JPH0635567Y2 - Remote meter reading device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial application field> The present invention is a slave unit of a remote meter reading device that remotely detects information such as the amount of gas or water used, through a telephone line (including a dedicated line). (Home terminal; NCU).

<Prior Art> A conventional remote meter-reading device is a detection device that detects information such as the amount of gas or water used, and a control circuit that notifies an administrator via a telephone line based on the information detected by the detection device. And a reset device for initializing the control circuit, wherein the control circuit stores a value serving as a reference of notification and a telephone number of the manager, a storage content of the storage means and the detection It has a comparing means for comparing the information detected by the device and a reporting means for reporting to the manager based on the comparison result of the comparing means.

At this time, for example, in the case of a gas usage reporting device, the storage means has a telephone number to report the gas leak information, a telephone number to report the gas usage information, the capacity of the user's gas cylinder, and the stage of the gas cylinder. Information such as the target usage amount setting and the type of telephone line is stored. Since the storage contents of the storage means differ depending on the user and cannot be masked, the storage means is generally a RAM (Randam Access Memory).
emory).

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> In the above-mentioned conventional technique, since the storage means is constituted by the RAM, at the time of installation, as shown in FIG.
I need to use 51 to remember the information I need.

In FIG. 5, 52 is the user side, 53 is an integrating flow meter for measuring the amount of gas used, 54 is a remote unit (NCU) of the remote meter reading device, 5
5 is a telephone line, 56 is a telephone station, 57 is a telephone line from another user, 58 is an administrator side, 59 is a receiving device, and 60 is a computer system for processing received information.

Further, when the power supply reset is applied to the control circuit due to the influence of lightning surge or the like, the information stored in the storage means is erased, and it is necessary to go to the site to input again.

Therefore, the present invention eliminates the need to visit the site because the power reset is used for input even once, and the time lag from the power reset to re-input of information can be greatly shortened, and therefore safety in an emergency It is also intended to provide an excellent remote meter reading device.

<Means for Solving Problems> The means for solving problems according to the present invention is obtained by the administrator 3 from the detection device 1 on the user side 24 via the telephone line 2 as shown in FIGS. A control circuit 4 for detecting information, which notifies the user side 24 to the manager 3 via the telephone line 2 based on the information detected by the detection device 1.
And a reset device 5 for initializing the control circuit 4 in an emergency, the manager 3 receives the normal information from the control circuit 4, the normal center 18, and the control circuit 4 in an emergency. The control circuit 4 comprises a specific center 19 which communicates with the control circuit 4 when the reset occurs.
The standard information about the information and the above-mentioned normal center 18
RAM 29 storing the telephone number of the
ROM 28 in which the telephone numbers of the above are stored, and the control circuit 4 is stored in the RAM 29 and storage means 6 for storing the information as the reference of the notification and the telephone numbers of the normal center 18 and the specific center 19. Comparing means 7 for comparing the information detected by the detector 1 with the information detected by the detector 1, a notification means 8 for transmitting information to the normal center 18 based on the comparison result of the comparing means 7, and a control circuit for the reset device 5. It is said that the specified center
The reset notification means 9 to be transmitted to 19, the initialization means for clearing the RAM 29, and the information on the user side stored in the specific center 19 transmitted from the specific center 19 by the notification of the reset notification means 9 Receiving means 10
And a writing means 11 for storing the information received by the receiving means 10 in the RAM 29.

<Operation> In the above problem solving means, the detection device 1 constantly measures and integrates the gas flow rate and the like. And the integrated flow rate is RA
Comparison means 7 with a certain amount or more stored in M29
Then, the reporting means 8 reports the fact to the normal center 18 which is the contact information of the gas usage information via the telephone line 2.

When the power reset is applied by the reset device 5,
The contents stored in the RAM 29 are erased, but the contents of the ROM 28 are not erased, so the reset notification means 9 is automatically
Selects the specific center 19 and reports the fact. Then, the storage content of the RAM 29 erased by the power reset is transmitted from the specific center 19, so that the receiving means 10 receives it and the writing means 11 writes it in the RAM 29.

In other words, when a power reset is applied, it automatically notifies the specific center 19 and reloads the erased memory contents, eliminating the need to go to the site because the power reset is required to make an input. The time lag from resetting to re-entering information can be greatly shortened, and as a result, it is highly safe in an emergency.

<Embodiment> An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a remote meter reading apparatus for gas usage will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a remote meter-reading device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flow chart when the power is reset, FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an electric circuit.

As shown in the figure, the remote meter reading device of the present invention includes a detecting device 1 for detecting information such as the amount of gas or water used, and an administrator 3 via a telephone line 2 based on the information detected by the detecting device 1. And a reset device 5 for initializing the control circuit 4.
Is a storage unit 6 that stores a value that serves as a reference for notification and the telephone number of the manager 3, a comparison unit 7 that compares the stored contents of the storage unit 6 and the information detected by the detection device 1, A reporting means 8 for reporting to the manager 3 based on the comparison result of the comparison means 7, a reset reporting means 9 for reporting that the control circuit 4 is in the initial state by the reset device 5, and the reset reporting means 9 Receiving means 10 for receiving the information sent from the manager 3 by the notification of
And a writing means 11 for storing the information received by the receiving means 10 in the storage means 6.

The detection device 1 is an integrated flow meter provided in the gas supply path 12, and the integrated flow meter 1 has a function of making the measured integrated flow rate a digital signal and notifying the control circuit 4.

The control circuit 4 includes a general one-chip type microcomputer 13, and its input / output terminals are used as an interface for communicating with the outside via the telephone line 2 in addition to the detecting device 1. The device 14 and a gas sensor 15 for detecting a gas leak are connected. Further, the reset device 5 is connected to a central processing unit 16 inside the microcomputer 13. Reference numeral 17 is an input / output device.

