JP2021056948A - Meter reading system for meter - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a meter reading system capable of improving the precision of meter reading thereof.SOLUTION: The meter reading system includes: an image meter information acquisition device 31 for acquiring image meter information which is the information shown by a meter contained in an image picked up with a camera 1, by using the image; a voice meter information acquisition device 32 for acquiring voice meter information which is the information shown by a meter contained in a voice input into a microphone 2, by using the voice; and a meter information derivation device 33 for deriving meter information which is the information shown by the meter using the image meter information and the voice meter information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a meter meter reading system.

Conventionally, a meter reading system including a camera that captures a display unit of a meter and a meter information acquisition device that acquires information indicated by the meter included in the image using an image captured by the camera is known. The information acquired by the meter information acquisition device becomes the information displayed by the display unit of the meter (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-182288

However, on the display of the meter, when the one digit is switched from 1 to 2, for example, two digits are arranged in the one digit. In this case, in the information acquired by the image meter information acquisition device, two numbers are included in one digit. There is a problem that the meter reading accuracy of the meter meter reading system becomes low.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a meter meter reading system capable of improving the meter reading accuracy of the meter meter reading system.

The meter meter reading system according to the present invention uses an image meter information acquisition device that acquires image meter information, which is information indicated by a meter included in the image, using an image taken by a camera, and a sound input to a microphone. Then, using the voice meter information acquisition device that acquires the voice meter information that is the information indicated by the meter included in the voice, and the image meter information and the voice meter information, the meter information derivation that derives the meter information that is the information indicated by the meter. It is equipped with a device.

According to the meter reading system according to the present invention, the meter information is derived by using the image meter information and the voice meter information. Thereby, the accuracy of meter reading of the meter meter reading system can be improved.

It is a block diagram which shows the meter meter reading system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the meter which the meter is read by the meter meter reading system of FIG. It is a figure which shows the modification of the numerical value displayed on the display device of the meter of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the meter meter reading apparatus of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the operation of the meter information derivation apparatus of FIG.

Embodiment 1.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a meter meter reading system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The meter meter reading system of the first embodiment includes a camera 1, a microphone 2, and a meter meter reading device 3. In the first embodiment, an electric meter is used as the meter to be read by the meter reading system. The meter read by the meter reading system is not limited to an electric meter, and for example, a water meter or a gas meter may be used.

The camera 1 can be carried by an operator. In other words, the camera 1 is a portable camera 1. When the operator operates the camera 1, the camera 1 takes a picture of the meter. The image taken by the camera 1 is input to the meter reading device 3.

In FIG. 1, the camera 1 is connected to the meter reading device 3. However, when the image captured by the camera 1 is input to the meter meter reading device 3, the camera 1 may be connected to the meter meter reading device 3. When the camera 1 and the meter meter reading device 3 are capable of wireless communication with each other, it is not necessary to connect the camera 1 and the meter meter reading device 3.

The microphone 2 can be carried by the operator. In other words, the microphone 2 is a portable microphone 2. When the operator reads out the characters displayed on the meter, the microphone 2 is input with a voice indicating the characters displayed on the meter read out by the operator. The voice input to the microphone 2 is input to the meter reading device 3.

In FIG. 1, the microphone 2 is connected to the meter reading device 3. However, when the voice input to the microphone 2 is input to the meter meter reading device 3, the microphone 2 may be connected to the meter meter reading device 3. When the microphone 2 and the meter meter reading device 3 are capable of wireless communication with each other, it is not necessary to connect the microphone 2 and the meter meter reading device 3.

The camera 1 and the microphone 2 are composed of a smartphone. The camera 1 and the microphone 2 are not limited to smartphones, and may be composed of other mobile terminals.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a meter read by the meter reading system of FIG. The meter 4 includes a housing 41, a rotating moving body 42 provided inside the housing 41, and a display device 43 provided in the housing 41 to indicate the amount of power consumption. The rotary motion body 42 rotates according to the amount of power consumption. The display device 43 indicates the power consumption amount based on the rotation amount of the rotary moving body 42.

On the display device 43, numbers corresponding to the thousands, hundreds, tens, ones, and first decimal places are displayed. In the display device 43, the part that displays the thousands digit is the thousands digit display unit 431, the portion that displays the hundreds digit is the hundreds digit display unit 432, and the portion that displays the tens digit is. Is the tens digit display unit 433. Further, in the display device 43, the portion displaying the ones digit is referred to as the ones digit display unit 434, and the portion displaying the first decimal place is referred to as the decimal first place display unit 435.

