JP2020173684A - Pre-paid management device and gas management system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a pre-paid management device capable of performing settlement of a gas usage charge in a pre-paid system by using a gas charge system combining a basic charge and a usage-based charge.SOLUTION: A pre-paid management device 4 includes a charge box 60 that can write a pre-paid residual amount corresponding to a pre-paid amount. The charge box includes a basic charge box 61, a usage-based charge box 62 and an emergency charge box 63. A basic charge residual amount corresponding to a basic charge is written into the basic charge box, and the remaining pre-paid residual amount is written into it by being distributed into a usage-based charge residual amount and an emergency charge residual amount. The device divides the usage-based charge residual amount into a predetermined unit by using a residual amount management function of a gas meter, sets a usable gas volume corresponding to the divided one unit residual amount to the gas meter, and sets the unit residual amount again upon completion of use. The device repeats the above operations to perform collection processing for the usage-based charge.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a prepaid management device and a gas management system that settle a gas charge by a prepaid method based on a gas charge system that combines a basic charge and a metered charge.

As a method of reimbursement of gas usage charges, a prepaid method (prepaid method) is known in addition to the generally adopted postpaid method. For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 propose a prepaid system that can perform prepaid processing of gas charges without going to a specific place by using a mobile phone.

In the conventional prepaid method for using gas, the prepaid amount is paid by using a communication terminal such as a prepaid card or a mobile phone, and the gas meter is opened. In either case, it is necessary to use a gas meter equipped with a dedicated prepaid function. It is not possible to build a prepaid system using a normal gas meter that uses a postpaid gas charge method. Further, since the prepaid system has a different communication form, control form, etc. for each manufacturer, it is impossible to use a gas meter equipped with a prepaid function of another manufacturer for the prepaid system of one manufacturer. Furthermore, it is not possible to temporarily switch the postpaid system to the prepaid system to use gas. The present inventors have proposed a prepaid gas meter communication device capable of using gas for a prepaid amount without using a dedicated gas meter equipped with a prepaid function (Patent Document 3).

When gas is supplied by the prepaid method, the prepaid amount paid by the gas user is stored as the prepaid remaining amount, and the gas usage fee actually used is subtracted from the stored prepaid remaining amount. When the remaining amount of prepaid is low, a notification prompting additional payment (recharge) of the prepaid amount is sent to a communication terminal such as a gas user's mobile terminal. When the prepaid amount becomes zero without recharging the prepaid amount, the gas supply is forcibly cut off and the use of gas is terminated.

When the prepaid method is adopted as the gas charge settlement method, it is easy to apply the metered rate system, but it is difficult to operate with a rate system that combines a general basic rate and a metered rate. For example, if the basic charge is in units of one month, how to apply the basic charge when canceling the contract for less than one month, or when making multiple advance payments in one month in small portions. Difficult to determine. In addition, in order to collect the same amount of gas usage charge as in the case of a charge system consisting of a combination of basic charge and metered charge, set the metered charge (metered unit price) higher than the current charge system. There is a need to. In such a charge system, if the amount of gas used increases, the gas charge will be higher when the same amount of gas is used, compared to the charge system consisting of a combination of the current basic charge and the metered charge. , Gas users cannot enjoy the merits of the prepaid method.

The present inventors have proposed a charge system including a split basic charge and a metered charge according to the amount of gas used as a prepaid gas charge system (Patent Document 4). In this charge system, instead of the monthly basic charge, the basic charge is calculated on a daily basis and used as the daily divided basic charge, and the daily divided basic charge is subtracted from the prepaid amount for each day. The basic charge is collected in installments.

JP-A-2002-74238 Japanese Patent No. 4159345 JP-A-2019-28705 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2019-28704

As mentioned above, the widely used gas charge system is a postpaid gas charge system that combines a basic charge (monthly fixed charge) and a metered charge according to the gas usage charge. In order to adopt a tariff system different from the general gas tariff system, for example, a gas tariff system that combines the above-mentioned split basic tariff and metered tariff, the software for calculating the tariff system of the current gas industry is prepaid. Only when adopting the gas charge settlement system by, it is necessary to make a significant change. This is a major obstacle to the realization or popularization of a prepaid gas charge settlement system.

In view of this point, an object of the present invention is a prepaid management device capable of settling a gas usage fee by a prepaid method without changing a gas charge system that combines a current basic charge and a metered charge. To provide a gas management system.

