JPH1079802A - Telemeter device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the telemeter device which can perform a telemeter process by origination from a center side without origination from a general home side. SOLUTION: When an origination telephone number detection part 10 of the telemeter device detects origination from the center 4 to the general home, a control part 12 switches a line-side relay 6 and a telephone-set side relay 7 from A positions to B positions, through a line connection part 11 and a telephone set connection part 13 and send measurement data of a measuring instrument, such as a gas meter 5 to the center 4 through the line connection part 11 to perform a telemeter process. During this telemeter process, the control part 12 turns on an LED of a display part 15, and when the telephone set 2 is placed in the off-hook state, a message during the telemeter process which is stored in a speech synthesizing part 14 is sent out to the telephone set 2 through the telephone set connection part 13.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a telemeter device for reading measurement data of various measuring instruments and transmitting the data to a center using a telephone line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A telemeter device reads data of a measuring instrument such as a gas meter installed at home, and transmits the read data to a center such as a gas management company through a telephone line. In a home provided with the device, the communication circuit can be manually switched between a telemeter device and a telephone.

Conventionally, the use of a line is monitored from a device at a general household, and data of a measuring instrument is automatically dialed and transmitted to a center. Alternatively, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, first, the center side dials the general household side equipped with a measuring instrument (step S1). After receiving the communication from the center, the general household switches the communication circuit to the telemeter device by manual operation (step S).
2). In this state, data of a measuring instrument such as a gas meter is transmitted to the center side by manual operation (step S3), and after the transmission is completed, a manual operation is performed to connect the communication circuit to the telephone (step S4).

[0004]

However, such a conventional telemeter device has the following problems. Telemeter processing is carried out by the general household, so the general household must bear the call charge and manage data of various measuring instruments, for example, the service level for users such as gas management companies. Is low. Since the switching between the telephone and the telemeter device and the transmission of data are performed manually, the work is complicated for the user, and there is a possibility that an operation error such as disconnection of the line may occur during the telemeter processing, and the reliability is increased. Not enough.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a telemeter device capable of performing telemeter processing by transmitting from a center side without transmitting from a user side. The purpose is.

[0006]

A telemeter device according to the present invention detects an incoming call from a center side and detects a telephone number of a calling side, and a telephone number detecting unit for detecting a telephone number of a calling side. A line switching unit that switches to be connected to the telephone line, and when the calling telephone number detection unit detects that the calling side is the center side, the line switching unit is brought into a state in which the line and the telemeter unit are connected. In addition to the switching, a control unit that receives input of measurement data of a measuring instrument such as a gas meter and transmits the input data to the center side.

The telemeter device according to the present invention is provided with an originating telephone number detecting section for detecting an incoming call from the center side and detecting a telephone number of the originating side, and this originating telephone number detecting section confirms that the originating side is the center side. When a detection is made, the control unit connects the line and the telemeter unit to transmit measurement data such as a gas meter to the center side. Line switching and data transmission to the telemeter unit can be performed automatically.

The telemeter section has a display section, and the control section displays the display section indicating that the telemeter section is operating when the telemeter section operates. Thereby, the user recognizes that the telemeter processing is being performed.

Further, a telephone-side switching unit is provided between the telephone and the line switching unit for switching the telephone to be connected to one of the line switching unit and the telemeter unit.
A voice synthesizing unit is provided in the telemeter unit, and the control unit switches the telephone-side switching unit to a state in which the telephone and the telemeter unit are connected when the transmitting telephone number detecting unit detects that the transmitting side is the center side. Switch to
When the off-hook of the telephone is detected in a state where the telephone and the telemeter are connected, the voice synthesizing unit is operated to send a message indicating that the telemeter is being processed to the telephone. Thereby, when the user goes off-hook the telephone during the telemeter processing, the user is notified by voice that the telemeter processing is being performed.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a telemeter device showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure,
(1) is a telemeter device installed in a general home together with the telephone (2), and is connected and arranged between the telephone (2) and the telephone line (3). (4) is a center managed by a gas company or the like. Measurement data of, for example, a gas meter (5) installed in a general home is transmitted to the center (4) via the telephone line (3) by the telemeter device (1). Sent. The telemeter device here (1)
Is assumed to be receiving a calling telephone number notification service at the telephone station, that is, a service of notifying the calling telephone number when receiving a call.

Next, the telemeter device (1) will be described. (6) is a line side relay as a line switching unit, which switches so as to connect the telephone line (3) to either the telephone (2) or the telemeter unit (8) for executing telemeter processing. (7) is a telephone-side relay as a telephone-side switching unit, which is a telephone (2) and a line-side relay (6).
And switches between connecting the telephone (2) to one of the line-side relay (6) and the telemeter unit (8).

The line side relay (6) has a switch arm (6a). When the switch arm (6a) is in the position A and connected to the wiring (9), the telephone line (3) is connected to the telephone. The telephone line (3) is connected to the telemeter unit (8) while the switch arm (6a) is in the position B and connected to the telemeter unit (8) side. The telephone-side relay (7) includes a switch arm (7a).
Is in the position A and is connected to the wiring (9),
When the telephone (2) is connected to the line side relay (6) and the switch arm (7a) is in the position B and connected to the telemeter section (8), the telephone (2) is connected to the telemeter section (8). ).

