment, the server 8 obtains the guideline value information from the gas meter 4 on the meter reading day or the meter reading period by using the information terminal 6 as an intermediary and using the short-distance wireless communication between the information terminal 6 and the gas meter 4. Then, the meter reading data can be calculated from this guideline value information, and the meter reading date or meter reading period can be calculated.

[Other Embodiments]
The present invention includes the following other embodiments.
(1) A PC (Personal Computer) or a smartphone can be used as the information terminal 6 in the above-described embodiment, and an electronic device having an information processing function and a communication function capable of transmitting and receiving information to and from the server 8 is used. Good.
(2) In the above embodiment, a single information terminal 6 is illustrated, but this is an example of information terminals for a plurality of gas users, and gas users who wish to provide guideline information related to self-declaration. If there are a plurality of information terminals, a plurality of information terminals 6 will constitute an information terminal.
(3) In the above embodiments or examples, a gas meter was illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to gas meters for city gas and LP gas, and includes meter pointers such as a water meter and an integrated electricity meter. It can be adapted to devices that can be read by the user.
(4) Although the information terminal is illustrated as the communication means, the user's existing Wi-Fi (registered trademark) device may be used as the information terminal.
(5) Regarding the provision of the guideline value information from the user to the server 8 in the first embodiment, the system described in Examples 3 and 4 in the second embodiment may be used.

As described above, the most preferable embodiment of the present invention has been described. The present invention is not limited to the above description. Various modifications and changes can be made by those skilled in the art based on the gist of the invention described in the claims or the mode for carrying out the invention. It goes without saying that such modifications and changes are included in the scope of the present invention.

The present invention uses the user device to receive the guideline value information at the server and obtains the meter reading date or the meter reading period from the meter reading data and makes a meter reading request to the user side, so as to rationalize the acquisition of the pointer value information and the calculation of the meter reading data. Also, it is useful to reduce the amount of gas remaining when replacing the gas container, and since the incentive is provided for self-declaration of the guideline value information, it is possible to enhance the operability of the self-declaration system.

2 Guideline information self-report system 4 Gas meter 6 Information terminal 8 Server 10 Measuring unit 12 Meter display unit 14 Processing unit 16 Storage unit 18 Communication unit 20 Display unit 22 Processing unit 24 Storage unit 26 Communication unit 28 Communication network 30, 30-1 , 30-2 Gas container 32, 32-1, 32-2, ... Gas equipment 34 Gas supply path 36 Gas switch 38 Input section 40 Pointer value information file 42, 44 Meter reading information file 45 Number section 46 Identification information section 46-1 Terminal part 46-2 User part 46-3 Meter part 48 Meter reading part 50 Meter reading period part 52 Pointer value part 54 Charge data part 56 Incentive information part 58 Number part 60 Identification information part 60-1 Terminal part 60-2 User part 60-3 Meter part 62 Meter reading part 64 Meter reading period part 66 Pointer value information part 68 Meter reading data part 70 Conversion coefficient part 72 Billing data part 74 Incentive information part 76 Time point part 78 Meter reading data part 80 Trend data part 82 Meter reading request Timing unit 84 Replacement timing unit 86 Imaging unit 88 Display screen 90 Guide information screen 92 Guideline value / identification information acquisition unit 94 Guideline value 96 Identification information 98 Guideline value image 100 Voice input unit 102 Voice output unit 104 Processing unit 106 Communication unit 108 Communications department

Claims (17)