The present invention is a prepaid management device that collects a gas usage fee by a prepaid method using a gas charge system that combines a basic charge and a metered charge based on a gas meter reading value from a gas meter set at a gas usage location. It is equipped with a charge unit, a basic charge collection unit, a pay-as-you-go charge collection unit, and a charge box in which the remaining amount of prepaid card corresponding to the prepaid amount can be written. The charge unit uses the charge box as a basic charge box. And function as a pay-as-you-go box.

When the charge unit receives the charge information indicating that the prepaid amount has been charged, it writes the remaining amount for the basic charge corresponding to the fixed basic charge among the remaining amount of the prepaid corresponding to the prepaid amount in the basic charge box. It has a function to write the remaining prepaid remaining amount in the metered rate box as the remaining amount for the metered rate for collecting the metered rate corresponding to the metered rate obtained by multiplying the gas usage fee by the metered unit price.

The basic charge collection department has a function to determine whether or not the remaining amount of the metered charge in the metered charge box is larger than the remaining amount of the basic charge from the time of monthly change to a certain period before, and the remaining amount for the metered charge. If the amount is more than the remaining amount for the basic charge, the function to transfer the remaining amount for the basic charge from the pay-as-you-go box to the basic charge box and the remaining amount for the pay-as-you-go charge are the basic charges for the next month. If it is less than the remaining charge, it has a function to send a first alarm including a notification that gas cannot be used from the next month and a request to recharge the prepaid amount to a preset communication destination. ..

The metered charge collection unit subdivides the remaining amount for metered charges into predetermined units, and sets the usable gas volume corresponding to one subdivided unit remaining amount in the gas meter, and the usable gas set from the gas meter. A function to determine whether the remaining amount for the metered charge is larger than the preset value when receiving the remaining amount alarm indicating that the volume has been used, and when the remaining amount of the metered charge is larger than the set value , A function to reset the usable gas volume corresponding to the unit remaining amount to the gas meter by subtracting the unit remaining amount from the metered amount remaining amount, and when the united amount remaining amount is less than the set value , It has a function of transmitting a second alarm including a notification that the remaining amount of prepaid is low and a request for recharging the prepaid amount to the communication destination.

The prepaid management device of the present invention uses the remaining amount management function provided in the gas meter to subdivide the prepaid remaining amount excluding the remaining amount for the basic charge, set it in the gas meter, and set the prepaid remaining amount in the subdivided amount from the gas meter. When the remaining amount alarm indicating that the usable gas volume corresponding to the amount is exhausted is received, the usable gas volume corresponding to the prepaid remaining amount (unit remaining amount) for the subdivision is reset. By repeating this operation, a pay-as-you-go charge according to the amount of gas used is collected from the prepaid amount. As a result, the gas usage fee can be collected (settled) based on the gas fee system that combines the basic fee and the metered rate.

Here, the charge box includes the function of the emergency charge box, and the charge unit calculates the prepaid remaining amount excluding the basic charge remaining amount corresponding to the basic charge at a fixed ratio, and the pay-as-you-go charge remaining amount and the emergency charge. It is desirable to have a function to write the remaining amount of emergency charge in the emergency charge box separately for the remaining amount of charge. As the remaining amount for emergency charges, an amount equal to or greater than the remaining amount for basic charges may be allocated.

In this case, if the remaining amount of the metered charge in the metered charge box is less than the remaining amount of the basic charge, the basic charge collection unit determines the remaining amount of the metered charge and the emergency charge box of the metered charge box. A function to determine whether the added value with the remaining amount for emergency charges is greater than the remaining amount for basic charges. If the added value is greater than or equal to the remaining amount for basic charges, the metered charge will be used as the basic charge for the following month. A function to transfer the remaining amount of the basic charge corresponding to the basic charge from the box and the emergency charge box to the basic charge box, and if the added value is less than or equal to the remaining amount of the basic charge, the first alarm is issued. The function of transmitting may be added.

In this way, when a part of the prepaid amount is stored in the emergency charge box as the remaining amount for the emergency charge, and the remaining amount for the pay-as-you-go charge in the pay-as-you-go charge box is insufficient to collect the basic charge for the next month. , The shortfall will be covered from the remaining amount for emergency charges. As a result, it is possible to reliably avoid the occurrence of an unpaid state of the basic charge.

In addition, if the gas user forgets to recharge the prepaid amount in order to serve the gas user's flight, the forced shutoff is temporarily suspended so that the gas supply is not forcibly shut off during gas use. May be done. The excess gas charge generated in such a case can be compensated from the emergency charge box. Therefore, by adding the function of the emergency charge box to the charge box, it is possible to provide convenience for both the gas user and the gas company.

