JP5476602B2 - Portable information terminal used in gas meter remote management system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable information terminal used in a gas meter remote management system.

  In recent years, energy conservation measures such as reduction of CO2 emissions have been attracting attention in various fields as a measure against various environmental problems such as global warming. Among them, there are many things that are indispensable for our daily life as a life infrastructure such as gas, electricity and water as typical examples of energy. In energy used as such a living infrastructure, it is required to efficiently grasp and manage the amount of energy used. For example, in Japan, as a means of measuring gas consumption and grasping the monthly gas consumption, the meter readings provided in each home are used by a meter reading worker to visit each home every month and the communication function. A method of automatically performing meter reading using an added gas meter has become widespread.

  Under such circumstances, there is a meter reading system in which a meter reader optically reads the pointer value information of a gas meter using a portable information terminal (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  In this meter reading system using a portable information terminal, the ID uniquely assigned to the gas meter and the pointer value of the gas meter are optically read, and mistakes in manual input by the meter reading operator or misreading of the gas meter pointer value are detected. It is possible to prevent the meter reading.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-069595

  However, in the conventional configuration, since the meter reader needs to go around the customer every time the meter reading cycle (for example, once a month) using the portable information terminal, it takes time. In addition, there is a limit to the manual meter reading method in response to market demands for acquiring hourly data in real time and requests for remotely grasping and managing gas meter replacement and maintenance timing. It is virtually impossible.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and can realize an automatic gas meter reading system capable of accumulating more detailed data of gas consumption, and further, human input mistakes can be made during initial setting. It can be easily prevented. Furthermore, it aims at providing the gas meter remote management system which can grasp | ascertain the replacement time of a gas meter and a maintenance time.

  In order to solve the above problems, a portable information terminal according to the present invention uses an imaging unit that captures a gas meter and a wireless slave unit attached to the gas meter as image data, and image data captured by the imaging unit. The gas meter ID of the gas meter, the gas meter indicator value of the gas meter, and the wireless slave device ID of the wireless slave device are analyzed and recognized, and the gas meter ID and the gas meter recognized by the information recognizer And a terminal wireless communication unit that transmits a guideline value to the wireless slave device using the wireless slave device ID.

  In particular, this portable information terminal can easily read the gas meter ID and the wireless slave device ID by providing a function of reading optical information such as a bar code or a two-dimensional code printed on the gas meter or the wireless slave device. it can. Furthermore, the portable information terminal has an imaging unit, and has an optical character recognition function that analyzes information such as numbers and characters in image data captured from the imaging unit, so that gas consumption after the gas meter is installed The indicator value of the gas meter, which is the integrated value of the quantity, can be read optically. The portable information terminal has a wireless function for wireless communication with the wireless slave unit, and can set arbitrary information in the wireless slave unit and take out information. In addition, the portable information terminal has a function of using the Internet using a wireless LAN or a mobile phone communication network, so that the installation information can be updated in real time on a remote management server while at the installation site, for example. Is possible.

  As a result, when installing the wireless slave unit in the gas meter, it is possible to link and record two IDs, the gas meter ID and the wireless slave unit ID, using a portable information terminal for the wireless slave unit. The indicator value of the gas meter, which is an integrated value of gas consumption since the gas meter was installed, is optically read, and the gas meter guide value at the time of installation is stored in the wireless slave unit. The wireless slave unit can measure the gas consumption output from the gas meter and integrate it with the gas meter guideline value set by the portable information terminal. Not only the gas consumption per hour but also the gas meter It becomes possible to grasp the integrated value consumed in the past. Information can be aggregated in a remote management server using the Internet network by a portable information terminal.

