JPH10336766A - Communication system and terminal equipment and controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain indirect communication connection through another terminal equipment with a specific terminal equipment, and to achieve communication connection with all terminal equipments by allowing a controller to communicate through a mediating terminal equipment for permitting another communication with the specific terminal equipment when communication can not be attained with the specific terminal equipment. SOLUTION: A power meter radio interface 14 communicates with each meter for collecting the meter-reading data of each meter of not only a power meter 13 but also a gas meter 20 or a water supply meter 22 in each constant time. The interface 14 set also as a mediating terminal equipment outputs an activation command for confirming a mediated communication state in each constant time to a pairing interface, and mutual stored data are transferred to a back-up area so that data management can be mutually attained and the operating state of the meters can be confirmed. When communication with a specific interface can not be operated, communication with another interface is operated, and data are collected by indirect connection.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication system in which meter readings of instruments for measuring equipment usage such as electricity, gas and water are automatically managed from a remote place. The present invention relates to a communication system, a terminal device, and a controller capable of reliably reading a meter reading value even if the reading is poor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an automatic meter reading device for automatically reading meter readings of equipment usage such as electricity, gas, water and the like is provided with a wireless interface to each household equipment meter, and a polling controller is connected to the meter via the wireless interface. The meter reading is read by connecting the houses one by one in order, and this is transferred to the control device.

[0003]

However, when meter readings are collected from many devices, meter readings from all devices are caused by troubles in the location or the location where buildings are lined up and radio waves are obstructed. Since it was not possible to fully automate the collection of values, when reading meters in locations with poor radio wave conditions or when reading devices that had trouble, it was necessary for meter readers to go and read the meter values of the devices to check them.

[0004] Therefore, the present invention provides a communication system and a terminal in which when a controller cannot directly communicate with a specific terminal device, communication connection with all terminal devices is achieved by indirect communication connection via another terminal device. It is intended to provide a device and a controller.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A communication system for performing communication between a controller and a terminal device, wherein when the controller cannot communicate with the specific terminal device, the controller communicates with the specific terminal device via another intermediary terminal device that allows communication. It is characterized by comprising an intermediary communication means for performing.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication system for performing communication between a controller and a terminal device, wherein the mediation terminal device mediates communication between the controller and a specific terminal device, and the mediation terminal device. The storage means for storing the mediation identification information of the terminal device, and when the communication between the controller and the specific terminal device cannot be performed, the specific information is transmitted via the mediation terminal device corresponding to the mediation identification information stored in the storage means. An intermediary communication unit that communicates with the terminal device.

[0007] The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the mediation communication means is provided with a selection means for selecting the mediation terminal device having the most stable radio condition between the specific terminal device and the mediation terminal device. I do.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication system for performing communication between a controller and a terminal device, wherein the terminal device has a collecting means for collecting identification information of another terminal device by radio. When the collection means collects new identification information, the transmission means for transmitting the new identification information to the controller is provided.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication system for performing communication between a controller and a terminal device, wherein a storage means for storing consumption information of a specific terminal device at regular intervals is provided in the mediation terminal device. A transmission unit that wirelessly transmits the consumption information stored in the storage unit of the mediation terminal device to the controller when communication between the controller and the specific terminal device cannot be performed.

The invention according to claim 6 is a terminal device used in such a communication system.

The invention according to claim 7 is a controller used in such a communication system.

[0012]

According to the present invention, when performing communication between a controller and a terminal device, if the controller cannot directly communicate with a specific terminal device, the mediation communication means passes through another mediation terminal device that allows other communication. The communication with the specific terminal device is performed by indirect communication connection.

Similarly, when performing communication between the controller and the terminal device, if the communication between the controller and the specific terminal device cannot be performed directly, the mediation terminal according to the mediation identification information stored in the storage means by the mediation communication means. Communication with a specific terminal device is indirectly performed via the device.

When communication between the controller and the specific terminal device is not possible, the mediation communication means selects the mediation terminal device having the most stable wireless state between the specific terminal device and the mediation terminal device by the selection means. Select and communicate.

Further, when communication is performed between the controller and the terminal device, when the collection unit wirelessly collects new identification information of another terminal device, the transmission unit transmits the new identification information to the controller. .

When communication between the controller and the specific terminal device is not possible, the consumption information of the specific terminal device is wirelessly transmitted to the controller by the transmission means at regular intervals stored in the storage means of the mediation terminal device. .

[0017]

As a result, when the controller cannot directly communicate with the specific terminal device, the controller can indirectly communicate with the specific terminal device via another intermediary terminal device that permits communication. When communicating with a specific terminal device installed in a location where the radio waves are obstructed, it is possible to reliably communicate via another intermediary terminal device. Therefore, data of a specific terminal device can be reliably collected, and data collection of a specific terminal device can be completely automated.

