JPH04131084U - Automatic notification device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] The purpose is to collect data that can be used to estimate the causes of malfunctions, such as timing shifts in notifications, in automatic reporting devices, so that countermeasures can be taken accurately. do. [Structure] A counting means 11a ₁ counts the number of resets of the microcomputer 11 which periodically reports based on the time data of the clock 16. The microcomputer 11 is notified of the number of times it has been reset by transmitting this count value at the same time as reporting or in response to an external request signal.

Description

[Detailed explanation of the idea]

0001

[Industrial application field]

This invention automatically sends information to the information center periodically or in response to the occurrence of events that should be reported. This applies to automatic reporting equipment that performs reporting, especially when it operates according to a predetermined program. It has a built-in microcomputer (hereinafter abbreviated as CPU), and the CPU is connected to an external computer. When the game goes out of control due to an error etc., it will be reset to normalize the operation. This relates to an automatic notification device.

0002

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, this type of device was configured as a gas meter reading system, as shown in Figure 7. There was something. In the figure, 1 is an automatic notification device, and this device 1 includes a gas meter 2, gas leak alarm 3, external equipment 4 for detecting abnormalities such as fire, and telephone Line 5 is connected and commercial power is supplied via outlet 6. Ru.

0003 The gas meter 2 outputs a meter reading pulse every time a predetermined flow rate of gas flows through it. Ru. The gas leak alarm 3 detects a gas leak and issues an alarm, as well as transmits a gas leak detection signal. Output the number. The automatic notification device 1 receives meter reading pulses from the gas meter 2. The amount of gas used is accumulated by counting the amount of gas used. At a predetermined time, the integrated value is reported to the information center via the telephone line 5, and When an abnormality detection signal such as a gas leak detection signal from the gas leak alarm 3 is input, Security information indicating this is reported to the information center via the telephone line 5.

0004 In order to perform the above-mentioned operations, the automatic notification device 1 has a readable and writable memory. It has a built-in RAM and a CPU that operates according to a predetermined program. . The RAM in the CPU stores the predetermined report date and time by referring to the real time data of the clock. Used to periodically send gas meter readings to the information center at reporting intervals and reporting times. Data such as reporting date, reporting cycle, reporting time, and information center telephone number are recorded. However, these data are set by a data setter and stored in RAM. be remembered.

[0005] As is clear from the above configuration, the automatic notification device 1 is connected to a telephone line or commercial power line. source is connected and is susceptible to external noise such as lightning. The CPU may malfunction or run out of control. something like this happens This may cause the reporting timing to be delayed, or in the worst case, the reporting function may be lost. become.

[0006] Therefore, conventional power-on reset methods that detect when the power is turned on and generate a reset signal have been used. detects that the output of the circuit and the CPU program have fallen into an abnormal loop. The CPU is reset by the output of the watchdog circuit that generates the reset signal. We are trying to normalize the situation by applying

[0007]

[Problem that the idea aims to solve]

As mentioned above, the CPU automatically returns to normal when malfunctioning, running out of control, or when power is restored from a power outage. However, the clock data is still incorrect and the reporting data is The timing may be off.

[0008] In such cases, conventional equipment cannot tell what the cause is. , there was a problem that countermeasures could not be taken accurately.

[0009] Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention is designed to solve the problems such as the timing of reporting. Collect data that can be used to estimate the cause of malfunctions and take appropriate countermeasures. Our goal is to provide an automatic notification device that enables the following.

0010

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to solve the above problems, the automatic notification device created by the present invention operates according to a predetermined program and periodically sends notifications to the information center according to the time data of the clock 16, as shown in the basic configuration diagram of FIG. In the automatic reporting device, the automatic notification device is provided with a microcomputer 11 that performs a runaway operation, and when the microcomputer 11 goes out of control, the reset means 11b generates a reset signal to reset the microcomputer 11 and normalize its operation. A counting means _11a1 is provided which counts the number of resets by incrementing each time the computer 11 is reset, and the counted value of the counting means _11a1 is transmitted at the same time as the notification or in response to an external request signal. It is characterized by

[0011]

[Effect]

In the above configuration, the counting means _11a1 counts the number of resets of the microcomputer 11 and transmits the counted value at the same time as reporting or in response to an external request signal. The numerical value makes it possible to know the number of times the microcomputer 11 has been reset by the reset signal generated by the reset means 11b when the microcomputer 11 goes out of control.

