JP2546215Y2 - Automatic notification device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic reporting device for automatically reporting to a report destination such as an information center periodically or in response to occurrence of an event to be reported. The present invention relates to an automatic notifying device which uses a notifying date, a notifying destination telephone number, and other notifying data written in the storage means at the time of notifying to make a notification via a telephone line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an apparatus of this type, there is an apparatus as shown in FIG. 7, which is configured as a gas metering system.
In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an automatic notification device, to which a gas meter 2, a gas leak alarm 3, an external device 4 for detecting an abnormality such as a fire, and a telephone line 5 are connected. Commercial power is supplied.

[0003] The gas meter 2 outputs a meter reading pulse every time a predetermined flow rate of gas flows therethrough. The gas leak alarm 3 detects a gas leak, issues an alarm, and outputs a gas leak detection signal. The automatic notification device 1 inputs a meter reading pulse from the gas meter 2, counts the pulse, counts the gas usage, and calculates the integrated value at a predetermined time on a predetermined notification date, a notification cycle, and an information center. When an abnormality detection signal such as a gas leak detection signal from the gas leak alarm 3 is input to the information center via the telephone line 5, the information is notified to the information center via the telephone line 5. I do.

[0004] In order to perform the above, the automatic notification device 1
Has a built-in RAM that is a writable and readable memory, and has a CPU that operates according to a predetermined program. The RAM in the CPU refers to the time data generated by the clock, and sends a message to be used when the gas meter value is periodically transmitted to the information center at a predetermined report date, report cycle, and report time. Notification data such as a date, a notification cycle, a notification time, and a telephone number of an information center is stored. If the report data is lost due to a power failure, the report cannot be made, so the RAM is backed up by a constantly charged battery. The notification data is set at any time by a data setting device connected to the automatic notification device 1 and stored in the RAM.

As is apparent from the above configuration, the automatic notification device 1 is connected to a telephone line or a commercial power supply, is easily affected by external noise such as lightning, and the external noise causes the CPU to malfunction or run away. It is possible that the reporting data in the RAM is destroyed and the reporting function is lost. It is conceivable that such destruction of the notification data in the RAM also occurs when a power failure occurs for a long time and the battery voltage drops.

Therefore, conventionally, when the report data in the RAM has been destroyed, an indicator is flashed to notify the user, and the user is notified of the flashing of the indicator to go to maintenance.

[0007]

As described above, conventionally, when the reporting data in the RAM is destroyed and the indicator flashes, it is possible to go to the maintenance and recover the reporting function of the automatic reporting device 1. However, there has been a problem that maintenance cost is required because no measures have been taken to improve the reliability of the essential communication function.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and aims to reduce the probability that the reporting data is destroyed due to the destruction of the reporting function, improve the reliability of the reporting function, and reduce the maintenance cost. It is an object to provide an effective automatic notification device.

[0009]

Automatic reporting device was made by the present invention for solving the above problems SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION As shown in the basic diagram of Fig. 1, the first to readably store writes notification data storing means 11a and, said first notification means 11c for the notification data in the storage means 11a performs periodically or automatically reported to the report destination via a telephone line 5 by using at the time of the event to be reported In the automatic notification device having the following, the same second notification data as the notification data stored in the first storage means 11a is stored, and the second notification data can be held without a power source. Second storage means 13 that can be electrically erased and written any number of times
And the reporting data in both storage means 11a and 13
Compare and detect anomalies in the notification data due to a mismatch between the two
Abnormality detecting means 11d, and the abnormality detecting means 11d
Communication in each of the storage means 11a and 13
The presence or absence of abnormalities in the report data is determined according to each report data.
Check data stored in each storage means 11a, 13
Checking means 11e for checking each based on data
And one of the storage units by the check unit 11e.
If there is an error in the reporting data in 11a, 13
Storage means 11a, 1 storing various reporting data.
3 is stored in the other normal storage means 13, 11a.
And a correction unit 11f for correcting with the report data .

