JPH10173800A - Communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To execute automatic meter-reading without using dedicated terminal equipment by connecting a computer, which performs a radio communication with the 1st radio terminal connected with a meter and connects the 2nd radio terminal, through a network to a center and transmitting information between the center and the meter on the side of demander. SOLUTION: A person at a demanding home 7 state a personal computer and connects it through an internet 5 to a center 3, the center 3 performs polling, and communication is performed between the center 3 and a meter 15. For example, a telegraphic message showing the transmission of meter-reading value from the center 3 is sent through the internet 5, a personal computer 9 and radio terminals 11 and 13 to the meter 15. Further, the meter 15 sends its meter-reading value through the radio terminals 13 and 11, the personal computer 9 and the internet 5 to the center 3. Thus, automatic meter-reading can be executed, without using terminal equipment for automatic meter-reading such as T-NCU or I-NCU.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication system using a network such as the Internet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional automatic meter reading systems include, for example, the following. FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automatic meter reading system using a digital line. The center is I
It is connected to the customer 103 via the SDN public line 101. In the customer 103, a DSU (line terminating device) 1
An I-NCU (network control device) 107, a personal computer 109, a digital telephone 111, and an analog telephone 113 are connected to the DSU 105, and a meter 115 is connected to the I-NCU 107. Then, the center and the meter 115
Means that communication is performed via the DSU 105 and the I-NCU 107, and meter readings and the like are sent to the center.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automatic meter reading system using an analog line. The center is connected to a consumer 119 via an analog public line 107, and a no-linking trunk 121 is connected to the analog public line 107. The consumer 119 is provided with a T-NCU (network control device) 123, and the analog telephone 125 and the meter 127 are connected to the T-NCU 123.

When performing automatic meter reading, the center uses a no-linking service provided by a telephone company to send a message to the T-NCU 123 via the no-linking trunk 121, and the T-NCU 123 sends a message to the meter 127. Conversely, meter 127 sends a message to T-NCU 123, and T-NCU 123 sends a message to the center.

[0005]

In such an automatic meter reading system, when changing from an analog line to a digital line or from a digital line to an analog line, the automatic meter reading is performed between the analog line and the digital line. Since the communication method to be performed is different, the T-NCU 123
And the I-NCU 107 must be exchanged. Also, at this time, it may be difficult to construct a communication line,
Since the T-NCU 123 or the I-NCU 107 (terminal device for automatic meter reading) is installed again, there is a problem that the cost is increased.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a communication system capable of performing automatic meter reading without using an automatic meter reading terminal device.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, a customer is provided with a first device connected to a meter.
And a second wireless terminal device that performs wireless communication between the wireless terminal device and the first wireless terminal device and is connected to a computer. And communication of information between the center and the meter.

[0008]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.
Embodiments will be described in detail. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a communication system according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, in the communication system 1, the center 3 is connected to a customer 7 via the Internet 5. In the customer 7, a personal computer (personal computer) 9, a wireless terminal 11, a wireless terminal 13, and a meter 15 are provided. The personal computer 9 is connected to the Internet 5, the wireless terminal 11 is attached to the personal computer 9, and the meter 15 Wireless terminal 1
3 is attached. Wireless communication is performed between the wireless terminal 11 and the wireless terminal 13.

Next, a communication procedure according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, a person in the customer 7 starts the personal computer 9 (step 201) and connects to the center 3 via the Internet 5 (step 202). The center 3 performs polling, and connects the Internet 5 between the center 3 and the meter 15.
The communication is performed via (step 203).

For example, a message indicating that the meter reading is sent from the center 3 is transmitted to the Internet 5, the personal computer 9, the wireless terminal 11,
The meter reading is sent to the meter 15 via the wireless terminal 13, and the meter reading value from the meter 15 is read from the wireless terminal 13, the wireless terminal 11, the personal computer 9,
The data is sent to the center 3 via the Internet 5. Note that information other than the meter reading value can also be transmitted.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the center 3 includes the Internet 5, the personal computer 9, and the wireless terminal 1.
1. Since communication with the meter 15 is performed via the wireless terminal 13, automatic meter reading can be performed without using an automatic meter reading terminal device such as a T-NCU or an I-NCU. Therefore, there is no need for equipment replacement or construction work even when changing from an analog line to a digital line or from a digital line to an analog line.

