JPH11146073A - Automatic notification system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily analyze a defective event or its cause by confirming start-up information in an automatic notification system on the occurrence of a defect. SOLUTION: This system is made up of a transmission/reception section 7 that makes data communication with a central supervisory center 8 through a telephone line 9, an external interface section 6 that receives a signal from an external device 10, a setting device connection section 5 that connects a setting device for confirmation and setting of various data, a storage section 3 that stores data setting and start-up data, a control section 4 that controls the above devices and a power supply section 2. In this case, a defect is easily checked by only having to confirm start-up data on the occurrence of a communication error with the central supervisory center 8, or of an abnormality or a fault.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic notifying apparatus for automatically transmitting meter reading information such as electricity, gas, and water, sensor information, and the like to a centralized monitoring center using a telephone line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Prior Art Conventionally, electricity, gas,
In order to rationally manage the amount of water used by the centralized monitoring center, various types of information have been transmitted by an automatic notification device having a communication function.

For example, in a system for managing the remaining amount of gas,
The flow pulse signal output from the gas meter for each unit usage is integrated by the automatic notification device, and when the set date and time or usage is reached, the usage is notified and the household gas usage or the gas cylinder replacement time is notified. Was.

In recent years, the amount of gas used has been integrated by a micro computer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) built in the meter, and a signal is automatically output from the meter when the amount of gas used reaches a preset level. The mainstream is a method of dialing a centralized monitoring center via an automatic notification device connected to a meter and transmitting information through a telephone line.

[0005] In addition, by connecting a gas leak alarm device installed in the kitchen to an automatic notification device, a gas leak is constantly monitored, and when a gas leak occurs, a signal output from the alarm device is concentrated by the automatic notification device. By transmitting the information to the surveillance center, the centralized surveillance center notified the gas customer of the gas leak condition by telephone, and in the case of absence, the emergency response was immediately dispatched to the customer.

[0006] As described above, by installing a meter, a center, and the like in the automatic notification device and registering the contact information of the central monitoring center, hundreds of thousands of meter readings depending on the scale can be obtained. In addition to information, it is also used for emergency information such as gas leak information and nurse calls for bedridden elderly and disabled people. (See, for example, JP-A-52-77506)

[0007]

In the above-described automatic notification device, when a gas meter is taken as an example, a lithium battery is normally used to operate the gas meter for 7 to 10 years without maintenance. Therefore, maintenance of the automatic reporting device is almost always in the registered state except for the change of the telephone number which is the registered data. The report was sent to the centralized monitoring center about once a month.

[0008] However, in the above-mentioned automatic notification device, if any trouble occurs in the previous term, the periodic report is lost or communication with the center fails, and in the worst case, the gas remaining amount warning cannot be reported. In such a case, the customer's house runs out of gas.

[0009] Even if a failure is analyzed at a later date to determine the cause, it is very difficult to understand how the automatic reporting device actually operates and what reports have been reported and how many times. It is.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a transmitting / receiving unit for performing data communication with a centralized monitoring center via a telephone line, an external interface unit for inputting a signal from an external device, and A setting unit connection unit for connecting a setting unit to set and check data,
In a storage unit that stores data setting and startup data, a control unit that controls these, and an automatic notification device that is configured by a power supply unit, the startup information is stored in the storage unit every time it is started, so that the centralized monitoring center In the event of a communication error with the device, an error, or a failure, it is possible to easily investigate the problem simply by checking the startup data.

Further, the start information data can be confirmed by communication from a centralized monitoring center via a telephone line.

Further, the start information data can be confirmed by the setting device from the setting device connection portion.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As described above, a transmission / reception unit for performing data communication with a centralized monitoring center via a telephone line, an external interface for inputting a signal from an external device, and a device for setting and confirming various data. By setting the setting unit connection unit for connecting the setting unit, a storage unit for storing data setting and start-up data, a control unit for controlling these units, and an automatic notification device configured by a power supply unit, the start-up information is provided each time the unit is started up. Is stored in the storage unit, when a communication error with the centralized monitoring center occurs, when an error occurs, or when a failure occurs, a failure phenomenon can be easily investigated only by confirming the startup data.

The activation information data can be confirmed by communication from a centralized monitoring center via a telephone line.

Further, the activation information data can be confirmed by the setting device from the setting device connection portion.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an automatic notification device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Reference numeral 1 denotes an automatic notification device, which has the following configuration.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a transmission / reception unit connected to the centralized monitoring center 8 through the telephone line 9 for transmitting and receiving data communication.

