JPH0262152A - Automatic meter reading system inputting data with bar code - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily, correctly input an initial-stage set data in a short time by reading the bar code of necessary information through a bar code interface, and setting a memory at an initial stage. CONSTITUTION:The using quantity of a gas, etc., from a gas meter 20, etc., is computated by a pulse counter 15 of an automatic meter reading reporting device main body 10. On the other hand, a CPU 11 supervises a clock 13, and the computation value of the counter is reported together with an identification code from a memory through a telephone circuit 50 connected to a transmission part 14 to an opposite destination of the telephone number of a memory 12 at every constant time set in the memory 12. The initial setting of the memory 12 is executed by automatically reading the bar code through a freely connectable bar code scanner 60 forming a bar code interface together with a bar code decoder 17, the manual setting is made unnecessary, and the initial setting of the memory can be easily, correctly and promptly executed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an improvement in an automatic meter reading system for measuring usage of gas, electricity, and water.

(Prior Art) FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a conventional LP gas automatic meter reading system. In the figure, 10 is the main body of the LP gas automatic meter reading notification device (hereinafter referred to as the device main body), and the CPU 1
, a memory 12, a clock 13, a transmitter 14, a pulse counter 15, and a serial input/output interface circuit 16.

The memory 12 stores the telephone number of the reporting party, the meter reading time, the ID code of the reporting device, and the like. The clock 13 measures meter reading time, and is designed to allow the CPU 1 to recognize the current time. The transmitter 14
consists of a line control unit for outgoing calls and a modem for data communication, and is connected to the telephone set 40 and the telephone line 50. The pulse counter 15 is connected to a gas meter 20 with a pulse output, which will be described later, and integrates the pulses output from the gas meter 20 with a pulse output. The memory 12
, clock 13, transmitter 14, pulse counter 15, and serial input/output interface circuit 16 are connected to CPU II, and all controls are performed by CPU 11.

20 is a gas meter with pulse output (hereinafter referred to as a gas meter) which outputs a number of pulses proportional to the amount of gas used. Reference numeral 30 denotes a data setting device, which includes a display section 31, a numeric keypad/function key input section 32, and a serial input/output interface circuit 33. This data setting device 30
When installing an LP gas automatic meter reading system, initial setting data such as the telephone number of the reporting party, meter reading time, ID code of the reporting device, etc. is stored in the memory 12 via the serial input/output interface circuit 16 of the main body 10 of the device. This is for setting. The data setting device 30 is normally connected to the device main body 10.
It is not connected to the LP gas meter reading system, but it is connected during the installation work of the LP gas automatic meter reading system.

The LP gas automatic meter reading system is composed of an apparatus main body 10, a gas meter 20, and a data setting device 30.

Next, we will explain the operation of the LP gas automatic meter reading notification device having the above-mentioned configuration.The gas meter 20 outputs a number of pulses proportional to the amount of gas used, and the pulse counter 15 integrates these pulses. . In addition, the CPU 11 constantly monitors the time using the clock 13, and when the meter reading time stored in the memory 12 arrives, the CPU 11 makes a phone call to the reporting destination preset in the memory 12 via the transmitter 14. Connect line 50.

Then, the integrated value of the pulse counter 15 is used as meter reading data, and the ID code of the reporting device stored in the memory 12 is added to the meter reading data to be notified to the reporting destination.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) The above-mentioned LP gas automatic meter reading system uses different data for each dwelling unit depending on the installation location, the size of the gas cylinder used, etc., such as the telephone number of the reporting party, the time of meter reading, and the ID of the reporting device.
When installing the LP gas automatic meter reading system, initial setting data such as codes are set in the memory 12 of the device main body 10 using the data setting device 30.

However, since the initial setting data is entered one by one using the numeric keypad and function keys of the data setting device 30, there is a problem in that it takes a very long time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic meter reading system that allows initial setting data to be input easily and in a short time.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention not only automatically reads the consumption of gas, electricity, and water, but also uses a telephone line to automatically read the meter of consumption of gas, electricity, and water. In an automatic meter reading system that reports meter reading data to customers, a barcode input interface unit is provided that reads initial setting data such as a telephone number of a notification destination represented by a barcode and inputs it into the memory.

(Operation) According to the present invention, initial setting data such as a telephone number of a reporting destination represented by a barcode is read and input into the memory of an automatic meter reading system.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an LP gas automatic meter reading system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figures, the same components as those of the conventional example are represented by the same reference numerals.

The LP gas automatic meter reading system consists of an LP gas automatic meter reading notification device body 10, which will be described later. It is composed of a gas meter 20 with pulse output and a barcode scanner 60.

In FIG. 1, 10 is the main body of the LP gas automatic meter reading notification device (hereinafter referred to as the device main body), the CPU 11, the memory 12
, a clock 13, a transmitter 14, a pulse counter 15, and a barcode decoder 17. 20 is a gas meter with pulse output (hereinafter referred to as a gas meter), which outputs a number of pulses proportional to the amount of gas used. 6
0 is a barcode scanner, which consists of a photoelectric converter, reads data represented by a barcode with an optical sensor, converts it into an electrical signal, and outputs it. The barcode scanner 60 is
Normally, it is not connected to the device main body 10, but is connected when installing the LP gas automatic meter reading system, and is used to input initial setting data into the memory 12 of the main body 10.

