JP3100821B2 - Terminal side network controller - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a retry sequence technique for a terminal side network control device in a system for performing automatic meter reading of gas, water and the like by communication from a general subscriber telephone line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a terminal-side network control device is set in advance by activation from a meter, a sensor, or the like (once a month in the case of a meter and a trigger when an abnormality is detected in the case of a sensor). It dials the network controller on the center side, and exchanges data such as meter reading values after the line is established. At this time, when communication is invalid due to noise or the like, or when the terminal-side network control device itself is garbled due to an external surge or the like and communication is not completed, the terminal-side network control device enters a retry sequence.

However, in the retry sequence described above, if dial data is garbled due to extraneous noise, an off-hook detection circuit is faulty, a meter or a sensor is faulty, etc., the retry is repeated endlessly, and additional telephone charges or incorrect telephone calls are made. It was causing social inconvenience.

In order to prevent this, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
As described in JP-A-125266, an abnormal call state detection circuit is provided in a terminal side network control device, and an abnormal call state is detected by the terminal side network control device side. There was something that stopped sending.

[0005]

However, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
In the case of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-125266, it is necessary to separately provide an abnormal call state detection circuit in the terminal-side network control device, which not only increases the number of components of the terminal-side network control device but also causes a problem in cost.

In view of the above, the present invention can limit the number of retries and provide a terminal-side network controller that repeats retries without providing a special circuit, and can quickly find a faulty machine. It is intended to provide a terminal side network control device.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, devices such as meters and sensors are connected,
A terminal-side network control device that performs automatic meter reading by communication with the center-side network control device. At the time of communication, when the communication is incomplete and enters a retry sequence, a counting means for counting the number of retries, and the number of retries is determined in advance. Means for terminating the call from the terminal when the set number of times is reached;
Means for ignoring activation from a plurality of devices such as the meters and sensors when the number of times reaches the preset number of times .

[0008] According to claim 2, the number of retries, before
When the preset number of times has been reached, a retry end message is sent to the network controller on the center side , and the telephone line is extended for the specified time.
Only means for holding.

[0009]

According to the above configuration, the terminal-side network control device enters a retry sequence during communication if the communication is not completed and counts the number of retries. Is stopped, and activation from a plurality of devices such as meters and sensors is ignored, and the system enters a standby state.

According to the present invention, when the number of retries reaches a preset number, a retry completion message is sent to the center side network control device, and the telephone line is further held for a specified time . Therefore, for example, if the incompleteness is
If the retry count is
Immediately after reaching the preset number, the telephone line is busy.
When the status is cleared, the retry end message is notified to the center side.
It is. On the other hand, if the communication circuit of the terminal side network
In such cases, the retry end message is received by the center.
It will not be done. But even in this case, the phone
Record that the network has been held for a specified time by the terminal side network controller
The center side determines which terminal side network control device
You can know if the device has finished retrying.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The first to third embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the present system. 1 is a center side network control device,
2 is a telephone station on the center side, 3 is a telephone station on the customer premises side, 4
Is a terminal side network control device for performing communication. Although not shown, the center-side network controller 1 includes a plurality of terminal-side network controllers 4.
And can communicate. 5 is a telephone at the user's home, 6 is a device such as a meter or a sensor, and 7 is a telephone line. Although not shown, the terminal-side network control device 4 can connect a plurality of devices 6 such as meters and sensors.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the terminal-side network control device 4, which shows up to the point where a telephone 5, devices 6 such as meters and sensors, and a telephone line 7 are connected. The terminal-side network control device 4 has a main control device 11 at its center, and controls the main network control device 11 to operate according to a predetermined procedure such as transmission and reception of various information.

Reference numeral 8 denotes an off-hook control unit for looping the telephone line 7, and reference numeral 9 denotes a dial sending unit for dialing.
Reference numeral 10 denotes a communication circuit unit for performing communication. 12 is a memory, 13 is an interface circuit of the telephone 5, 14
Denotes an interface circuit section of the device 6 such as a meter or a sensor.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. First, when there is a meter reading request from the device 6 such as a meter or a sensor, the terminal side network control device 4 exchanges data via the interface circuit unit 14. Then, in order to communicate with the center-side network control device 1, the off-hook control unit 8 is activated, and the telephone line 7 is looped. Next, dialing is performed via the dial sending unit 9. After establishing a link with the center-side network control device 1, communication is performed via the communication circuit unit 10.

