JPH01233988A - Automatic notice device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain re-notice to a notice destination with high probability without reducing the service life of a battery by providing a finite battery and applying re-notice next day and next day after next again if re-notice cannot be given within a required time and applying notice of shortage of battery to a required notice destination if the number of times of integration of notice exceeds a prescribed value. CONSTITUTION:A notice means 18 informs a metering value of a meter 4 to a required notice destination 2 if a clock 22 points out a predetermined date and time. If notice to the notice destination 2 cannot be implemented even with the execution of the notice of a metering value by a notice means 18, a retrial means 19 repeats the metering value notice for the required number of times within a required time. If notice cannot be implemented yet even with the repetitive re-notice by the means 19 within a required time, a re-retrial means 20 informs metering value information next day and next day after next again. A battery shortage prediction notice means 21 integrates the number of times of notice by the means 18, 19, 20 for each notice and applies prediction notice of shortage of battery to the required notice destination 2 if the number of integrated times of the notice exceeds a prescribed value.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Table of contents] Overview Industrial application field Prior art (Figure 6) Means for solving the problem to be solved by the invention (Figure 1) Effect (Figure 1) ) Embodiment (Figures 2 to 5) Effects of the invention [Summary] When a reporting factor occurs, a notification is made to the required reporting destination, and if the notification cannot be made even if the notification is executed, the required information after this notification is White that repeats the re-report due to the reporting factor as many times as required within the time limit! 111] Concerning the notification system, even if the system at the destination continues to be down for a certain amount of time, it will be possible to re-notify the destination with a high probability without shortening the life of the battery, and it will be possible to notify the destination in advance of battery exhaustion. The purpose is to enable accurate reporting.

A finite battery is provided as a power source for reporting, and if the report still cannot be made even after repeating re-reports within the required time, a re-try means is provided to perform the re-report again the next day and the day after, and each time the report is made. The device is configured to include a battery exhaustion advance notice means for accumulating the number of reports and, when the cumulative number of reports exceeds a predetermined value, giving advance notice of battery exhaustion to a required report destination.

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention not only sends a notification to a required notification destination when one notification factor occurs, but also sends a notification to a required notification destination within the required time after the notification if the notification cannot be made even if the notification is executed. The present invention relates to an automatic reporting device that repeats re-reporting due to a predetermined number of times.

In recent years, automatic notification systems have been proposed for LP gas consumers that provide home security services and automatic meter readings at monitoring centers and information processing centers.

[Prior art] Fig. 6 is an overall configuration diagram showing an LP gas automatic meter reading system. In Fig. 6, 1 indicates the LP as the notification destination.
Gas consumer 2 is an information processing center as a reporting destination.

First, the LP gas consumer 1 is equipped with an automatic meter reading terminal device 3 as an automatic notification device, and this automatic meter reading terminal device 3 is equipped with a central monitoring type microcomputer meter 4 (this microcomputer meter 4 is used to detect abnormalities). (Built-in microcomputer with logic port 1 function and also has a shutoff valve to shut off the gas flow path), gas leak alarm 5. Sensitive layer6. recent switch 7
．． An automatic switching regulator B and a TL phone 9 are connected. In addition.

A backup alarm 10 can also be connected to this automatic meter reading terminal device 3.

Furthermore, the LP gas consumer 1 and the information processing center 2 are
The information processing center 2 is connected via a subscriber telephone line 12, and the information processing center 2 is provided with a communication control adapter 13, and a processing bag fi14 consisting of a personal computer or the like is connected to the communication control adapter 13. . In addition, this place I! I
The printer 15 is connected to the device ff114, and a larger host computer 1d' is also connected thereto.

In addition, in FIG. 6, 17 is an LP gas cylinder.

With this configuration, the amount of LP gas used by the LP gas consumer 1 is reported to the information processing center 2 through the automatic meter reading terminal bag V13 at an appropriate time, for example, once a month (once a month). At this time, if the information processing center 2 cannot be notified even if it is executed, the automatic meter reading terminal device 3 will re-report the above meter reading content the required number of times within the required time after this notification + ν. repeat. Such processing is called a re-try.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in such a conventional automatic notification system, is it used for notification on the LP gas consumer 1 side? ! I
AC as a source? No matter how much power is consumed for one report because the u source is only used, there is no direct relationship between the number of report attempts and the device lifespan. If necessary, especially if the system continues to be down for a long period of time, retries can be performed as many times as necessary without being aware of the consumption required for two notifications.

By the way, in order to increase the degree of freedom in arranging the notification device,
As a power source on the gas demand side, there are small and relatively long-life lithium batteries such as 11! It is possible to use batteries.

However, with such a system that uses a pH pond, if the system goes down for a long time in the information processing center 2, if retries are performed continuously, the battery will be depleted quickly due to the power consumption required for reporting. 2, which in turn shortens the life of the device.

In addition, if the battery is left unattended, there is a problem that accurate self-meter reading cannot be performed.

In this case, it may be possible to monitor the battery voltage and issue a warning that the battery is running out when the voltage value drops below a certain value, but with lithium batteries, the voltage value may change due to a change in the surrounding temperature. Because the battery changes drastically, it is not possible to accurately determine the degree of battery consumption when the surrounding temperature becomes hot or cold.

The present invention has been developed in view of these problems, and even if the system of one destination continues to be down for a certain period of time, it is possible to re-report to the destination with a high probability without shortening the battery life. In addition to this, we have also made it possible to accurately report battery exhaustion warnings. The purpose is to provide an automatic notification device.

[0! [Means to solve the problem] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the principle of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 18 is a reporting means, and this reporting means 18
The system notifies the meter reading value at the meter 4 to the required reporting destination 2 when a reporting factor occurs (when the clock 22 indicates a predetermined date and time).

Reference numeral 19 denotes a retry means, and this retry means 19 receives information from the clock 22 when it is not possible to report the meter reading value to the reporting destination 2 even after the meter reading is reported by the reporting means 18.
Re-reports (meter-reading value reports) due to the above-mentioned reporting factors are repeated the required number of times within the required time after this report.

2o is a retry means, and this retry means 2o is
If the retry means 19 repeatedly attempts to report within the required time, but the report still cannot be made, 1 clock 22
In response to the information received from the above, re-reports (meter reading report) due to the above-mentioned reporting factors will be made again on the next day and the day after next.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a battery exhaustion advance notification means. Retry means 19. The number of notifications is accumulated each time the retry means 20 makes a notification, and when the cumulative number of notifications exceeds a predetermined value, an advance notification of the battery exhaustion is sent to the required notification destination 2.

In addition, the above reporting means 18. Retry means 19° Retry means 20. The ffi battery depletion advance notification means 21 is connected to a finite battery 23 as a source for one notification.

24 is a selector, and this selector 24 is initially switched to the reporting means 18 side, and when it is not possible to report by means 18, it is switched to the retry means 19 side, and when reporting by the retry means 19 is not possible, the selector 24 is switched to the reporting means 18 side. , and is switched to the retry means 19, and is further switched to pass the notification from the battery exhaustion advance notice means 21.

Note that the above components actually include the CPU and memory (R
AM, ROM), a clock source, or an appropriate input/output interface.

[Function] With this configuration, the reporting means 18 reports the meter reading at the meter 4 to the required reporting destination 2 when a reporting factor occurs, but even if this meter reading value notification tk is executed, the notification cannot be made. In this case, the second stage 19 repeats the re-report (meter-reading value report) due to the reporting factor the required number of times within the required time after this notification.

Furthermore, if the report still cannot be made even if the re-report is repeated within the required time, the re-retry means 20
Accordingly, the re-report (meter reading report) will be made again on the next day and the day after next.

On the other hand, the battery exhaustion advance notification means 21 accumulates the number of notifications for each of the above-mentioned notifications, and if the cumulative number of notifications exceeds a predetermined value, this battery exhaustion advance notification means 21 sends the notification to the required report destination 2. Provide advance notice of low battery.

[Example code] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

In this FIG. 2, 1 is an LP gas consumer as a notification destination, and in this LP gas consumer 1, an automatic meter reading terminal device 3 as an automatic notification device 4A is installed. The bag rl13 uses a lithium battery (limited battery) 23 as a power source.

Moreover, this automatic meter reading terminal device 3 has a CPU (pronocessor) 25. Memory (RAM, ROM)
26. Input/output interface having a function as a factor input section 27.28. Notification circuits 29A and 29B.

Counter 30. It has a clock 22, and these are connected via a pass line 31. In addition.

The clock 22 or the CPU 25 has a real timer as an internal timer that can set any time.

A 20 second timer and a 3 minute timer are provided.

Also, one input/output interface 27 has a.

A meter (microcomputer meter with cut-off function) 4 is connected to detect the amount of LP gas used, and a gas leak alarm 5 is connected to the other input/output interface 28 to detect gas leaks.
is connected. Thereby, the meter reading value from the meter 4 can be taken in, and gas leak information can also be taken in. Note that when the gas leak information is input, the cutoff valve of the meter 4 closes, and the meter 4 compares the security data signal.

Furthermore, the 1 notification circuit 29A is for the information processing center 2, and the notification circuit 29 I31:! Both reporting circuits 29A and 29B are connected to the information processing center 2, the monitoring center 2', etc. via the subscriber telephone line 12 and the exchange 32, although they are for the monitoring center 2'. Here, the information processing center 2 has a plurality of communication control adapters 13-1.13-2.13-3, each of which is assigned an individual telephone number.
(Each communication control adapter 13-1.13-2.13-3
are the first, second. (equivalent to the third contact point).

Each communication control adapter 13-1.13-2.13-3 is
It is connected to a host computer 16 via a processing device 14 .

As described above, the hardware configuration of the automatic meter reading terminal device 3 is as shown in FIG. It will look like a block diagram. That is, this automatic meter reading terminal device 3 has a reporting means 18. which reports the meter reading value at the meter 4 to the required information processing center 2 when a reporting factor occurs (when the clock 22 indicates a predetermined date and time). If the information processing center 2 cannot be notified even if the meter reading is reported by the reporting means 18, the information processing center 2 receives information from the clock 22, and within the required time after the notification, if the meter reading is reported due to the above-mentioned reporting factors, Retry means for repeating notification (meter reading value notification) the required number of times 19. Even if the retry means 19 repeats the re-report within the required time, if the report still cannot be made, the information from the clock 22 is received and the
A retry means 20 is provided for re-reporting (meter-reading value report) due to the above-mentioned reporting factors on the next day and the day after next, and 1 reporting means 18. Retry means 19. Retry method 2
The number of reports is accumulated each time a report is made at 0, and when the accumulated number of reports exceeds a predetermined value (standard value), the information processing center 2
Battery exhaustion warning notification means 2 for giving advance notice of battery exhaustion to
1 (see Figure 1 for the symbols).

The automatic meter reading terminal bag 3 also has the function of a selector 24 (see Figure 1), and this selector function allows !
& Initially, it is switched to the reporting means 18 side, but if it is not possible to report using the reporting means 18.

If the retry means 19 cannot make a report, the retry means 19 side is switched to the retry means 19 side, and furthermore, it is switched to allow the report from the battery exhaustion advance notice means 21 to pass.

Further, it is preferable that the meter reading detected by the meter 4 is sent to the information processing center 21\ for fee calculation etc.
For this reason, the security data signal based on the gas leak information detected by the gas leak alarm 5 is preferably sent to the monitoring center 2'.

This automatic meter reading terminal device 3 also has the function of a reporting destination selection means that sends the meter reading value detected by the meter 4 to the information processing center 2 and also sends a security data signal based on gas leak information to the monitoring center 2'. There is. Note that the function of this reporting destination selection means is mainly provided within the CPU 25.

Therefore, when the clock 22 indicates a predetermined date and time (for example, a certain time on a specified day every month), the reporting means 1
8 reports the meter reading value at the meter 4 to the information processing center 2, and the information processing center 2 calculates the gas usage fee and checks the remaining amount of gas, etc. based on this meter reading value information. .

On the other hand, if the information processing center 2 cannot be notified even after the meter reading is reported by the reporting means 18, the retry means 19 receives the information from the clock 22 and within the required time after this reporting. Repeat the above meter reading report as many times as required.

In addition, 1, for example, the host computer 1 of the information processing center 2
Even if the retry means 19 repeats the re-notification within the required time due to the system down in step 6, etc.,
If the report still cannot be made, the meter reading report is made again on the next day and the day after next after receiving information from the clock 22.

At this time, the battery-depletion advance notice means 21 calculates the number of reports for each of the above-mentioned reports, and if the accumulated number of reports exceeds a predetermined value (regular value), the battery-depletion advance notice means 21 calculates the number of reports. Sends a battery exhaustion advance notice (backlash alarm) to the required report destination 2.

With the above configuration, the above-mentioned first notification, notification by retry, notification by retry, and preliminary notification of battery exhaustion can be executed as shown in FIGS. 3(a), (b) and 4. This is carried out as shown in the flowchart.

First, when there is a reporting factor (when the time when meter reading data from meter 4 should be taken in), it is determined in step a1 of FIG. 3(a) whether the line is ready (3 seconds), and if it is ready, step In step a2, dial the first notification destination 13-1, and in step a3, add 1 to the number of notifications,
In step a4, it is determined in 20 seconds whether there is an A-8 or not. In this case, a 2Q seconds timer is activated. If there is an incoming call, send it in step a5? In step a6, it is determined whether transmission is possible. If it is possible to send.

At step a6, the process goes through the YES route, and at step a7 of FIG. 3(b), it is determined whether the number of times of one report is greater than or equal to a specified value. At first, take No.

If such a route is taken, the report is successful the first time.

If step a4 in FIG. 3(a). At a6.

If No, it means that the first report failed.
In this case, - the telephone line is disconnected, the reporting destination is changed, and 2.
Make the second report, that is, after pausing to open the first line in step a8, dial the second report destination 13-2, add 1 to the number of 2 reports in step a9, and in step alo,
It takes 20 seconds to determine whether there is an incoming call. In this case too,
A 20 second timer starts. If there is a 1M signal, transmission is executed in step all, and it is determined in step a12 whether transmission is possible. If transmission is possible, the YES route is passed in step a12, and it is determined in step a7 of FIG. 3(b) whether the number of times of one report is greater than or equal to a specified value. In this case as well, take NO. If such a route is taken, the report is successful the second time.

If step a10 in FIG. 3(a). a12, NO
In this case, the second notification also fails, but in this case, a third notification is made after an interval of 3 minutes, that is, in step a13.

After the line is opened, the 3-minute timer is activated to confirm that 3 minutes have elapsed, and then in step a14, the third reporting destination 1
Dial 3-3 and add 1 to the number of reports in step a15.
, and in step a16.

It takes 20 seconds to determine whether there is an incoming call. In this case too,
A 20 second timer starts. If there is one incoming call, step al? At step a18, it is determined whether transmission is possible. If transmission is possible, the YES route is passed in step a18, and it is determined in step a7 of FIG. 3(b) whether the number of notifications is greater than or equal to a specified value. In this case as well, take NO. If such a route is taken, the report will be successful on the third attempt.

If step a16 in FIG. 3(a). a18, NO
In this case, the third notification also fails; in this case, after one line is paused in step a19, the first notification destination 13-1 is dialed.

In step a20, 1 is added to the number of notifications, and in step a2L, it is determined whether there is an incoming call in 20 seconds. In this case as well, the 20 second timer is activated.

If there is an incoming call, in step a22, send (i) is executed, and in step a23, it is determined whether transmission is possible.If it is possible to send, in step a23, the call is sent via the YES route, and the third In step a7 of Figure (b), it is determined whether the number of notifications is greater than or equal to the specified value. In this case, the answer is also No. If such a route is taken, the notification is successful on the fourth time.

If No in step a23 of FIG. 3(a), that is, if the fourth notification also fails, the transmission is stopped (
Step a24).

If NO in step a21, it is determined whether it is the first day in step a25 of FIG. Then, in step a7, the number of communications is compared with a specified value and the process ends.

Then, at the next day's set time, the real timer is triggered and the maximum
1 to a2'4 are executed.

Normally, even if steps a1 to a24 are not performed, 1
In many cases, it is possible to make a report, but if it is not possible to make a report even after reaching step a24, it means that the report could not be made on this day either. If this is Jfi, the No route is taken in step a25, and it is determined in step a27 whether or not it is the second day.In this case, it is YES, so in step a28, the time of the day after the next is set in the real timer. Then, in step a7, the number of times of one communication is compared with a specified value, and the process ends.

Then, at the set time the day after next, the real timer was triggered again, and just like the second day, it was the best.

The process of step al-a24 in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) is executed.

In this case as well, it is thought that in many cases it is possible to make one report without performing the processing in steps a1 to a24, but if it is still not possible to make a report even after reaching step a24, then this port also cannot be reported. It turns out I couldn't do it. In this case, the No route is taken in steps a25 and a27, and the transmission is stopped in step a29. Namely.

If one report cannot be made even two days later, no further reports will be made for the same meter reading.

Further, the initial notification, retry, and retry are schematically shown in FIG. 5. In addition, retry,
Retry will be performed up to 8 times a day.Also, check whether the line is ready in step a1 at 3 minute intervals! &530 judgments (step a31.
a32).

The procedure for transmission is as shown in the flow shown in FIG. First, in step b1, data is transmitted with the terminal (communication control adapter) of the information processing center 2, but if there is no 11 constant response within 10 seconds, a No route is taken in step b2. When the third transmission occurs, the return process is performed via the YES route in step b3.

In addition to this, it has a trial function that allows you to report the same meter reading several times within the same day.

The information processing center 2 has a retry function that repeatedly reports the same meter reading several times the next day, and if the report still fails, then repeats the same reading several times the next day and reports again. system down (this system down period cannot be predicted by the automatic meter reading terminal device, but normally it will last at least a few tens of seconds due to recovery work using maintenance tools)
Even if the situation continues for a certain length of time (in many cases, recovery is possible within one day at most), re-notification to the information processing center 2 can be performed with a high probability. In addition, since such re-notification is only carried out until the next day at most, the life of the lithium battery 23 is not shortened, thereby extending the life of the lithium battery 23 and re-notifying the information processing center 2 with high accuracy. This makes it possible to achieve both reporting and reporting.

By the way, when it is detected in step a7 of FIG. 3(b) that the number of reports has reached the specified value, a battery exhaustion notice (panteri alarm) is issued in step a30.
It is possible to accurately notify the battery exhaustion notice regardless of the ambient temperature. In other words, the I+¥1 pond 23 consumes the most power when processing a report, and consumes almost no power other than when processing a report.
Depletion of the battery 23 can be known regardless of temperature changes. Note that the number of times one report is counted is performed by the counter 30, and the determination at step a30 is performed by the CPU 25.

Further, the meter reading value detected by the meter 4 is sent to the information processing center 2 as described above, but the security data signal based on the gas leak information detected by the gas leak alarm 5 is sent to the monitoring center 2'. It will be done. The selection of multiple reporting destinations based on reporting factors in this way is due to the action of the reporting destination selection means described above, which allows the LP gas consumer 1 to select information suitable for each reporting destination. Therefore, there is no need to forward the message to the appropriate destination again after receiving it, which has the advantage of making it possible to make effective reports.

Note that the counter 30 is not configured as a hardware configuration.

This function may be provided by software in the memory 26.

Alternatively, the two reporting circuits 29A and 29B may be combined into one, leaving all reporting destination selection functions to the CPLI 25.

It goes without saying that this automatic communication I'g device can be applied to various notification systems in addition to the LP gas automatic meter reading system.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the automatic notification device of the present invention,
Even if the system at the destination continues to be down for a certain amount of time, it has the advantage of not shortening the battery life and making it possible to re-report to the destination with a high probability, as well as being able to accurately notify the destination of battery depletion. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the principle of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are flowcharts showing the operation of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the transmission procedure of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is an overall configuration diagram showing an LP gas automatic meter reading system. In fig. 1 is an LP gas consumer. 2 is the information processing center. 2' is the monitoring center. 3 is an automatic meter reading terminal device as an automatic notification device. 4 is a microcomputer meter. 5 is a waste leak alarm, and 13-1.13-2.13-3 is a communication control adapter as a notification destination. 14 is a processing device. 16 is a host computer. 18 is a reporting method. 19 is a retry method. 2o is a retry method. 21 is a battery warning notification means. 22 is a clock. 23 is a lithium battery (limited battery), 24 is a selector, and 25 is a CPU. 26 is memory. 27.28 is an input/output interface. 29A and 29B are reporting circuits. 30 is a counter. 31 is the pass line. 32 is an exchange. Figure 3 Tree 11 Moe's - * Rogoida 11's ゛ψ Kai arm t Kamisu 70
- Child Yard Figure 3 (b)

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] When a reporting factor occurs, a notification is made to the required reporting destination (2), and if the notification cannot be made even if the notification is executed,
The automatic notification device (3) repeats the re-notification due to the reporting factor the required number of times within the required time after the notification, and is equipped with a finite battery (23) as a power source for notification, and the automatic notification device (3) repeats the re-notification due to the reporting factor a required number of times within the required time. a retry means (20) for retrying the report on the next day and the day after, if the report still cannot be made even after repeated attempts; If you exceed
An automatic notification device characterized in that a battery exhaustion advance notice means (21) is provided to issue a battery exhaustion advance notice to a required report destination (2).