JP3124981B2 - Terminal 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 network controller for a terminal, and more particularly, to the control of transmission and reception of data and signals of a data terminal connected via a public line of a general subscription to and from the other party via the aforementioned line. The present invention relates to a terminal network control device having a function of performing

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an automatic meter reading system has been employed for the purpose of automatically measuring the amount of gas or water used in each consumer's house. The automatic meter reading system connects a gas meter or a water meter to a terminal network control device that is provided in a consumer's house and that controls connection between a telephone in the house and a telephone line of a general subscriber, and a gas company or a water station side (hereinafter, referred to as a “water meter”). This is a system in which meter readings of a gas meter or a water meter are transmitted to a host computer (referred to as a center) via the above-described line, and the center receives and collects these meter readings. Telephones, gas meters, water meters, and the like connected to the terminal network control device are called data terminal devices.

[0003] Further, by utilizing the above-mentioned automatic meter reading system, it is detected whether or not an abnormal situation such as gas leak has occurred in the consumer's house, and the center is notified as security information, so that it is possible to respond promptly. It also has a function.

FIG. 12 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automatic meter reading system applied to a conventional example and an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing the operation of a conventional network control device for a terminal in an automatic meter reading system.

In FIG. 12, the automatic meter reading system is configured such that the consumer's home side and the center side are connected via the telephone line 11 in accordance with the line switching control of the exchange 15. On the consumer's home side, a home telephone 1 as a data terminal device
A terminal network controller (hereinafter, referred to as a T-NCU) is provided to connect the T-NCU 2 and the gas meter 14, and the T-NCU and the exchange 15 are connected via the line 11.

On the other hand, the center side 16 has a host computer, and the host computer is connected to the exchange 15 via the line 11. The exchange 15 connects other plural host computers and other plural T-NCUs via the line 11. In this automatic meter reading system, data communication between the T-NCU and voice communication is performed, and data communication between the T-NCU and the host computer is performed. Therefore, data for data communication is transmitted to the telephone line 11 in addition to the voice signal of the telephone call.

[0008] In the above automatic meter reading system, T-N
The CU is usually in a standby state, but when reporting the meter reading data or security information in the gas meter 14 to the center side 16, the CU shifts to a terminal calling mode and enters a communication operation for this.

Next, the operation of the conventional T-NCU in the terminal calling mode will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

Referring to FIG. 13, the T-NCU operates normally,
While in the standby state (step S20), the gas meter 14 for notifying the center side 16 of security information or the like.
When the information from the terminal is input by interruption, the standby state is released and the terminal shifts to the terminal calling mode (step S2).
1).

When entering the terminal calling mode, the T-NCU communicates with the gas meter 14 to receive security information (steps S22 and S23). Thereafter, the receiver of the connected home telephone 12 is picked up and a call request is generated, that is, the telephone goes off-hook, or a call request from outside via the telephone line 11 (ringer reception).
Is determined, and if there is any one request, T
The NCU immediately transitions to the standby state described above, and the original telephone call from the home telephone 12 is performed. On the other hand, if neither off-hook of the home telephone 12 nor ringer incoming from outside is detected, the home telephone 12
Is disconnected from the telephone line 11, the off-hook state is set, and a selection signal for calling the center side 16 is transmitted (steps S24 to S28).

Next, it is determined whether or not the home telephone 12 has been off-hook (step S29). If the user goes off-hook, priority is given to the telephone call by the home telephone 12, so that T-
The NCU immediately returns to the standby state. If not, the NCU establishes a connection with the called center side 16 via the line 11 and transmits information received from the gas meter 14 to the center side 16 (step S30). Then, the center side 16
While the communication with the center side 16 is being determined, it is determined whether or not the home telephone 12 goes off-hook while determining whether or not the communication with the center side 16 has ended. Off-hook, T-NCU
Immediately returns to the standby state, and the call by the home telephone 12 is prioritized (steps S29 to S31).

When the data communication between the T-NCU and the center side 16 is completed, the T-NCU is set to an on-hook state, the home telephone 12 is connected to the telephone line 11 again, and the telephone is set to a talkable state. -The NCU returns to the standby state.

[0014] As described above, the conventional T-NCU is capable of receiving a call from a terminal by inputting information from the gas meter 14 while always giving priority to a call request from the home telephone 12 which is an original function. Data communication is performed with the center 16.

[0015]

However, in the case of the conventional T-NCU, a function of transmitting the meter reading information and security information from the gas meter or the water meter to the center only, and transmitting the information to the house is provided. Had not been. Therefore, although the security information is urgent information such as gas leaks, the function of notifying this information to the consumer premises was not provided. Therefore, there is a problem that a serious accident is highly likely to occur.

