JPH10285293A - Network controller for terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To optimally transmit data with a center by enabling setting of priority of terminal call communication from a terminal meter and communication from a terminal. SOLUTION: When a fact that the terminal is used in a terminal use condition detecting means 1 at the terminal call communication between the terminal meter and the center is detected, setting information whether the terminal call communication is continued or interrupted is transmitted to a terminal call communication control part 4 by a switching setting part 3 in a control means 2. Data transmission between the terminal meter and the center is continued if the corresponding setting information is continued, communication between a line side and a terminal side is enabled by operating a line switch 5 if the corresponding setting information is interrupted and operation of a data transmitting part 6 is simultaneously stopped when the corresponding setting information is interrupted by the terminal call communication control part 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a terminal network control device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, when collecting usage amounts of electric power, water, gas and the like in a customer, a subscriber telephone line is used to simplify a meter reading operation of a terminal meter installed in the customer. 2. Description of the Related Art An automatic meter reading system that transmits terminal data to a center and performs meter reading has become widespread. In this automatic meter reading system, when a terminal such as a telephone connected to a subscribed telephone line is in an on-hook state (i.e., is not used), data of terminal data is transmitted to a center when desired. Things.

Generally, in this type of automatic meter reading system, a terminal meter is connected to a center via an exchange. A terminal network control device is provided between the exchange and the terminal meter, and a terminal meter is provided. Data transmission between the data and the center is controlled.

[0004] That is, the terminal network control device has a difference in the line voltage of the subscribed telephone line when the connected terminal is on-hook and off-hook (that is, used). Therefore, the use state of the terminal is determined by detecting the fluctuation of the line voltage, and the data transmission between the terminal meter and the center is controlled.

On the other hand, data transmission between a terminal meter and a center is normally performed when a terminal connected to a terminal network control device is in an on-hook state. Sometimes the machine goes off-hook. In this case, for example, when data is transmitted by calling the terminal meter from the center in order to collect the measured value of the terminal meter, the terminal side has priority. On the other hand, for example, when data is transmitted by calling the center from the terminal meter to transmit the security information of the terminal data to the center (at the time of terminal call communication), the data transmission is performed. Is given priority, and the terminal cannot be used.

[0006]

Incidentally, an alarm terminal system is sometimes connected to this type of terminal network control device in order to immediately notify the center when an abnormality occurs on the terminal side. This is something abnormal (disaster prevention, crime prevention, etc.)
Is detected, the alarm data is sent to the alarm center through the subscribed telephone line for notification. The alarm center that has received the alarm data returns to contact the customer of the subscriber telephone line to check the current situation.

However, when such an alarm terminal system is connected to a conventional terminal network control device, if an abnormality is detected during terminal call communication, the terminal cannot be used, so that the alarm terminal is immediately sent to the alarm center. Cannot report. Similarly, when the alarm center contacts the customer of the subscriber line, if the data transmission is performed between the center and the network controller for the terminal, the alarm center cannot contact the customer. .

In the case of a terminal network control device in which the terminal meter is a gas meter, considering the danger of gas, even if an off-hook for a normal telephone call is detected at the time of terminal call communication, the terminal is controlled. It seems natural to prioritize outgoing calls. However, when an alarm terminal system is connected to a terminal network control device whose terminal meter is a water meter having a relatively low degree of danger, even if an abnormality is detected at the time of terminal call communication, an alarm that flies for an instant. It is not preferable because terminal call communication has priority over data transmission. An object of the present invention is to provide an optimal data to the center side.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a terminal network control device capable of transmitting data.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a terminal meter and a terminal connected to each other, and the terminal meter data for a center connected via a subscriber telephone line. In a terminal network control device for performing transmission control, a detecting means for detecting a use state of a terminal, a switching setting means for setting continuation or interruption of data transmission to a center of a terminal meter, and a detecting means. And control means for controlling the operation of the data transmission unit based on the setting information of the switching setting unit when the detection signal is inputted.

