JP4377604B2 - Clock system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a timepiece system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Generally, in a device that keeps the current date and time in a clock unit built in the device and collects some data in association with the date and time, if the current date and time counted in the clock unit is inaccurate, the collected data can be trusted. Sexuality will be lacking. For example, it is assumed that the accumulated flow rate for each time zone in a gas meter is stored in the gas meter, and the accumulated flow rate for each time zone accumulated in the gas meter is measured once a month. In this case, if the time of the current date and time in the clock unit provided in the gas meter is inaccurate and the time zone for obtaining the integrated flow rate is different from the specified time zone, there is a problem that the integrated flow rate cannot be obtained accurately. Arise.
[0003]
In addition, when the current date and time is clocked in the clock unit built in each of a plurality of devices, and the data collected in association with the date and time by any device is given to other devices, the date and time being clocked in each device Need to match. For example, assume a system that stores an accumulated flow rate for each time zone as described above for the gas meter, and transfers the accumulated flow rate accumulated in the gas meter from the gas meter to the center device at a rate of once a month. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). In such a system, it is necessary to match the current date and time measured by the clock unit provided in the gas meter with the current date and time measured by the clock unit provided in the center device.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 54-92772 A (2nd page, FIG. 1)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In an apparatus such as the above-described gas meter, it is necessary to manage the current date and time in the built-in clock unit within several minutes. In general, it is considered that a clock unit equipped with a quartz crystal unit can ensure the timekeeping accuracy of the current date and time even if it has not been adjusted for several years. Problems arise. In addition, gas meters are often installed outdoors and are affected by temperature fluctuations. In addition, gas meters with built-in microcomputers (so-called microcomputer meters) that have been used in recent years do not replace batteries for 7 to 10 years. Even when a vibrator is used, it is difficult to maintain the current time measurement accuracy until the next battery replacement.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned reasons, and its object is to provide a general-purpose network from a device that time-measures the current date and time with high accuracy to a device that incorporates a clock unit with a relatively low time-measurement accuracy. It is an object of the present invention to provide a clock system capable of maintaining the required accuracy of the current date and time even in a low-precision clock unit by transmitting information necessary for correction of the clock unit through the clock.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, a terminal device including a first clock unit that counts the current date and time, and the terminal device can communicate with each other through a general-purpose network, and count the current date and time with higher accuracy than the first clock unit. A center device including a second clock unit, and the center device acquires a current date and time measured by the first clock unit from a terminal device through a general-purpose network, and a current date acquired by the date and time acquisition unit. A date and time comparison unit that obtains a difference between the date and time and the current date and time counted by the second clock unit as a date and time correction value, and the terminal device uses the date and time correction value received from the center device as a correction amount to perform the first correction. notification time setting that defines the time correcting unit for correcting so that the current date and time the second clock unit to match the current date and time to count, the date and time at which the first clock unit performs scheduled notifications to the center device clock unit measures A reception time zone in which the center device sets a reception time zone including the date and time specified in the notification date and time setting unit. The transfer request unit has a first timepiece for the terminal device when the date and time when the scheduled notification from the terminal device is received deviates from the reception time zone set in the reception time zone setting unit. Requesting the transfer of the current date and time counted by the section .
According to a second aspect of the present invention, a terminal device including a first clock unit that counts the current date and time, and the terminal device can communicate with each other via a general-purpose network, and clock the current date and time with higher accuracy than the first clock unit. A center device including a second clock unit, and the center device acquires a current date and time measured by the first clock unit from a terminal device through a general-purpose network, and a current date acquired by the date and time acquisition unit. A date and time comparison unit that obtains a difference between the date and time and the current date and time counted by the second clock unit as a date and time correction value, and the terminal device uses the date and time correction value received from the center device as a correction amount to perform the first correction. A date and time correction unit that corrects the current date and time counted by the clock unit so as to coincide with the current date and time counted by the second clock unit, and a notification date and time setting that defines the date and time when the first clock unit makes a scheduled notification to the center device. An identifier setting unit that sets a unique identifier, and a scheduled notification unit that performs a scheduled notification of the identifier to the center device at the date and time specified in the notification date and time setting unit. The center device is defined in the notification date and time setting unit. And a reception time zone setting unit that sets a reception time zone including the specified date and time for each identifier of the terminal device, and a reception time zone that is set for each identifier in the reception time zone setting unit is the date and time when the scheduled notification from the terminal device is received The transfer requesting unit requests the terminal device with the identifier to transfer the current date and time counted by the first clock unit when deviating from.