In meter reading by the meter reading system, the first decimal place, which is a preset digit, is deleted. In other words, in the meter reading of the meter 4 by the meter meter reading system, the number shown on the first decimal place display unit 435 is deleted. The preset place is not limited to the first decimal place, and may be any other place.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a modified example of the numbers displayed on the display device 43 of the meter 4 of FIG. In FIG. 3, two numbers, 9 and 0, are displayed on the ones digit display unit 434. In this case, the operator determines one of 9 and 0.

In FIG. 3, 9 and 0 are displayed on the one-position display unit 434, but the same applies to the case where 9 and 0 are displayed on the other-position display unit. To decide. Further, in FIG. 3, 9 and 0 are displayed on the ones place display unit 434, but two numbers other than the combination of 9 and 0 are displayed on the ones place display unit 434. Also, the worker decides in the same way.

When 9 and 0 are displayed on the ones place display unit 434 and the operator determines that the number displayed on the ones place display unit 434 is 0, the tens place display unit The number displayed on 433 is an incorrect number. When the worker determines that the number displayed on the tens digit display unit 434 is 0, the worker reads out the value displayed by adding 1 to the number displayed on the tens digit display unit 433.

In FIG. 3, 9 and 0 are displayed on the ones digit display unit 434. However, even when 9 and 0 are displayed on the display unit of the other place and the operator determines the number as 0, the number 9 and 0 are one with respect to the displayed place. Similarly, the number displayed on the display unit higher by the digit is also an incorrect number. In this case, the worker reads out the value obtained by adding 1 to the number displayed on the display unit of the higher digit by one digit with respect to the digit where 9 and 0 are displayed.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the meter meter reading device 3 of FIG. The meter meter reading device 3 includes an image meter information acquisition device 31 into which an image captured by the camera 1 is input, and a voice meter information acquisition device 32 in which the sound input to the microphone 2 is input.

The image meter information acquisition device 31 acquires image meter information using the image input to the image meter information acquisition device 31. The image meter information is information indicated by the meter 4 included in the image. Specifically, the image meter information is a number indicating the power consumption indicated by the meter 4 included in the image. The image meter information may include an identification number that identifies each of the plurality of meters 4. The image meter information acquisition device 31 extracts the numbers displayed by the display device 43 from the images captured by the camera 1.

The image meter information includes numbers corresponding to the thousands, hundreds, tens, ones and first decimal places, respectively. The thousands digit included in the image meter information is a number displayed on the thousands digit display unit 431. The hundreds digit included in the image meter information is a number displayed on the hundreds digit display unit 432. The tens digit included in the image meter information is a number displayed on the tens digit display unit 433. The ones digit included in the image meter information is a number displayed on the ones digit display unit 434. The first decimal place number included in the image meter information is the number displayed on the first decimal place display unit 435. When two numbers are displayed on the display unit of the first place, the two numbers are included in the one place in the image meter information.

The voice meter information acquisition device 32 acquires voice meter information using the voice input to the voice meter information acquisition device 32. The voice meter information is information indicated by the meter 4 included in the voice. Specifically, the voice meter information is a number indicating the power consumption indicated by the meter 4 included in the voice. The voice meter information may include an identification number that identifies each of the plurality of meters 4. The voice meter information acquisition device 32 extracts a number displayed by the display device 43 read aloud by the operator from the voice input to the microphone 2.

The voice meter information includes numbers corresponding to the thousands, hundreds, tens and ones, respectively. The thousands digit included in the voice meter information is a number displayed on the thousands digit display unit 431 read aloud by the operator. The hundreds digit included in the voice meter information is a number displayed on the hundreds digit display unit 432 read out by the operator. The tens digit included in the voice meter information is a number displayed on the tens digit display unit 433 read aloud by the operator. The ones digit included in the voice meter information is a number displayed on the ones digit display unit 434 read aloud by the operator.

The worker does not read out the number displayed on the first decimal place display unit 435. Therefore, the voice meter information does not include the number corresponding to the number displayed on the first decimal place display unit 435. The voice meter information may include a number corresponding to the number displayed on the first decimal place display unit 435.

When the operator mistakenly reads out the number displayed on the display device 43 of the meter 4, the voice meter information includes the wrong number.

The meter meter reading device 3 further includes a meter information derivation device 33 that derives meter information using image meter information and audio meter information, and a determination device 34 that determines whether or not there is an error in the meter information. ..