Reference numeral 6 denotes an external interface for inputting a signal from an external device 10 connected to the outside.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a setting unit connection unit for connecting a setting unit for setting and confirming data in the automatic notification device 1.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a storage unit for storing data such as setting and start-up information. Reference numeral 4 denotes a setting unit connection unit for controlling these. Reference numeral 2 denotes a power supply unit that uses a battery such as a lithium battery as a power supply.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described.

As an embodiment, a centralized LP gas monitoring system will be described as an example.

In the centralized monitoring of the LP gas, the main functions include (1) remaining amount management of the gas cylinder and (2) gas leak monitoring.

First, in (1) residual quantity management of a gas cylinder,
Since the replacement time was determined by guessing until now, by alerting the remaining amount that the gas has run out frequently,
Effective delivery can be done.

Next, (2) in the gas leak monitoring, the ringing information of the alarm device is transmitted to the centralized monitoring center 8, so that the centralized monitoring center 8 can be used even when the family member is away or sleeping.
There is a mechanism for more confirmation calls and emergency dispatch.

Further, in the above-described system, in order to monitor the suspension of functions including the system down, the automatic notification device notifies the centralized monitoring center 8 at a predetermined time every month.

This function periodically monitors the connection and communication status between the automatic reporting device and the meter or external device, and when there is no report, or depending on the content of the report, the abnormality of the automatic reporting device or other devices. It has come to judge.

However, when a system for managing tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of customers is used, it is not always necessary to use an automatic notification device due to the influence of the customer's circumstances, such as the on-site environment, problems caused by other systems, and changes in telephone numbers. Information may not be sent to the center.

In such a case, usually, the start history of the automatic notification device is confirmed by communication from the center.

First, the content of the periodic report “September 1
For example, if the notification of “12:00 on the day” is made 4 hours after the scheduled time, the following start history is obtained.

<Startup history> September 1st 12:00 Regular call, telephone on-hook waiting September 1st 16:00 Regular call From the above-mentioned start history information, the regular call is in use by telephone, so it is waiting for 4 hours. It turns out that it was.

If the information cannot be obtained from the communication from the centralized monitoring center 8, the user goes to the site and checks and analyzes the activation history of the automatic notification device using the setting device.

For example, with the setting to send a periodic report on “September 1, 12:00”, the periodic report is not reported to the centralized monitoring center 8, and the status of the automatic reporting device is also confirmed by communication from the centralized monitoring center 8. If this is not possible, the start history of the automatic notification device is checked locally. At this time, as a result of checking the activation history using the setting device, it was found that the telephone line was disconnected or disconnected before 12:00 on September 1, due to a construction error or the like.

<Start History> September 1st 12:00 Regular report, telephone line disconnection

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, a transmitting / receiving unit for performing data communication with a centralized monitoring center via a telephone line, an external interface for inputting a signal from an external device, and setting and checking of various data. By setting the setting unit connection unit to connect the setting unit to perform, a storage unit that stores data setting and start-up data, a control unit that controls these, and an automatic notification device configured by a power supply unit,
By storing the startup information in the storage unit every time the device is started, it is possible to easily analyze the failure event or cause by checking the startup information in the automatic notification device when a failure occurs.

It is to be noted that a useful automatic notifying device can be provided such that the same effect can be obtained even if the number of items, the display mode, the sound, etc. are added or changed for the start information.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an automatic notification device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 power supply unit 3 storage unit 4 control unit 5 setting unit connection unit 6 external interface unit 7 transmission and reception unit 8 centralized monitoring center 9 telephone line 10 external device

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A transmitting / receiving unit (7) for performing data communication with a centralized monitoring center (8) via a telephone line (9), an external interface unit (6) for inputting a signal from an external device (10), and various data Setting unit connection unit (5) for connecting a setting unit to perform setting and confirmation of a setting unit, storage unit (3) for storing data setting and startup data, control unit (4) for controlling these, and power supply unit In the automatic notification device configured in (2), the startup information is stored in the storage unit (3) every time the startup is started, so that the centralized monitoring center (8)
An automatic reporting device characterized in that when a communication error occurs, an abnormality, or a failure occurs, a failure phenomenon can be easily investigated only by confirming the startup data. 2. The automatic reporting device according to claim 1, wherein the activation information data can be confirmed by communication from a centralized monitoring center (8) via a telephone line (9). 3. The start information data can be confirmed by a setting device from a setting device connection section (5).
Automatic reporting device as described.