[0008]
In the invention of claim 3, in the invention of claim 1 or claim 2 , the terminal device includes a time zone setting unit in which a time zone for integrating the usage amount of the measurement object by the meter installed in the consumer is set, A usage amount accumulating unit for obtaining an accumulated usage amount by accumulating the usage amount during a period in which the current date and time measured by the first clock unit is a time zone set in the time zone setting unit, and a usage amount accumulating unit And a storage unit for each time zone for storing the accumulated usage amount for each time zone set in the time zone setting unit. Here, the object of measurement mainly means gas, water, and electricity.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In each embodiment described below, a gas meter capable of obtaining an accumulated usage amount (integrated flow rate) of gas by time zone in a consumer is used as a terminal device, and the terminal device can communicate with the terminal device through a general-purpose network. The structure which provided the center apparatus which can acquire another integrated usage-amount from a terminal device is illustrated. However, the configuration for acquiring the accumulated usage amount for each time zone in the center device is not particularly described in the following embodiments. The general-purpose network is assumed to be an always-connected Internet, but a public network can also be used.
[0014]
Since the terminal device 1 is a gas meter as described above, as shown in FIG. 1, the terminal device 1 includes a flow meter 31 that measures the amount of gas used (flow rate). As the flow meter 31, one that generates one pulse each time a constant flow rate defining a gas flow path passes is used. This type of flow meter 31 is well known in gas meters. In the embodiment described below, a configuration is adopted in which the integrated flow rate for each time zone is obtained by counting the pulses output from the flow meter 31 for each specified time zone, A clock unit 10 that measures the date and time is built in the terminal device 1. The time zone for obtaining the integrated flow rate is set in the time zone setting unit 32, and in the usage amount integration unit 33, the current date and time counted by the clock unit 10 is from the flow meter 31 during the period that is the time zone set in the time zone setting unit 32. By counting (that is, integrating) the output pulses, the integrated flow rate in the time period is obtained. Further, the integrated flow rate for each time zone obtained by the usage amount integration unit 33 is stored in the time zone storage unit 34. The time zone storage unit 34 accumulates the accumulated flow rates in the same time zone for each day in an accumulated form, and transfers the accumulated accumulated flow rates to the center device 2 in units of one month, for example.
[0015]
It should be noted that the technical idea of the present invention can be applied even when the measurement target in the terminal device 1 is not gas but water or electricity.
[0016]
(First embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 1, the terminal device 1 that is a gas meter includes a clock unit 10 that counts the current date and time, and the center device 2 that receives the integrated flow rate from the terminal device 1 has higher accuracy than the clock unit 10 of the terminal device 1. And a clock unit 20 for measuring the current date and time. Here, as the clock unit 10, a clock whose accuracy is within the number of monthly differences is used. A clock signal for obtaining this level of accuracy can be secured to such an extent that temperature compensation is performed on an oscillation circuit using a resistor and a capacitor. The terminal device 1 and the center device 2 can communicate with each other via the Internet NT which is a general-purpose network, and the terminal devices 1 and the center device 2 have communication units 12 and 23 which are interfaces for connection to the Internet NT, respectively. Provided.
[0017]
The center device 2 is provided with a transfer request unit 24 that requests the current date and time counted by the clock unit 10 of the terminal device 1 to be delivered to the center device 2. The timing at which the transfer request unit 24 requests the terminal device 1 to deliver the current date and time may be equal to or less than the interval for requesting delivery of the integrated flow rate. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, when the center device 2 requests the terminal device 1 to deliver the integrated flow rate, the center device 2 also requests the current date and time counted by the clock unit 10 (P1). ). The center device 2 is provided with a date and time acquisition unit 21. When the terminal device 2 returns the integrated flow rate and the current date and time in the clock unit 10 in response to a request from the transfer request unit 24 (P2), the center device 2 is connected to the Internet. The current date and time received from the terminal device 1 via NT is temporarily held in the date and time acquisition unit 21.