The meter information is the information indicated by the meter 4. Specifically, the meter information is a number indicating the amount of electric power indicated by the meter 4. The meter information may include an identification number that identifies each of the plurality of meters 4.

The determination device 34 compares the external meter information, which is the information input from the outside and is the information indicated by the meter 4, with the meter information derived by the meter information derivation device 33, and is there an error in the meter information? Judge whether or not. Examples of the external meter information include a number obtained by the operator visually reading a number indicating the power consumption indicated by the meter 4 and inputting the read number into the mobile terminal.

The external meter information is information input by the operator. Therefore, if an error occurs during input, the external meter information includes the incorrect information.

Next, the operation of the meter information derivation device 33 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the meter information derivation device 33 of FIG. First, in step S101, the meter information derivation device 33 compares the image meter information and the voice meter information, and determines whether or not the image meter information and the voice meter information match each other. In step S101, it is determined whether or not the image meter information and the audio meter information match each other for each of the thousands, hundreds, tens, and ones digits.

In step S101, when it is determined that the image meter information and the audio meter information match for all the thousands, hundreds, tens, and ones digits, the meter information derivation device in step S102. 33 performs the first meter information derivation step.

In the first meter information derivation step, the meter information derivation device 33 uses the image meter information as the meter information. In this case, the meter information derivation device 33 may use the voice meter information as the meter information.

On the other hand, in step S101, it was determined that at least one of the thousands, hundreds, tens, and ones digits is inconsistent with each other between the image meter information and the audio meter information. In the case, in step S103, the meter information derivation device 33 determines whether or not there are two numbers in the first place in the image meter information. In step S103, it is determined whether or not there are two numbers in one digit in the image meter information for each of the thousands digit, the hundreds digit, the tens digit, and the ones digit.

In step S103, when it is determined that there are two numbers in one digit in the image meter information, in step S104, the meter information derivation device 33 has both 9 and 0 in one digit in the image meter information. Judge whether or not. In step S104, it is determined whether or not there are both 9 and 0 in one digit in the image meter information for each of the digits determined to have two numbers in one digit.

When it is determined in step S104 that both 9 and 0 are in one place in the image meter information, the meter information derivation device 33 performs the second meter information derivation step in step S105.

In the second meter information derivation step, the meter information derivation device 33 corresponds to the voice meter information as the digit of the meter information corresponding to the digit determined to have two numbers in one digit in the image meter information. Use the digit of the place.

Further, in the second meter information derivation step, the meter information derivation device 33 is a meter corresponding to a digit one digit higher than the digit determined to have both 9 and 0 in one digit in the image meter information. As the digit of the information, the digit of the corresponding digit in the voice meter information is used.

Further, in the second meter information derivation step, the meter information derivation device 33 does not have two numbers in one place in the image meter information, and the image meter information and the voice meter information do not match each other. As the digit of the corresponding meter information, the digit of the corresponding digit in the image meter information is used.

Further, in the second meter information derivation step, the meter information derivation device 33 sets the corresponding digit in the image meter information as the digit of the meter information corresponding to the position where the image meter information and the audio meter information coincide with each other. Use. In this case, the corresponding digit in the voice meter information may be used.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S104 that both 9 and 0 are not present in one place in the image meter information, the meter information derivation device 33 performs the third meter information derivation step in step S106.

In the third meter information derivation step, the meter information derivation device 33 corresponds to the voice meter information as the digit of the meter information corresponding to the digit determined to have two numbers in one digit in the image meter information. Use the digit of the place.

Further, in the third meter information derivation step, the meter information derivation device 33 does not have two numbers in one place in the image meter information, and the image meter information and the voice meter information do not match each other. As the digit of the corresponding meter information, the digit of the corresponding digit in the image meter information is used.

Further, in the third meter information derivation step, the meter information derivation device 33 sets the corresponding digit in the image meter information as the digit of the meter information corresponding to the position where the image meter information and the audio meter information coincide with each other. Use. In this case, the corresponding digit in the voice meter information may be used.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S103 that there are no two numbers in one digit in the image meter information, the meter information derivation device 33 performs the fourth meter information derivation step in step S107.

In the fourth meter information derivation step, the meter information derivation device 33 sets the corresponding digit in the image meter information as the digit of the meter information corresponding to the disagreement between the image meter information and the audio meter information. Use numbers.

