JPH10198880A - Meter-reading information reporting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a meter-reading information reporting device that makes neither too much nor too little collection of charge even when the first meter- reading integration day and the last meter-reading integration last day are changed and set. SOLUTION: A data processor 3A makes a disk reading and writing device read the data of the previous meter-reading working day and a meter-reading reference day from a magnetic disk, when change processing is performed of the read meter-reading reference day and the current day already passed the meter-reading reference day, makes the next day of the previous meter- reading integration last day a meter-reading integration first day, makes the last day which makes one month the next meter-reading period, sets a period that makes the last day the meter-reading integration last day as a taking-in period, outputs a sending request command signal of an integration value of meter-reading data that corresponds to the take-in period, fetches the integration value of the meter-reading data of each pulsemeter M1 to Mn in the take-in period, calculates charges, after that, updates the data of a meter-reading working day and a meter-reading reference day and writes them on a magnetic disk.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a meter reading value obtained by integrating the consumption of consumables such as electricity and water used by a resident of a building for each designated period for each occupant. And transmits the data to a utility collection facility via a telephone line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A terminal installed in a building automatically accumulates the usage of water, gas, electricity, etc. for each user in the building, and collects a utility charge in a remote place via a telephone line. There is known a meter reading device which transmits the data to a facility as usage data. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-48998 discloses a pulse generator that generates a number of pulse signals corresponding to the amount of water used or the like, and meter reading of the amount of water used or the like based on the pulse signals output from the pulse generator. A meter reading value calculating circuit for calculating a value, a meter reading value recording device for recording a meter reading calculated by the meter reading value calculating circuit, a character shape storage device for storing character type data of characters such as numerals, The meter reading value of the usage amount for each user is read from the meter reading value recording device, the character shape of the number indicated by the meter reading value is read from the character shape storage device, and the character shape data is stored in one line of the character string by R.
A provisional character string creation circuit to be stored in the AM, and a scan of each character-type dot line of a one-line character string stored in the RAM to form a dot line according to a predetermined rule when the same code continues for each dot. A band compression circuit that encodes redundant data along with a modulation circuit that superimposes an output signal of the band compression circuit on a predetermined carrier, and connects to a telephone line,
An invention of a meter reading information reporting device including a network control circuit for transmitting a modulated signal output from a modulation circuit to a utility collection facility after transmitting a telephone number of the utility collection facility and making a line connection is disclosed. ing.

[0003]

In the above-described conventional meter reading notification device, the period for reading the meter reading is set and input from the input device, but the reference period of the meter reading is changed. There are cases. When the meter reading reference date is changed, the previously registered meter reading reference date data is deleted. For example, when reading and sending the monthly meter reading, if the changed meter reading reference date is changed to a day before the previous meter reading reference date, the usage metered according to the previous meter reading reference date is used. The meter reading of the amount used and the meter reading of the amount used according to the changed meter reading reference date have an overlapping meter reading part during the meter reading period. Resulting in. In addition, if the changed meter reading reference date is changed to a date after the previous meter reading reference date, meter reading is performed according to the meter reading value of the usage metered according to the previous meter reading reference date and the changed meter reading reference date. Since the meter reading value of the used amount includes a non-metering portion during the meter reading period, the meter reading value short for the period is reported to the utility collection facility.