Then, the storage means 6, the comparison means 7 and the writing means 11
Is composed of the microcomputer 13, and the notification means 8, the reset notification means 9 and the writing means 11 are composed of the microcomputer 13 and the communication device 14.

The reset device 5 is composed of a general reset circuit and generates a reset signal when the power is turned on.
It also has a function of generating a reset signal when a program runaway or the like is detected.

The management center as the manager 3 includes a normal center 18 for receiving normal information such as the amount of gas used, and a specific center called by the reset notification means 9.
It consists of 19 and. The normal center 18 includes a receiving device 20 for receiving information sent via the telephone line 2 and the receiving device 20.
It comprises a computer system 21 equivalent to a conventional one that analyzes and processes the data received by 20.

The specific center 19 also analyzes a communication device 22 having a function of receiving information sent via the telephone line 2 and transmitting information via the telephone line 2, and the information received by the communication device 22. And a computer system 23 having a function of processing and transmitting necessary information to the communication device 22.

In the figure, 24 is a user side, 25 is a telephone station, 26 is a telephone line from another user, 27 is a slave unit body of a remote meter reading device, and the slave unit body 27 of the remote metering device has The control circuit 4 and the like are housed. 28 is a ROM and 29 is a RAM.

In the above-mentioned configuration, first, the normal operation will be described.

The detection device 1 constantly measures and integrates the gas flow rate. Then, when the comparing means 7 determines that the integrated flow rate becomes equal to or larger than the fixed amount stored in the storage means 6, the reporting means 8 is a contact point of the gas usage information via the telephone line 2. Report to manager 3. Also, the gas sensor 15
When the detection level is above a certain value, it is determined that there is a gas leak, and the gas leak information stored in the storage means 6 is notified to that effect.

Next, the operation when the power supply reset occurs will be described.

For example, even if sufficient countermeasures against static electricity such as lightning countermeasures are taken, a power reset may be applied due to an electrical condition with a larger power (including a reset due to a watchdog circuit). At this time, the internal memory as the storage means 6 is initialized. The internal memory is cleared in order to be converted.

However, at this time, as shown in Fig. 2, RO
The reset routine written in the M (Read Only Memory) 28 is activated to call the specific center 19. And
The receiving means 10 receives the necessary information from the specific center 19,
The writing means 11 writes the received information in the storage means 6.

That is, when the power reset is applied, the telephone number of the specific center 19 written in the ROM 28 is notified, and the specific center is notified.
Send necessary information such as ID number here to 19. Then, from the specific center 19, the computer system 23
The information on the user side stored in is transmitted and stored in the RAM 29.

Therefore, even if the control circuit 4 has a power reset, it is possible to eliminate the need to go to the site to perform input, and the time lag from power reset to re-input of information can be greatly shortened, and also in the case of emergency safety. Are better.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and it goes without saying that many modifications and changes can be made to the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

For example, the remote meter reading device of the present invention may be used for meter reading of other information such as electricity and water, and the normal center 18 and the specific center
19 may be the same telephone number.

<Effect of Device> As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, the control circuit on the user side stores the RA information that is different for each user.
It has M and normally sends information to the center based on the contents stored in RAM, but in case of emergency such as power reset due to power failure or program runaway, reset The reset notification means for transmitting to the specific center that the control circuit is in the initial state by the device, the initialization means for clearing the RAM, and the specific center transmitted from the specific center by the notification of the reset notification means are stored in the specific center. Since it has a receiving means for receiving the information on the side of the user and a writing means for storing the information received by the receiving means in the RAM, a specific center different from the usual transmission partner is automatically selected. Re-entering information from the power reset because the power reset does not need to go to the site to make an input even if the power reset is reissued because of the notification and reloading of the erased memory contents. The time lag can be greatly shortened.

Therefore, by setting up an emergency center on the administrator side, a separate center will be prepared for normal notification even if a reset message is sent at once due to a large-scale power outage. Therefore, if the center becomes punctured and interferes with other work, it can be prevented from happening at any time, and it can respond sufficiently to such an emergency and has excellent safety in an emergency. It has an effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a remote meter-reading device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the power reset, FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram, FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an electric circuit, and FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional remote meter reading device system. 1: detection device, 2: telephone line, 3: administrator, 4: control circuit, 5: reset device, 6: storage means, 7: comparison means, 8: notification means, 9:
Reset reporting means, 10: receiving means, 11: writing means.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-60-84649 (JP, A) JP-A-58-162480 (JP, A) Practical application Sho-62-146382 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An administrator detects information obtained from a detection device on a user side via a telephone line, wherein the user side is connected via a telephone line based on the information detected by the detection device. Is provided with a control circuit for notifying an administrator by means of a reset device for initializing the control circuit in an emergency, and the administrator is provided with a normal center for receiving normal information from the control circuit and an emergency center. The control circuit comprises a specific center that communicates with the control circuit when reset occurs, and the control circuit has a RAM that stores information as a reference for notification and the telephone number of the normal center,
A ROM storing a telephone number of the specific center is provided, and the control circuit stores in the RAM a storage unit for storing information serving as a reference of the notification and the telephone numbers of the normal center and the specific center. Comparing means for comparing the information and the information detected by the detecting device, notifying means for transmitting information to the normal center based on the comparison result of the comparing means, and the reset device for initializing the control circuit. To the specific center, resetting means for clearing the RAM, and receiving information of the user side stored in the specific center transmitted from the specific center by the notification of the reset reporting means. Remote meter-reading device, characterized in that the remote meter-reading device comprises: .