The center 3 can send fee information, product information, and the like to the personal computer 9 via the Internet 5, and can obtain inquiries and requests from the personal computer 9.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. As shown in FIG.
The wireless terminal 11 periodically polls the wireless terminal 13 to read and hold the meter reading of the meter 15 (step 301). The PC 9 is started and the Internet 5
(Step 302), the personal computer 9 reads the meter reading of the meter 15 held in the wireless terminal 11 and sends it to the center 3 via the Internet 5 (step 303).

Although the case where the wireless terminal 11 holds the meter reading value has been described, the wireless terminal 13 may hold the meter reading value. For example, when the personal computer 9 is activated and connected to the Internet 5, the wireless terminal 11 inquires of the wireless terminal 13 whether or not the meter value is held. The information may be sent to the center 3 via the Internet 5. Also in the present embodiment, information other than the meter reading value can be held and transmitted.

Next, a third embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a communication procedure according to the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, when an abnormal event occurs in the meter 15 and the meter 15 issues an alarm (step 401), the personal computer 9 is automatically activated and connected to the Internet 5 (step 40).
2). Then, the personal computer 9 sends the alarm message to the center 3
(Step 403).

That is, the alarm message from the meter 15 is sent to the center 3 via the wireless terminal 13, the wireless terminal 11, the personal computer 9, and the Internet 5. Center 3
Processing such as shutting off the meter 15 is performed as necessary. After receiving the alarm message, the center 3 sends a message to the meter 15 indicating that the meter reading 5 is to be sent, and the meter reading value is sent from the meter 15 to the center 3.

The personal computer 9 reads the information of the meter 15 and holds the read information. When the personal computer 9 is connected to the center 3, the personal computer 9 may send the held information to the center 3. Good. Further, the center 3 may periodically poll the personal computer 9, and if the polling is performed while the personal computer 9 is running, the center 3 and the meter 15 may be connected. The center 3 sends an e-mail to the personal computer 9 and
Starts up and receives mail, the center 3 and the meter 1
5 may be connected. Furthermore, personal computer 9
May read information from the meter 15 and send it to the center 3 via the Internet 5.

The meter 15 may be a water meter or an electric meter in addition to the gas meter. Internet 5
Alternatively, a telephone line can be used. In addition, if the system shown in FIG.
5 can be controlled directly. Also,
A person in the customer 7 can view the meter reading value on the personal computer 9, calculate the gas charge, and see the monthly gas charge and the like in a graph.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, automatic meter reading can be performed without using an automatic meter reading terminal device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a communication system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Schematic configuration diagram of

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a communication procedure according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a communication procedure according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a communication procedure according to a third embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional communication system.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional communication system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Communication system 3 Center 5 Internet 7 Consumer 9 Personal computer 11, 13 Wireless terminal 15 Meter

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A consumer side performs wireless communication between a first wireless terminal device connected to a meter and the first wireless terminal device, and a second wireless terminal device connected to a computer. A communication system comprising: connecting the customer computer to a center via a network; and transmitting information between the center and the meter. 2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said network is the Internet. 3. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said network is a telephone line. 4. The computer according to claim 1, wherein, when the computer is started, the computer is connected to the center via the network, and communication is performed between the center and the meter. Communication system. 5. The first wireless terminal device or the second wireless terminal device reads the information of the meter, holds the read information, and, when the computer is activated and connected to the center, The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the computer sends information held by the first wireless terminal device or the second wireless terminal device to the center. 6. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein when the meter makes a call, the computer is activated to be connected to the center, and a message is sent from the computer to the center. 7. The computer reads the information of the meter, holds the read information, and when the computer is connected to the center, the computer sends the held information to the center. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein 8. The center according to claim 1, wherein the center polls the computer, and if the polling is performed while the computer is running, the center and the meter are connected. A communication system as described. 9. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the center sends an e-mail to the computer, and when the computer is activated and receives the e-mail, the center and the meter are connected. . 10. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the computer reads information of the meter and sends the information to the center via the network. 11. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said meter is a gas meter. 12. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said meter is an electric meter. 13. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the meter is a water meter.