  The portable information terminal of the present invention automatically recognizes optical information such as a bar code or a two-dimensional code when the portable information terminal is installed in a gas meter, and the portable information terminal recognizes the gas meter ID and the wireless slave ID. Thus, it becomes possible to link the two ID information of the gas meter ID and the wireless slave device ID. Furthermore, by automatically recognizing the gas meter pointer value by the optical character recognition function of the portable information terminal, it is possible to prevent a person from reading the gas meter pointer value by mistake. In addition, the gas meter ID, the wireless slave device ID, and the gas meter guideline value are collectively linked, and the gas meter guideline value is recorded in the wireless slave device, thereby allowing the gas meter to measure the gas consumption amount measured in the past. It is intended to realize total management of the amount of gas used in the future.

  Furthermore, this makes it possible to significantly reduce the time required for installation work when installing a wireless slave unit for a gas meter already installed in each home, and to prevent human input errors. It becomes possible. Furthermore, it is possible to correctly manage which wireless slave unit has been installed, and by recording the gas meter guideline value when the wireless slave unit is installed, the wireless slave unit records the gas consumption amount measured by the gas meter in the past. The ability to measure both gas consumptions that will be used in the future makes it possible to achieve total management, such as informing users of the management system of gas meter replacement and maintenance times, etc. at a remote management server. .

System overall view of a gas meter remote management system using a portable information terminal according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention External view of gas meter in Embodiment 1 of the present invention External view of the wireless slave device in the first embodiment of the present invention Gas meter wireless slave device mounting diagram according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention Functional block diagram of the wireless slave device in the first embodiment of the present invention Functional block diagram of portable information terminal according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention The figure which shows the pulse output of the gas meter in Embodiment 1 of this invention Wireless slave unit installation flowchart in Embodiment 1 of the present invention The figure which shows the example of the management information of the database in Embodiment 1 of this invention Functional block diagram of the wireless slave unit in the second embodiment of the present invention

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
First, an overview of the gas meter management system in FIG. 1 will be described.

  The wireless master device 100 collects meter reading information of the gas meter using low-power wireless communication, and communicates the collected information with the management server 901 installed in the management center 900 via the Internet network 1000. It plays the role of transmitting and receiving data. The management server 901 is connected to the database 902, and customer management information including meter reading data is held in the database 902. The wireless master device 100 performs low-power wireless communication with the gas meters 400a to 400k equipped with wireless slave devices.

  C100 indicates the communication range of the wireless master device 100, and means that wireless communication with a device within the circle of the communication range C100 is possible. Specifically, the wireless master device 100 can directly communicate with the three gas meters 400a, 400b, and 400c, and can also communicate with the wireless repeaters 200a, 200b, and 200c.

  The gas meters 400d to 400k installed outside the communication range of the wireless master device 100 (outside the circle indicated by C100) perform wireless communication using the wireless repeaters 200a to 200e. For example, C200a indicates the communication range of the wireless repeater 200a, and indicates that communication with the gas meter 400d within the communication range C200a of the wireless repeater 200a is possible. In addition, the wireless repeater 200d in the communication range C200a can also communicate with the wireless repeater 200a.

  In this way, the wireless master device 100 can directly communicate with a device within the circle indicated by the communication range C100, and communicate with the devices outside the communication range using the repeaters 200a, 200b, and 200c. It is a wireless system that performs. Similarly, the repeaters 200a to 200e can directly communicate with devices in the circles indicated by the wireless communication ranges C200a to e. In some cases, for example, the gas meter 400g is further wirelessly connected via the wireless repeater 200d. Multi-stage relay is performed such that the repeater 200d passes through the wireless repeater 200a, and data is collected in the wireless master device 100. The portable information terminal 600 is a device used when installing the wireless slave device 300 in the gas meter 400 described later with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. For example, when the gas meter 400 e is installed, the portable information terminal 600 performs low-power wireless communication. It performs with the gas meter 400e, and communicates with the management server 901 through the Internet 1000 in order to register the information regarding installation in the database 902 connected to the management server 901.

  Next, the gas meter shown in FIG. 2 will be described.