Further, in the fourth meter information derivation step, the meter information derivation device 33 sets the corresponding digit in the image meter information as the digit of the meter information corresponding to the position where the image meter information and the audio meter information coincide with each other. Use. In this case, the corresponding digit in the voice meter information may be used. With the above, the operation of the meter information derivation device 33 is completed.

Next, the operation of the determination device 34 will be described. The determination device 34 compares the meter information derived by the meter information derivation device 33 with the external meter information. When the meter information and the external meter information match each other, the determination device 34 determines that the meter information is correct. On the other hand, when the meter information and the external meter information do not match each other, the determination device 34 determines that at least one of the meter information and the external meter information is incorrect.

As described above, according to the meter reading system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the meter information derivation device 33 derives the meter information by using the image meter information and the voice meter information. As a result, for example, even if the image meter information contains an error, the meter information derivation device 33 derives accurate meter information by using the voice meter information. As a result, the meter reading accuracy of the meter meter reading system can be improved.

Further, the meter reading system further includes a determination device 34 that compares the external meter information with the meter information and determines whether or not the meter information has an error. This makes it possible to further improve the meter reading accuracy of the meter meter reading system.

Further, the meter information derivation device 33 uses the image meter information when the first decimal place in the image meter information is deleted when the image meter information includes the first decimal place which is a preset place. Thereby, the image meter information and the voice meter information can be easily compared.

Further, when the meter information derivation device 33 has a disagreement between the image meter information and the voice meter information, the meter information derivation device 33 sets the number of the meter information digit corresponding to the disagreement in the image meter information. Use the corresponding digit in the image meter information. Thereby, the accuracy of meter reading of the meter meter reading system can be improved.

Further, the meter information derivation device 33 is a case where there is a disagreement between the image meter information and the voice meter information, and the meter information derivation device 33 has two digits in one of the disagreements in the image meter information. When there is a number, the number of the corresponding digit in the audio meter information is used as the digit of the meter information corresponding to one digit having two numbers in the image meter information. Thereby, the accuracy of meter reading of the meter meter reading system can be improved.

Further, when the meter information derivation device 33 includes both 9 and 0 in the two digits in one digit in the image meter information, the meter information derivation device 33 has only one digit from the one digit in which the two digits in the image meter information are present. As the digit of the meter information corresponding to the higher digit, the digit of the corresponding digit in the voice meter information is used. Thereby, the accuracy of meter reading of the meter meter reading system can be improved.

In the first embodiment, a meter reading system for deriving meter information about the thousand's place, the hundred's place, the tens' place, and the one's place has been described. However, a meter reading system that derives meter information other than this may be used.

1 camera, 2 microphones, 3 meters meter reading device, 4 meters, 31 image meter information acquisition device, 32 voice meter information acquisition device, 33 meter information derivation device, 34 judgment device, 41 housing, 42 rotating motion body, 43 display device 433 Thousands digit display unit, 432 Hundreds digit display unit, 433 Tens digit display unit, 434 Ones digit display unit, 435 First digit display unit.

Claims (6)

An image meter information acquisition device that acquires image meter information, which is information indicated by a meter included in the image, using an image taken by a camera.
A voice meter information acquisition device that acquires voice meter information, which is information indicated by the meter included in the voice, using the voice input to the microphone.
A meter meter reading system including a meter information derivation device that derives meter information, which is information indicated by the meter, using the image meter information and the voice meter information. The external meter information, which is information input from the outside and is the information indicated by the meter, is compared with the meter information derived by the meter information deriving device, and whether or not the meter information is incorrect is determined. The meter meter reading system according to claim 1, further comprising a determination device for determining. The meter information derivation device uses the image meter information when the preset position in the image meter information is deleted when the image meter information includes a preset position. The meter meter reading system according to claim 2. When the image meter information and the voice meter information have a disagreement with each other, the meter information derivation device has a position of the meter information corresponding to the disagreement with each other in the image meter information. The meter meter reading system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the numbers in the image meter information that do not match each other are used as the numbers. The meter information derivation device is in the case where there is a disagreement between the image meter information and the voice meter information, and one of the disagreements in the image meter information. Claim 1 in which, when there are two numbers, the corresponding digit in the audio meter information is used as the digit of the meter information corresponding to the one digit having the two digits in the image meter information. The meter meter reading system according to any one of claims 4 to 4. When the two numbers in the one place in the image meter information include both 9 and 0, the meter information derivation device has the two numbers in the image meter information in the one place. The meter meter reading system according to claim 5, wherein the digit of the meter information corresponding to the digit higher by one digit is used as the digit of the corresponding digit in the voice meter information.

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