It is a schematic system block diagram which shows the embodiment of the gas management system to which this invention is applied. It is a schematic block diagram of the part centering on a prepaid management device in a gas management system. It is a functional block diagram of a prepaid management device. It is a flowchart which shows the outline of the basic charge collection processing of a prepaid management apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the outline of the pay-as-you-go charge collection processing of a prepaid management apparatus.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following description is not intended to limit the present invention to embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a gas management system capable of collecting a gas usage fee by the prepaid method according to the present embodiment. The gas management system 1 includes a gas meter 3 and a prepaid management device 4 installed at a gas consumption place 2 of each gas user. Further, the gas management system 1 includes a centralized monitoring server 7 that reads and monitors meter reading information of the gas meter 3 via each prepaid management device 4, and a management server 8 that collectively manages customer information, gas usage charges, and the like. It has. For example, the centralized monitoring server 7 and the management server 8 which are the management company side devices are operated by the management company 9 which is entrusted with the management by each gas company 10.

Further, the gas management system 1 is owned by a gas company communication terminal 10a such as a personal computer of each gas company 10 outsourced to the management company 9, and a gas user who uses gas at the gas consumption place 2. A user communication terminal 11 (for example, a smartphone) and a management server 13 of a bank 12 used for transferring gas charges and the like are included.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram mainly showing a gas meter 3, a prepaid management device 4, a centralized monitoring server 7, and a user communication terminal 11. FIG. 3 is a functional block portion of the main part of the prepaid management device 4. The prepaid amount (15000 yen, 1500 yen, 7500 yen, 6000 yen) corresponding to each prepaid remaining amount v1 to v4 in FIG. 3 is merely an example.

First, to explain with reference to FIG. 2, gas is supplied from an LP gas cylinder (not shown) to each gas appliance (heating appliance, stove, water heater, etc.) (not shown) via a gas meter 3 at each gas consumption location 2. It is possible. The gas meter 3 is a so-called microcomputer gas meter. In the gas meter 3, a gas passage 32 for flowing gas supplied toward a gas-using device is arranged in the meter case 31, and a shutoff valve 33 is arranged at an intermediate position of the gas passage 32.

On the downstream side of the shutoff valve 33 in the gas passage 32, a measuring unit 34 for measuring the gas flowing therein is arranged. The measured value of the measuring unit 34 is supplied to the control unit 35 configured mainly by the computer, and the gas flow rate and the flow rate integrated value are calculated. The control unit 35 includes a communication unit 36, and is generally performed with the prepaid management device 4 via a communication cable (not shown) connected to the communication terminal 37 which is an I / O port thereof. Telegram communication is performed to transmit meter reading information (gas flow rate, integrated flow rate, etc.), call a meter, make various settings, and open / close the shutoff valve 33. Further, the control unit 35 is provided with a gas remaining amount management unit 38. The gas remaining amount management unit 38 is provided with a plurality of remaining amount counters, and when each preset amount of gas has been used, a remaining amount alarm indicating that the remaining amount of the LP gas cylinder has become low is generated.

The prepaid management device 4 used by connecting to the gas meter 3 is between the control unit 41, the meter-side communication unit 42 that communicates with the communication unit 36 of the gas meter 3, and the upper centralized monitoring server 7. The upper communication unit 43 for communication and the user communication unit 44 for communication with the user communication terminal 11 owned by the customer are provided. The control unit 41 includes a centralized monitoring control unit 45 and a prepaid control unit 46. The centralized monitoring control unit 45 is bidirectional communication (monitoring including meter call notification and meter reading information) performed between the gas meter 3 and the centralized monitoring server 7 via the meter side communication unit 42 and the upper communication unit 43. Information, setting command of gas meter 3, etc.) are mediated.

The prepaid control unit 46 manages the use of gas supplied via the gas meter 3 by a prepaid method. That is, the shutoff valve 33 of the gas meter 3 is opened and closed to control the supply and stop of the gas so that the gas can be used in the amount of gas that can be used corresponding to the prepaid amount. The prepaid control unit 46 is activated when it receives charge information indicating that the prepaid amount of the gas charge by the customer has been charged via the upper communication unit 43 or the user communication unit 44. The prepaid control unit 46 calculates a gas charge based on a gas charge system that combines a basic charge (fixed monthly charge) and a metered charge (fixed metered unit price).