[0010]

In the above construction, the first storage means 1 for storing the notification data used by the notification means 11c at the time of notification.
The second notification data identical to the notification data in 1a is stored in the second storage means 13, and the second notification data in the second storage means 13 is held without power, Moreover, it can be electrically erased and written any number of times. In addition, the abnormality detecting means 11d includes
Compare the reporting data in 13 and report due to a mismatch between the two
Data abnormality is detected, and abnormality is detected by abnormality detection means 11d.
In response to the detection, the checking unit 11e sets each of the storage units 11a,
13 for each report data
In response, the check stored in each of the storage means 11a and 13 is performed.
Check based on the data and check means
11e for reporting in one of the storage means 11a, 13
When there is an error in the data, the abnormal notification data is stored.
The contents of the storage means 11a, 13
Corrected by the reporting data in the storage means 13, 11a
You.

Therefore, when the report data in the first storage means 11a is destroyed, the report data is corrected by the second report data in the second storage means 13, and conversely . When the second notification data in the second storage means 13 is destroyed, the second notification data is corrected by the notification data in the first storage means 11a. Unless the reporting data is destroyed,
The notification function is not lost. In particular, the second memory
As a means, the second notification data can be held without a power source.
And what can be electrically erased and written many times
Because it is used, the backup power supply voltage drops
The second notification data is securely retained even if
The contents of the first storage means 11a are stored in the second storage
Can be modified by the data. Also, this check
The lock operation and the subsequent correction operation are performed by both storage units 11a.
And when the reporting data in 13 and 13 do not match
The unnecessary operation is not performed. Change
In addition, the check operation is performed by each memory function corresponding to each report data.
Based on the check data stored in the stages 11a and 13
Is performed efficiently, without any troublesome processing.
You.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration showing an embodiment of the automatic notification device according to the present invention. In FIG. 7, the same parts as those of the conventional one described above with reference to FIG. Omitted.

In FIG. 2, the automatic notification device 1 has a built-in RAM 11a which is a writable and readable memory.
It has a CPU 11 that operates according to a predetermined program. The CPU 11 has a ROM 12 which is a read-only memory storing the control program, an EEPROM 13 which is a memory which can hold data without power supply and which can be electrically erased and written many times, a CPU 1
A line interface (IF) 14 for connecting 1 to a telephone line 5, an input / output interface (IOIF) 15 for connecting a gas leak alarm, an external device, and a gas meter to the CPU 11, a display circuit for displaying various information 16. A clock 17 for generating real time data is connected.

The automatic notification device 1 also includes a power supply circuit 18 that converts a commercial power supply supplied through the outlet 6 into a direct current and supplies a stable direct current voltage to each unit.
8 is charged by applying DC voltage, and RA
Battery 19 that can back up M11a
And

The RAM 11a in the CPU 11 refers to the real-time data of the clock 17 and is used to periodically transmit gas meter readings to an information center at a predetermined report date, report cycle, and report time. For this purpose, report data such as a report date, a report cycle, a report time, and a telephone number of an information center are stored. The same report data as that stored in the RAM 11a is also stored in the EEPROM 13. . The notification data is set by the data setting unit 20, input to the CPU 11 through the line IF 13, and stored in the RAM 11a and the EEPROM 13.

In the RAM 11a and the EEPROM 13,
As shown in FIG. 3, the check data created based on the data in each row is stored in the storage area in the form of a matrix after being divided into blocks at regular intervals and arranged in a matrix. Data is stored. For example, the data _{a 1, a 2, a 3} , the end of the storage area of the row a ₄ is stored, check data A created by adding all the data of this line _{(= a 1 + a 2 +} a 3 + a
₄ ) is memorized. However, since the number of digits in this storage area is the same and there is a limit, the check data A is not stored by discarding a carry portion that may be generated as a result of addition.

As described above, since the check data is stored together with the report data, it is determined whether the report data is broken by comparing the result of addition of the report data with the check data. And RA
When one of the reporting data in the M11a or the EEPROM 13 is broken, the other reporting data that is not broken can be copied to one and restored. Further, when both of the notification data are broken, the indicator in the display circuit 16 indicating that the notification data is destroyed blinks for the first time to notify that maintenance is required.

