JPH10173791A - Automatic meter-reading system and network control unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable communication even in case of absence at a demainder's home by connecting a telephone set and a meter to a network control unit(NCU) connected through a telephone line to a center, hooking off the NCU and performing communication between the center and the meter, when a calling signal having a specified pattern is sent from the center. SOLUTION: When sending a telegraphic message of automatic meter-reading or the like to a meter 13, an automatic meter-reading center 1 sends a signal of specified pattern through a public telephone network 7 to an NCU 9. A ringing time detection circuit 15 detects the number of times of ringing and discriminates whether or not the signal has a specified pattern and if YES, the NCU 9 is hooked off without ringing a telephone set 11. The NCU performs communication between the automatic meter- reading center 1 and the meter 13, sends the meter-reading value or the like of the meter 13 to the automatic meter-reading center 1 and is on-hooked after the end of the communication. Thus, when it is discriminated that the signal does not have the specified pattern, the telephone set 11 is rung, normal speaking is performed, and automatic meter-reading is enabled in spite of the presence/absence of person at demainder's home 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic meter reading system using a telephone line.

2. Description of the Related Art As one of conventional automatic meter reading systems,
There is a ringing communication method (JP-A-6-62132).

[0002] This ringing communication method is to use a no-linking service provided by a telephone company, first ring a telephone at a customer's home from the center side, then connect the center and the meter, and connect the center and the meter. The communication between them.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automatic meter reading system using a ringing communication method. The center 101 is connected to the customer 103 via a public telephone network 107. The home of the customer 103 is provided with a network control device 109, and the network control device 109 is connected to the telephone 111 and the meter 113. The network control device 109 has an off-hook / on-hook detection circuit 115 therein. Off-hook / on-hook detection circuit 115 detects off-hook / on-hook of telephone 111.

[0006] The procedure of ringing communication between the automatic meter reading center 101 and the meter 113 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, first, the automatic meter reading center 101 calls the telephone 111 (step 601), and the telephone 111 rings. When the customer 103 goes off-hook on the telephone set 111, the off-hook / on-hook detection circuit 115 detects (step 602).

When a message indicating that automatic meter reading is to be performed is sent from the center 101 and the customer 103 turns on the telephone 111 (step 603), the off-hook / on-hook detection circuit 115 detects it. The network control device 109
The off-hook state is continued, and the center 101 and the meter 113
(Step 604), and after the communication is completed, the network control device 109 is hooked on.

[0006]

In an automatic meter reading system, for example, in the case of a gas meter, a pointer value of the gas meter is obtained, a gas use state is confirmed, and a gas shutoff valve is closed. Such a service is desired especially when there is no person in the customer 103.

However, in the automatic meter reading system using the ringing communication method, it is necessary for a person in the customer 103 to off-hook the telephone 111, and thus the customer 103
There is a problem that it can be operated only when a person is at home. Further, such a communication system is based on analog communication, and digital communication has not been considered.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object thereof is to provide an automatic meter reading system and a network control system which can cope with a digital line and can perform communication without a person at a customer's house. It is to provide a device.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a center, a network controller connected to the center via a telephone line, and a network controller connected to the network controller. In an automatic meter reading system including a telephone and a meter, when a call signal having a specific pattern is sent from the center, the network control device goes off-hook, and communication is performed between the center and the meter. An automatic meter reading system characterized by the following.

A second invention is a network control device connected to a center via a telephone line and a telephone and a meter connected downstream, wherein a call signal of a specific pattern is sent from the center. A network controller that goes off-hook and allows communication between the center and the meter.

[0011]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.
Embodiments will be described in detail. First, an automatic meter reading system using an analog line will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automatic meter reading system according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic meter reading center 1 is connected to a consumer 3 via a public telephone network 7. The three customer houses are provided with a network control device 9, and the network control device 9 has a telephone 1
1 and the meter 13 are connected. The network control device 9 has a ringing frequency detection circuit 15 therein and is connected to the public telephone network 7.

When a message such as an automatic meter reading is sent from the automatic meter reading center 1 to the meter 13, the automatic meter reading center 1 sends a signal of a specific pattern to the network controller 9 via the public telephone network 7.
The specific pattern is, for example, such that a call signal arrives twice, stops the call, the call signal arrives twice within 10 to 20 seconds, stops the call, and arrives twice or more within 10 to 20 seconds. Pattern. The ringing frequency detection circuit 15 detects the number of ringings.

Next, a communication procedure performed between the automatic meter reading center 1 and the meter 13 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, when a signal (an incoming signal) is sent to the network control device 9 (step 201), the ringing frequency detection circuit 1
5 detects the number of ringings and determines whether or not the signal has the specific pattern as described above (step 202). When it is determined that the signal has a specific pattern, the network controller 9 goes off-hook without ringing the telephone 11 (step 20).
3).