In such a configuration, when the detection means detects that the terminal is used, the control means performs data transmission between the terminal meter and the center based on the setting information of the switching setting means. Since the operation of the data transmission unit is controlled, it is possible to easily control whether to continue or interrupt data transmission between the terminal meter and the center.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a terminal use state detecting means 1 detects a use state of a terminal based on a change in the line voltage of a subscribed telephone line when the terminal is used or when the use of the terminal ends, This detection signal is sent to the control means 2.

On the other hand, the control means 2 comprises a switch setting section 3 and a terminal call communication control section 4, and the terminal use state detecting means 1
Is received by the switching setting unit 3. Switching setting section 3
Is set to continue or interrupt the terminal call communication. When the detection signal of the use state detecting means 1 is received, the setting information is transmitted to the terminal call communication control unit 4. If the setting information is continued, the terminal call communication control unit 4 continues the data transmission between the terminal meter and the center, and if the setting information is interrupted, the line switch 5 is operated to activate the line side. And the terminal side can communicate with each other, and the operation of the data transmission unit 6 is stopped. At this time, as will be described later, a timer unit is provided between the terminal call communication control unit 4 and the data transmission unit 6,
The operation of the data transmission unit may be stopped for a predetermined time.

After that, when the communication from the terminal is completed,
The use state detecting means 1 detects the unused state of the terminal from the fluctuation of the line voltage. Then, the use state detection means 1 stops the detection signal or outputs a detection signal indicating that the terminal is not used, which is different from the detection signal. Communicate usage status. Then, the fact that the terminal is in an unused state is transmitted to the terminal call communication control unit 4 via the switch setting unit 3, and the terminal call communication control unit 4
Activates the line switch 5 and starts the operation of the data transmission unit 6 to restart the terminal call communication.

Further, if the setting information of the switching setting section 3 is continued, even if the detection signal of the use state detecting means 1 is received, the line switch 5 is not activated via the terminal calling communication control section 4. No, terminal call communication is continued.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, even if the terminal is in use at the time of terminal call communication, the data is transmitted by either data communication based on the setting information of the switching setting unit. Therefore, optimal data transmission to the center side can be performed.

Although the terminal use state is always detected in the first embodiment, the terminal use state is not always determined according to the type of terminal meter or terminal connected to the terminal network control device. When it is not necessary to detect the use state, a relay switch may be provided on, for example, the line side and the terminal side, though not shown. That is, when it is necessary to detect the terminal use state during terminal call communication, the relay switch should be turned on, and the terminal call communication should be given priority based on the terminal meter and terminal type. , The relay switch may be turned off. At this time, the operation of the relay switch is performed by the control means 2, for example.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. However, the switch setting unit 8 is provided with a hardware configuration, and the terminal call communication control unit is provided. It is characterized in that a timer unit 7 is provided between the data transmission unit 4 and the data transmission unit 6.

That is, when the switch setting section 8 receives the detection signal from the terminal use state detecting means 1, it is turned on, for example, when the terminal call communication is set to be interrupted, and the terminal call communication control section 4 Operates the line switch 5 based on the setting information and stops the operation of the data transmission unit 6 via the timer unit 7 for a predetermined time. When the switch setting unit 8 is set to continue the terminal call communication, when the detection signal from the terminal use state detecting means 1 is received, for example, the terminal is turned off, and the terminal call communication control unit 4 is turned off. The state of the line switch 5 is maintained without any intervention.

Here, the terminal call communication control unit 4 and the terminal mail
The provision of the timer unit 7 between the counters 6 will be described. If the terminal connected to the terminal network control device is, for example, a terminal alarm system, the terminal alarm system notifies the alarm center when detecting an abnormality. May contact you.

However, when the report from the terminal alarm system to the alarm center is completed, the terminal call communication is resumed and data transmission between the terminal meter and the center is performed, so that the alarm center cannot contact the customer. Will be. Therefore, a timer unit 7 is provided between the terminal call communication control unit 4 and the terminal meter 6, and when the terminal call communication control unit 4 detects an unused state of the terminal and restarts the terminal call communication. The resumption is delayed for a predetermined time.

