JP2868683B2 - Home information communication device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to information such as emergency information such as disaster prevention, crime prevention or first aid in a house, and meter reading information such as gas, water or electricity in a house using a main computer on a management side and a terminal computer on a managed side. The present invention relates to an in-home information communication device that exchanges information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a main computer of a management center and a terminal computer on a house side managed are used to transmit information such as emergency information such as disaster prevention, crime prevention or first aid in a house, and meter reading information such as gas, water or electricity. 2. Description of the Related Art An in-home information communication device that performs exchange is known.

As shown in FIG. 2, a conventional in-home information communication device 21 includes a main computer 22 of a management center for managing information in the house and a telephone line 2 provided in the house.
3, a main computer 22 of the management center and a terminal computer (hereinafter may be abbreviated as a terminal) 24 on the side of the administrator who exchanges information in the house.

[0004] The terminal 24 on the administrator side includes a CPU 25,
ROM 26, RAM 27, etc.
C that operates according to the program stored in M26
Under the control of the PU 25, the information inputted from the information input means 28 provided in the house is managed, and the telephone line 23 is controlled.
The information is exchanged with the main computer 22 via the. The RAM 27 stores a telephone number of the main computer 22 as a communication number for transmitting and receiving the information to and from the main computer 22 and an ID code as an identification number of the terminal 24.

The information input means 28 includes, for example, a gas meter 32, a gas leak sensor 33, a security sensor 34, an emergency button 35, and the like, and is connected to the CPU 25. The CPU 25 is connected with a gas shutoff valve 36, a telephone 37 as a terminal of the telephone line 23, and the like.

[0006] In the RAM 27 of the terminal 24, together with the telephone number and the ID code, a gas leak set value necessary for managing information in the house inputted from the information input means 28,
Data such as a set value of a cycle (time) for communicating with the main computer 22 and a type of the telephone 37 are stored. In the terminal 24, the meter reading information such as the gas usage amount input from the gas meter 32 is stored in the RAM 27 via the CPU 25.

The terminal 24 is normally in a call mode in which the telephone line 23 is connected to the telephone 37.
When the cycle time for communication with the main computer 22 stored in the memory 27 is reached, the communication mode is switched to a mode in which the telephone line 23 is disconnected from the telephone 37, and the telephone number of the main computer 22 stored in the RAM 27 and the terminal 24 are switched.
The meter reading information stored in the RAM 27 is transmitted to the main computer 22 using the ID code. Also,
Gas leak sensor 33, security sensor 34, emergency button 35
When emergency information is input from, for example, the terminal 24, the terminal 24 immediately switches the telephone line 23 to the communication mode, and notifies the main computer 22 of the emergency information.

When the gas leak sensor 33 detects an amount of gas exceeding the gas leak set value stored in the RAM 27, the terminal 24 informs the main computer 22 of the emergency information and sends the gas shut-off valve 36 To stop the gas supply to the house.

However, the home information communication device 21
If the program runs out of control in the terminal 24 for some reason, information such as the telephone number of the main computer 22 and the ID code of the terminal 24 stored in the RAM 27 may be deleted or may have an incorrect value. Yes,
There is a disadvantage that communication with the main computer 22 becomes impossible. Conventionally, in such a case, the management center is in a state where the terminal 24 does not operate due to a program runaway due to lack of information to be transmitted from the terminal 24 at the time of regular meter reading performed every predetermined period. There is no other way but to recognize that the main computer 2
2 cannot transmit / receive information to / from the terminal 24 without communication from the terminal 24. Therefore, in order to operate the home information communication device 21 as it was, a clerk needs to operate the home information communication device 21.
It is necessary to go to the place where is installed and make adjustments such as restoring the information stored in the RAM 27.

[0010]

According to the present invention, when such a disadvantage is solved, the program runs out of control on the terminal computer when the program runs out of control on the terminal computer on the managed side. It is an object of the present invention to provide an in-home information communication device capable of quickly recognizing the situation and returning the managed terminal computer to its original operating state.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, an in-home information communication apparatus according to the present invention comprises a main computer on the management side for managing information in a house, and a telephone line provided in the house. It comprises a main computer on the management side and a terminal computer on the managed side that exchanges information in the house, and stores at least a communication number for communicating with the main computer and an identification number on the managed side in the terminal computer. in-home information communication apparatus formed by providing a storage means for, when a runaway program occurs in the terminal computer, a program runaway detection means for detecting the runaway, the program runaway detection means detects the runaway of the program restart means and, electrically writing erasable nonvolatile memory hand as the storage means to restart the said terminal computer when And, re-launched the terminal computing
From the communication number stored in the nonvolatile storage means.
The main controller on the management side uses the ID number and the identification number on the managed side.
Notification to the computer that a runaway program has occurred
Means and the main computer on the management side
When a program reports a runaway program,
The managed computer stored in the main computer of the managed computer
Transmission means for transmitting information to the terminal computer on the managed side
And the managed computer sent from the main computer
The status of the terminal computer based on the
Return to the original state before the ram runaway
Means is provided .