As described above, when the meter reading reference date at which meter reading is performed periodically is changed, an overlapping meter reading portion or an unmetered meter portion occurs during the meter reading period. It is necessary to accumulate the excess charges and the shortage charges, and to perform subtraction or addition with the meter reading value already accumulated. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a meter reading information notifying apparatus in which the collected fee does not become excessive or insufficient even when the first day of meter reading and the last day of meter reading are changed.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problem by storing a data of a first day of meter integration and a last day of meter integration for defining a designated period for calculating a meter reading. Means, and when a period defining date update command for updating data of the meter reading first day and meter reading ending date stored in the period defining date storage means is input from the input means, the meter reading first day updated in the period defining date storage means. Update storage control means for storing at least the data of the first day of meter reading before the update and the last day of meter reading together with the data of the last day of meter reading, and after confirming that a transmission command has been input from the input means, the period defining day storage means The meter reading date determining means for determining whether or not the date is later than the meter reading integration last day, and the meter reading date determining means determine that the date is later than the meter reading integration day stored in the period defining day storage means. When, those having the update time of day setting means for setting a needle cumulative day before updating the needle cumulative day defining a specified period of time for calculating the meter reading value. Preferably, the first day of meter reading and the last day of meter reading are the same response day in consecutive months.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a meter reading information notifying device embodying the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sketch thereof. In these figures, 1 is a building in which a plurality of (n) residents are located, 2 is a meter reading terminal installed in the building 1, 3 is a billing calculation device connected to the meter reading terminal 2 via a communication line T2, M1 to Mn are pulse meters for measuring the amount of electricity, water, fuel, etc. used by each resident of the building 1 and outputting a pulse signal corresponding to the amount of use;
1 to Nn are respectively connected to the pulse meters M1 to Mn, accumulate the number of pulses of the pulse signals output from the pulse meters M1 to Mn, and output an integration signal each time the value becomes a predetermined value. It is.

In the internal configuration of the meter reading terminal device 2, 2A is a control processing device (CPU), 2B is a temporary storage device (RAM) for temporarily storing calculation results and transmitted data, and 2C is a program for performing a control process. Fixed storage device (RO
M), 2D has the same number of input ports as the communication line T1, and an input section to which signals from the integrators N1 to Nn are respectively input, and 2E transmits information processed by the CPU 2A to the communication line T2.
And an output unit 2F for outputting to the billing calculation device 3 via a bus line connecting them.

[0008] In the internal configuration of the billing calculation device 3, 3A is a data processing device (charging means, network control means, update storage control means, meter reading date determination means, first day setting means for updating), and 3B is a calculation result and registration data. A display device 3C is a console (input means) for inputting and correcting various data, and 3C.
D is a printing device that prints processing results of the data processing device 3A, for example, a bill form, 3E is a disk reading device that reads and writes the stored magnetic disk, and 4A is a magnetic reading device that stores calculation processing software and fixed data. It is a disk (metering data storage means, period definition date storage means).

The pulse meter M transmitted from the meter reading terminal device 2 via the communication line T2 is provided on the magnetic disk 4A.
It stores meter reading data values for one month for each of 1 to Mn, data such as billing amount calculated from these meter reading data values, and a calculation processing program for calculating a fee. The billing calculation device 3 connects to a telephone line (not shown), transmits the telephone number of the utility collection facility, connects the line, and then connects the pulse meter M1 transmitted from the meter reading terminal device 2. A network control circuit for transmitting data such as meter reading data values for each of .about.Mn and billing amounts calculated by the data processing device 3A to a utility collection facility.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the accounting calculation process. The operation of the specific example of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The selection of the function of the charge calculation device 3 is performed by operating the console 3C according to the screen display of the display device 3B. Then, when the operator presses the meter reading button of the console 3C (Yes in S1), as described below, the charge calculation device 3 integrates the meter reading terminal device 2 with meter reading data such as electricity bills within a predetermined period. A command signal for requesting the transmission of the value is output. First, the data processing device 3A causes the disk reading device 3E to read data of the previous meter reading operation date and the meter reading reference date from the magnetic disk 4A (S2). Next, it is confirmed whether or not the log reading process has been performed on the read meter reading reference date (S
3).

As a result, if there is no history, it is determined whether or not the current day has passed the meter reading reference date (S
4). If the result of the determination is no, that is, if the elapsed time has not yet elapsed, the same day as the first day of the previous metering integration is regarded as the first day of metering integration, and the same day as the last day of metering integration is set as the last day of metering integration. (S5). If the result of the determination in step S4 is true, that is, if the meter reading reference date has already passed, the day following the last day of the previous meter integration is set as the meter reading first day, and the meter reading period for performing the billing calculation, that is, ,
A period in which the last day of one month as the next meter reading period is the last day of meter reading integration is set as a capture period (S6).