Some T-NCUs are individually connected to a display device for communication, and perform communication with the center side and communication with the display device independently of each other. In the case of such a T-NCU, since the display device is not provided as a standard feature for the T-NCU, it is necessary to set in advance whether or not the display device is connected to the T-NCU,
A special memory area for storing the setting data in the T-NCU was required. For this reason, some remodeling of the existing T-NCU was required, which increased the cost and complicated setting of the data.

Further, as generally known, the T-NCU is equipped with a lithium battery having a low output capability as a main power supply as standard. As described above, when the communication with the center and the communication with the display device are individually performed, the communication operation time of the T-NCU becomes longer, so that the lithium battery is greatly consumed and the service life of the T-NCU itself is increased. Was shorter. In order to solve this problem, it is conceivable to increase the capacity of the lithium battery.
It could not be a fundamental solution.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to be able to notify communication data with the center side via an output device, to connect the output device without any modification, and to further connect the output device. An object of the present invention is to provide a terminal network control device capable of suppressing power consumption even when performing an operation.

[0019]

A terminal network control device according to the present invention connects a data terminal device, is connected to a center side via a first communication line, and is based on data in the data terminal device. The communication terminal is a device that performs data communication with the center side, and includes a communication terminal device, an output unit, a communication unit, a communication request detection unit, and a communication request processing unit.

The communication terminal device is connected to the terminal network control device via a second communication line. The output unit is connected to the terminal network control device via the second communication line.
It outputs the data received by the communication via the communication line. The communication means communicates with the output unit via the second communication line based on the content of the communication when communicating with the center side described above. The communication request detection means detects a request for communication using the communication terminal device at the time of communication with the center side or at the time of communication by the communication means, and gives the request to the communication request processing means. The communication request processing means responds to the detection output,
The communication request using the communication terminal device is processed prior to the communication with the center or the communication by the communication means.

As described above, in the terminal network control device configured as described above, the output unit may include the communication request detecting unit and the communication request processing unit.

[0022]

When communicating with the center based on data in the data terminal device, the data in the data terminal device can be notified to the outside using the output unit in parallel with the communication with the center side. Further, in this terminal network control device, communication with the center side and data output at the output unit based on the contents of this communication are performed in parallel.
Since the operation time is shortened as compared with the case where these operations are individually performed, power consumption is reduced.

The output unit is connected to a terminal network control device via a second communication line for connecting a communication terminal device, and the second communication line is output by the communication request processing means. The transmission line for data communication with the network and the transmission line for communication according to the communication request of the communication terminal device are shared, so new wiring addition work to connect the output unit to the terminal network control device is required. Not required.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, first to third embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The automatic meter reading system applied to each embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG.
, And their description is omitted. Further, in each embodiment, the data terminal device connected to the T-NCU includes a gas meter, a home telephone, a display device, and the like. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. Good.
Further, a transmission path for transmitting data from the data terminal device is not specified to a telephone line. Furthermore, what is transmitted and received via the telephone line may be data, audio signals, video signals, and the like.

First, a first embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment, a display device for displaying security information from a gas meter is connected to an existing home telephone line,
The T-NCU uses the same home telephone line to transmit data for a telephone call from the home telephone and data for display on a display unit.

FIG. 1 is a graph showing a T value according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a block configuration of an NCU together with a connected data terminal device.

The T-NCU 9 in FIG. 1 is connected via a telephone line 11 to an external exchange. Also, the home telephone 12 and the gas meter monitoring and display device 1 are connected via the home telephone line.
3 and the gas meter 14 via the home wiring. The home telephone line is shared by the home telephone 12 and the display device 13.

Further, the T-NCU 9 includes an off-hook detection unit 1, a line connection unit 2, a modem unit 3, a microcomputer unit 4, a gas meter monitoring and display device transmission interface (hereinafter referred to as I / N
F), relay drive unit 6, meter I / F unit 7,
It includes a relay 61 whose operation is controlled by the terminal unit 8, the power supply unit 10, and the relay driving unit 6.

The terminal section 8 includes terminals L1 and L2 for connecting the telephone line 11, terminals T1 and T2 for connecting the home telephone line, and terminals M1 and M2 for connecting the home wiring.

The off-hook detecting section 1 detects the off-hook when the home telephone 12 is connected to the telephone line 11 via the terminals T1 and T2 and the relay switch 61. The line coupling unit 2 is connected to the telephone line 11 and the T-
The communication connection with the NCU 9 is established. The modem unit 3 has a telephone line 1
1 is modulated and demodulated. The microcomputer unit 4 centrally controls the T-NCU 9 itself. The gas meter monitoring and display device transmission I / F unit 5 has a function of connecting the gas meter monitoring and display device 13 and the microcomputer unit 4 for communication. The relay drive unit 6 drives the relay switch 61 under the control of the microcomputer unit 4. The meter I / F unit 7 has a terminal M
Gas meter 14 externally connected via 1 and M2
And the microcomputer unit 4 are connected for communication. The power supply unit 10 is a driving power supply that uses, for example, a lithium battery as a main power supply.