  The gas meter 400 is provided in each household, and a gas meter ID 401 that is information for identifying the gas meter is printed on the gas meter 400 and is expressed by, for example, a bar code. In addition, a gas meter indicator value 402 representing an integrated value of the amount of gas used since the gas meter was installed is provided. The gas meter 400 has a function of outputting a pulse when the gas is consumed and the gas meter indicator value 402 is counted up. The pulse output will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Next, FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the wireless slave unit. The wireless slave device 300 is printed with a wireless slave device ID 301 for identifying the wireless slave device 300, and the wireless slave device ID 301 is represented by a barcode. The wireless slave device 300 is attached to the gas meter 400.

  Next, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which the wireless slave device 300 is mounted on the gas meter 400, and the state in which the wireless slave device 300 is attached to the gas meter 400 in this way corresponds to 400a to 400k shown in FIG. It is.

  Next, FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the wireless slave device 300 shown in FIG.

  The pulse input unit 301 plays a role of capturing a pulse output from the gas meter 400, and is configured by using, for example, a reed switch. The pulse measuring unit 311 is a part that counts and measures the pulse signal obtained from the pulse input unit. The integrating unit 314 integrates the pulse count measured by the pulse measuring unit 311. The timer unit 315 is a function for measuring time, and plays a role of a timer. The storage unit 316 is a memory used when holding the pulse count measured by the pulse measuring unit 311 and the integrated value calculated by the integrating unit 314. The wireless communication unit 317 plays a role of transmitting / receiving wireless data in order to perform low-power wireless communication with the wireless master device 100, the wireless relay devices 200a to 200e, or the portable information terminal 600. The antenna 318 is an antenna used for the wireless communication unit 317 to exchange communication data wirelessly. The control unit 312 controls the wireless slave device 300 as a whole, and the power supply unit 313 supplies power necessary for the wireless slave device 300 to operate, and is realized using a battery. is there.

  Next, FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of the portable information terminal 600.

  The imaging unit 601 plays a role of converting an optical signal into an electrical signal, and converts a barcode indicating the gas meter ID 401 or the wireless slave device ID 301 into an electrical signal so that it can be handled as information. The imaging unit 601 converts the captured optical signal so that it can be handled as image data. The optical information recognition unit 605 decodes the barcode information obtained from the imaging unit 601 and recognizes the gas meter ID 401 and the wireless slave device ID 301. The optical character information recognition unit 606 analyzes the gas meter pointer value 402 in the image data obtained from the imaging unit 601 and converts it into character information and numerical information. The wireless communication unit 604 transmits and receives wireless data in order to perform low-power wireless communication with the wireless slave device 300. The antenna 611 is used when the wireless communication unit 604 performs wireless communication. The public network communication unit 608 is a communication module used when performing communication using, for example, the Internet network, and has a function of accessing the Internet network using, for example, a mobile phone network. The antenna 612 is an antenna used when the public network communication unit 608 accesses the Internet network using the mobile phone network. The display unit 603 displays the electrical signal obtained from the imaging unit 601 as a captured image. The display unit 603 visually represents various information output by the application software of the portable information terminal 600 to the operator. The control unit 602 controls the entire portable information terminal 600. The power supply unit 610 supplies power necessary for the portable information terminal 600 to operate. The input unit 607 is configured by button keys or a touch panel for an operator to operate the portable information terminal 600. The storage unit 609 temporarily or long-term holds data obtained by the imaging unit 601, the optical information recognition unit 605, the optical character information recognition unit 606, the wireless communication unit 604, the public network communication unit 608, and the clock unit 603. This is a storage device.

Next, FIG. 7 will be described. FIG. 7 is a view showing a pulse output outputted from the gas meter 400. The horizontal axis is the time axis, the vertical axis represents the output level of the pulse output, and the pulse output 701 indicates the pulse output. The time when the pulse output 701 is Hi is T1, and the time when the pulse output is Lo is Ta, Tb, and Tc. When the gas is used, the gas meter indicator value 402 of the gas meter 400 is counted up according to the amount of gas used. Each time the value of the gas meter indicator value 402 is counted up, the pulse output 701 becomes Hi output for the time T1. The wireless slave device 300 can measure the amount of gas used by counting the number of times the pulse output 701 is output as Hi.