If communication between the controller and a specific terminal device is not possible, communication is immediately established using an intermediary terminal device that permits communication at that time. By selecting a suitable mediation terminal device, communication connection with a specific terminal device can be performed.

Further, when communication between the controller and the specific terminal device cannot be performed due to occurrence of a trouble in the specific terminal device or the like, it is possible to use the consumption information of the specific terminal device stored up to that time for each fixed period. Communication data can be collected reliably. When new identification information of a newly installed terminal device is collected, the new identification information is collected and data is managed.

For example, when the meter reading of a meter for measuring the amount of equipment used such as electricity, gas, and water is used in a communication system in which meter reading is performed from a remote location, the meter reading value of each device is completely wirelessly read from a remote location. It can be read automatically.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an automatic meter reading communication system 11. The automatic meter reading communication system 11 includes a power meter wireless interface 14 provided in addition to a power meter 13 for each house 12.
… And this power meter wireless interface 14 and telephone pole 1
5, a polling controller 16 for wireless communication connection, a center 18 as a control command unit connected to each of the polling controllers 16 via a high-speed communication line 17 such as a high-speed optical fiber, and communication from the center 18. And a host computer 19 for managing data.

A power meter wireless interface 14 is provided for each house 12 that consumes electricity. The power meter wireless interface 14 is provided in conjunction with a power meter 13 that can secure a power source for driving the power meter wireless interface 14. Upon receiving the command, the meter reading data of the power meter 13 is wirelessly returned to the polling controller 16.

The power meter wireless interface 14 wirelessly connects to a gas meter wireless interface 21 attached to a gas meter 20 of the house 12 and a water meter wireless interface 23 attached to a water meter 22. And each of the meters 13, 20, 22
Of the meter reading data of this power meter wireless interface 1
4 to the polling controller 16.

Further, the power meter wireless interface 14 has an intermediary function of wirelessly connecting not only the house 12 but also the power meter wireless interfaces 14 of other houses 12 in the vicinity thereof, and the peripheral meter reading is performed. Transmission of data to the polling controller 16 is permitted. Therefore, for example, when performing communication with the house 12 in a location condition in which the radio wave 25 is obstructed by the high-rise building 24,
It communicates with the polling controller 16 through the intermediary operation of the power meter wireless interface 14 that permits communication nearby.

The polling controller 16 is provided for each electric pole 15 suitable for use in communication with a large number of houses 12.
Communication with 4 ... is permitted. When the polling controller 16 communicates, an allowable communication area with each of the power meter wireless interfaces 14 with the polling controller 16 as a reference position is determined, and an optimum wireless communication state is selected from the power meter wireless interfaces 14. Is determined, and a combination suitable for the intermediation operation of the power meter wireless interface 14 with high wireless communication conditions is determined, and a new power meter wireless interface 14 generated by a new home or the like is determined. Information management is determined, and optimal communication setting conditions for using the polling controller 16 for communication are set based on the communication status with each of the power meter wireless interfaces 14.
Further, the setting change of the communication setting condition is permitted according to the change of the communication condition.

A large number of such polling controllers 16 are collectively controlled and managed by the center 18,
From the polling controller 16, the consumption data of the electricity, gas, and water meters 13, 20, and 22 for each house are collected and managed at regular intervals, such as once a month or several times a month. Many of the meter reading data for each house are transmitted to the host computer 19 for data management.

Therefore, when the polling controller 16 cannot directly communicate with the specific power meter radio interface 14, the polling controller 16 indirectly connects to and communicates with the specific power meter radio interface 14 via another intervening power meter radio interface 14. It can communicate with the interface 14. For this reason, when communicating with a location having unstable communication conditions, it is possible to reliably communicate via another power meter wireless interface 14 that is suitable for mediation where the surrounding wireless condition is most stable. In addition, the meter reading data of each meter for measuring the amount of equipment used for electricity, gas and water can be read from a remote place by fully automatic and wireless.

FIG. 2 shows the power meter radio interface 14.
The power meter wireless interface 14
Is provided with a display 26 on the front surface, a communication antenna 27 on the upper surface, and is connected to the power meter 13 attached thereto via a wiring line 28 for reading meter reading data.

The display 26 on the front panel displays the total power consumption T, the power consumption D in the daytime, the power consumption N in the nighttime, and meter-read data.
In addition to this display, a display of an amount according to the power consumption is also performed.

The communication antenna 27 permits communication with the peripheral meter radio interfaces 14, 21, 23 and the polling controller 16 described above, and the communication antenna 27 is provided at regular intervals measured by a timer (not shown) provided therein.
Other meter wireless interface 1 for mediation via
Periodic meter reading data from 4, 21, 23 is collected and stored and managed by an internal control unit.