The prepaid control unit 46 includes a control unit 50 and a charge box 60 (front receiving box). The charge box 60 is a storage unit in which the prepaid remaining amount of the gas usage fee can be written. In the charge box 60, three types of charge boxes that function as virtual counters are constructed by executing the control program. That is, in the charge box 60, a basic charge box 61, a metered charge box 62, and an emergency charge box 63 are constructed. In the charge box 60, for example, a value representing the gas volume corresponding to the prepaid amount (gas volume conversion value) can be written as the prepaid remaining amount.

The control unit 50 functions as a charge unit 51, a basic charge collection unit 52, a metered charge collection unit 53, a gas charge settlement unit 54, a cutoff control unit 55, a reporting unit 56, and the like. When the charge unit 51 receives charge information (for example, information indicating the gas volume) indicating that the prepaid amount has been charged via the upper communication unit 43, along with information such as user information, charge date and time, and charge location. , The prepaid remaining amount corresponding to the prepaid gas volume is written in the charge box 60. As shown in FIG. 3, the charge unit 51 of this example puts the basic charge remaining amount v2 corresponding to the preset basic charge in the basic charge box 61 of the charge box 60 among the prepaid remaining amount v1. Write. Further, the remaining prepaid remaining amount (v1-v2) is distributed to the metered charge remaining amount v3 and the emergency charge remaining amount v4 at a predetermined ratio, and is written in the metered charge box 62 and the emergency charge box 63, respectively. The emergency charge remaining amount v4 is set to a value larger than the basic charge remaining amount v2.

The basic charge collection unit 52 transfers the basic charge remaining amount v2 corresponding to the monthly basic charge from the metered charge box 62 to the basic charge box 61 at a time point before a certain period of monthly change. When the remaining amount v3 for the metered charge of the metered charge box 62 is smaller than the remaining amount v2 for the basic charge, the shortage is compensated from the emergency charge box 63. If the sum of the remaining amount v3 for the metered charge and the remaining amount v4 for the emergency charge is less than the remaining amount v2 for the basic charge, the reporting unit 56 is activated to notify that gas cannot be used from the next month. A first alarm (balance shortage alarm, recharge request alarm) including a request for recharging the prepaid amount is transmitted to the user communication terminal 11 via the user side communication unit 44, and is transmitted to the user communication terminal 11 via the upper communication unit 43. It is transmitted to the centralized monitoring server 7. The first alarm can also be transmitted to the user communication terminal 11 via the centralized monitoring server 7.

If the gas usage fee is not recharged even at the time of monthly change, the shutoff control unit 55 is activated, and from here, the shutoff valve 33 is placed on the gas meter 3 side via the meter side communication unit 42. A forced shutoff report is sent. The forced cutoff report is also sent to the centralized monitoring server 7 side via the upper communication unit 43, and is also transmitted to the user communication terminal 11 via the user side communication unit 44. When the gas meter 3 receives the forced shutoff report, the shutoff valve 33 is closed and the gas supply is forcibly terminated.

The metered charge collection unit 53 subdivides the metered charge remaining amount v3 written in the metered rate box 62 into predetermined units, and determines the usable gas volume corresponding to one subdivided unit remaining amount Δv on the meter side. It is transmitted to the gas meter 3 via the communication unit 42 and set in the gas remaining amount management unit 38 of the control unit 35. The unit of subdivision is set as appropriate. For example, the usable gas volume of 0.5 m ³ , 1 m ³ , 2 m ^3, etc. is set. The gas remaining amount management unit 38 (remaining amount management counter) of the gas meter 3 has a remaining amount management counter function provided in a general LP gas meter. For example, a plurality of values can be set as the remaining amount of gas. When the gas remaining amount management unit 38 detects that the used gas flow rate has reached the set value, the remaining amount alarm is issued. In this example, the metered rate is collected by using the remaining amount alarm function of the gas remaining amount management unit 38 of the gas meter 3. That is, as one of the set values of the remaining gas amount set in the gas remaining amount management unit 38, the usable gas volume corresponding to the subdivided unit remaining amount Δv is set. One remaining amount counter 38a of the gas remaining amount management unit 38 performs a process of subtracting the used gas flow rate from the set unit remaining amount Δv, and when the set unit remaining amount Δv becomes zero, there is no remaining amount. Generates a remaining amount alarm.