  The operation of the gas meter remote management system using the portable information terminal 600 will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 until the wireless slave device 300 is attached to the gas meter 400 and the installation information is registered in the server.

  First, the wireless slave device 300 is attached to the gas meter 400 in S801. This work is a manual installation work. In S802, the portable information terminal 600 is used to convert the optical signal from the imaging unit 601 into an electrical signal so that it can be handled as image data. In step S803, the image data captured from the imaging unit 601 is analyzed by the optical information recognition unit 605. In step S804, the barcode on which the gas meter ID 401 is printed is decoded to recognize the gas meter ID 401. In step S805, the wireless slave device ID 301 is recognized by decoding the barcode on which the wireless slave device ID 301 is printed. In step S <b> 806, the optical character information recognition unit 606 recognizes the gas meter pointer value 402 as numerical information from the image data captured from the imaging unit 601. The three pieces of information of the gas meter ID 401, the wireless slave device ID 301, and the gas meter pointer value 402 recognized in each step of S804, S805, and S806 are linked in S807 and held in the storage unit 609 of the portable information terminal 600. In step S <b> 808, the portable information terminal 600 performs low-power wireless communication with the wireless slave device 300, and transmits information on the gas meter ID 401 and the gas meter pointer value 402 to the wireless slave device 300. The gas meter ID 401 and the gas meter indicator value 402 are stored in the storage unit 316. In step S809, the portable information terminal 600 stores in the storage unit 609 that the process has been normally completed until step S808. At this time, in addition to the gas meter ID 401, the wireless slave device ID 301, and the gas meter pointer value 402, the image data captured by the imaging unit 601 is also stored in the storage unit 609. By saving the image data as installation information in this way, it is possible to leave a proof photograph of the installation work, as well as what kind of gas meter was in the installation or the surrounding environment. It is very useful because it is possible to manage information that was originally understood only by the person in charge of installation, such as what kind of state it was.

  In S810, by operating the application software of the portable information terminal 600, it is selected whether or not this installation information is registered in the management server 901 at a remote location.

  When registering in the management server 901, by using the public network communication unit 608 in S811, the portable information terminal 600 is connected to the Internet network using, for example, a mobile phone communication network, so that the management server 901 It becomes possible to access. Here, the Internet connection using the mobile phone communication network is specifically packet communication represented by GPRS, HSDPA, and the like. It goes without saying that other communication services may be used.

If registration to the management server 901 is not selected in S810, it is possible to return to S802 and perform the next installation. Providing the option of S810 is very important in carrying out the installation work. For example, in a housing complex such as a condominium, there are cases where a gas meter is centrally installed in a meter room such as a rooftop. In this case, if communication is performed by installing one gas meter 400 at a time, the work is interrupted, the efficiency is low, and the installation work takes time, and the labor cost associated with the installation work increases. Also, depending on the installation environment, there is a possibility that access to the mobile phone network described above cannot be performed due to the influence of the radio wave environment. In such a case, it is possible to select whether or not to register in the management server 901 in S810, so that the installation work is completed on the spot, and the registration to the management server 901 can be performed in another place. Thus, a gas meter remote management system using the portable information terminal 600 can be spread. Note that the selection means in S810 may be preset in the application software running on the portable information terminal 600 before starting the installation work, or installed every time using the input means 607. You may let an operator choose. In order to improve usability, it is preferable to be able to select which method of use is possible.

  By configuring as described above, the management server 901 at a remote location integrates and manages the image data at the time of installation in the database 902 in addition to the gas meter ID 401, the wireless slave device ID 301, and the gas meter pointer value 402 at the time of installation. In addition to existing customer information, it is possible to perform centralized management in association with each other. FIG. 9 shows this state, and shows a part of the information content stored in the database 902 as an example.