0012

【Example】

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. Figure 2 shows the automatic notification according to the present invention. 7 is a diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of an embodiment of the information device, and is a diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of an embodiment of the information device, which is similar to the conventional The same reference numerals are given to the same parts, and detailed explanation thereof is omitted.

[0013] In FIG. 2, the automatic notification device 1 is a RAM which is a readable and writable memory. 11a and has a CPU 11 that operates according to a predetermined program. The CPU 11 is a read-only memory that stores the control program. A line interface for connecting the ROM 12 and CPU 11 to the telephone line 5 ( IF) 13, to connect the gas leak alarm, external equipment, and gas meter to the CPU 11. input/output interface (IOIF) 14, display times for displaying various information Connected to line 15 is a clock 16 which generates real-time data.

[0014] The automatic notification device 1 also converts the commercial power supplied through the outlet 6 into direct current. a power supply circuit 17 that converts the voltage and supplies stable DC voltage to each part; The battery is charged by applying DC voltage from 18.

[0015] The RAM 11a in the CPU 11 contains reference to the real time data of the clock 16. Gas meter readings are sent to the information center periodically on predetermined reporting dates, reporting intervals, and reporting times. Report date, report cycle, report time, and information center telephone number to be used when sending Data such as call numbers are stored, but these data are not stored in the data setter 19. Therefore, it is set, is input to the CPU 11 through the line IF 13, and is stored in the RAM 11a. be remembered.

A reset circuit 11b as shown in FIG. 3 is attached to the CPU 11. That is, the reset circuit 11b includes a power-on reset circuit _11b1 that detects power-on and generates a reset signal, and a watchdog circuit 11b that detects that the program of the CPU 11 has fallen into an abnormal loop and generates a reset signal. ₂ , and an OR circuit 11b ₃ which takes the logical sum of the outputs of both circuits 11b ₁ and 11b ₂ .

[0017] Therefore, when the CPU 11 malfunctions, runs out of control, or recovers from a power outage, the output of the OR circuit 11b3, which calculates the logical sum of the output of the power-on reset circuit _11b1 and the output of the watchdog circuit _11b2 , is generated at the output of the OR circuit _11b3 . The device is automatically reset by a reset signal, allowing it to return to normal.

As shown in FIG. 4, a reset counter 11a ₁ that is incremented when the CPU 11 is reset is formed in the RAM 11a in the CPU 11 using an area at a predetermined address. The contents of the reset counter _11a1 represent the number of times the CPU 11 has been reset, and are held without being cleared by the first initialization when the CPU 11 is reset. It is sent together with the reporting information when regularly reporting meter reading information or reporting security information from time to time. Further, the contents of this reset counter 11a ₁ are sent to the data setter 19 in response to a request signal from the data setter 19.

[0019] As the data setting device 19, one having a configuration as shown in FIG. 5 is used. That is, the data setting device 19 connects it to the line IF 13 of the automatic notification device 1. a connector 19a for communication, a communication IF 19b, a CPU 19c, and a display circuit 19. d, a keyboard 19e, and a ROM 19f. For example, DC 12v supplied from the mobile notification device 1 is supplied by the constant voltage power supply circuit 19g. For example, it operates with a constant voltage of DC5V.

[0020] The CPU 19c operates according to the control program stored in the ROM 19f, and Do not display numbers entered by operating the keys on the board 19e on the display circuit 19d. The data is sent to the automatic notification device via the communication IF 19b. 1 and stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 11a within the CPU 11.

[0021] Then, by operating the "data read" key in a specific function of the keyboard 19e, a reset count data request signal is transmitted to the automatic reporting device 1 through the communication IF 19b, and in response, the reset number data request signal is transmitted from the automatic reporting device 1. The content of the reset counter _11a1 is received and displayed on the display circuit 19d. Further, by operating a "clear" key in a specific function of the keyboard 19e, a clear signal is sent to the automatic notification device 1 to clear the contents of the reset counter _11a1 .

[0022] The details of the operation of the automatic notification device 1 as outlined above will be explained by the CPU in the automatic notification device 1. 11 will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. CPU1 1 starts operating when a reset signal is input to its reset input, Initialization is performed in the first step S1. This initialization In this case, a reset counter 11a formed in a predetermined area of the RAM 11a₁inside content is not cleared. After that, the process proceeds to step S2, where the reset counter 11a ₁ After incrementing , the process proceeds to step S3 and waits for the occurrence of a processing event.

[0023] Events to be processed include gas meter reading pulse input from the gas meter, gas leakage, etc. Input of abnormal signal from alarm or external device, arrival of reporting date/time, connection of setting device There is a sequel. When a gas meter reading pulse is input as a processing event, the process advances to step S4. A meter reading process is performed in step S5, and an abnormal flow rate determination process is performed in the subsequent step S5. This space Based on the result of the determination process in step S5, abnormal flow rate is determined in the next step S6. If there is no abnormal flow rate and the determination is NO, return to step S3 above. Ru. If there is an abnormal flow rate and the determination in step S6 is YES, proceed to step S7. At this point, the abnormality is displayed and the gas meter's built-in shutoff valve is closed to close the gas supply path. Perform gas cutoff processing. After that, the process proceeds to step S8, where this abnormal condition is reported to the information center. After performing the abnormality reporting process to notify the user, the process returns to step S3.

[0024] When an abnormal signal is input as a processing event, steps similar to steps S7 and S8 above are performed. Steps S9 and S10 are executed. That is, in step S9, the abnormality table Gas shutoff processing is performed to close the gas supply path by closing the built-in shutoff valve in the gas meter. and in the next step S10, an abnormality report to report the abnormal state to the information center. After performing the processing, the process returns to step S3.

[0025] When the reporting date and reporting time arrive as a processing event, the process proceeds to step S11. A meter reading that reports the meter reading value that is the result of the meter reading process performed in step S4 above. After performing the reporting process, the process returns to step S3. In addition, as a processing event, the setting device 1 9 is connected and there is a request for setting data, the process advances to step S12 and the connection with the setting device is performed. After performing the communication process, the process returns to step S3.

In the embodiment described above, the number of resets due to malfunction or runaway of the CPU 11 and resets due to power recovery from a power outage can be known from the contents of the reset counter _11a1 , so the number of resets can be used to determine whether a power outage occurs at the reporting time. It is possible to estimate the cause of the malfunction, such as a shift in notification timing, even if there is a problem. Further, it can be used as a means for grasping the power supply environment and noise environment in which the automatic notification device 1 is placed, and becomes helpful when taking measures to prevent malfunction.

[0027]

[Effect of the idea]

As explained above, according to the present invention, the micro-compilation performed in the event of a runaway, etc. The number of computer resets is sent at the same time as notification or in response to an external request signal. The microcomputer is reset by the number of resets sent. This allows you to know the number of times a report has been made, so you can avoid discrepancies in the timing of reports, etc. It has become possible to estimate the cause of malfunctions and take appropriate countermeasures. Ru.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of an automatic notification device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an automatic notification device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing details of a portion of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a portion of the RAM in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing details of the data setter in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the work performed by the CPU in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a gas meter reading system incorporating a conventional automatic notification device.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 Microcomputer 11a ₁ Counting means (reset counter) 11b Resetting means (reset circuit) 16 Clock

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A microcomputer that operates according to a predetermined program and periodically reports to an information center according to time data of a clock, and when the microcomputer goes out of control, a reset means generates a reset signal to An automatic notification device configured to reset a microcomputer to normalize its operation, comprising a counting means that is incremented each time the microcomputer is reset to count the number of resets, and the count value of the counting means is used for the notification. An automatic notification device characterized in that it transmits messages at the same time. 2. A microcomputer that operates according to a predetermined program and periodically reports to an information center according to time data of a clock, and when the microcomputer goes out of control, a reset means generates a reset signal to An automatic notification device configured to reset a microcomputer to normalize its operation, comprising a counting means that is incremented each time the microcomputer is reset to count the number of resets, and a count value of the counting means can be read from the outside. An automatic reporting device characterized in that it transmits in response to a request signal.