After the communication is completed, the off-hook control unit 8
F, and the terminal-side network control device 4 enters a standby state. If the communication is not completed, a retry sequence is started. When a preset number of retries is reached, the message disappears, a timeout of about 10 seconds is provided, the off-hook control unit 8 is turned off, and the terminal side network control device 4 It goes into a standby state.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a series of data communication of the first embodiment. Step # 5 is start, which indicates activation of the device 6 such as a meter or a sensor. Next, the terminal-side network control device 4 goes off-hook in step # 10. Then, in step # 15, dial the center side network control device 1,
In step # 20, communication is performed after establishing a link with the center-side network control device 1. If this communication is a legitimate communication,
In step # 25, the determination is YES, and the terminal-side network control device 4 enters the standby state in step # 30, and the communication ends once.

However, if the communication has not been completed, the determination is NO in step # 25, and the terminal-side network control device 4 enters a retry sequence from step # 35. In step # 35, the counter value A is incremented by one. Next, in step # 40, the preset retry specified value n times is compared with the current retry value A, and if A <n, the flow returns to step # 10 to start the calling operation. If A = n in step # 40, the retry is stopped in step # 45, and all subsequent calling operations by starting the devices 6 such as meters and sensors are ignored.
The terminal side network control device 4 enters the standby state of step # 30.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described. First, when there is a meter reading request from the device 6 such as a meter or a sensor, the terminal side network control device 4 exchanges data via the interface circuit unit 14. Then, in order to communicate with the center-side network control device 1, the off-hook control unit 8 is activated, and the telephone line 7 is looped. Next, dialing is performed via the dial sending unit 9. After establishing a link with the center-side network control device 1, communication is performed via the communication circuit unit 10.

After the communication is completed, the off-hook control unit 8 is turned off.
F, and the terminal-side network control device 4 enters a standby state. If the communication is not completed, a retry sequence is started. When a preset number of retries is reached, a retry end message is sent as the last retry, and the telephone line 7 is held for a specified time (for example, 60 seconds). The unit 8 is turned off, and the terminal-side network control device 4 enters a standby state.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a series of data communication of the second embodiment. Step # 105 is the start,
This indicates activation of the device 6 such as a meter or a sensor. Next, the terminal-side network control device 4 goes off-hook in step # 110. Then, in step # 115, dialing is performed to the center-side network controller 1, and in step # 120, communication is performed after establishing a link with the center-side network controller 1. If this communication is a normal communication completion, the determination at step # 125 is YES, the terminal-side network control device 4 enters the standby state at step # 130, and the communication ends once.

However, if the communication has not been completed, the determination is NO in step # 125, and the terminal-side network control device 4 enters the retry sequence from step # 135. In step # 135, the counter value A is set to 1
Increment only one. Next, in step # 140, the preset retry specified value n times is compared with the current retry value A, and if A <n, the flow returns to step # 110 to start the calling operation. If A = n in step # 140, the process proceeds to processing A in step # 145.

In the process A, a retry completion message is sent as the last retry, and the telephone line 7 is switched over for a specified time (for example, 6
0 second), and the telephone line 7 is restored. Thereafter, the retry is stopped in step # 150, and the subsequent call operation by starting the device 6 such as a meter or a sensor is ignored.
The terminal side network control device 4 enters the standby state of step # 130.

Next, the operation of the third embodiment will be described. First, when there is a meter reading request from the device 6 such as a meter or a sensor, the terminal side network control device 4 exchanges data via the interface circuit unit 14. Then, in order to communicate with the center-side network control device 1, the off-hook control unit 8 is activated, and the telephone line 7 is looped. Next, dialing is performed via the dial sending unit 9. After establishing a link with the center-side network control device 1, communication is performed via the communication circuit unit 10.

After the communication is completed, the off-hook control unit 8 is turned off.
F, and the terminal-side network control device 4 enters a standby state. If the communication is not completed, a retry sequence is entered. When the number of retries reaches a preset number, another center-side network control device 1 'is called, and the ID of the terminal-side network control device 4 that is retrying can be specified. After notifying only the information to the center side network control device 1 ', the off-hook control unit 8 is turned off.
Then, the terminal-side network control device 4 enters a standby state.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a series of data communication of the third embodiment. Step # 205 is a start,
This indicates activation of the device 6 such as a meter or a sensor. Next, the terminal-side network control device 4 goes off-hook in step # 210. Then, in step # 215, dialing is performed to the center-side network controller 1, and in step # 220, communication is performed after establishing a link with the center-side network controller 1. If this communication is a normal communication completion, the determination in step # 225 is YES, and the terminal-side network control device 4 enters the standby state in step # 230, and the communication ends once.

However, if the communication has not been completed, the determination is NO in step # 225, and the terminal-side network control device 4 enters a retry sequence from step # 235. In step # 235, the counter value A is set to 1
Increment only one. Next, in step # 240, the preset retry specified value n times is compared with the current retry value A, and if A <n, the process returns to step # 210 to start the calling operation. If A = n in step # 240, the process proceeds to step B of step # 245.

In the process B, as a last retry, a call is made to a center-side network control device 1 'different from the center-side network control device 1 which has performed the retry. Then, only the ID information that can be specified by the terminal side network control device 4 that is retrying is notified to the center side network control device 1 ′, and the presence of the terminal side network control device 4 that has completed the preset number of retries is notified. I do. In this case, the center-side network control device 1 'does not need a huge file management like the regular center-side network control device 1, and the terminal-side network control device 4 or the center in which an abnormality easily occurs in economical center management. The side network control device 1 and the telephone line 7 can be specified and repaired.

After performing the above processing, the terminal-side network control device 4 stops retrying in step # 250, ignores all subsequent call-out operations by starting the devices 6 such as meters and sensors, The side network control device 4 performs step # 23.
0 standby state.

In each of the above embodiments, it is assumed that the counter for counting the number of retries is provided in main controller 11. When the main control device 11 is constituted by a microcomputer, a program counter may be used as the counter.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the terminal-side network controller enters the retry sequence due to incomplete communication, the means for counting the number of retries and the number of retries are reduced to a preset number. Means that stops calling from the terminal when it reaches, and ignores activation from a plurality of devices such as meters and sensors, so that the number of retries is limited without providing a special circuit. be able to.

In particular, if the number of retries is equal to a preset number
Means to stop calling from the terminal when
Whether the device is a meter or sensor using the retry count result
Startup is ignored.
No additional counting means is required to ignore movement
It may be good. In claim 2, the number of retries
However, if the number of times set in advance is reached, retry end message
To the center side network controller, and when the telephone line is further specified
Retry end after retry
Telegrams are notified to the center side and telephone lines are controlled on the terminal side.
The center knows that the control device has held for the specified time.
It is possible and effective.

In the third aspect, if the terminal-side network controller enters a retry sequence due to incomplete communication, if the number of retries reaches a preset number, the center-side network control which has performed the retry has been set. Means for calling a center-side network control device different from the device and notifying of the presence of the terminal-side network control device that has completed a preset number of retries. Alternatively, the center side network control device and the telephone line can be specified and repaired.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the terminal-side network control device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a series of data communication of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a series of data communication of the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a series of data communication of a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Center side network control device 2 Center side telephone station 3 User home side telephone station 4 Terminal side network control device 5 Telephone 6 Equipment such as meters and sensors 7 Telephone line 8 Off hook control unit 9 Dial sending unit 10 Communication circuit unit 11 Main control Unit 12 Memory 13 Telephone interface circuit unit 14 Interface circuit unit of devices such as meters and sensors

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A terminal-side network control device to which devices such as a meter and a sensor are connected and which performs automatic meter reading by communication with a center-side network control device. Counting means for counting the number of retries; means for stopping the call from the terminal when the number of retries has reached a preset number of times; and means for stopping the call from the terminal when the number of retries has reached the preset number of times.
Means for ignoring an activation from a plurality of the meter, or sensor devices in case, the terminal-side network controller characterized in that it comprises a. Wherein the number of retries, the retry termination message when it reaches the number of times said preset in the center side network controller
2. The terminal-side network control device according to claim 1, further comprising means for transmitting and holding the telephone line for a specified time . 3. A number of retries, the case has reached the preset number of times a call spare center side network controller which is different from the center-side network controller performing the retry, the pre <br/> the finished terminal network controller the number of retries set because
2. The terminal-side network control device according to claim 1, further comprising means for transmitting only identifiable ID information .