Therefore, when communication with the specific power meter wireless interface 14 is not possible, the meter reading data at a specific position which has been stored and managed may be read, and the meter wireless interfaces 14, 21,.
When 23 new identification information is collected, the new identification information is collected and data is managed.

FIG. 3 shows a control circuit block diagram of the polling controller 16. The CPU 31 controls each circuit device according to a program stored in the ROM 32, and stores the control data in the RAM 33 in a readable manner.

The CPU 31 is communicatively connected to the power meter radio interface 14 wirelessly, and is communicatively connected to the center 18 via a center communication circuit 34 by wire. At this time, the meter reading data transmitted from the power meter wireless interface 14 is tabulated every time,
The storage is managed in step 3.

FIG. 4 shows the RA of the polling controller 16.
An example of meter reading data stored and managed in M33 is shown in a RAM.
Reference numeral 33 denotes controller data 41 including ID data for proving the polling controller, maximum registration number, time-based charge, and final meter reading transmission time, and electricity, gas, and water consumption data 42a and 42b collected for each house. , 42c
… Is managed.

The center processing operation of the thus configured automatic meter reading communication system 11 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The center 18 automatically outputs a request for meter reading data to a number of polling controllers 16 in a predetermined periodic pattern for requesting meter reading data, for example, a monthly periodic pattern (step n1). Return based on each polling controller 16 ...
Responds to the center 18 with the meter reading data (step n).
2).

The responded meter reading data is sequentially registered in the database, and when all the meter reading data have been registered (step n3), the center 18 transfers all the registered meter reading data to the host computer 19 and manages the data. (Step n4).

Next, the transfer processing operation of the polling controller 16 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
When a request command signal for meter reading data is input to the polling controller 16 from the center 18 in a periodic pattern every month (step n11), the polling controller 1
6 reads out one month's meter reading data which has been periodically collected and stored and managed in the RAM 33 so far;
(Step n12).

When the transfer to the center 18 is completed, the polling controller 16 switches the data for this month to the data for the previous month, and prepares for the collection of meter reading data for the next month (step n13).

Next, the operation of the polling controller 16 for collecting meter reading data will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The polling controller 16 outputs a start command for collecting meter reading data of each of the meters 13, 20, and 22 at regular time intervals (step n21). Polling is sequentially performed on the interfaces 14 to collect meter reading data of electricity, gas, and water (step n22).

When the meter reading data is collected from all the power meter wireless interfaces 14 in the collection corresponding area, the data is stored in the RAM 33 and managed (steps n23 to n24).

At this time, if it is not possible to directly communicate with a specific power meter radio interface due to radio wave conditions,
Indirect communication connection is made using a preset power meter radio interface for mediation (step n25), and meter reading data from a specific power meter radio interface is collected by the mediation of the mediation power meter radio interface (step n25). Step n26).

The collected meter reading data is stored in the RAM 33 for data management (step n27).

Next, the mediation setting processing operation performed by the polling controller 16 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Now, when a part or all of the new meters of the power meter 13, the gas meter 20, and the water meter 22 are registered in the polling controller 16 (step n3).
1), based on this registration, the polling controller 16
Is the radio interface 14,2 of the new meter
Wait for a report of the radio wave condition between the power meter wireless interface 14 and the other power meter wireless interfaces 14 that allow communication (step n3).
2) When wireless communication is received from the power meter wireless interface 14, the most suitable intermediary power meter wireless interface is determined from the received radio wave condition (step n33).

The pairing between the determined power meter radio interface and the new power meter radio interface is set (step n34).

Next, the corresponding processing operation between the polling controller 16 and the power meter wireless interface 14 will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Now, polling controller 1 from power meter wireless interface 14
When there is a communication request such as a new data subscription setting accompanying the new house toward step 6 (step n41), the polling controller 16 analyzes the requested communication contents (step n42), and based on the analysis result. The polling controller 16 rewrites the data of the communication permission list and the communication status list of the power meter wireless interface 14 (step n43).

Next, the power meter radio interface 14
Will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The power meter wireless interface 14 outputs a start command for collecting meter reading data of not only the power meter 13 but also the gas meter 20 and the water meter 22 at fixed time intervals (step n51). Based on this, the interface 14 communicates with each meter to collect meter reading data that has been consumed (step n5).
2).

At this time, the difference between the meter reading data and the previous integrated value is collected as meter reading data in this time zone (step n53). If this time zone is set to a long time of, for example, 2 hours or more, Data is managed separately for each time zone (step n54).