[0012]

According to the in-home information communication apparatus of the present invention, when a program runs away in the managed terminal computer,
First, the program runaway detecting means detects runaway of the program, and then the restarting means restarts the managed terminal computer. Since the information stored in the electrically erasable and non-volatile storage means is hardly erased even if the program runs away, the restarted terminal computer on the managed side is Using the communication number for communicating with the main computer on the management side and the identification number on the managed side stored in the non-volatile storage means that can be temporarily written and erased, the main computer on the management side performs the program runaway. Report occurrence.

As a result, the main computer on the management side recognizes the runaway of the program generated in the terminal computer on the managed side and transmits the stored information on the managed side to the terminal computer on the managed side. Thus, the terminal computer on the managed side can be returned to the original operating state.

[0014]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a home information communication apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a home information communication device according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the in-home information communication device 1 of this embodiment manages information such as emergency information such as disaster prevention, crime prevention or first aid in a house, and meter reading information such as gas, water or electricity. It comprises a main computer 2 of the center, a main computer 2 of the management center provided in the house through a telephone line 3, and a terminal 4 on the side of the manager who exchanges information in the house.

The terminal 4 on the manager side includes a CPU 5, an RO
M6, RAM 7 and the like, which are controlled by a CPU 5 operating according to a program stored in a ROM 6, manage information input from information input means 8 provided in the house, and To exchange information with the main computer 2. In terminal 4,
Further, when an abnormality such as a program runaway occurs in the operation of the CPU 5, the program runaway detecting means 9 for detecting the abnormality and the CPU 5 restarting when the program runaway detecting means 9 detects the program runaway. The activation unit 10 is an electrically erasable nonvolatile storage unit that stores a telephone number of the main computer 2 as a communication number for communicating with the main computer 2 and an ID code as an identification number of the terminal 4. EEPROM1
1 is provided.

The information input means 8 includes, for example, a gas meter 12, a gas leak sensor 13, a security sensor 14, an emergency button 15, and the like, and is connected to the CPU 5. The CPU 5 is connected to a gas shutoff valve 16, a telephone 17 as a terminal of the telephone line 3, and the like.

The gas meter 12 detects the amount of gas supplied to gas appliances in a house. For example, the number of rotations of a magnet attached to a rotating body that rotates according to the gas flow rate is detected by a magnetic sensor element. Then, a gas flow signal (pulse signal) is sent to the CPU 5. Incidentally, similarly to the gas meter 12, the data on the flow rate may be input to the CPU 5 from meter meters such as water supply and electricity.

The gas leak sensor 13 is mounted on a ceiling or a floor of a room in which the gas appliance is installed, and detects a gas having a predetermined gas leak set value or more, and detects a predetermined voltage (for example, 1).
2V) is sent to the CPU 5.

When the user selects the out-of-home mode or the out-of-stay mode, the security sensor 14 determines that an abnormality has occurred when a window, door or door of a house is opened, and outputs a predetermined security abnormality signal. Send to CPU5.

The emergency button 15 operates when operated by the user, and sends an emergency medical signal to the CPU 5.

The gas shutoff valve 16 is attached to a gas supply path for supplying gas to gas appliances installed in the house.
It is opened and closed by a signal from PU5.

The RAM 7 of the terminal 4 stores gas leak set values necessary for managing house information input from the information input means 8, cycle (time) set values for communication with the main computer 2, and a telephone. Data such as 17 types are stored. In the terminal 4, the gas meter 12
The meter reading information such as the gas usage amount input from the CPU is stored in the RAM 7 via the CPU 5.

The terminal 4 is normally in a call mode in which the telephone line 3 is connected to the telephone 17, but when the cycle time for communicating with the main computer 2 stored in the RAM 7 is reached, the terminal 4 is switched to the telephone mode. The communication mode is switched to a communication mode in which communication with the telephone 17 is cut off, and the meter reading information stored in the RAM 7 is transmitted to the main computer 2 using the telephone number of the main computer 2 and the ID code of the terminal 4 stored in the EEPROM 11. . When emergency information is input from the gas leak sensor 13, the security sensor 14, the emergency button 15, or the like, the terminal 4 immediately switches the telephone line 3 to the communication mode and notifies the main computer 2 of the emergency information.

