JP3056911B2 - Wireless system for automatic meter reading - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention collects data such as the amount of gas, water, and electricity used from a terminal device by using a telephone line in a center device, and also collects data such as gas leakage in the terminal device. The present invention relates to a wireless system for automatic meter reading that notifies alarm data (alarm information) to a center device, and more particularly to a wireless system for automatic meter reading that is partially wireless.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of a system having both this type of automatic meter reading and security. In this system, a meter 10, which is a terminal device, is called from the center device 1 via a center network control device 2, an exchange 4, and a terminal network control device 6 by a no ringing communication method, and data (meter reading) from the meter 10 is called. The communication procedure shown in FIG. 9 for collecting data in the center device 1 is shown in FIG.
When an abnormality such as gas leak is detected by the terminal, the center device 1 is called from the terminal network control device 6 via a telephone line in response to a call request from the meter, and alarm data (alarm information) from the meter 10 is sent to the center. There are two types of communication systems, a terminal call communication system, which shows a communication procedure in FIG.

In the case of the terminal call communication system, as shown in FIG. 8, usually, alarm data (alarm information) is transmitted from the meter 10 and then, for the purpose of resetting the alarm information, the alarm reset setting data is transmitted to the center device. Sent to the meter.

In the no-ringing communication system, communication for changing various data set in the meter may be performed in addition to a normal meter reading operation. This data setting communication is performed as shown in FIG. Then, it is performed following communication of meter reading data from the meter.

[0005]

Conventionally, in this system, the terminal network control device 6 and the meter 10 are connected by wire, but generally, the installation place of the meter and the terminal network control device are installed. In many cases, obstacles such as walls are present between the location and the location, and the distance is long, so that it is difficult to perform wiring work.

[0006] Considering the installation environment of the radio, the parent radio installed on the terminal network control device side can be installed near the telephone or the like.
A commercial power supply of 00V can be used.

[0007] However, in the slave radio device installed on the meter side, since the meter is installed outdoors, it is necessary to drive the battery as a power source.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above,
An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless system for automatic meter reading in which a wireless connection is established between a terminal network control device and a terminal device and power consumption of a child wireless device installed on the terminal device is reduced as much as possible. It is in.

Another object of the present invention is only to insert a master transceiver and a slave transceiver between a terminal network controller and a terminal, without making any other changes to other system configurations. Another object of the present invention is to provide a wireless system for automatic meter reading that can be used for alarm information and that does not cause a time delay in reporting security information such as alarm information.

[0010]

To achieve the above object, an automatic meter reading wireless system according to the present invention connects a master wireless device to a terminal network control device connected to a telephone line, and connects the master wireless device to the master wireless device. A slave radio device for wireless communication is connected to the terminal device, and the security information collected by the terminal device is transmitted from the terminal device to the terminal network control device via the radio line by the slave radio device and the master radio device by terminal call communication. And transmitting the terminal network control device to the center device via the telephone line,
No ringing is received from the center device to the terminal network control device via the telephone line by the no ringing communication, and the terminal network control device accesses the terminal device via the wireless line of the master wireless device and the slave wireless device, and An automatic meter reading wireless system that collects meter reading data in a center device via the wireless line and the telephone line, wherein the master wireless device is a terminal implemented by a terminal device when receiving security information from a slave wireless device. A terminal call communication means for performing the same communication procedure as the call communication procedure and transmitting security information to the center device via the terminal network control device; and Storage means for temporarily storing incoming security information reset setting data, wherein the slave radio is A security information collection unit that is activated by a terminal call request, performs the same communication procedure as the terminal call communication procedure performed by the center device, and collects security information from the terminal device, and collects the security information from the terminal device. Then, supplying power to the wireless circuit, transmitting the security information to the parent wireless device via the wireless circuit, after transmitting the security information, security information transmission means to stop power supply to the wireless circuit, After transmitting the security information to the parent wireless device, after a lapse of a predetermined time, it is activated again to supply power to the wireless circuit,
Reset setting data collecting means for calling the master wireless device via the wireless circuit and collecting the security information reset setting data stored in the storage means of the master wireless device; and security information reset setting performed by the center device Means for transmitting the security information reset setting data collected by the reset setting data collecting means to the terminal device by performing the same communication procedure as the communication procedure.