The relay switch 61 is a switch for selectively connecting the home telephone 12 to the telephone line 11 or disconnecting it from the telephone line 11 under the control of the microcomputer unit 4 via the relay driving unit 6. Relay switch 6
1 operates simultaneously and similarly with one electromagnetic coil 2
One switch has terminals a1 and b1 and the other switch has terminals a2 and b1
2 While the T-NCU 9 is calling the terminal, the microcomputer unit 4 operates the relay switch 6 via the relay drive unit 6 to switch the connection of the terminal T1 to the terminal b1 and the connection of the terminal T2 to the terminal b2. As a result, the home telephone 12 is disconnected from the telephone line 11. Conversely, when it is not during the terminal calling period, the microcomputer unit 4 operates the relay switch 6 via the relay driving unit 6 to move the terminal T1 to the terminal a1 and the terminal T2.
Are connected to the terminal a2, respectively, and the home telephone 12 is connected to the telephone line 11. At this time, the home telephone 12 is in a state where a normal telephone call can be made via the telephone line 11.

The microcomputer 4 receives an interrupt from the gas meter 14 and sends security information or meter reading information to the terminal M.
1 and M2, and when received via the meter I / F unit 7, these are temporarily stored in the internal memory. afterwards,
In order to send this information to the center side by calling the terminal,
First, the relay switch 61 is operated via the relay driving unit 6 to disconnect the home telephone 12 from the telephone line 11. Thus, when the microcomputer unit 4 communicates with the center via the telephone line 11, the home telephone 12
Are prevented from resonating. After the information transmission to the center is completed, the terminal calling mode ends, and the microcomputer unit 4 holds the state of the relay switch 61 and transmits the information from the gas meter 14 via the gas meter monitoring and display device transmission I / F unit 5 It is transmitted to the gas meter monitoring display device 13. Display device 13
Displays the received data while communicating with the microcomputer unit 4, so that it is possible to provide the user with security information and meter reading information from the gas meter 14. FIGS. 2A to 2C show transmission message forms between the microcomputer unit 4 and the gas meter monitoring display device 13 and communication procedures thereof.
As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the transmission message form is the same as the message form from the T-NCU 9 and the message form from the gas meter monitoring and display device 13, and has a certain time width at the beginning of the message. (For example, 100 msec) continuous invariant bit data is connected. FIG. 2C shows a communication procedure. When the T-NCU 9 and the gas meter monitoring display device 13 communicate with each other via the display device transmission I / F unit 5, the T-NCU 9 first transmits a call message. The display device 13 returns a response message in response to the reception of the message. The T-NCU 9 transmits an information message such as meter reading information or security information in response to receiving the response message. The display device 13 returns a response message in response to receiving the information message. Since the T-NCU 9 transmits an end message for terminating the communication in response to receiving the response message, the display device 13 acknowledges the end in response to receiving the end message. Reply. Communication between the T-NCU 9 and the gas meter monitoring and display device 13 is performed based on such a procedure.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the circuit of the transmission I / F unit 5 of the gas meter monitoring and display device of FIG. 1 together with the connected peripheral parts. The I / F unit 5 shown in FIG.
R24, including transistors T15, T17 and T25. The state shown in FIG. 3 is a state in which the relay switch 61 is switched to the terminals b1 and b2, that is, the home telephone 12 is disconnected from the telephone line 11, and the microcomputer unit 4
In this state, communication between the microcomputer unit 4 and the center side or communication between the microcomputer unit 4 and the gas meter monitoring display device 13 is performed. When the home telephone 12 is off-hook during communication with the center side or communication with the display device 13 side, the I / F is transmitted via the terminal 8 and the relay switch 61.
The gate voltage of the transistor T25 in the section 5 does not change. When the gate voltage of the transistor T25 stops changing, the signal detected at the node N1 on the collector side of the transistor T25 still exceeds the continuous unchanged bit time shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. continue. Since this is detected by the microcomputer unit 4, the microcomputer unit 4 determines that the home telephone 12 has been hooked off. The microcomputer unit 4 is a home telephone 12
Is determined to be off-hook, the relay switch 61 is responsively connected and switched via the relay drive unit 6,
The home telephone 12 is connected to the telephone line 11 via the terminals T1 and T2 and the relay switch 61. As a result, a state in which the home telephone 12 can talk is established.

Thereafter, when the off-hook detection unit 1 detects that the telephone call (off-hook state) of the home telephone 12 has been released, this detection signal is given to the microcomputer unit 4 via the line coupling unit 2 and the modem unit 3. . The microcomputer unit 4 operates the relay switch 61 via the relay driving unit 6 in response to the off-hook detection, and again connects the gas meter monitoring and display device 13 and the home telephone 12 to the terminal unit 8, the relay switch 61 and the display device transmission I / F unit. 5 and connected to the microcomputer section 4. As a result, security information and the like can be transmitted again from the microcomputer unit 4 to the gas meter monitoring display device 13 via the display device transmission I / F unit 5. In this case, the transmission may be continued from the information at the time when the transmission was interrupted because the home telephone 12 was off-hook, or the information may be transmitted again from the beginning.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the T-NCU 9 in FIG. The operation of the T-NCU 9 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. T-NCU9
Is normally in the standby state (step S1), but when information for transmitting to the center, such as security information and meter reading information, is input from the gas meter 14, this is accepted as an interrupt and the standby state is released (step S1). S2).

It communicates with the gas meter 14 to receive security information and meter reading information (steps S3 and S4). Thereafter, it is determined whether the connected telephone 12 goes off-hook or there is a communication request (ringer incoming) from the outside via the telephone line 11, and if there is at least one of them, the T-NCU 9 immediately returns to the standby state described above. The mode shifts to a state in which a telephone call with the original telephone 12 is made.

On the other hand, if neither off-hook of the home telephone 12 nor ringer incoming from outside is detected,
The microcomputer unit 4 operates the relay switch 61 via the relay drive unit 6, disconnects the home telephone 12 from the telephone line 11, and sets a state for performing communication with the center side.
Then, the microcomputer unit 4 sets an off-hook state and sends a selection signal for calling the center side (step S).
5 to Step S9).

During the communication with the center, whether or not the home telephone 12 is off-hook is determined by, for example, 100 msec of the potential continuous non-change time of the node N1 shown in FIG.
It is determined based on whether or not c or more is detected (step S10). If you go off-hook, the call will be given priority,
The processing shifts to the standby state described above. If not, the communication is performed with the called center via the telephone line 11 and information from the gas meter 14 is transmitted to the center (step S11). Even during the communication, it is determined whether or not the home telephone 12 has been off-hook while determining whether or not the communication with the center has been completed. If the user goes off-hook, the system immediately returns to the standby state, and the call is prioritized (step S10).
-Step S12).

If the communication with the center is completed, the microcomputer unit 4 sets the on-hook state and releases the terminal calling mode (step S13).

Next, the microcomputer unit 4 includes a relay switch 61.
While maintaining the state of the gas meter monitoring and display device 13
Communication with the Also in this communication, whether or not the home telephone 12 is off-hook is determined by the node N of the display device transmission I / F unit 5 shown in FIG.
The determination is made based on the detection signal level of No. 1. Home phone 1
As soon as 2 goes off-hook, the relay switch 61 is switched and controlled via the relay drive unit 6, and the home telephone 12 is connected to the telephone line 11 to prioritize the call. Otherwise, the communication with the gas meter monitoring display device 13 is continued.
When the communication with the gas meter monitoring and display device 13 is completed, the relay switch 61 is operated via the relay driving unit 6,
The in-home telephone 12 is connected to the telephone line 11 to set a talkable state. Thereafter, the microcomputer unit 4 sets the T-NCU 9
To the standby state.

As described above, the T-NCU 9 connects the gas meter monitoring and display device 13 to the existing home telephone line,
The home telephone 12 and the display device 13 share the same line, and the data for communication and the data for display are transmitted via the shared line. Processing is performed so that the telephone call from the home telephone 12 is always given priority.

In the first embodiment, in the terminal calling mode or during the period when the microcomputer unit 4 communicates with the gas meter monitoring display device 13, the fact that the home telephone 12 has been off-hook is indicated by the display device transmission I / O. The time during which the signal at node N1 of F section 5 does not change continuously is, for example, 10
The time period is set to be longer than 0 msec, but this time period is not specified to 100 msec.

Next, a second embodiment will be described. Second
The T-NCU in the embodiment also connects a display device for displaying information from the gas meter together with the home telephone 12 to the existing home telephone line. This display device has a T
-Controlling transmission to the telephone line 11 and display of information via the NCU by itself, and also control the call request of the home telephone during this period.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a device configuration inside a house of an automatic meter reading system applied to the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, a T-NCU connected to an exchange (not shown) via a telephone line 11 is located inside the consumer's house.
9a. The T-NCU 9a connects the gas meter 14 via the house wiring. The T-NCU 9a has a display device communication I / F unit 92a in the telephone connection terminal unit 91a, and connects the display device 13a via the I / F unit 92a. The display device 13a has a telephone connection terminal unit to be described later, and connects the home telephone 12 via this. Therefore, the home telephone 12 is not directly communicatively connected to the T-NCU 9a, but is connected to the T-NCU 9 via the display device 13a.
a.