The terminal 4 has a gas leak sensor 13
When a gas amount exceeding the gas leak set value stored in the AM 7 is detected, the emergency information is reported to the main computer 2 and the gas shutoff valve 16 is operated to stop the gas supply to the house. It is designed to work as well.

Next, the operation of the in-home information communication device 1 when a program runaway occurs in the CPU 5 of the terminal 4 will be described.

In the in-home information communication apparatus 1, the operation state of the terminal 4 is monitored by the program runaway detecting means 9. If a program runaway occurs in the CPU 5 for any reason, the program runaway is detected by the program runaway detecting means 9. Is done. The program runaway detection means 9 includes, for example, a watchdog timer, and can monitor the operation status of the terminal 4 by detecting whether or not the CPU 5 is performing a predetermined operation at predetermined time intervals.

When the program runaway detecting means 9 detects the runaway of the program of the CPU 5, it issues a command to the restart means 10, and the restart means 10 restarts the CPU 5. As a result, the CPU 5 interrupts the operation up to that point, returns to the beginning of the program stored in the ROM 6, and operates normally.

However, once a runaway of the program occurs in the CPU 5, the information stored in the RAM 7 may be erased or may have an incorrect value, and the reliability of the information is reduced. Therefore, when the CPU 5 is restarted, the terminal device 4 switches the telephone line 3 to the communication mode, and
Using the telephone number of the main computer 2 stored in the ROM 11 and the ID code of the terminal 4, the fact that the computer has been restarted due to runaway of the program is notified to the main computer 2.
Report to.

Then, the main computer 2 is connected to the terminal 4
, The information about the terminal 4 stored in the main computer 2 is transmitted to the terminal 4, and the information stored in the RAM 7 is restored to the state before the runaway occurred. Restore. With the above operation, the terminal 4 can operate in the same manner as before the program runaway occurs in the CPU 5.

In the in-home information communication device 1, when the main computer 2 recognizes that the program runaway has occurred in the terminal device 4 as described above, necessary information is transmitted from the main computer 2 to the terminal device 4. EEPROM1
Reference numeral 1 denotes a capacity sufficient to store the telephone number of the administrator and the ID code necessary for communication with the main computer 2 at a minimum, and a small capacity can be used.

[0032]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the in-home information communication apparatus of the present invention, even if a runaway of a program occurs in the terminal computer on the managed side, the main program on the managing side is not transmitted to the main computer on the managed side. Since the runaway can be notified, the main computer on the management side can quickly recognize that the program runaway has occurred in the terminal computer. Further, the main computer on the management side recognizes the runaway of the program of the terminal computer, and transmits necessary information to the terminal computer on the managed side, so that the terminal computer on the managed side can be restored to the original without any need for human intervention. It can be returned to the operating state.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a home information communication device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional in-home information communication device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... In-home information communication apparatus, 2 ... Main computer of management side, 3 ... Telephone line, 4 ... Terminal computer of managed side, 9 ... Program runaway detection means, 10 ... Restart means, 11 ... Electrical writing / erasing possible Nonvolatile storage means.

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-61-239398 (JP, A) JP-A-50-153954 (JP, A) JP-A-53-45260 (JP, A) JP-A-54-156445 (JP) JP-A-61-180397 (JP, A) JP-A-3-20898 (JP, A) JP-A-4-49497 (JP, A) JP-A-4-1311084 (JP, U) (58) Surveyed field (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G06F 11/00 350 G06F 1/00 370

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A main computer on the management side for managing information in a house, and a terminal computer on the managed side which is provided in the house and exchanges information with the main computer on the management side via a telephone line. from it, at least in the home information communication apparatus formed by providing a communication number storage means for storing the identification number of the managed side for communicating the main computer to the terminal computer, runaway of the program in the terminal computer and Occurs
To a program runaway detection means for detecting the runaway, and restarting means for the program runaway detection means restarts the said terminal computer when it detects program runaway,
The electrically writable and erasable non-volatile storage means as the storage means and the restarted terminal computer
Communication number stored in the non-volatile storage means and the managed side
To the management-side main computer using the identification number of
Notification means to report the occurrence of program runaway
The main computer on the side
When receiving a report of a runaway gram,
Managed information stored on the computer
Transmission means for transmitting to the terminal computer on the
Based on the information on the managed side sent from the main computer
The status of the terminal computer and the program runaway
A means for restoring the original state to the state before birth is provided.
An in-home information communication device, characterized in that: