JPH02265350A - Terminal side network controller in information communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To send information in response to the operation of various terminal equipments by setting a monitor time and a sampling time corresponding to the operation for a terminal equipment. CONSTITUTION:The setting of a monitor time is implemented by using a setting device provided to a center equipment 11 or an ANR (automatic redialing no ringing response)-NCU 5. A CPU of the ANR-NCU 5 monitors the state of the switch and applies control based on a monitor time and a sampling time corresponding to the switch stored in a RAM. Thus, the monitor time and the sampling time are set to a proper value in response to the operating state of the switch to make a call in response to the call condition even when the call condition differs such as a rice box residual amount detection switch and an emergency button.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a terminal-side network control device in an information communication system.

<Prior art> An information communication system that automatically transmits various information from a large number of terminal devices to a central device such as a computer via a telephone line is used for automatic meter reading of water, LP gas, city gas, electricity, etc. It was developed without the system being installed.

Such an information communication system not only transmits data of meter values, but also security information associated with business, such as water leakage in the case of water supply, cylinder switching and gas leakage in the case of LP gas, and electric leakage in the case of electricity. A system that also has a transmission function is desirable, and sensors for this purpose are provided. As such sensors, it is considered from a business perspective to add an emergency button, a kerosene tank oil-out detection switch, or a rice bin detection switch. These meters, sensors, switches, etc. are called terminal-side network control equipment (hereinafter referred to as ANR) for controlling telephone lines.
Auto dialing/no ringing response)
The ANR-NCU transmits its status to the center device. The above sensors and switches operate differently depending on the system. For example, information on switching LP gas cylinders, detecting oil leaks in kerosene tanks, and detecting the remaining amount in rice bins is determined when the switch is "ON" or rOF depending on the state of the detected object.
It is necessary to repeat the F'J state and finally send information to the center device when the switch state becomes stable, whereas it is necessary to immediately send information to the center device when the emergency button is turned ON. Therefore, as an ANR-NCU in a conventional information communication system, a device corresponding to the operation of sensors and switches used in each system has been used for each system.

<Problem to be solved by the invention> However, in the conventional ANR-NCU described above, although the information communication function is exactly the same, a different one must be manufactured for each system. The problem was that there was a lot of waste.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an ANR-NCU in an information communication system that can transmit information in response to the operations of various sensors and switches.

<Means for Solving the Problems> In order to achieve the above object, the present invention connects to a central device such as a computer via a telephone line, connects terminals such as meters and sensors, and receives signals from the terminals. In the terminal-side network control device in the information communication system, which transmits the status of the terminal to the center device based on the above, the monitoring time and the monitoring time for monitoring the signal from the terminal for each terminal. monitoring time setting means for setting a sampling time corresponding to the above; and monitoring time setting means for counting time from the time when a signal from the terminal is received, and monitoring the signal from the terminal at each sampling time set by the monitoring time setting means. If the signal is not received from the terminal, the count value is cleared, but if the signal is received from the terminal, the count continues, and when the monitoring time set by the monitoring time setting means is counted, the count value is cleared. time counting means for clearing a value; and transmission means for transmitting the state of the terminal to the center device based on a signal from the terminal when the time counting means has counted the monitoring time set by the monitoring time setting means. It is characterized by having the following.

Further, in the present invention, the monitoring time setting means may set the monitoring time and the sampling time based on a signal from the center device.

Function> The monitoring time setting means sets, for each terminal, a monitoring time for monitoring signals from the terminal and a sampling time corresponding to the monitoring time. The time counting means counts time from the time when the signal from the terminal is received, monitors the signal from the terminal at every sampling time set by the monitoring time setting means, and detects the signal from the terminal. If no signal has been received from the terminal, the count value is cleared, while if a signal has been received from the terminal, counting continues, and when the monitoring time set by the monitoring time setting means has been counted, the count value is cleared. When the time counting means counts the monitoring time set by the monitoring time setting means, the transmitting means transmits the state of the terminal to the center device based on the signal from the terminal.

Therefore, by setting the monitoring time and sampling time corresponding to the operation of each terminal, it is possible to transmit information according to the operation of various terminals.

<Example> Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of an information communication system using an ANR-NCU according to an embodiment of the present invention.

This information communication system is a host computer! and center side network control unit (hereinafter referred to as C-NCU) 2, and ANrL-NCU 5 of this embodiment.
A terminal device 12 consisting of meters 6, sensors 7, and a telephone 8 is connected to telephone lines 13, 14.1 via an exchange 3.4.
Connected with 5.

The ANR-NCU 5 or meters 6 has a built-in clock, and based on the time measured by this clock, the
- The NCU 5 automatically makes a call every predetermined date and transmits information regarding the meters 6 to the center device 11. On the other hand, the sensors 7 are, for example, a switch 71 shown in FIG. 2 or a transistor 72 shown in FIG. This will be reported to IT.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the T-NCU 5. As shown in FIG.