If the result of the determination in step S4 is that there is a history, the data of the changed meter reading reference date is stored on the magnetic disk 4.
A is read, and it is determined whether or not today is the meter reading reference date (S7). If the result of the determination is no, that is, if it has not elapsed, the same day as the first day of the previous metering integration is set as the first day of metering integration, and the period with the same day as the last day of metering integration the last day of metering integration is set as the importing period. Set (S
8). If the result of the determination in step S7 is true, that is, if it has already elapsed, the period following the last day of the last meter integration is set as the first meter integration day, and the changed meter reading reference date is set as the last day of meter integration. A period is set (S9). When changing the meter reading reference date, the operator operates the console 3C and inputs a new date. The input date data for changing the meter reading reference date is written to the magnetic disk 4A together with the date data for the meter reading reference date before the change.

When the processes in steps S5, S6, S8, and S9 are completed, a command signal for requesting the transmission of the integrated value of the meter reading data corresponding to the capturing period set in the above-described procedure is output to the meter reading terminal device 2. (S10). Then, the data processing device 3A transmits the integrated value of the meter reading data for each of the pulse meters M1 to Mn during the set capturing period, which is transmitted from the output unit 2E of the meter reading terminal device 2 via the communication line T2 in response to the transmission request. Then, the charge is calculated according to the calculation processing program read from the magnetic disk 4A. After that, the data of the meter reading work day and the meter reading reference date are updated and the magnetic disk 4A is read.
(S11), and the accounting calculation process ends.

The operation of this embodiment will be further described with reference to an actual example. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining how to set the capture period when the meter reading reference date is advanced, and FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining how to set the capture period when the meter reading reference date is reduced. FIG. First, an example in which the meter reading reference date is changed from the last day of the month to the 20th will be described with reference to FIG. When the meter reading work day is the beginning of the month, when the operator presses the meter reading button of the console 3C to perform the billing calculation processing operation, if there is no history, the procedure goes through step S6 to the last day of the month from the first day of the previous month. Is set as the capture period, and the meter reading terminal device 2 calculates the integrated value of the meter reading data between the first day of the previous month and the last day of the month in accordance with the transmission request (claim 1) command signal from the charging calculator 3. Send to 3. Then, after step S11, the data of the meter reading operation date and the meter reading reference date at this time are updated and stored.

Thereafter, at the beginning of the month, the reference
Changed to day. Then, when the meter reading operation is performed at the end of the month, it is determined that there is a history in step S3 of the charge calculation processing operation, and in step S9, the first day of the month following the last day of the last meter reading integration is set as the first day of meter reading integration. Further, a period in which the changed meter reading reference date, that is, the 20th day is the last meter reading integration date, is set and set as the capture period. Therefore, the charge calculation device 3
In response to the transmission request (Claim 2) command from, the meter reading terminal device 2 transmits the integrated value of the meter reading data during the 1st to 20th of the month. Thereafter, for each meter reading operation performed at the end of each month, an integrated value of meter reading data from the 20th day of the previous month to the 20th day of the month is transmitted by a transmission request (claim 3) command from the charging calculation device 3. .

Next, an example in which the meter reading reference date is changed from the 20th to the last day of the month will be described with reference to FIG. When the meter reading operation is performed at the end of a certain month and the operator presses the meter reading button on the console 3C, if there is no history, the period from the 20th of the previous month to the 20th of the relevant month via the step S6 is the capture period. And a transmission request from the charge calculation device 3 (claim 1)
In accordance with the command signal, the meter reading terminal device 2 calculates the integrated value of the meter reading data between the 20th of the previous month and the 20th of the month, the charge calculating device 3.
Send to Then, after step S11, the data of the meter reading operation date and the meter reading reference date at this time are updated and stored.