In order not to ring the telephone 11, the network control device 9 does not transmit an incoming signal to the telephone 11. Then, communication is performed between the automatic meter reading center 1 and the meter 13 (step 204). That is, the meter reading value of the meter 13 and the like are sent to the automatic meter reading center 1. Then, after the end of the communication, the network control device 9 goes on-hook.

When it is determined that the signal is not a specific pattern, the telephone 11 sounds assuming that the communication is normal communication (step 205). Then, if there is a person in the customer 3, the telephone 1
1 is used to make a call with the caller.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the communication from the automatic meter reading center 1 and the other communication are distinguished by determining whether or not the signal sent to the network control device 9 is a specific pattern. When it is determined that the communication is from the automatic meter reading center 1, the network controller 9 goes off-hook without ringing the telephone 11, and communication is performed between the automatic meter reading center 1 and the meter 13. Therefore, automatic meter reading can be performed regardless of whether or not there is a person in the customer 3.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. As shown in FIG.
When a signal (an incoming signal) is sent to the network control device 9 (step 301), the ringing number detection circuit 15 detects the number of ringings and determines whether or not the signal has the specific pattern as described above (step 302). . When it is determined that the signal has the specific pattern, the telephone 11 is not ringed, the network control device 9 itself is left off-hook, and the incoming call is terminated (step 303). After a certain time, the network control device 9
Call the automatic meter reading center 1 (step 304).

That is, the network control device 9 stores the telephone number of the automatic meter reading center 1 and calls the automatic meter reading center 1 using this telephone number. Alternatively, the automatic meter reading center 1 is called using the telephone number of the automatic meter reading center 1 set inside the meter 13. Then, communication is performed between the automatic meter reading center 1 and the meter 13 (step 305).
When it is determined in step 302 that the signal is not a specific pattern, the telephone 11 rings assuming normal communication (step 306).

Next, a third embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automatic meter reading system according to a third embodiment using a digital line. As shown in FIG. 4, the automatic meter reading center 17 is connected to a customer 19 via a digital network 23. In 19 customer homes,
Line termination unit (DSU) 25 and terminal adapter (T
A) A network controller 29 is provided.
Is connected to a telephone 31 and a meter 33. DSU21
Is connected to the digital line 21, and the TA 23 is connected to the network controller 25. The network control device 25 has a ringing frequency detection circuit 31 therein.

The procedure for communication between the automatic meter reading center 17 and the meter 33 may be the same as that for the automatic meter reading center 1 and the meter 13 on the analog line.
It should be noted that the meters 13 and 33 may be water meters or electric meters in addition to gas meters.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an automatic meter reading system and a network control device which can correspond to a digital line and can perform communication even when there is no person at a customer's house.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automatic meter reading system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a communication procedure performed between the automatic meter reading center 1 and the meter 13.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a communication procedure performed between an automatic meter reading center 1 and a meter 13 according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automatic meter reading system according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automatic meter reading system using a ringing communication method.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of ringing communication between the automatic meter reading center 101 and the meter 113.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 17 Automatic meter reading center 3, 19 Customer 7 Public telephone network 9, 29 Network controller 11, 31 Telephone 13, 33 Meter 15, 35 ...... Ringing frequency detection circuit 23 Digital network 25 DSU 27 TA

Claims (14)

[Claims] An automatic meter reading system comprising: a center; a network controller connected to the center via a telephone line; a telephone and a meter connected to the network controller; When a call signal having a pattern is sent, the network control device goes off-hook and communication is performed between the center and the meter. 2. An automatic meter reading system comprising: a center; a network control device connected to the center via a telephone line; a telephone and a meter connected to the network control device; An automatic meter reading system, wherein when a call signal having a pattern is sent, a center is called from the network control device after a predetermined time, and communication is performed between the center and the meter. 3. The automatic meter reading system according to claim 1, wherein the telephone line is an analog line. 4. The automatic meter reading according to claim 1, wherein a line termination device and a terminal adapter are provided between the center and the network control device when the telephone line is a digital line. system. 5. The automatic meter reading system according to claim 1, wherein the telephone does not ring when a call signal of a specific pattern is sent from the center. 6. The automatic meter reading system according to claim 1, wherein the meter is a gas meter. 7. The automatic meter reading system according to claim 1, wherein the meter is an electric meter. 8. The automatic meter reading system according to claim 1, wherein the meter is a water meter. 9. A network controller connected to a center via a telephone line and connected to a telephone and a meter on a downstream side, wherein when a call signal of a specific pattern is sent from the center, the telephone goes off-hook, A network control device for causing communication between a center and the meter. 10. Connected to a center via a telephone line,
A network control device to which a telephone and a meter are connected on the downstream side, wherein when a call signal of a specific pattern is sent from the center, the center is called after a predetermined time, and communication is performed between the center and the meter. A network control device, characterized in that: 11. The network control device according to claim 9, wherein the telephone does not ring when a call signal of a specific pattern is sent from the center. 12. The network control device according to claim 9, wherein the meter is a gas meter. 13. The network control device according to claim 9, wherein the meter is an electric meter. 14. The network control device according to claim 9, wherein the meter is a water meter.