FIG. 6 shows a block configuration of the display device 13a shown in FIG. In FIG. 6, the display device 13a
Is an off-hook detecting unit 1a, a relay driving unit 6a, a call detecting unit 17, a T-NCU connecting terminal unit 18, a telephone connecting terminal unit 19, a communication I / F unit 20, a control unit 21, a display unit 22, and a relay switch 61a. Including.

The relay switch 61a has one electromagnetic coil controlled by the control section 21a via the relay driving section 6a, and includes four switches similarly controlled by this electromagnetic coil. During a period in which the display device 13a communicates information in the gas meter 14 with the T-NCU 9a, each switch of the relay switch 61a is connected to the terminal b3, the terminal b4,
The terminal is switched to the terminal b5 and the terminal b6, and the home telephone 12 is controlled to be disconnected from the T-NCU 9a. Conversely, when the display device 13a does not perform data communication of information in the gas meter 14 with the T-NCU 9a or during the data communication period, if the home telephone 12 goes off-hook, the relay switch 61a is connected to the terminal a
3, switched to each of a4, a5 and a6,
The home telephone 12 is connected to the T-NCU 9a, and is controlled so that a telephone call is possible.

The T-NCU connection terminal 18 is connected to the display device 13
a for connecting the T-NCU 9a, and the telephone connection terminal 19 for connecting the home telephone 12 to the display device 13a.

The control section 21 controls the relay switch 61a via the relay drive section 6a as described above.

The communication I / F unit 20 connects the T-NCU 9a and the control unit 21, and the display unit 22 is composed of, for example, an LCD (liquid crystal display).
The information in the gas meter 14 given from U9a is displayed.

The off-hook detection unit 1a
Is controlled by the switching of the relay switch 61a.
During a period in which the home telephone 12 is disconnected from a, that is, a period in which the display device 13a and the T-NCU 9a are communicating with each other, it is detected that the home telephone 12 is off-hook, and this detection signal is provided to the control unit 21. When the control unit 21 receives the off-hook detection signal, the control unit 21 operates the relay switch 61a via the relay driving unit 6a to switch the home telephone 12 to the T-NC.
Connect to U9a. As a result, the home telephone 12 receives the T-
It is connected to the telephone line 11 via the NCU 9a.

The call detection unit 17 detects a call signal for calling the display device 13a sent from the T-NCU 9a, and provides a call detection signal to the control unit 21 in response.
Thereby, the control unit 21 operates the relay switch 61a via the relay driving unit 6a to communicate information in the gas meter 14 with the T-NCU 9a, and the home telephone 1
2 from T-NCU 9a.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of the call detection unit 17 of FIG. 6 including a connection relationship with its peripheral parts.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of the off-hook detecting section 1a of FIG. 6, including a connection relationship with its peripheral portion.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of the communication I / F unit 20 of FIG. 6, including a connection relationship with its peripheral parts.

In FIG. 7, the call detecting section 17 includes a diode bridge circuit, resistors R27 and R28, and a photocoupler HC1. When a calling signal is input from the T-NCU 9a via the T-NCU connection terminal 18, the diode bridge circuit is turned on in response to the input, and the diode of the photocoupler HC1 is turned on. In response, the transistor of photocoupler HC1 is turned on, and the potential on the collector side of this transistor drops to "L" level. Therefore, the call detection unit 17 sends “L” to the control unit 21 in response to the reception of the call signal from the T-NCU 9a.
A level call detection signal can be provided.

In FIG. 8, the off-hook detecting section 1a includes resistors R25 and R26 and a photocoupler HC2. When the home telephone 12 is off-hook while the relay switch 61a is switched to the terminals b5 and b6 and the home telephone 12 is disconnected from the T-NCU 9a, the potential of the terminal b5 drops rapidly. In response, the photocoupler HC2 is turned on, so that an "L" level off-hook detection signal can be given to the control unit 21.

In FIG. 9, the communication I / F section 20 has a resistor R
27 to R30, and transistors T24 and T26. When the relay switch 61a is switched to the terminals b3 and b4 and the display device 13a and the T-NCU 9a communicate information in the gas meter 14, the call detection unit 17 gives a call detection signal to the control unit 21 as described above. In response, the control unit 21 sets the transistor T26 of the communication I / F unit 20 to the OFF state. Thereafter, information in the gas meter 14 is applied as a signal to the gate side of the transistor T24 via the terminal b3 of the relay switch 61a. The control unit 21 can input the information given to the transistor T24 on the collector side of the transistor T24. When the control unit 21 transmits data to the T-NCU 9a via the terminal b3,
The control unit 21 controls ON / OFF of the gate side of the transistor T26 according to the communication data, and the transmission data is transmitted from the collector side of the transistor T26 to the T side via the terminal b3.
-Supplied to NCU 9a. The control unit 21 has a communication I / F
TN obtained through the unit 20, the relay switch 61a, the call detection unit 17, and the T-NCU connection terminal unit 18.
Information from the CU 9a is given to the display unit 22 and displayed here. The user can know the meter information and the security information of the gas meter 14 by looking at this display.

As described above, the control unit 21 of the display device 13a controls the home telephone 1 during communication with the T-NCU 9a.
2 can be monitored by the presence or absence of an off-hook detection signal from the off-hook detection unit 1a. That is,
When the home telephone 12 is off-hook and a call request occurs during a period in which the display device 13a and the T-NCU 9a are communicating with each other, as described with reference to FIG.
The off-hook detection is performed at a, and the detection signal is supplied to the control unit 21 at the “L” level. When notified by the off-hook detection unit 1a that the home telephone 12 has been off-hook, the control unit 21 turns on the transistor T26 of the communication interface unit 20 shown in FIG.
Then, an off-hook signal is transmitted to the T-NCU 9a via the collector side of the transistor T26 and the terminal b3 of the relay switch 61a. This off-hook signal is transmitted to T-NCU 9
The signal is set to be the same level as the off-hook signal of the home telephone 12 when the home telephone 12 is connected to a. As a result, the T-NCU 9a does not need to be aware of the data terminal device connected to the telephone connection terminal unit 91a shown in FIG.

The control unit 21 of the display device 13a is provided with a T-NC
The off-hook signal given during communication with U9a is
After the transmission to the CU 9a, the relay switch 61a is operated via the relay driving section 6a, and the terminals a3, a4, a5
And the home telephone 12 is connected to the T-NCU 9a via the relay switch 61a. As described above, the T-NCU 9a receives the off-hook signal provided by the control unit 21 via the communication I / F unit 20 and the relay switch 61a, and accordingly, the home telephone via the telephone connection terminal unit 91a. 12 for telephone line 1
Connect to 1. Due to this operation, the display device 13a sets the T-
Even during communication with the NCU 9a, it is possible to immediately process a call request in the home telephone 12.

During a period in which the T-NCU 9a and the display device 13a do not communicate information in the gas meter 14, the relay switch 61a is connected to the terminals a3, a4, a5 and a6.
, The call request by the home telephone 12 can be processed as usual.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the user can be notified of the meter reading information and the security information in the gas meter 14 via the display unit 22. Further, since the off-hook signal from the display device 13a given to the T-NCU 9a is equivalent to the off-hook signal sent from the home telephone 12, it is extremely difficult to add and remove the display device 13a in the device configuration shown in FIG. Easy to do.

Next, a third embodiment will be described. In the third embodiment, the T-NCU connects the display unit to the existing home telephone line, and the T-NCU transmits the meter reading information or security information from the gas meter to the center side in parallel with the transmission. And the data received from the center is also displayed on the display unit to shorten the operation period of the T-NCU and reduce the power consumption of the power supply unit.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a T-NCU 9b according to a third embodiment of the present invention, together with a data terminal device connected thereto.

In FIG. 10, the T-NCU 9b is an off-hook detection unit 1, a line coupling unit 2, a modem unit 3, and a microcomputer unit 4.
a, display device I / F unit 5a, relay drive unit 6, meter I
/ F section 7, terminal section 8, power supply section 10, relay switch 61
Is connected to an external exchange via a telephone line 11, and the home telephone 12 is connected via the home telephone line, and the display device 13b is connected to the home telephone line. Further, the T-NCU 9b connects the gas meter 14 via the house wiring. T-NCU 9b shown in FIG.
1 is different from the block configuration of the T-NCU 9 shown in FIG. 1 in that a display device I / F unit 5a is provided in place of the gas meter monitoring display device transmission I / F unit 5 in FIG. Further, a microcomputer section 4a is provided instead of the microcomputer section 4 of FIG. Therefore, T-NCU9
The internal configuration of b will be described only with respect to the microcomputer unit 4a and the display device I / F unit 5a, and other configuration requirements are the same as those of the same reference numerals shown in FIG. Omitted.

The security information or the meter reading information from the gas meter 14 is transmitted to the terminal M1 of the terminal 8 by the T-NCU 9b.
When the signal is transmitted to the microcomputer unit 4a via the meter I / F unit 7 via the M1 and the M2, the microcomputer unit 4a enters the terminal calling mode in order to communicate with the center side based on the received contents. In the terminal calling mode, the information in the gas meter 14 is displayed on the display device 13b in parallel with the notification to the center side.

FIG. 11 shows the display device I / F unit 5a of FIG.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the block configuration of FIG. In FIG. 11, the display device I / F unit 5a includes transmission gates G1 and G2 and a reception gate G3. The microcomputer unit 4a includes a data transmission port P1, a data reception port P2, transmission control ports P3 and P4, and a reception port P
5 is included. The data transmission port P1 is connected to the data input port of the modem unit 3 and to one input side of the transmission gate G1. The data reception port P2 is connected to the data output port of the modem unit 3 and to one input side of the transmission gate G2. Transmission control port P
3 is connected to the other input side of the transmission gate G1. The transmission control port P4 is connected to the other input side of the transmission gate G2. The receiving port P5 is connected to the output side of the receiving gate G3.

The output sides of the transmission gates G1 and G2 are connected to the terminal b1 of the relay switch 61, and the input side of the reception gate G3 is connected to the terminal b1. Transmission gate G
1 and G2 are activated by control signals applied from transmission control ports P3 and P4, respectively, and accordingly transmission gate G1 sends data output from data transmission port P1 to terminal b1 side, and transmission gate G1 G2 is a terminal b for receiving data received at the data receiving port P2.
Send to 1. The reception gate G3 receives a signal from the home telephone line at the terminal b1, sends it out, and gives it to the reception port P5 of the microcomputer unit 4a.

In FIG. 11, when data is not sent to the display device 13b, the microcomputer unit 4a sets the transmission control port P3
And P4 are set to “L” level, and the display device I / F unit 5
The output levels of the transmission gates G1 and G2 of "a" are always set to "H" level, and this is applied to the terminal b1.

In the terminal calling mode of the T-NCU 9b, the microcomputer unit 4a operates the relay switch 61 via the relay driving unit 6, and connects the terminals T1 and T2 to the display device I / F unit 5a. Thereby, the microcomputer unit 4a
A transmission path is established so that data output from the display device 13b can be transmitted to the display device 13b via the display device I / F unit 5a, the relay switch 61 and the terminals T1 and T2.

When the T-NCU 9b reports security information or meter reading information from the gas meter 14 to the center side, the microcomputer unit 4a controls the relay drive unit 6 and switches the relay switch 61 to the terminals b1 and b2,
The home telephone 12 is disconnected from the telephone line 11. Thereafter, the information from the gas meter 14 is transmitted to the modem unit 3, the line coupling unit 2,
Telephone line 1 via off-hook detection unit 1 and terminal unit 8
1 to the center side. In parallel,
In order to supply data to be transmitted to the center side to the display device 13b for display, the microcomputer unit 4a sets the transmission control port P3 to "H" level. As a result, data to be reported to the center from the data transmission port P1 of the microcomputer unit 4a to the modem unit 3 is also supplied to the display device 13b via the transmission gate G1 of the display device I / F unit 5a. Therefore, the data relating to the security information and the meter reading information in the gas meter 14 output from the data transmission port P1 of the microcomputer section 4a is reported to the center side through the modem section 3 and at the same time, the transmission gate G1 of the display I / F section 5 is transmitted. And is also given to the display device 13b through the interface and displayed here. Therefore, when the meter reading information or the security information in the gas meter 14 is detected or metered in the gas meter 14, the user can immediately confirm this as display data, so that prompt response to an emergency condition based on the security information can be performed. It becomes possible.

In communication with the center side under the control of the microcomputer unit 4a, data sent from the center side is transmitted to the terminals L1 and L2 of the T-NCU 9b, the off-hook detection unit 1, the line coupling unit 2, and the modem unit 3. The data is received by the data receiving port P2 of the microcomputer unit 4a via the microcomputer. The microcomputer unit 4 stores the display device 1 in the received data.
When the instruction data indicating that the data should be given to 3b is detected, the transmission control port P4 is set to “H” level accordingly. As a result, the reception data from the center can be given to the display device 13b in real time via the transmission gate G2 of the display device I / F unit 5a and displayed there. Therefore, the user can check the instruction data corresponding to the emergency state given from the center side in response to the reception of the security information on the display device 13b and take an appropriate response. The T-NCU 9b transmits the data communication result with the display device 13b to the display device I / F unit 5.
It can be known from the signal level of the receiving port P5 through the receiving gate G3 of a. When the display device 13b returns a NAK (negative acknowledgment signal) for the data transmitted from the center side under the control of the microcomputer unit 4a, the reception port is transmitted through the terminals T1 and T2, the terminal b1, and the reception gate G3. The signal level of P5 becomes "H". Therefore, during the data communication with the center, when the level of the receiving port P5 rises to "H" during the data communication with the center, the microcomputer unit 4a determines that the data is not normally received by the display device 13b. After the end, the transmission data from the center side is given to the display device 13b again. For this purpose, the microcomputer unit 4a is configured to store transmission data from the center in its internal memory.

As described above, if the connected home telephone 12 goes off-hook while the T-NCU 9b is simultaneously communicating with the center and the display device 13b, the telephone connection terminal t1 of the display device 13b and t
2 falls to "L", the display device 13b detects this and outputs an off-hook detection signal to the terminals T1 and T1.
2. It is given to the microcomputer unit 4a via the terminal b1, the receiving gate G3 and the receiving port P5. When the microcomputer unit 4a receives this off-hook detection signal due to the rise of the receiving port P5 to the “H” level, the microcomputer unit 4a suspends simultaneous communication with the center side and the display device 13b, 61, the home telephone 12 is connected to the telephone line 11, that is, the terminal T of the terminal unit 8.
1 and T2 are connected to terminals L1 and L2 via a relay switch 61. As a result, the telephone line by the home telephone 12 is established, and a telephone call becomes possible.

As described above, the off-hook detection signal output from the display device 13b for detecting the off-hook of the home telephone 12 is obtained when the home telephone 12 is directly connected to the terminals T1 and T2 of the T-NCU 9b and is off-hook. A signal equivalent to the off-hook signal (“L” level signal) is provided to the display device I / F unit 5a. Therefore, the T-NCU 9b does not need to be aware of what data terminal device is connected, that is, whether the home telephone is directly connected or the display device 13b is directly connected.

As described above, in the third embodiment, T
-When the NCU 9b inputs the meter reading information or security information in the gas meter 14, it immediately shifts to the terminal calling mode and notifies the center side, and also communicates with the display device 13b to sequentially display the information and the communication information with the center. T-NCU
It is possible to reduce the operation time of the battery 9b and reduce the consumption of the lithium battery of the power supply unit 10.

[0075]

As described above, according to the present invention, data based on the contents of communication with the center based on the data in the data terminal device can be transmitted to the output unit, and this can be reported to the outside. In addition, since these processes are performed in parallel, the operation time of the terminal network control device itself is shortened, and power consumption can be reduced.

The output unit is connected to the terminal network control device via a second communication line for connecting the communication terminal device,
This second communication line is shared by the communication request processing means as a transmission line for communication with the output unit and a transmission line for communication in accordance with the communication request of the communication terminal device. No additional wiring work is needed to connect to the network controller.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a T-NCU according to a first embodiment of the present invention, together with a connected data terminal device.

FIGS. 2A to 2C are diagrams for explaining the form of a message transmitted and received between a T-NCU and a gas meter monitoring and display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a communication procedure thereof; is there.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a circuit of a transmission I / F section of the gas meter monitoring and display device of FIG. 1 together with peripheral parts to be connected.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the T-NCU in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a device configuration inside a house of an automatic meter reading system applied to a second embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a block diagram of the display device shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of a call detection unit in FIG. 6, including a connection relationship with a peripheral portion thereof.

8 is a diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of an off-hook detection unit in FIG. 6 including a connection relationship with a peripheral portion thereof.

9 is a diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a communication I / F unit in FIG. 6 including a connection relationship with a peripheral unit;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a T-NCU according to a third embodiment of the present invention, together with a connected data terminal device.

11 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a display device I / F section in FIG. 10 including a connection relationship with a peripheral portion thereof.

FIG. 12 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automatic meter reading system applied to a conventional example and an example of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an operation in the T-NCU of the conventional automatic meter reading system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 and 4a Microcomputer unit 5 Gas meter monitoring display device transmission I / F unit 5a Display device I / F unit 6 and 6a Relay drive unit 9, 9a and 9b Terminal network control unit (T-NCU) 11 Telephone line 12 Home telephone 13 Gas meter monitoring and display device 13a and 13b Display device 14 Gas meter 16 Center side 22 Display unit 61 and 61a Relay switch The same reference numerals in the drawings indicate the same or corresponding parts.

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G08C 13/00-17/02 G08C 19/00-23/04 G08C 25/00-25/04 H03J 9/00-9 / 06 H04M 11/00-11/10 H04Q 9/00-9/16

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A terminal network control device connected to a data terminal device and connected to a center via a first communication line, and performing data communication with the center based on data in the data terminal device. A communication terminal device connected to the terminal network control device via a second communication line; and a second communication device connected to the terminal network control device via the second communication line. An output unit that outputs data received through communication via a line; and a communication unit that communicates with the output unit via the second communication line based on the communication content when communicating with the center side; Communication request detection means for detecting a request for communication using the communication terminal device at the time of data communication with the center or communication by the communication means; and responding to a detection output of the communication request detection means. Te, communication with the center side, or in preference to communication by the communication means, and a communication request processing means for processing a communication request using the communication terminal device, the terminal for network controller. 2. The communication unit according to claim 1, wherein the output unit is configured to detect a request for communication using the communication terminal device when communicating with the center or when communicating with the communication unit. A communication request processing unit that processes a communication request using the communication terminal device in preference to communication with the center side or communication by the communication unit in response to the detection output of The terminal network control device as described in the above.