The barcode input interface unit includes a barcode decoder 17 and a barcode scanner 60. The memory 12 stores data that is set when the LP gas automatic meter reading system is installed, a telephone number of a reporting destination, It stores initial setting data such as meter reading time and ID code of the reporting device, so that it can be accessed by the CPU 11.
It is connected to CPU11. The clock 13 measures meter reading time and is connected to the CPU 11.
is now able to recognize the current time. The transmitting section 14 includes a transmitting line control unit and a data communication modem, and is connected to a telephone 40 and a telephone line 50. Telephone line 50 is normally connected to telephone 40 via a calling line control unit. The front pulse counter 15 inputs the pulses output from the gas meter 20, integrates the number of pulses, and outputs the result to the CPUI 1. The barcode decoder 17 inputs the electrical signal output by the barcode scanner 60 when reading the data represented by the barcode, converts it into data conforming to the processing format of the CPU II, and outputs it to the CPU 1.

Next, the operation of this embodiment having the above-described configuration will be explained.

The gas meter 20 outputs a number of pulses proportional to the amount of gas used, and the pulse counter 15 adds up the number of pulses. In addition, the CPU 1 constantly monitors the time using a clock 13, and when the meter reading time stored in the memory 12 arrives, a telephone line is sent to the reporting destination initially set in the memory 12 via the transmitter 14. Connect 50. Then, the integrated value of the pulse counter 15 and the ID code of the reporting device initially set in the memory 12 are reported to the reporting destination.

Next, the operation when setting initial setting data in the memory 12 will be explained.

When installing an LP gas automatic meter reading system, a construction worker connects a barcode scanner 60 to the main body 10 of the device. Then, a barcode scanner 60 is used to read the telephone numbers and meter reading times from a barcode ledger in which a plurality of telephone numbers and meter reading times are represented by barcodes, as shown in FIG. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the bar code of the reporting device ID code printed in advance on the main body 10 of the device is read. As a result, the CPU 11
The telephone number of the reporting party, the meter reading time, and the ID code of the reporting device are inputted via the barcode scanner 60 and barcode decoder 17, and these initial setting data are stored in the memory 12. The construction worker removes the barcode scanner 60 from the device main body 10 after setting the initial setting data.

As mentioned above, the construction worker simply reads several barcodes using the barcode scanner 60.
The input of initial setting data to the apparatus main body 10 can be completed. Furthermore, if initial setting data consisting of a plurality of pieces of data can be represented by one barcode, the construction worker only needs to operate the barcode scanner 60 once.

In addition, even if the initial setting data changes from time to time and cannot be represented by a single barcode, a barcode ledger in which the numbers 0 to 9 are represented by barcodes, as shown in Figure 5, should be prepared. This makes it possible to input initial setting data very easily.

Furthermore, the LP gas automatic meter reading system of this embodiment can also be used as described below.

When replacing an LP gas cylinder, it is necessary to keep a history of the LP gas cylinder for management purposes. Therefore, when replacing an LP gas cylinder, a worker records cylinder information such as the cylinder number, cylinder weight, and cylinder expiration date, as well as safety information such as the condition of the cylinder and gas pipe. Therefore, this cylinder information is represented by a barcode and printed on the LP gas cylinder, and when replacing the LP gas cylinder, the operator uses the barcode scanner 6o to input the information into the main body 10 of the apparatus. If the device body 10 reports these cylinder information to the notification destination, it is possible to save the operator's time to record the cylinder information and also prevent the operator from recording incorrect cylinder information. .

Furthermore, if you create a barcode in advance for security information in a barcode ledger, and enter the parcode corresponding to the status of the cylinder or gas pipe at that time into the device main body 10 using the barcode scanner 60, the hassle of recording the security information can be reduced. can be omitted.

In this embodiment, the barcode decoder 17 is provided inside the device main body 10, but by providing the barcode decoder 17 and a serial input/output interface circuit in the barcode scanner 60, it is possible to perform conventional LP gas meter reading notifications. It is also possible to connect to the main body of the device.

Further, in this embodiment, a system using a pulse gas meter that outputs the amount of gas used in the form of a pulse has been described, but a system using a telegram meter that outputs the amount of gas used in the form of a message is also possible.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the present invention, the meter reading of gas, electricity, and water consumption is performed automatically, and the meter reading data is sent to the reporting destination initially set in the memory using the telephone line. In the automatic meter reading system for reporting, a barcode input interface unit is provided that reads initial setting data such as the phone number of the notification destination represented by a barcode and inputs it into the memory. Since data can be entered by simply reading the initial setting data, the initial setting data can be entered manually in a short period of time. Furthermore, since the barcode representing the initial setting data is created in advance, there is an advantage that it is possible to prevent the operator from inputting incorrect data.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a conventional example, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a barcode ledger according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a barcode ledger according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the main body of the apparatus printed with barcodes, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a ledger in which numbers are represented by barcodes. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Device main body, 11... CPU, 12... Memory, 13... Clock, 14... Transmission unit, 15...
Pulse counter, 16... Serial input/output interface circuit, 17... Barcode decoder, gas meter with 20 pulse output, 40... Telephone, 5o... Telephone line, 60... Barcode scanner. 4th WJ

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an automatic meter reading system that automatically reads the consumption of gas, electricity, and water, and reports the meter reading data to a reporting destination initially set in memory using a telephone line, 1. An automatic meter reading system for inputting data using a barcode, comprising: a barcode input interface section that reads initial setting data such as a phone number of a called party and inputs the data into the memory.