When the metered charge collecting unit 53 of the prepaid management device 4 receives from the gas meter 3 side via the meter side communication unit 42, a remaining amount alarm indicating that the gas usage amount for the set unit remaining amount has been used is received. , The unit remaining amount Δv is subtracted from the unit remaining amount Δv for the metered charge, and the usable gas volume corresponding to the unit remaining amount Δv is reset to the gas meter 3 via the meter side communication unit 42. That is, the gas remaining amount management unit 38 of the gas meter 3 resets the usable gas volume for the unit remaining amount in the remaining amount counter 38a to reset the count.

If the remaining amount v3 for the metered charge in the metered charge box 62 is less than the set amount (for example, an amount that is multiple times the unit remaining amount Δv), a notification that the remaining amount of the prepaid amount is low and a request for recharging the prepaid amount The second alarm (balance shortage alarm, recharge request) including the above is transmitted to the user communication terminal 11 via the user side communication unit 44, and is also transmitted to the centralized monitoring server 7 via the upper communication unit 43. The second alarm can also be transmitted to the user communication terminal 11 via the centralized monitoring server 7. If the recharge is not performed even after the preset period has elapsed, the shutoff control unit 55 is activated, and from here, the shutoff valve 33 is forced to the gas meter 3 side via the meter side communication unit 42. A blocking report is sent. The forced cutoff report is also sent to the centralized monitoring server 7 side via the upper communication unit 43, and is also transmitted to the user communication terminal 11 via the user side communication unit 44. When the gas meter 3 receives the forced shutoff report, the shutoff valve 33 is closed and the gas supply is forcibly terminated.

On the other hand, the gas charge settlement unit 54 calculates the monthly charge for the gas usage charge for one month based on the meter reading value of the gas meter 3 on the set day of each month. Monthly charges are calculated based on a gas charge system that combines basic charges and metered charges. The calculated monthly charge information is transmitted to the centralized monitoring server 7 of the management company 9. The centralized monitoring server 7 transmits information on monthly charges to the communication terminal of the gas company, and performs settlement processing such as transferring the monthly charges to the bank account of the gas company. Therefore, by simply attaching the prepaid management device 4 to the gas meter 3, the gas company can use the prepaid gas charge collection system as it is without changing the gas charge system that combines the current basic charge and the metered charge. Can be adopted as.

The prepaid control unit 46 is provided with a notification unit 56 for providing a gas user's flight using the gas by the prepaid method. The reporting unit 56 has a remaining amount reporting function for reporting information on the prepaid remaining amount of the charge box 60 to the user communication terminal 11 which is a predetermined reporting destination. Further, when the total prepaid remaining amount is reduced to a predetermined amount (when the remaining amount is low), the reporting unit 56 notifies the user communication terminal 11 via the centralized monitoring server 7 that the prepaid remaining amount is low. To do.

The prepaid management device 4 includes a display / operation unit 57 for displaying and inputting various types of information. Further, the upper communication unit 43 of the prepaid management device 4 communicates with the centralized monitoring server 7 via a dedicated communication line or a general communication line. The user-side communication unit 44 of the prepaid management device 4 communicates with the user communication terminal 11, for example, a smartphone via a mobile phone line such as LTE, a wireless PAN such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), or a wireless LAN such as Wi-Fi. And communicate.

The centralized monitoring server 7 operated by the management company 9 centrally monitors the gas usage status at each gas consuming place 2. The centralized monitoring server 7 includes a control unit 7a having a centralized monitoring function and a centralized monitoring database 7b. Customer (gas user) information, gas usage status for each customer, operating status of each gas meter, and other information are registered in the centralized monitoring database 7b.

Returning to FIG. 1 again, the management server 8 communicated with the centralized monitoring server 7 has a control unit 8a having a gas charge management function by the prepaid method and information necessary for using gas by the prepaid method. It is provided with a prepaid database (prepaid DB) 8b that holds the above, and a database (charge application DB) 8c for the charge application program that holds the information necessary for charging the prepaid amount.

The prepaid DB 8b holds information such as information on each gas company, customer information for each gas company, payment record of the prepaid amount of each customer, and charge history of the prepaid amount. The customer information also includes information for identifying (authenticating) a user communication terminal 11 such as a customer's smartphone registered in advance. Based on this information, the control unit 8a manages the identification information of each customer, the payment record, the charge status of the prepaid amount, and the like for each gas company. These management states can be viewed from the gas operator communication terminal 10a of each gas company 10. Further, the new customer is registered in the management server 8 from the side of the gas company 10.

In order to enable the use of gas by the prepaid method using the gas management system 1, the gas user previously informs the management server 8 of the management company 9 of the identity identification information, the user communication terminal information, and other information. Register and download the prepaid management application software (prepaid management application) 11a and the charging application software (charge application) 11b from, for example, the management server 8. As a result, the customer can perform the procedure for gas use by the prepaid method using the user communication terminal 11.

An operation example of the gas management system 1 will be briefly described below. First, at the gas consumption place 2, the shutoff valve 33 of the gas meter 3 is in a closed state and gas cannot be used (see FIGS. 1 and 2). A customer who wishes to use gas activates the charge application 11b on the user communication terminal 11 or accesses a site on the Internet operated by the cloud server 80 managed by the management server 8 of the management company 9. , Transfer the prepaid amount to the bank account designated by the management company set in advance, or request the transfer processing (S2 in FIGS. 1 and 2: charge information).

When the prepaid amount is deposited in the bank account, a deposit notification is sent from the management server 13 of the bank 12 to the gas operator communication terminal 10a (S3: deposit notification in FIGS. 1 and 2), and the deposit information manages the gas. It is transmitted to the management server 8 of the company 9 (S4 and S5 in FIGS. 1 and 2: payment information). The deposit information is reflected in the charge application DB 8c, and is also reflected in the prepaid DB 8b linked to the charge application DB 8c. Note that these databases 8b and 8c may be shared databases. When the control unit 8a of the management server 8 receives the payment information, the control unit 8a transmits the payment confirmation information to the user communication terminal 11 of the gas user who is the customer via the cloud server 80 (S6 in FIG. 2: Payment information). .. On the user communication terminal 11 that has received the payment confirmation information, the prepaid management application 11a is activated so that the charge information can be transmitted to the prepaid management device 4 (S7: charge information in FIG. 2). Alternatively, charge information is transmitted from the management server 8 side to the prepaid management device 4 via the centralized monitoring server 7 (S7a in FIG. 2: charge information).

When the prepaid control unit 46 of the prepaid management device 4 receives the charge information, the prepaid control unit 46 performs authentication based on the authentication information contained therein. After authentication, the charging unit 51 is activated to write the basic charge remaining amount v2 corresponding to the basic charge among the prepaid remaining amount v1 representing the usable gas volume in the basic charge box 61, and the remaining prepaid remaining amount v1. Is divided into a metered charge remaining amount v3 and an emergency charge remaining amount v4 at a predetermined ratio, and each is written in the metered charge box 62 and the emergency charge box 63 (see FIG. 3). Then, the opening command of the shutoff valve 33 is transmitted to the gas meter 3 (S8: valve open). This makes it possible to use a volume of gas corresponding to the prepaid amount v1.

The charging result, that is, the shutoff valve 33 opened and the gas can be used is that the user communication terminal 11 and the centralized monitoring server 7 are transmitted from the prepaid control unit 46 of the prepaid management device 4 together with the information of the prepaid remaining amount v1. (S9, S9a in FIG. 2: charge result). When the prepay management application 11a of the user communication terminal 11 receives the charge result, the prepay management application 11a transfers the charge result to the management server 8 of the management company 9 (S10: charge result in FIG. 2). The management server 8 collates the received charge result and reflects it in the prepaid DB 8b. The prepaid DB 8b is linked with the centralized monitoring DB 7b of the centralized monitoring server 7, and the charge result is also reflected in the centralized monitoring DB 7b.

During the period when the customer is using gas by the prepaid method, the basic charge collecting unit 52 and the metered charge of the prepaid control unit 46 of the prepaid management device 4 are based on the measured gas flow rate received via the meter side communication unit 42. The collection unit 53 collects the basic charge and the metered charge from the prepaid remaining amount v1.

In the prepaid management device 4, the prepaid remaining amount v1 to v4 of the charge box 60 is managed, and the reporting unit 56 reduces the basic charge remaining amount v2, the metered charge remaining amount v3, and the emergency charge remaining amount v4 of the charge box 60. If this happens (when the remaining amount is low), a notification (recharge request) that the remaining amount of prepaid card is low is notified to the user communication terminal 11 directly or via the cloud server 80. When the user who receives the remaining amount report adds the prepaid amount and recharges it, the charging unit 51 of the prepaid management device 4 writes the charged prepaid remaining amount to the charge box 60. If the gas user does not recharge the gas even though the remaining amount is reported, the shutoff control unit 55 issues a closing command for the shutoff valve 33 of the gas meter 3 (S1: valve closing). .. When the gas meter 3 receives the closing command, the gas meter 3 closes the shutoff valve 33 and forcibly terminates the gas supply.

FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart showing an example of the basic charge collection process. After the start of gas use, the basic charge collection unit 52 changes the basic charge balance from the metered charge box 62 to the basic charge box 61 for a certain period before the monthly change. The amount v2 is transferred (steps ST31 to ST33 in FIG. 4). When the remaining amount of the metered charge box 62 is insufficient, the remaining amount v2 for the basic charge is supplemented from the remaining amount v4 for the emergency charge held in the emergency charge box 63, and the remaining amount v2 for the basic charge is used as the basic charge box 61. Move to. The remaining amount of the metered charge box 62 and the emergency charge box 63 is updated to the remaining amount after subtraction. When the remaining amount is insufficient and the remaining amount for the basic charge cannot be transferred, the first alarm prompting the insufficient remaining amount and the recharge of the prepaid card is transmitted to the user communication terminal 11 (steps ST32 to ST35 in FIG. 4). If the prepaid amount has not been recharged at the time of monthly change, a closing command is sent to the gas meter 3 to forcibly shut off the gas supply and end the process, except when gas is in use. (Steps ST36 to ST38 in FIG. 4).

FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart showing an example of the pay-as-you-go charge collection process performed in parallel. Prior to the start of gas use, the metered rate collection unit 53 subdivides the remaining amount of the metered rate box 62 into predetermined units, and measures the usable gas volume corresponding to the subdivided unit remaining amount with the gas meter 3. It is set in the remaining amount management unit 38 (step ST41 in FIG. 5). On the gas meter 3 side, every time gas is used, the amount of gas used is subtracted from the usable gas volume (unit remaining amount) set in the remaining amount management unit 38. When the usable gas volume becomes zero, a gas meter 3 sends an alarm indicating that there is no remaining amount in the subdivision to the prepaid management device 4. When the prepaid management device 4 receives the alarm of no remaining amount, the unit remaining amount Δv is subtracted from the remaining amount of the metered rate box 62, and the usable gas volume corresponding to the unit remaining amount Δv is reset in the gas meter 3 ( Steps ST41 to 44 in FIG. 5). When the remaining amount of the pay-as-you-go box 62 becomes equal to or less than the set amount, a second alarm requesting recharging is transmitted to the user communication terminal 11 (steps ST43 to ST46 in FIG. 5). If recharging is not performed even after the set period has elapsed after the second alarm is transmitted, a closing command is sent to the gas meter 3 to forcibly shut off the gas supply, except when gas is in use. The process ends (steps ST47 to 49 in FIG. 5).

1 Gas management system 2 Gas consumption location 3 Gas meter 4 Prepaid management device 7 Centralized monitoring server 7a Control unit 7b Centralized monitoring database 8 Management server 8a Control unit 8b Prepaid database (prepaid DB)
8c Charge application program database (charge application DB)
9 Management company 10 Gas company 10a Gas company communication terminal 11 User communication terminal 11a Prepaid management application software (prepaid management application)
11b Charge application software (charge app)
12 Bank 13 Management server 31 Meter case 32 Gas passage 33 Shutoff valve 34 Measuring unit 35 Control unit 36 Communication unit 37 Communication terminal 38 Gas remaining amount management unit 38a Remaining amount counter 41 Control unit 42 Meter side communication unit 43 Upper communication unit 44 User side communication unit 45 Centralized monitoring control unit 46 Prepaid control unit 50 Control unit 51 Charge unit 52 Basic charge collection unit 53 Pay-as-you-go charge collection unit 54 Settlement unit 55 Blocking control unit 56 Notification unit 57 Display / operation unit 60 Charge box 61 Basic charge box 62 Pay-as-you-go box 63 Emergency charge box 80 Cloud server

Claims (5)