Thereafter, at the beginning of the following month, the meter reading reference date is changed to the last day of the month. When the meter reading operation is performed at the beginning of the next two months, it is determined that there is a history in step S3 of the billing calculation process operation, and in step S9, the day after the last meter reading integration last day, that is, 21 days before the meter reading work day. The day is set as the first day of meter reading integration, and the period in which the changed meter reading reference date, that is, the last day of the month of the previous month is the last day of meter reading integration, is set and set as the capture period. Therefore, the meter reading terminal device 2 responds to the transmission request (claim 2) command from the charge calculation device 3 by
The integrated value of the meter reading data between the first day and the last day of the previous month is transmitted. Thereafter, for each meter reading operation performed at the beginning of each month, an integrated value of the meter reading data from the first day to the last day of the previous month is transmitted by a transmission request (claim 3) command from the charging calculation device 3.

As described above, in this specific example, the data processing device 3A of the billing calculation device 3 causes the disk reading device 3E to update and store the data of the meter reading work date and the meter reading reference date on the magnetic disk 4A for each meter reading operation. Each time the meter reading reference date is changed, it is possible to prevent duplicate meter readings and unmetered meter readings during the meter reading period. It is possible to save the trouble of accumulating and performing subtraction or addition with the meter reading value already accumulated.

[0019]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when a command to update the data of the last day of meter reading is inputted, the updated first day of meter reading and last day of meter reading are updated. The data of at least the first day of meter reading and the last day of meter reading before updating are stored together with the data of the meter, and when it is determined that the day is later than the last day of meter reading stored by the period definite date storage means, the designated value when calculating the meter reading is specified. The first day of meter reading that defines the period of time that was set is set as the first day of meter reading before updating, so even if the first day of meter reading and the last day of meter reading are changed and set, there will be excess or deficiency in the collected charge Can be prevented and unnecessary labor burden for compensating for the excess or deficiency of the collection fee can be eliminated. According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the first day of meter reading and the last day of meter reading are the same response day in consecutive months, unnecessary labor burden in the monthly billing calculation process can be eliminated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a meter reading information notification device according to a specific example of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sketch of the same.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a billing calculation process;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a method of setting a fetching period when a meter reading reference date is advanced and changed;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a method of setting a fetching period when a meter reading reference date is changed to an earlier date.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Building 2 Meter-reading terminal device 2A Control processing device (CPU) 2B Temporary storage device (RAM) 2C Fixed storage device (ROM) 2D input unit 2E output unit 2F bus line 3 Billing calculator 3A Data processor 3B Display 3C Console 3D printing device 3E disk reading device 4A magnetic disk M1 to Mn pulse meter N1 to Nn integrator T1 communication line T2 communication line

Claims (2)

[Claims] An integrated value output by an integrating means for integrating the number of pulses output from a pulse generator when an amount of consumables such as electricity and water used by a resident of a building exceeds a predetermined value is designated. Meter reading data storage means for storing as a meter reading value for each occupant, input means for inputting command data, and charging means for calculating a fee corresponding to the meter reading value read from the meter reading data storing means. And transmitting the meter reading value read from the meter reading data storage unit in accordance with the transmission command input from the input unit and the fee data calculated for each resident by the charging unit to a utility collection facility via a telephone line. In the meter reading information reporting device provided with a network control means for performing the meter reading, the period meter for storing the data of the first day of meter reading integration and the last day of meter reading integration defining a specified period for calculating the meter reading value. A fixed date storage means, and a period fixed date update command for updating data of the meter reading integration first day and the meter reading integration last date stored in the period setting date storage means from the input means; An update storage control means for storing at least the data of the first day of meter integration and the last day of meter integration before update together with the data of the first day of meter integration and the last day of meter integration, and a transmission command from the input means. After confirming that, the period setting date storage means stores the meter reading date determination means for determining whether or not the date is later than the meter reading integration end date, and the meter reading date determination means stores the period setting date storage means. When it is determined that the date is later than the last day of the meter reading, the first day of meter reading that defines a specified period for calculating the meter reading is set as the first day of meter reading before updating. Meter reading information notification apparatus characterized by having the update time of day setting means. 2. The meter reading information notification device according to claim 1, wherein the first day of meter reading and the last day of meter reading are the same response day in consecutive months.