In the telemeter section (8), (10)
Is an outgoing telephone number detecting unit, which is composed of a circuit for detecting an incoming call on the telephone line (3) and receiving the outgoing telephone number, and has a function of detecting an incoming call from the center (4) side. (11) a line connection unit, which receives a command from the control unit (12) when the outgoing telephone number detection unit (10) detects an incoming call from the center (4), and receives a line-side relay (6).
The switch arm (6a) is switched from the position A to the position B, and the measurement data of the gas meter (5) is inputted by the control unit (12) and transmitted to the center (4) side via the telephone line (3). . (13) is a telephone connection unit, which receives a command from the control unit (12) when the outgoing telephone number detection unit (10) detects an incoming call from the center (4) and switches the telephone relay (7). The arm (7a) is switched from the position A to the position B.

(14) a voice synthesizing unit,
A warning message for prohibiting the operation of the telephone (2) is stored. This warning message is converted into a voice when the telephone (2) is off-hook during the telemeter processing, and is transmitted through the telephone connection unit (13). ). Further, the telephone connection section (13) has a function of avoiding disconnection of the line when off-hook.

(15) is a display unit composed of an LED, an LCD, etc., which is constantly lit during telemeter processing, thereby urging the user not to use the telephone (2). (16) is a meter connection unit for connecting measuring instruments such as a gas meter, an electric meter, and a water meter, and converts measured data into data that can be handled by the control unit (12). The control unit (12) is mainly configured by a microprocessor, and performs monitoring and control of the entire telemeter device (1) including the above components.

Next, the operation of the telemeter device configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, when the center (4) dials the general home where the telemeter device (1) is installed (step S11), the calling telephone number and the incoming signal are sent to the general home (step S12). The transmitted outgoing telephone number is detected by the outgoing telephone number detecting section (10) of the telemeter device (1) (step S13).

When the control unit (12) determines that the outgoing telephone number detection unit (10) has detected the outgoing telephone number of the center (4), the control unit (12) transmits the information via the line connection unit (11) and the telephone connection unit (13). Switch arms (6a) and (7a) of line-side relay (6) and telephone-side relay (7)
Is switched from the position A to the position B (step S1).
4) Connect the telephone line (3) and telephone (2) to the telemeter (8) side. At the same time, the control unit (12)
Turns on the LED of the display unit (15) to notify the user of the telephone (2) that the telemeter processing is being performed (step S15).

When the control unit (12) detects the off-hook of the telephone (2), the control unit (12) converts the message during the telemeter processing stored in the voice synthesizing unit (14) into a voice, and transmits the voice via the telephone connection unit (13). To the telephone (2) (step S16).

Further, the control unit (12) reads the measured value of the gas meter (5) via the meter connection unit (16) and sends it to the center (4) via the line connection unit (11). A telemeter process is performed (Step S17). When the telemetering process is completed, the control unit (12) turns off the LED of the display unit (15), and transmits the line side relay (6) and the telephone side via the line connection unit (11) and the telephone connection unit (13). Switch each switch arm (6a) and (7a) of the relay (7) from the position B to the position A, and wire the telephone line (3) to the telephone (2) side (9)
(Step S18).

According to the telemeter device configured as described above, the telemeter device (1) is arranged from the center (4) side.
Telemeter processing can be performed by making a call to a general household equipped with a telephone, thereby eliminating the need for a call charge at the general household and improving serviceability. In performing the telemeter processing, the telephone of the telephone line (3) is used. Since there is no need to perform any operation on the general home side, such as switching from (2) to the telemeter section (8) and transmitting the measured values, the user is released from the telemeter processing work, and the telemeter processing is performed. Operation mistakes such as disconnection of the telephone line (3) during operation are prevented, and reliability is improved.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention, telemeter processing can be performed by transmission from the center side.
Telemeters that improve serviceability by eliminating the need for telephone charges at ordinary households, and eliminate the need for operation at ordinary households during telemeter processing, thereby preventing operational errors and improving reliability. There is an effect that the device can be provided.

The telemeter section has a display section, and the control section operates the display section when the telemeter section operates, so that the user is in the process of telemeter processing. Can be recognized.

Further, the telephone-side switching section is switched so that the telephone and the telemeter section are connected,
When the telephone is off-hook, the control unit operates the voice synthesizing unit to send a message indicating that the telephone is being telemetered. The fact that the user is in the middle can be recognized by voice.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a telemeter device showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the telemeter device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of a telemeter device in a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Telemeter apparatus 2 Telephone 3 Telephone line 4 Center 5 Gas meter 6 Line side relay (line switching part) 7 Telephone side relay (telephone side switching part) 6a, 7a Switch arm 8 Telemeter part 9 Wiring 10 Outgoing telephone number detecting part 11 Line connection Unit 12 Control unit 13 Telephone connection unit 14 Voice synthesis unit 15 Display unit 16 Meter connection unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An outgoing telephone number detecting unit for detecting an incoming call from a center side and detecting a telephone number of a transmitting side, a line switching unit for switching a line to be connected to one of a telephone and a telemeter unit, When the transmitting telephone number detecting unit detects that the transmitting side is the center side, the line switching unit is switched so that the line and the telemeter unit are connected, and input of measurement data of a measuring instrument such as a gas meter is performed. And a control unit for receiving the input data and transmitting the input data to the center side. 2. The telemeter section has a display section, and the control section causes the display section to display that the telemeter section is operating when the telemeter section operates. The telemeter device as described. 3. A telephone-side switching unit for switching a telephone to be connected to one of a line switching unit and a telemeter unit between a telephone and a line switching unit, and a voice synthesizing unit in the telemeter unit, The control unit switches the telephone-side switching unit so that the telephone and the telemeter unit are connected to each other when the calling telephone number detection unit detects that the calling side is the center side. 2. The telemeter device according to claim 1, wherein when the off-hook of the telephone is detected in the connected state, the voice synthesizing unit is operated to send a message indicating that the telemeter is being processed to the telephone.