As shown in FIG. 4, a reset circuit 11b includes a power-on reset circuit 11b for detecting a power-on and generating a reset signal.
_1, a watchdog circuit 11b ₂ which CPU11 program generates a detection to the reset signal that fell to the abnormal loop, made from the OR circuit 11b ₃ Metropolitan taking the logical sum of the outputs of both circuits 11b ₁ and 11b ₂ Reset circuit 11b is attached. Therefore, the CPU 11
The malfunction, the output of the power-on reset circuit 11b ₁ when power recovery from runaway or power failure and watchdog circuit 11b ₂
And it is capable to automatically reset Fukusuru to normal by a reset signal generated at the output of the OR circuit 11b ₃ taking the logical sum of the output of.

The details of the operation of the automatic notification device 1 described briefly above will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5 showing the work performed by the CPU 11 in the automatic notification device 1. CP
U11 starts operation when a reset signal generated by the reset circuit 11b is input to its reset input, and performs initialization in the first step S1. After that, the process proceeds to step S2, where the report data is checked and, if it is broken, a check to correct it and a correction process are performed, and then the process proceeds to step S3 to wait for the occurrence of a processing event. The details of the processing in step S2 will be described later.

The events to be processed include the input of a gas meter reading pulse from a gas meter, the input of an abnormal signal from a gas leak alarm or an external device, the arrival of a notification date / time, the connection of a setting device, and a data check request. is there.

When a gas meter pulse is input from the gas meter as a processing event, the process proceeds to step S4 to perform a meter reading process, and then, in step S5, an abnormal flow rate determination process is performed. Based on the result of the determination processing in step S5, it is determined whether or not there is an abnormal flow rate in the next step S6, and if there is no abnormal flow rate and the determination is NO, the process returns to step S3. There is an abnormal flow rate and the determination in step S6 is Y
In the case of ES, the process proceeds to step S7, where an abnormality display and a gas shutoff process for closing the shutoff valve built in the gas meter and closing the gas supply path are performed. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S8 to perform an abnormality notification process for notifying the information center of the abnormal state, and then returns to step S3.

When an abnormal signal is input as a processing event,
Steps S9 and S similar to steps S7 and S8 above
Execute Step 10. That is, in step S9, a gas shut-off process is performed to close the gas supply path by closing the abnormality display and the shut-off valve built in the gas meter.
In, the abnormality reporting process for reporting the abnormal state to the information center is performed, and then the process returns to step S3.

When the report date / time has arrived as a processing event, the process proceeds to step S11 and proceeds to step S4.
After performing the meter reading notification process for notifying the meter reading value that is the result of the meter reading process performed in step, the process returns to step S3. When the setting device 19 is connected as a processing event and there is a request for setting data, the process proceeds to step S12 to perform communication processing with the setting device, and then returns to step S3.

As a processing event, a CP constituting the clock 17
When U receives a data check request to be output at 0:00, for example, once a day, the process proceeds to step S13 and performs the same data check and correction processing as in step S2.

The details of the data check and correction processing in steps S2 and S13 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In this process, first, the first step S2
1, the notification data in the RAM 11a and the EEPR
Whether or not the notification data in the OM 13 is the same is determined by comparing all of the data. When this determination is YES, it is determined that both data are correct, and FIG.
Return to the flowchart of FIG.

When the determination in step S21 is NO, that is, when the data in the RAM 11a and the data in the EEPROM 13 are not the same, the process proceeds to step S22, where the RAM 11a
It is determined whether or not the reporting data in a is abnormal based on the comparison result between the added value of each row of the reporting data and the check data.

If the determination in step S22 is YES, that is, if the added value does not match the check data and the RAM
If there is an abnormality in the data 11a, the process proceeds to step S23, where it is determined whether or not the reporting data in the EEPROM 13 is abnormal based on the comparison result between the added value of each row of the reporting data and the check data.

When the determination in step S23 is NO,
That is, the added value and the check data match, and the EEPRO
If the data in M13 is normal, the process proceeds to step S24, where the notification data in EEPROM 13 is stored in RAM1.
The report data in the RAM 11a is corrected by overwriting the previous report data in 1a by overwriting, and the process returns to the flowchart of FIG.

When the determination in step S22 is NO,
That is, the sum and the check data match, and the RAM 11a
If the data is normal, the process proceeds to step S25, where it is determined whether or not the reporting data in the EEPROM 13 is abnormal based on the comparison result between the added value of each row of the reporting data and the check data. This step S2
If the determination in step 5 is YES, that is, if the added value does not match the check data and the data in the EEPROM 13 is abnormal, the process proceeds to step S26, where the notification data in the RAM 11a is stored in the EEPROM 13 before the previous notification data in the EEPROM 13. 5 by correcting the reporting data in the EEPROM 13 by overwriting
Return to the flowchart of FIG.