Further, in the wireless meter reading system of the present invention, in addition to the above, the slave wireless device is periodically activated and performs the same communication procedure as the no-ringing communication procedure performed by the center device. The wireless communication device has a transfer unit that collects meter reading data from the terminal device and transfers the collected meter reading data to the parent wireless device, wherein the master wireless device temporarily stores meter reading data transferred from the child wireless device. The storage means, performing the same communication procedure as the no-ringing communication procedure performed by the terminal device in response to a request for meter reading data by the no-ringing communication from the center device,
Means for transmitting the meter reading data stored in the meter reading data storing means to the center device.

Further, in the automatic meter reading radio system according to the present invention, in addition to the above, the master radio device transmits setting data to the terminal device transmitted from the center device following the request for meter reading data by no ringing communication. Setting data storage means for temporarily storing, at the time of transfer of the periodic meter reading data to the parent wireless device by the transfer means of the child wireless device,
Setting data transmitting means for transmitting the setting data stored in the setting data storing means to the slave wireless device, wherein the slave wireless device transmits the setting data transmitted by the setting data transmitting means of the master wireless device When receiving the setting data, the communication device performs the same communication procedure as the no-ringing communication procedure performed by the center device, and sets the received setting data in the terminal device.

[0013]

In the automatic meter reading radio system according to the present invention, the slave radio is activated by a terminal call request from the terminal device, performs the same procedure as the terminal call communication procedure of the center device, and receives the security information from the terminal device. After collecting the security information, power is supplied to the wireless circuit to transmit the security information to the parent wireless device, and after transmitting the security information, the power supply to the wireless circuit is stopped. Upon receiving the security information from the slave radio, it performs the same procedure as the terminal call communication procedure of the terminal device, transmits the security information to the center device via the terminal network control device, and subsequently transmits the security information from the center device. The transmitted security information reset setting data is temporarily stored in the storage unit, and the slave wireless device transmits the security information to the master wireless device for a predetermined time. After that, it is started again, supplies power to the wireless circuit, calls the parent wireless device, collects the security information reset setting data stored in the storage means of the parent wireless device, and executes the security information reset setting communication procedure of the center device. And transmitting the collected security information reset setting data to the terminal device.

Further, in the wireless system for automatic meter reading of the present invention, the slave radio is periodically activated and performs the same procedure as the no-ringing communication procedure of the center device to collect meter reading data from the terminal device. The meter reading data is transferred to the master wireless device, and the master wireless device temporarily accumulates meter reading data from the slave wireless device, and responds to the request for meter reading data by the no ringing communication from the center device. The same procedure is performed to transmit the meter reading data to the center device.

Further, in the wireless system for automatic meter reading of the present invention, the master wireless device temporarily accumulates the setting data to the terminal device transmitted following the request for meter reading data from the center device by the no ringing communication, and When periodically transferring the meter reading data to the parent wireless device by the wireless device, the setting data is transmitted to the child wireless device, and when the child wireless device receives the setting data from the parent wireless device, the no ringing communication procedure of the center device and By performing the same procedure, the setting data is set in the terminal device.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a wireless system for automatic meter reading according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The wireless system for automatic meter reading shown in FIG. 1 includes a meter 10 that constitutes a terminal device that measures the usage of gas, water, electricity, or the like as meter reading data. The meter 10 is connected to a slave wireless device 9, The slave wireless device 9 is connected to the master wireless device 8 via a wireless line. The master radio 8 is connected to a terminal network controller (T-NCU) 6, and the terminal network controller 6
To exchange 4 and center network controller (C-NCU)
It is connected to the center device 1 via a network control device 2 (MA-NCU) 2 or an automatic call receiving network control device (MA-NCU) 3. Note that a telephone 7 is connected to the terminal network control device 6.

The overall operation will be described in brief. The center device 1 includes a center network control device 2, a switching device 4, and a no-ringing trunk (NR) using no-ringing communication.
T) An incoming call is received by the terminal network control device 6 via the terminal device 5 and the meter reading data of the meter 10 previously stored in the parent wireless device 8 via the child wireless device 9 is transmitted from the terminal network control device 6 to the parent wireless device. 8, the meter reading data is collected by the center device 1 via the terminal network controller 6, the exchange 4, and the center network controller 2, and the center device 1 transmits the setting data to the meter 10. It has become.

When alarm data (alarm information) such as a gas leak or the like, that is, security information, is generated in the meter 10, the slave radio 9 and the master radio are transmitted by terminal call communication from the meter 10. 8. While transmitting alarm information from the terminal device to the center device 1 via the terminal network controller 6, the exchange 4, and the automatic incoming call network controller 3, the center device 1 transmits the alarm reset setting data to the center device 1. Will be sent back to you.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the slave radio device 9 shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the slave wireless device 9 has an antenna 21 for performing wireless communication with the master wireless device 8, and also supplies the operating voltage to each component.
5, the battery supplies an operating voltage to each component, and thereby operates.

The antenna 21 is connected to an RF module for performing wireless communication by, for example, 400 MHz band FM modulation, that is, a wireless circuit 22, and the wireless circuit 22 is connected to a modem circuit 23 and a CPU 26. The modem circuit 23 modulates a digital transmission signal from the CPU 26 into an analog signal having a voice band of about 0 to 5 kHz so that the radio circuit 22 can easily modulate the signal. Demodulate the digital received signal from the signal. The CPU 26 is a control circuit for controlling the entire operation, and more specifically, the master wireless device 8 described later.
A series of processes of wireless communication with the meter and communication with the meter 10 are controlled.

The wireless circuit 22 and the modem circuit 23 are connected to a battery 25 via a power switch circuit 24, thereby providing a battery consumption suppressing structure in which current does not flow through these circuits when unnecessary other than wireless communication. ing.

The CPU 26 normally stops operating, thereby suppressing the current consumption of the battery 25 when not operating.

A clock circuit 28, a first time setting circuit (hereinafter referred to as a time setting circuit) 27A, and a second time setting circuit (hereinafter referred to as a time setting circuit) 27B are connected to the CPU 26. Time setting circuit 27A
Is set to a predetermined time, a predetermined time is set to the time setting circuit 27B, and when the time of the clock circuit 28 reaches these set times, the CPU 26 is started from the time setting circuit 27A and the time setting circuit 27B, This causes the CPU 26 to perform a predetermined operation described later.

The interface circuit 29 is connected to the meter 10 and to the CPU 26. The interface circuit 29 supplies a signal from the meter 10 to the CPU 26 via the interface circuit 29 and a signal from the CPU 26 to the meter 10. Supply.

The data storage circuit 20 connected to the CPU 26 is connected to the meter 10 via the interface circuit 29.
Meter data collected from the main radio 8
This is a memory circuit for temporarily storing data and the like received from the PC.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the parent wireless device 8 shown in FIG. The parent wireless device 8 shown in FIG. 3 is different from the child wireless device shown in FIG.
It has a stabilized power supply circuit 250 that generates a DC voltage from V, and the only difference is that there is no power switch circuit 24, time setting circuit 27A, time setting circuit 27B, and clock circuit 28 in the slave transceiver of FIG. Is the same as that of the slave radio.

The master radio 8 always has the radio circuit 2
2. The modem circuit 23 and the CPU 26 are in an operating state, so that the wireless communication from the slave wireless device 9 can always be received.

The operation of the automatic meter reading wireless system configured as described above will be described below.

First, with reference to FIG. 4, a procedure for notifying alarm data (alarm information) such as gas leakage from the meter 10 to the center apparatus 1 by terminal call communication will be described.

First, when an “alarm call request” is transmitted from the meter 10 to the slave radio device 9, the slave radio device 9 receives a start signal from the meter interface circuit 29 and outputs a C signal.
The PU 26 is activated.

After the start, the slave radio 9 is the same as the “alarm information request” sent from the terminal network control device after the line with the center device is established in the communication procedure by wire communication (FIG. 8). Is transmitted to the meter 10, and “alarm information (response)” data is collected from the meter 10.

When the "alarm information (response)" data is collected, the slave radio 9 is turned on by the power switch circuit 24.
Is turned on, and the collected data is transmitted to the parent wireless device 8 by wireless communication.

After the end of the radio communication, the slave radio 9 turns on the power switch circuit 24, and the radio circuit 22 and the modem circuit 2
3 and the time setting circuit 2
7B, a time at which the child wireless device 9 is restarted is set.
The operation of 26 is stopped.

Note that this time is the time from when the line between the meter 10 and the center device 1 is established in the terminal call communication by wire communication until all data communication is completed (usually,
(After 1-2 minutes).

On the other hand, the master wireless device 8 that has received the “alarm information (response)” data from the slave wireless device 9 by wireless communication,
The same data as the “alarm call request sent from the meter” in the communication procedure (FIG. 8) by wire communication is sent to the terminal network control device 6 to establish a line with the center device 1.

In response to the “alarm information request” transmitted from the terminal network control device 6 after the line is established with the center device 1, the parent wireless device 8 transmits the “alarm information” collected from the child wireless device 9 by wireless communication. (Response) "data to the terminal network control device 6, and for the" Alarm reset setting "data from the center device, a pseudo response is returned to collect the" Alarm reset setting "data. .

On the other hand, in the slave radio 9, the time setting circuit 2
At the time set to 7B, the circuit 27B
An activation signal is output to PU 26, and child radio device 9 is restarted.

When the child wireless device 9 is restarted, an “alarm setting request” is transmitted from the child wireless device 9 to the parent wireless device 8 by wireless communication, and the “alarm reset setting” data stored in the parent wireless device 8 is stored. Collected in the child wireless device 9.

After terminating the wireless communication with the master wireless device 8, the slave wireless device 9 turns off the power switch circuit 24, stops power supply to the wireless circuit 22 and the modem circuit 23, On the other hand, in the communication procedure by wire communication (FIG. 8), a series of processing of “transmission of“ alarm reset setting ”→ reception of“ alarm reset response ”→ transmission of“ communication end ”” transmitted from the center device is executed, 10 alarm reset processing is performed.

After the processing is completed, the slave radio device 9 stops the operation of the CPU 26.

Next, with reference to FIG. 5, a description will be given of a procedure in which the slave radio device 9 collects meter reading value data from the meter 10. Then, with reference to FIG. The procedure for collecting data by using no-ringing communication will be described.

The slave radio 9 stops the operation of the CPU 26. When the time set by the time setting circuit 27A comes, a start signal is output from the circuit 27A to the CPU 26.

When the slave radio device 9 is activated, the same signal as the "meter reading request" transmitted from the terminal network control device in the no-ringing communication procedure by wire communication (FIG. 9) is sent to the meter 10, The meter reading data of the meter is collected by the slave wireless device 9.

After collecting the “meter-reading value data”, the slave wireless device 9 transfers the “meter-reading value data” to the parent wireless device 8 by wireless communication.

After the data transfer, the slave radio 9 turns off the power switch circuit 24 to stop the power supply to the radio circuit 22 and the modem circuit 23, and the next time, the "meter-reading value data"
Is set in the time setting circuit 27A, and the operation of the CPU 26 is stopped.

Accordingly, the slave wireless device 9 is connected to the time setting circuit 27.
The same “operation for transferring“ meter-reading value data ”to the parent wireless device” is repeated at each time set in A.