[0018]
The data returned by the terminal device 1 in response to the request from the transfer request unit 24 is in the format shown in FIG. 3, and includes the type of the terminal device 1, the ID of the terminal device 1, the data type, meter reading data, and the current time. The type of the terminal device 1 is a gas meter in this embodiment, but is necessary when the center device 2 manages a water meter and a power meter. The ID of the terminal device 1 is an identifier set in the identifier setting unit 15 provided in the terminal device 1 and is set individually in each terminal device 1. The use of the identifier will be described later. The data type means a monthly integrated flow rate, an integrated flow rate by time zone, or the like, and represents a time zone if the integrated flow rate is by time zone. The meter-reading data is the contents of data identified by the data type, and in this embodiment, it is an integrated flow rate. Further, the current time means the current date and time being measured by the clock unit 10 provided in the terminal device 1. Therefore, the current date and time can be delivered to the center device 2 together with the integrated flow rate by the data in the format shown in FIG.
[0019]
In the center device 2, the date and time comparison unit 22 compares the current date and time in the clock unit 10 held in the date and time acquisition unit 21 with the current date and time in the clock unit 20 provided in the center device 2. The date and time comparison unit 22 obtains a difference between the current date and time in the clock unit 10 acquired by the date and time acquisition unit 21 and the current date and time in the clock unit 20 of the center device 2 as a date and time correction value. Here, if the date and time correction value is smaller than the threshold value defined in the center device 2 (for example, within 1 minute), it is not necessary to correct the current date and time in the clock unit 10, so as shown in FIG. An end message is transmitted from the center device 2 to the terminal device 1 (P3), and one-time communication between the center device 2 and the terminal device 1 is ended.
[0020]
On the other hand, when the date and time correction value is equal to or greater than the prescribed threshold value, it is necessary to correct the current date and time in the clock unit 10, so as shown in FIG. The date / time correction value is transferred from the device 2 to the terminal device 1 (P3). The terminal device 1 is provided with a date / time correction unit 11 that corrects the current date / time measured by the clock unit 10 with the current date / time measured by the clock unit 20 using the date / time correction value received from the center device 2 as a correction amount. ing. Therefore, the current date and time of the clock unit 10 is corrected by the date and time correction unit 11 that has received the date and time correction value from the center device 2, and the current date and time of the clock unit 10 substantially matches the current date and time of the clock unit 20 of the center device 2. Become. After the correction of the current date and time in the clock unit 10 is completed, the corrected current date and time is transferred from the terminal device 1 to the center device 2 (P4), and if the correction is performed normally in the center device 2, an end message is sent. It transmits to the terminal device 1 (P5).
[0021]
In the present embodiment, the integrated flow rate for each time zone is transferred from the terminal device 1 to the center device 2, but as described in the embodiment, the monthly integrated flow rate is transferred from the terminal device 1 to the center device 2. The technical idea of the present invention can be applied to any information to be transferred. Further, in the present embodiment, the current time of the clock unit 10 is transferred together with the transfer of the integrated flow rate from the terminal device 1 to the center device 2, but the current time of the clock unit 10 is the transfer of the integrated flow rate. It may be done in a timely manner regardless of the time.
[0022]
(Second Embodiment)
In the first embodiment, a configuration is adopted in which the center device 2 requests the terminal device 1 to transfer the current date and time in the clock unit 10. However, in the present embodiment, the terminal device 1 sends the current date and time to the center device 2. A configuration example that does not transfer is described.
[0023]
In the present embodiment, the terminal device 1 has a notification date and time setting unit 14 that defines the date and time at which the clock unit 10 notifies the center device 2 of the scheduled notification, and a scheduled notification to the center device 2 at the date and time that is specified in the notification date and time setting unit 14. And the identifier setting unit 15 in which an identifier unique to the terminal device 1 is set. In addition, a reception time zone setting unit 25 that sets a reception time zone including the date and time defined in the notification date and time setting unit 14 is added to the center device 2. The scheduled notification means, for example, that the integrated flow rate is transmitted once a month. In this embodiment, the terminal device 1 voluntarily notifies the center device 2 of the scheduled notification without being requested by the center device 2. It is like that. The timing of this scheduled notification is set in the notification date and time setting unit 14, and when the current date and time counted by the clock unit 10 matches the date and time set in the notification date and time setting unit 14, the scheduled notification is performed. In the regular notification, not only the integrated flow rate but also an identifier set in the identifier setting unit 15 is added. That is, when the scheduled notification is made, data excluding the current time is transmitted from the data shown in FIG.
[0024]
On the other hand, the reception time zone setting unit 25 provided in the center device 2 sets a reception time zone that is a time zone for receiving a scheduled notification for each terminal device 1, and sets the reception time zone of each terminal device 1. Data associated with the identifier is set. That is, a reception time zone for waiting for the scheduled notification is scheduled for each terminal device 1, and whether or not the scheduled notification from the terminal device 1 can be received in the scheduled reception time zone is determined by the clock unit 10 of the terminal device 1. It becomes necessary to correct the current date and time. The time width of the reception time zone is set to the degree of monthly difference (maximum number of minutes, preferably about 1 minute) allowed for the clock unit 10 of the terminal device 1.
[0025]
Now, it is assumed that the reception time zone Td is set for the terminal device 1 having identifiers (1) to (4) as shown in FIG. Here, since the terminal devices (2) and (4) are notified at a fixed time within the range of the reception time zone Td, the error between the clock unit 10 and the clock unit 20 is within the range of the reception time zone Td. As for the terminal devices (1) and (3), since the date and time when the scheduled notification is received deviates from the reception time zone Td, the current date and time in the clock unit 10 and the current date and time in the clock unit 20 Is shifted by about the time width of the reception time zone Td. Therefore, for the terminal device 1 that has not received the scheduled notification in the reception time zone Td scheduled for each terminal device 1, the date / time acquisition unit 21 performs a clock from the terminal device 1 in the same procedure as in the first embodiment. The current date and time in the unit 10 is acquired, and the current date and time in the clock unit 10 is corrected. Other configurations and operations are the same as those in the first embodiment.
[0026]
In the present embodiment, since the transfer of the current date and time in the clock unit 10 is requested only for the terminal device 1 that needs to correct the current date and time in the clock unit 10, traffic on the Internet NT can be suppressed. In addition, since the reception time zone setting unit 25 sets the reception time zone for each terminal device 1, when there are a large number of terminal devices 1, the reception time zones can be distributed, and traffic concentration is avoided. be able to. When the number of terminal devices 1 is small, it is possible to set one reception time zone in a plurality of terminal devices 1 without using the identifiers of the terminal devices 1.
[0027]
The terminal device 1 described above is realized using a microcomputer, and the center device 2 is realized using a computer device.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
According to the configuration of the invention of claim 1, the current date and time in the center device having a second clock unit is a high-precision being clocked by the terminal device having a first clock unit is a low accuracy By obtaining the difference between the current date / time measured by the first clock unit and the current date / time measured by the second clock unit as a date / time correction value to the terminal device through the general network, the terminal is obtained through the general network. Since the current date and time measured by the first clock unit is corrected by using the date and time correction value in the apparatus, the current date and time measured by the first clock unit may be substantially matched with the current date and time measured by the second clock unit. it can. That is, the first clock unit is maintained at the same level of accuracy as the second clock unit provided in the center device by correcting the current date and time measured by the first clock unit provided in the terminal device in a timely manner. It becomes possible. In addition, since the center device and the terminal device communicate using a general-purpose network, if a general-purpose network that is always connected is used, no communication fee is incurred.
In particular, according to the configuration of the first aspect of the invention, the terminal device does not request the current date and time measured by the first clock unit from the center device to the terminal device, but the terminal device only notifies the center device of the scheduled time. Therefore, it is not necessary to transmit the current date and time measured by the first clock unit to the center device from the terminal device that does not need to correct the current date and time, and the increase in the general-purpose network is suppressed. be able to.
According to the configuration of the second aspect of the present invention, the terminal device does not request the current date and time counted by the first clock unit from the center device to the terminal device, but the terminal device only notifies the center device of the scheduled time. Therefore, there is no need to transmit the current date and time measured by the first clock unit to the center device from the terminal device that does not need to correct the current date and time, and the traffic of the general-purpose network is increased. Can be suppressed. In addition, since the reception time zone can be made different for each terminal device identifier, even when there are a large number of terminal devices, the center device can distribute the time for receiving the scheduled notification from the terminal device. Traffic concentration in the network can be avoided.
[0029]
According to the configuration of the invention of claim 2, it is possible to measure the time zone of the integrated amount of the weighing data using the current date and time clocked by the first clock unit incorporated in the end terminal apparatus. In addition, since the first clock unit is maintained with the accuracy of the second clock unit, it is possible to accurately manage the time period for obtaining the integrated usage amount.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an operation explanatory view of the above.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a format of data used in the above.
FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory view of the above.
FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Terminal device 2 Center apparatus 10 Clock part 11 Date correction part 13 Scheduled notification part 14 Notification date setting part 15 Identifier setting part 20 Clock part 21 Date and time acquisition part 22 Date and time comparison part 24 Transfer request part 25 Reception time zone setting part 31 Flowmeter 32 Time zone setting unit 33 Usage amount accumulating unit 34 Time zone storage unit NT Internet

Claims (3)

A terminal device that includes a first clock unit that counts the current date and time, and a terminal device that is communicable through a general-purpose network and includes a second clock unit that counts the current date and time with higher accuracy than the first clock unit. A center device, the center device acquiring a current date and time measured by the first clock unit from the terminal device through a general-purpose network, a current date and time acquired by the date and time acquisition unit, and a second clock unit And a date and time comparison unit that obtains a difference from the current date and time measured by the date and time correction value as a date and time correction value, and the terminal device measures the current date and time measured by the first clock unit using the date and time correction value received from the center device as a correction amount. a second time correction unit that clock unit is corrected so as to match the current date and time to count, a notification time setting unit which first clock section defines the date and time to perform scheduled notification to the center device, the notification time and date settings The center device has a reception time zone setting unit for setting a reception time zone including the date and time specified in the notification date and time setting unit, When the date and time when the scheduled notification is received from the terminal device deviates from the reception time zone set in the reception time zone setting unit, the transfer request unit is timed by the first clock unit for the terminal device. A clock system characterized by requesting transfer of the current date and time . A terminal device that includes a first clock unit that counts the current date and time, and a terminal device that is communicable through a general-purpose network and includes a second clock unit that counts the current date and time with higher accuracy than the first clock unit. A center device, the center device acquiring a current date and time measured by the first clock unit from the terminal device through a general-purpose network, a current date and time acquired by the date and time acquisition unit, and a second clock unit And a date and time comparison unit that obtains a difference from the current date and time measured by the date and time correction value as a date and time correction value, and the terminal device measures the current date and time measured by the first clock unit using the date and time correction value received from the center device as a correction amount. A date and time correction unit that corrects the date and time so as to coincide with the current date and time measured by the second clock unit, a notification date and time setting unit that defines the date and time when the first clock unit notifies the center device of the scheduled time, and a unique identification And a scheduled notification unit that performs scheduled notification of identifiers to the center device at the date and time specified in the notification date and time setting unit, and the center device receives a reception time including the date and time specified in the notification date and time setting unit When the reception time zone setting unit is set for each identifier of the terminal device, and the date and time when the scheduled notification is received from the terminal device deviates from the reception time zone set for each identifier in the reception time zone setting unit The transfer request unit requests the terminal device having the identifier to transfer the current date and time counted by the first clock unit . In the terminal device, a time zone setting unit in which a time zone for accumulating the usage amount of the measurement object by a meter installed in a consumer is set, and a current date and time measured by the first clock unit are set in the time zone setting unit. The usage amount accumulating unit that obtains the accumulated usage amount by accumulating the usage amount in the period that is in the specified time zone, and the accumulated usage amount obtained by the usage amount accumulating unit are stored for each time zone set in the time zone setting unit claim 1 or watch system according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a time zone storage unit.

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