As described above, by providing the timer unit 7 between the terminal call communication control unit 4 and the terminal meter 6, the restart of the terminal call communication is delayed for a predetermined time, so that the alarm center and the customer can be surely connected. I can contact you. Switching setting unit 8
Is provided in a hardware configuration, so that the load on the terminal call communication control unit 4 can be reduced.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 2, the same components as those in FIG. 2 are given the same numbers and their explanation is omitted. However, it is assumed that the switch setting section 9 is processed by software, and the priority of the terminal call communication depends on the type of terminal meter. The feature is that the degree is set automatically.

That is, the switching setting section 9 receives the type signal from the terminal meter, and automatically sets the priority of the terminal call communication based on the type signal. For example, if the terminal meter is a water meter having a relatively low risk, the switching setting unit 9 interrupts the terminal calling communication when detecting that the terminal is used during the terminal calling communication. Is set to In addition, the terminal meter is a gas meter with a relatively high risk.
If so, the switch setting unit 9 is set so that the terminal call communication is continued when it is detected that the terminal is used during the terminal call communication.

On the other hand, the type signal from the terminal meter is, for example, a code assigned to each type of terminal meter. If the code is included in all the messages output by the terminal meter, the switching setting unit 9 can easily and surely determine the type of the terminal meter.

As described above, since the switching setting section 9 can be automatically switched based on the type signal from the terminal meter, the reliability of the setting work is improved, and the more optimal data is obtained. Data transmission can be realized.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified. For example, if the switching setting unit has a hardware configuration and a software processing unit, the effects of the second and third embodiments described above can be obtained. Can be.

Also, in each of the above-described embodiments, a case has been described where the terminal is detected to be used at the time of the terminal call communication. The operation may be performed based on the setting information of the switching setting unit even when it is detected that the switching setting unit is used.

Further, even when a terminal call request is received from a terminal meter when the terminal is in use, the terminal may be similarly operated based on the setting information of the switching setting section.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, a terminal meter is connected to a terminal, and data transmission control of the terminal data is performed to a center connected via a subscriber telephone line. In the terminal network control device, detection means for detecting the use state of the terminal, switch setting means for setting the continuation or interruption of data transmission to the center of the terminal meter, and a detection signal from the detection means. Since control means for controlling the operation of the data transmission unit based on the setting information of the switching setting unit when input is provided, optimal data transmission with the center can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of a terminal network control device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the terminal network control device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a third embodiment of the terminal network control device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Terminal use state detection means, 2 ... Control means 3, 8, 9 ... Switch setting part, 4 ... Terminal call communication control part

Claims (4)

[Claims] A terminal meter is connected to a terminal, and the terminal meter is connected to a center connected via a subscriber telephone line.
In a terminal network control device for controlling data transmission of data,
Detecting means for detecting the use state of the terminal, switching setting means for setting the continuation or interruption of data transmission to the center of the terminal meter, and when a detection signal from the detecting means is input. Control means for controlling the operation of the data transmission unit based on the setting information of the switching setting unit. 2. A terminal meter is connected to a terminal, and the terminal meter is connected to a center connected via a subscribed telephone line.
In a terminal network control device for controlling data transmission of data,
Whether to continue or interrupt the operation of the detecting means for detecting the use state of the terminal and the data transmission unit for transmitting the terminal data to the center according to the type of the terminal data. Determining means for determining whether or not the data has been input, based on the determination information of the determining means when a detection signal is input from the detecting means;
And a control means for controlling the operation of the data transmission unit. 3. A terminal meter is connected to a terminal, and the terminal meter is connected to a center connected via a subscriber line.
In a terminal network control device for controlling data transmission of data,
Detecting means for detecting the use state of the terminal, switching setting means for setting the continuation or interruption of data transmission to the center of the terminal meter, and terminal meter according to the type of the terminal meter Determining means for determining whether to continue or interrupt the operation of the data transmitting section for transmitting the data to the center, and setting the switching setting section when a detection signal is input from the detecting means. Control means for controlling the operation of the data transmission section based on information and judgment information of the judgment means. 4. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein said control means activates a timer to interrupt the operation of said data transmission unit for a predetermined time. Network controller.