It is a prepaid management device that collects gas usage charges by a prepaid method using a gas charge system that combines basic charges and metered charges based on the gas meter reading value from the gas meter set at the gas usage location.
Charge part and
Basic charge collection department and
Pay-as-you-go charge collection department and
It is equipped with a charge box that can write the remaining amount of prepaid call corresponding to the prepaid amount.
The charge box includes a basic charge box and a pay-as-you-go charge box.
When the charging unit receives the charge information indicating that the prepaid amount has been charged, the basic charge determines the remaining amount of the basic charge corresponding to the fixed basic charge among the remaining amount of the prepaid corresponding to the prepaid amount. It has a function to write in the pay-as-you-go box and write the remaining prepaid remaining amount in the pay-as-you-go box as the remaining amount for the pay-as-you-go charge for collecting the pay-as-you-go charge obtained by multiplying the gas usage charge by the pay-as-you-go unit price.
The basic charge collecting unit has a function of determining whether or not the remaining amount of the metered charge in the metered charge box is larger than the remaining amount of the basic charge at a time before a certain period from the time of monthly change. When the remaining amount for the metered charge is equal to or greater than the remaining amount for the basic charge, the function of transferring the remaining amount for the basic charge from the metered charge box to the basic charge box as the basic charge for the next month, and If the remaining amount for the metered charge is less than the remaining amount for the basic charge, a first alarm including a notification that gas cannot be used from the next month and a request for recharging the prepaid amount is set in advance. It has a function to send to the communication destination,
The metered charge collecting unit has a function of subdividing the remaining amount for the metered charge into predetermined units and setting the usable gas volume corresponding to one subdivided unit remaining amount in the gas meter, the function of setting from the gas meter. A function to determine whether or not the remaining amount for the metered charge is larger than the preset value when the no remaining amount alarm indicating that the gas corresponding to the usable gas volume has been used is received, the remaining amount for the metered charge When the amount is equal to or greater than the set value, the function of subtracting the unit remaining amount from the remaining amount for the metered charge and resetting the usable gas volume corresponding to the unit remaining amount in the gas meter, and When the remaining amount for the metered charge is less than the set value, it has a function of transmitting a second alarm including a notification that the remaining amount of the prepaid amount is low and a request for recharging the prepaid amount to the communication destination. A prepaid management device characterized by being The charge box also includes an emergency charge box.
The charge unit divides the prepaid remaining amount excluding the basic charge remaining amount into the metered charge remaining amount and the emergency charge remaining amount at a fixed ratio, and the emergency charge remaining amount is used as the emergency charge remaining amount. Write in the charge box,
The basic charge collection department
When the remaining amount for the metered charge in the metered charge box is smaller than the remaining amount for the basic charge, the remaining amount for the metered charge in the metered charge box and the remaining amount for the emergency charge in the emergency charge box. Determine whether the value added to the amount is greater than the remaining amount for the basic charge,
When the added value is equal to or greater than the remaining amount for the basic charge, the basic charge for the next month corresponds to the basic charge from the metered charge box and the emergency charge box to the basic charge box. Transfer the remaining amount for the basic charge,
The prepaid management device according to claim 1, wherein when the added value is less than the remaining amount for the basic charge, the first alarm is transmitted. If the recharge information indicating that the predetermined prepaid amount has been recharged cannot be received between the time when the first alarm is transmitted and the time when the predetermined period elapses, at the time of the monthly change, The prepaid management device according to claim 2, further comprising a shutoff control unit that transmits a closing command for stopping the supply of gas to the gas meter. When it is detected from the meter reading information received from the gas meter that the gas is in use, the shutoff control unit transmits the closing command after the use of the gas is finished.
The pay-as-you-go charge collecting unit sets the prepaid remaining amount corresponding to the usage fee of the excess gas used from the time of the monthly change to the time when the closing command is transmitted, and the remaining amount of the emergency charge in the emergency charge box. The prepaid management device according to claim 3, which is subtracted from. A gas meter with a shutoff valve and a remaining amount management function,
The prepaid management device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
With the user communication terminal on the gas user side,
A centralized monitoring server that reads meter reading information of the gas meter and monitors the gas meter via the prepaid management device, user information for identifying a gas user, and the gas that is performed via the user communication terminal. It has a management company side device equipped with a management server that manages prepaid information indicating the contents of prepaid processing of gas usage charges by the user.
The prepaid management device includes a shutoff valve control function for transmitting a shutoff valve opening command and a shutoff command to the gas meter.
When the gas meter receives the opening command, it opens the shutoff valve to start supplying gas, and when it receives the closing command, it closes the shutoff valve and ends the gas supply.
The remaining amount management function of the gas meter is a function of counting the amount of gas used and issuing a no remaining amount alarm indicating that the remaining amount of gas has run out when the amount of gas used reaches a set value, and is described by the prepaid management device. A gas management system that sets the unit remaining amount as the set value when the unit remaining amount is received.

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