In the case where the consumption amount of money is displayed, and if the use of the fee according to the consumption time period is intended, the charge per use time period is displayed (step n55).

Next, the power meter radio interface 14
The radio wave state confirmation processing operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The power meter wireless interface 14 outputs a start command for checking the radio wave state at regular intervals to another interface (step n6).
1), based on this start command, the interface 14
Communicates in order up to the stored maximum registered number (step n62).

If communication is permitted during this communication, the data of the interface of the communication partner is added to the communication permission list (step n63).
After adding the communication status such as the error rate to the communication status list (step n64), the updated polling list and the communication status list are updated.
The data is transferred and stored and managed (step n65).

Next, the power meter radio interface 14
Will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The power meter wireless interface set to be used as an intermediary outputs a start command for confirming the intermediary communication state to the pairing interface at regular time intervals (step n71). The stored mutual data is transferred to the backup area to mutually manage the data (step n72). At this time, it is confirmed whether or not the connected meters managed by each other are operating normally (step n73). If the operation is normal, it is determined that a stable communication state has been secured, and the mediation confirmation operation ends (step n74).

On the other hand, if an abnormality occurs in the meter,
The fact is notified to the polling controller 16 by data transfer. As a result, the center 18 can grasp and manage a meter operation abnormality from a remote position via the polling controller 16 (step n75).

As described above, when the polling controller cannot directly communicate with the specific power meter radio interface, the polling controller can indirectly communicate with the specific power meter radio interface via another intermediary power meter radio interface. Therefore, when communicating with a specific power meter wireless interface installed in a location under a location condition that blocks communication radio waves, it is possible to reliably communicate via another intervening power meter wireless interface. For this reason, data collection of all power meter wireless interfaces can be performed automatically, and when meter reading data of equipment usage of electricity, gas, water
This meter reading data can be read from a remote place with full automation.

In correspondence between the present invention and the configuration of the above-described embodiment, the communication system of the present invention corresponds to the automatic meter reading communication system 11 of the embodiment. The mediation terminal device corresponds to the power meter radio interface 14, the gas meter radio interface 21, and the water meter radio interface 23, and the mediation communication means, the collection means, and the transmission means correspond to the power meter radio interface 14 for mediation. , The storage means corresponds to the RAM 33, and the selection means corresponds to the CPU 31.
And the consumption information includes the consumption data 42a, 42b, 4
2c, the controller corresponds to the polling controller 16, but the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view showing an automatic meter reading communication system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing an example of a power meter wireless interface of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a control circuit block diagram of the polling controller 16 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of RAM data showing storage contents of the polling controller of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a center processing operation of the automatic meter reading communication system of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a transfer processing operation of the polling controller of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a meter reading data collection operation of the polling controller of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an intermediary setting processing operation performed by the polling controller of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the corresponding processing operation between the polling controller and the power meter wireless interface according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the power meter wireless interface of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a radio wave condition confirmation processing operation of the power meter wireless interface of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a power meter wireless interface mediation processing operation of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Automatic meter reading communication system 13 ... Power meter 14 ... Power meter wireless interface 16 ... Polling controller 18 ... Center 19 ... Host computer 20 ... Gas meter 21 ... Gas meter wireless interface 22 ... Water meter 23 ... Water meter wireless interface 31 ... CPU 41 ... Controller data 42a, 42b, 42c ... consumption data

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A communication system for performing communication between a controller and a terminal device, wherein the controller, when unable to communicate with a specific terminal device, transmits the specific terminal device via another intermediary terminal device allowing communication. A communication system including an intermediary communication unit that communicates with a device. 2. A communication system for performing communication between a controller and a terminal device, wherein the mediation terminal device mediates communication between the controller and a specific terminal device, and mediation identification information of the mediation terminal device. When the communication between the controller and the specific terminal device cannot be performed, the communication with the specific terminal device is performed via the mediation terminal device corresponding to the mediation identification information stored in the storage device. A communication system comprising: 3. An intermediary communication means comprising a selection means for selecting an intermediary terminal device having the most stable radio condition between a specific terminal device and the intermediary terminal device.
Or the communication system according to 2. 4. A communication system for performing communication between a controller and a terminal device, wherein the terminal device includes a collection unit that wirelessly collects identification information of another terminal device, wherein the collection unit performs a new identification. A communication system comprising a transmission unit that transmits new identification information to a controller when information is collected. 5. An intermediary terminal device comprising storage means for storing consumption information of a specific terminal device at regular intervals, and when communication between the controller and the specific terminal device is not possible, the storage means of the intermediary terminal device is provided. 4. A transmission means for transmitting the stored consumption information to the controller wirelessly.
Or the communication system according to 4. 6. A terminal device used in the communication system according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5. 7. A controller used in the communication system according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5.