In FIG. 4, 41 is a CPU, 42 is a rtOM as a program memory, 43 is a RAM as a data memory, 44 is an input/output device (Ilo), 45 is an interface to the telephone line 15, and 46 is a sensor 7 47 is a call mode switch. This call mode switch 47 is used to handle cases where the mode of the signal differs depending on the terminal, for example, when the signal from the terminal is ON to indicate a call, and when the signal is OFF'F to indicate a call. The mode of the signal is set according to the terminal, and by setting the mode using the calling mode switch 47, it is possible to support various services.

When the switch 71 operates now, the interface section 4
6 generates a signal (7IlK pressure signal) suitable for the CPU 41, and this signal is output to the CPU 41 via the 110 section 44. Upon receiving this signal, the CPU 41 operates the telephone line interface section 45 via the 110 section 44, communicates with the center device IK, and transmits to the center device 11 the contents represented by the operation of the switch 7■. This telephone line interface unit 45 is composed of an off-hook circuit, a modem circuit, etc., and its operation is similar to that of a well-known NCU and modem, so a description thereof will be omitted here.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for making a call and communicating immediately when the switch 71 is turned from OFF to ON.
In this case, it is suitable when it is necessary to send information to the center device immediately when it is turned on, such as when an emergency button is turned on, but it is suitable when it is necessary to send information to a central device immediately when it is turned on, such as when an emergency button is turned on. It is not suitable for a switch that repeats rONJ and rOF'FJ states.

Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to set a monitoring time corresponding to the operation of each connected terminal. This monitoring time is set by a setting device (not shown) provided in the center device 2 or this ANrl-NCU 5, and the set monitoring time data is
Sent to U4 l. The CPU 41 stores this monitoring time data in the RAM 43, and also stores the sampling time corresponding to this monitoring time in the RAM 43. This monitoring time data can be read from the center device 11 or the setting device.

The CPU 41 monitors the state of the switch 71 and performs the control shown in FIG. 6 based on the state of the switch 71 and the monitoring time and sampling time corresponding to the switch 71 stored in the RAM 43.

That is, when the switch 71 turns from OFF to ON, it starts counting the time, determines whether the switch continues to be ON at each sampling time, and if it continues, continues counting the time. If it is in the OFF state, clear the count value and press switch 7 again! Wait for it to turn from OFF to ON. Then, if the above monitoring time is counted while the switch is in the ON state,
The state is transmitted to the center device, the count value is cleared, and the system waits for the switch 71 to turn from OFF to ON again.

Therefore, by setting the above-mentioned monitoring time and sampling time to appropriate values according to the operating status of the switch, even if the call conditions are different, such as the rice bin remaining amount detection switch and the emergency button, the call conditions will be adjusted accordingly. It is possible to make a call according to the request and correspond to various information communication systems.

<Effects of the Invention> As is clear from the above, the terminal side network control device in the information communication system of the Kome invention has a monitoring time for monitoring signals from each terminal such as a meter or a sensor, and a monitoring time for monitoring signals from the terminal. Set a sampling time according to the time, count the time from the time when the signal from the terminal is received, monitor the signal from the terminal at each sampling time,
If no signal is received from the above terminal, the count is cleared, while if a signal is received from the above terminal, the count is continued, and when the above monitoring time is counted, the count value is cleared and based on the signal from the above terminal. Since the status of the terminal is transmitted to the above-mentioned center device, information can be sent according to the operation of various terminals. Therefore, it is possible to support services of various businesses, and the status of each terminal is different depending on the system. There is no need to produce anything.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of an information communication system using an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a switch which is an example of the sensors in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the above-mentioned sensors. A diagram showing a transistor as another example, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the above embodiment,
FIG. 5 is a flowchart explaining the operation when a call is made only when the switch is turned on, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the above embodiment. ! ...Host computer, 2,5...Network control device, 3.4...Switching center, 6...Meters, 7...Sensors, Death...Telephone, 11...Center device , 12...terminal device, 4t.
・CPU, 42...ROM, 43...rtAM. 44...Ilo, 45.46...Interface section, Figure 4 Patent Applicant: Sharp Corporation Agent
Patent attorney 1 person 4't

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) Connect to central equipment such as computers via telephone lines, and connect terminals such as meters and sensors,
In a terminal-side network control device in an information communication system that transmits the status of the terminal to the center device based on the signal from the terminal, monitoring for monitoring the signal from the terminal for each of the terminals. monitoring time setting means for setting a sampling time corresponding to the monitoring time; and a monitoring time setting means for counting time from the time when a signal from the terminal is received, and transmitting the signal from the terminal at each sampling time set by the monitoring time setting means. If a signal is not received from the terminal, the count value is cleared, while if a signal is received from the terminal, the count continues, and the monitoring time set by the monitoring time setting means is set by the monitoring time setting means. a time counting means for clearing a count value when the time counting means counts the monitoring time set by the monitoring time setting means; and a time counting means for determining the state of the terminal based on a signal from the terminal when the time counting means counts the monitoring time set by the monitoring time setting means. 1. A terminal-side network control device in an information communication system, comprising: a transmission means for transmitting data to an information communication system. (2) The terminal-side network control device in an information communication system according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring time setting means sets the monitoring time and the sampling time based on a signal from the center device.