On the other hand, the master wireless device 8 updates the data each time it receives the “meter-reading value data” periodically sent from the slave wireless device 9.

As described above, when the master wireless device 8 collects the meter reading value data, the center device 1 receives the incoming call to the terminal network control device 6 by the no ringing communication as shown in FIG. An operation of collecting meter reading value data from the parent wireless device 8 via the network control device 6 is performed.

That is, in response to the “reading value request” transmitted from the terminal network control device 6 due to the no ringing call from the center device 1, the parent wireless device 8 returns this “reading value data”.

When the "data setting" message from the center device 1 to the meter 10 is received following the "meter reading request", the parent wireless device 8 returns a pseudo response to the center device 1, The “setting data” to 10 is temporarily collected by the parent wireless device 8.

Then, the “setting data” is transmitted from the parent wireless device 8 to the child wireless device 9 at the time of ““ reading value data ”data transfer” communication from the child wireless device 9 next time.

Thereafter, the slave radio device 9 sends “reading of meter reading request” → receiving of “meter reading value data” to the meter 10 in accordance with the no-ringing communication procedure by wire communication (FIG. 9).
A series of operations of “data setting” transmission → “data setting response” reception → “communication end” transmission is performed.

When the setting communication to the meter 10 is completed, the slave radio device 9 sets the time at which the “meter-reading value data” will be transferred to the master radio device 8 next time in the time setting circuit 27A.
The operation of the PU 26 is stopped.

[0055]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The slave radio device is activated by a terminal call request from the terminal device, performs the same procedure as the terminal call communication procedure of the center device, collects security information from the terminal device, and, after collecting the security information, a radio circuit. To transmit the security information to the parent wireless device, and after transmitting the security information, stop the power supply to the wireless circuit, and when the parent wireless device receives the security information from the child wireless device, Performs the same procedure as the outgoing call communication procedure, transmits security information to the center device via the terminal network control device, and stores the security information reset setting data transmitted from the center device following this transmission in the storage means. Temporarily accumulates, and after the child wireless device transmits the security information to the parent wireless device, after a predetermined time elapses, it is restarted to supply power to the wireless circuit Call the parent wireless device, collect the security information reset setting data stored in the storage device of the parent wireless device, and perform the same procedure as the security information reset setting communication procedure of the center device to reset the collected security information. The setting data is transmitted to the terminal device, and the child wireless device is periodically activated, performs the same procedure as the no-ringing communication procedure of the center device, collects meter reading data from the terminal device, and transmits the meter reading data to the parent wireless device. The master wireless device temporarily stores the meter reading data from the slave wireless device, and performs the same procedure as the no ringing communication procedure of the terminal device in response to a request for meter reading data by the no ringing communication from the center device. Then, the meter reading data is transmitted to the center device, and the parent wireless device transmits the meter reading data from the center device through no ringing communication. The setting data to the terminal device transmitted subsequently is temporarily stored, and the setting data is transmitted to the slave wireless device when the slave wireless device periodically transfers the meter reading data to the master wireless device. When the wireless device receives the setting data from the master wireless device, it performs the same procedure as the no-ringing communication procedure of the center device to set the setting data in the terminal device. The wireless connection can be established simply by connecting the parent wireless device and the child wireless device between them, and the child wireless device stops power supply to the wireless circuit except during wireless communication with the parent wireless device. The wireless device can be driven by a battery with low power consumption. Furthermore, since the other components than the master wireless device and the slave wireless device can be used as they are without any change, introduction of wireless communication can be easily performed, and security information by terminal call communication can be obtained. The notification can be performed promptly without a time delay.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a wireless system for automatic meter reading according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a slave wireless device used in the automatic meter reading wireless system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a parent wireless device used in the wireless system for automatic meter reading shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a terminal call communication procedure of the automatic meter reading wireless system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a procedure in which a slave wireless device of the automatic meter reading wireless system shown in FIG. 1 collects meter reading value data from a meter.