If the determination in step S23 is YES, that is, if both the notification data in the RAM 11a and the EEPROM 13 are abnormal, the flow advances to step S27 to blink the indicator of the display circuit 16 indicating that the data is destroyed. Display. Step S
25 is NO, that is, the RAM 11a and E
If both the data in the RAM 11a and the data in the EEPROM 13 are normal despite the fact that the notification data in the EPROM 13 does not match, it is impossible to determine which data is truly correct. A blinking display of the indicator of the display circuit 16 indicating the breakdown is performed.

As is clear from the description based on the above-mentioned flowchart, the CPU 11 uses the reporting data in the RAM 11a periodically or when an event to be reported occurs, and automatically sends it to the reporting destination via the telephone line 5. The notification means 11c for notifying the notification data in the RAM 11a and the EEPROM 13 is compared with each other.
Abnormality detecting means 11d for detecting abnormality of the data,
RAM 11a, EEPROM 13
The presence or absence of abnormality in the report data in
The RAM 11a and the EEPROM 13
Check based on the check data
Means 11e, RAM 11a by checking, EEP
When there is an abnormality in the reporting data in one of the ROMs 13,
RAM 11a, EE storing abnormal notification data
The contents of PROM 13 are replaced with normal EEPROM 13 and RAM.
Correction method to correct with the reporting data in the other of 11a
Work each as a stage 11f.

In the embodiment described above, if the report data in the EEPROM 13 is normal even if the report data in the RAM 11a is destroyed due to a malfunction of the CPU 11 due to extraneous noise or the like, or a battery voltage drop due to a runaway or power failure, if the report data is normal. Since the data can be copied to the RAM 11a and reproduced as normal notification data, the notification function is less likely to be damaged, and the number of maintenance operations can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

In addition, the external noise causes the EEPROM 1
When only the reporting data in the RAM 11a is normal and the reporting data in the RAM 11a is not destroyed, the normal reporting data in the RAM 11a is copied to the EEPROM 13 and corrected to normal reporting data. Therefore, when the notification data in the RAM 11a is destroyed thereafter, the data can be reproduced, and the loss of the notification function is further reduced.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, unnecessary and wasteful operations are performed unless both the reporting data used for reporting and the second reporting data become abnormal.
In addition, since the mutual correction is performed efficiently without troublesome processing , the reporting function is not lost unless the both reporting data is destroyed, and the reporting data is destroyed accordingly Is reduced, the reliability of the reporting function is increased, maintenance costs are reduced, and these have almost no effect on the original reporting function.
It can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of an automatic notification device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the automatic notification device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a method of storing notification data in a RAM and an EEPROM in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a specific example of a part of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing work performed by a CPU in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing details of a part in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a gas metering system incorporating a conventional automatic notification device.

[Explanation of symbols]

5 telephone line 11a first storage means (RAM) 11c notification means (CPU) 11d abnormality detection means (CPU) 11e checking means (CPU) 11f correction means (CPU) 13 second storage means (EEPROM)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-2-103696 (JP, A) JP-A-1-233988 (JP, A) JP-A-1-179557 (JP, A) JP-A 64-64 81598 (JP, A)

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] First storing means for 1. A possible read and write a report for data storage, a notification data in said first storage means upon the occurrence of regular basis or to be reported events <br/> And a reporting means for automatically reporting to a reporting destination via a telephone line using the same reporting data as the reporting data stored in the first storage means. And a second storage unit capable of holding the second notification data without a power supply and electrically erasing and writing as many times as possible, and comparing the notification data in both storage units with each other. Mismatch
Detecting means for detecting an abnormality in the notification data by using
And each of the storage units according to the abnormality detection by the abnormality detection unit.
The report data in the memory is stored in correspondence with the report data.
Each based on the check data stored in the means
Checking means for checking the information, and the checking means
When there is an error in the data, the abnormal notification data is stored.
The contents of the storage means having the other normal storage means
An automatic notifying device, comprising: correcting means for correcting the data based on the notifying data contained therein .