At least with a meter and a server,
A guideline value information self-declaration system characterized in that guideline value information acquired from the meter is self-reported by the user to the server, and incentive information is provided from the server to the user.
Equipped with an information terminal that self-reports the guideline value information,
As a form of self-report of the guideline value information,
A) Provision of character information including the guideline value information b) Provision of image information including the guideline value information c) Provision of voice information including the guideline value information d) Interposition between the meter and the server The guideline value information self-declaration system according to claim 1, further comprising: providing the guideline value information from the information terminal.
The guideline value information self-declaration system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the incentive information can be selected according to a self-declaration of the guideline value information or a form thereof.
The server calculates meter-reading data from the guideline value information, calculates a meter-reading date or a meter-reading period from the meter-reading data, monitors arrival of the meter-reading date or meter-reading period, and requests meter-reading on the meter-reading day or the meter-reading period. The guideline value information self-declaration system according to claim 2, wherein the guideline value information is acquired from the information terminal on the meter reading day or the meter reading period.
A program realized by a computer,
A function of receiving a meter reading request from the server and self-reporting guideline value information from the information terminal to the server,
A function in which the information terminal that self-reports the guideline value information receives incentive information from the server,
A program for realizing a computer.
A program realized by a computer,
A function that the server generates a meter reading request and receives the guideline value information related to self-declaration of the information terminal,
The meter reading data is calculated from the guideline value information, the meter reading date or the meter reading period is calculated from the needle reading data, the arrival of the meter reading day or the meter reading period is monitored, and the meter reading request is generated on the meter reading day or the meter reading period. Function,
A program for realizing a computer.
As a form of self-reporting guideline value information from the information terminal,
A) Providing character information including the guideline value information a) Providing image information including the guideline value information c) Providing voice information including the guideline value information e) The above described intervening between the meter and the server The program according to claim 5 or 6, wherein a computer realizes a function capable of selecting either of providing the guideline value information from an information terminal.
The program according to claim 5 or 7, wherein the computer realizes a function that allows the incentive information to be selected according to a self-report provided to the server.
A communication unit that transmits guideline value information in response to a meter reading request from the server and receives incentive information from the server,
A processing unit that sends the acquired guideline value information to the communication unit and acquires the incentive information from the communication unit,
A storage unit that stores one or more of the meter reading request, the guideline value information, the incentive information,
An information terminal comprising:
As a form in which the processing unit self-reports the guideline value information to the server,
A) Provision of character information including the guideline value information a) Provision of image information including the guideline value information c) Provision of voice information including the guideline value information d) Interposition between the meter and the server The information terminal according to claim 9, wherein any one of providing the guideline value information is selected.
A processing unit that calculates meter reading data from the guideline value information declared by the user and generates incentive information for the user who declared the guideline value information,
A communication unit that transmits a meter reading request to an information terminal, receives pointer value information from the information terminal, and transmits the incentive information,
A storage unit that stores any one or more of the guideline value information, the meter reading data, the meter reading request, and the incentive information in association with identification information,
A server characterized by comprising.
The processing unit, as a form of self-report guideline value information from the information terminal,
A) Provision of character information including the guideline value information a) Provision of image information including the guideline value information c) Provision of voice information including the guideline value information d) Interposition between the meter and the server The server according to claim 11, wherein the server generates incentive information indicating an incentive corresponding to any selection of providing the guideline value information from the information terminal.
The processing unit calculates meter-reading data from the guideline value information, calculates a meter-reading date or a meter-reading period from the meter-reading data, monitors arrival of the meter-reading date or meter-reading period, and requests meter-reading on this meter-reading date or meter-reading period. The server according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the guideline value information is generated from the information terminal on the meter reading day or the meter reading period.
A step of receiving a meter reading request from the server at an information terminal and self-reporting guideline value information from the information terminal to the server;
Receiving incentive information from the server at the information terminal that has self-reported guideline value information,
A method for self-reporting guideline value information, which includes:
Generating a meter reading request and receiving guideline value information related to self-report,
Calculating meter reading data by the guideline value information, monitoring the arrival of the meter reading date or meter reading period calculated from the meter reading data, and generating the meter reading request on the meter reading date or the meter reading period,
The guideline value information self-declaration method according to claim 14, characterized in that the method includes:
As a form of self-reporting guideline value information from the information terminal to the server,
A) Providing character information including the guideline value information a) Providing image information including the guideline value information c) Providing voice information including the guideline value information e) The above described intervening between the meter and the server 16. The guideline value information self-reporting method according to claim 14 or 15, including a step of selecting any one of providing the guideline value information from an information terminal.
Furthermore, a step of acquiring the pointer value information from the information terminal on the meter reading day or the meter reading period,
The guideline value information self-reporting method according to any one of claims 14 to 16, characterized by including.

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