6 is a diagram showing a procedure in which a slave wireless device of the automatic meter reading wireless system shown in FIG. 1 collects meter reading value data collected from a meter from a center device by no-ringing communication.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the entire configuration of a conventional automatic meter reading system.

8 is a diagram showing a terminal call communication procedure by the conventional automatic meter reading system shown in FIG.

9 is a diagram showing a no-ringing communication procedure by the conventional automatic meter reading system shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 center device 4 exchange 6 terminal network control device 8 parent wireless device 9 slave wireless device 10 meter 20 data storage circuit 24 power switch circuit 25 battery 26 CPU 27A first time setting circuit 27B second time setting circuit 28 clock circuit

Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-4-330842 (JP, A) JP-A-5-68109 (JP, A) JP-A-62-256194 (JP, A) JP-A-63-155397 (JP) JP-A-4-1155653 (JP, A) JP-A-5-207174 (JP, A) JP-A-6-90298 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB Name) H04M 11/00-11/10

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A master wireless device is connected to a terminal network control device connected to a telephone line, a slave wireless device for wirelessly communicating with the master wireless device is connected to the terminal device, and security information collected by the terminal device is transmitted. The terminal device transmits a call from the terminal device to the terminal network control device via the radio line formed by the child radio device and the master radio device, and the terminal network control device transmits the signal to the center device via the telephone line. No-ringing is received from the device to the terminal network control device via the telephone line by the no-ringing communication, and the terminal network control device accesses the terminal device via the wireless line of the master wireless device and the slave wireless device to read the meter in the terminal device. An automatic meter reading wireless system that collects data in a center device via the wireless line and the telephone line, wherein the master wireless device receives security information from a slave wireless device. A terminal call communication means for performing the same communication procedure as a terminal call communication procedure carried out by the terminal device when receiving, and transmitting security information to the center device via the terminal network control device; Storage means for temporarily storing security information reset setting data transmitted from the center device following the transmission of the terminal device, wherein the slave radio device is activated by a terminal call request from the terminal device, A security information collecting means for performing the same communication procedure as the terminal call communication procedure performed by the terminal apparatus and collecting security information from the terminal device, and after collecting the security information from the terminal device, supplies power to the radio circuit. Transmitting the security information to the parent wireless device via the wireless circuit, and after transmitting the security information, supplying power to the wireless circuit. Security information transmitting means for stopping supply, and after a lapse of a predetermined time after transmitting the security information to the parent wireless device, the wireless communication device is started again to supply power to the wireless circuit, And performs the same communication procedure as the security information reset setting communication procedure performed by the center device, and reset setting data collection means for collecting the security information reset setting data stored in the storage means of the master wireless device. Means for transmitting security information reset setting data collected by said reset setting data collecting means to a terminal device. 2. The slave wireless device is periodically activated, performs the same communication procedure as a no-ringing communication procedure performed by a center device, collects meter reading data from a terminal device, and collects the collected meter reading data. The master wireless device has a meter reading data storage unit for temporarily storing meter reading data transferred from the slave wireless device, and a meter reading data by a no-ringing communication from the center device. Means for performing the same communication procedure as the no-ringing communication procedure performed by the terminal device in response to the request, and transmitting the meter reading data stored in the meter reading data storing means to the center device. Item 4. The wireless system for automatic meter reading according to Item 1. 3. A setting data accumulating means for temporarily accumulating setting data to a terminal device transmitted subsequent to a request for meter reading data by a no-ringing communication from a center device; Setting data transmission means for transmitting the setting data stored in the setting data storage means to the slave wireless device when the periodic meter reading data is transferred to the master wireless device by the transfer means, The device, when receiving the setting data transmitted by the setting data transmitting means of the parent wireless device, performs the same communication procedure as the no-ringing communication procedure performed by the center device, and transmits the received setting data to the terminal. 3. A wireless system for automatic meter reading according to claim 2, further comprising: means for setting in the device.