  The management server 901 can automatically perform operations such as replacement and maintenance of the gas meter by automatically notifying the management server operator and related parties when the time for replacement and maintenance of the gas meter is approaching. . As a mechanism for this automatic notification, mails may be delivered simultaneously to system use registrants, and on the operation screen of the management server 901, it can be listed that replacement and maintenance times are approaching. Anyway. In addition, it can be used to send a direct mail using a postcard to the customer that the time for replacement and maintenance is approaching as a service for customers, and in addition, an appointment that informs in advance that you want to visit for replacement or maintenance work The system can also be used. In this way, not only automatically metering the gas meter's gas consumption, but also a remote management system that realizes efficient management of equipment, customer service, and efficient arrangements by gas companies for requests from installers It becomes possible to do.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 10 is an extension of the functional block diagram of the wireless slave device 300 shown in FIG. 5, and an alarm detection unit 319 is added to the wireless slave device 300. After the wireless slave unit 300 is attached to the gas meter 400 as described in Embodiment 1, the storage unit 316 of the wireless slave unit 300 pulses the pulse output 701 from the pulse input unit 310 every time gas is used. The latest gas meter indicator value 402 measured by the measuring unit 311 and accumulated by the integrating unit 314 is stored. The alarm detection unit 319 can detect that the gas meter indicator value 402 is likely to overflow depending on the amount of gas used that the gas meter indicator value 402 is used over time. By providing the alarm detection unit 319 as described above, it is possible to transmit alarm information for prompting replacement or maintenance of the gas meter 400 to the wireless master device 100 using the wireless communication unit 317. The alarm information sent to the wireless master device 100 is sent to the management server 901 at a remote location via the Internet network 1000. Thereby, real-time information in the gas meter 400 or the wireless slave device 300 can be managed for the operator or administrator of the remote management server.

  As described above, the gas meter remote management system according to the present invention not only automates the meter reading of the gas meter, but also enables management of the gas meter replacement time and maintenance time, thereby realizing service development such as improvement of customer service. Can be provided as a system.

100 wireless master device C100 wireless master device communication range 200a to e wireless repeater C200a to e wireless repeater communication range 300 wireless slave device 400 gas meter 600 portable information terminal 701 pulse output 900 management center 901 management server 902 database 1000 internet network

Claims (5)

An imaging unit that captures a gas meter and a wireless slave unit attached to the gas meter as image data;
An information recognition unit that analyzes and recognizes a gas meter ID of the gas meter, a gas meter indicator value of the gas meter, and a wireless slave unit ID of the wireless slave unit using image data captured by the imaging unit;
A terminal wireless communication unit that transmits the gas meter ID and the gas meter indicator value recognized by the information recognition unit to the wireless slave device using the wireless slave device ID ;
The terminal wireless communication unit associates the gas meter ID, the wireless slave device ID, the gas meter pointer value, and the image data captured by the imaging unit as installation information and transmits the information to the management server. Terminal. The portable information terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the installation information can be transmitted to the management server at an arbitrary timing. A handset wireless communication unit that receives the gas meter ID and the gas meter indicator value transmitted from the portable information terminal according to claim 1 ;
A storage unit for storing the received gas meter indicator value as an initial value of gas usage; a pulse input unit for capturing a pulse output when the gas meter indicator value of the gas meter is counted up;
A pulse measuring unit for measuring a pulse captured by the pulse input unit;
An integration unit for calculating a gas usage amount of the gas meter from an initial value stored in the storage unit and a measurement value of the pulse measurement unit;
The slave radio communication unit is a radio slave that transmits the gas usage calculated by the integration unit to a management server. The wireless slave device according to claim 3, further comprising an alarm detection unit that transmits alarm information to the management server and notifies an operator when the gas meter indicator value stored in the wireless slave device reaches a predetermined condition. A gas meter remote management system comprising the gas meter according to claim 3, a wireless slave unit, and a management server.