JPH11175872A - Radio meter inspection system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a unnecessary communication time from being spent by continuing the communication of abnormal data and to prevent an erroneous meter inspection from being caused by the abnormal data in a radio meter inspection system for inspecting a remote meter of a metering instrument by radio communication by using radio equipment. SOLUTION: The device is equipped with slave machines 11 connected to each of metering instruments 12 by wires respectively and a master machine 10 for performing radio communication 15 with those slave machines 11. The slave machines 11 are equipped with a control means 16 that detects whether or not there is any abnormality in meter inspection demand data from the master machine 10, interrupts communication with the metering instrument 12 when there is an abnormality detects whether or not there is any abnormality in response data from the metering instrument 12 and interrupts the communication with the master machine 10 when there is an abnormality.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wireless meter reading system for remotely measuring meters such as gas meters, water meters, hot water meters, and integrated calorimeters by wireless communication using a wireless device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of wireless meter reading system,
For example, a master unit is installed on the entrance floor of an apartment, and a slave unit is installed along with a measuring device for each house of the apartment.

At the time of meter reading of the measuring instrument, the master unit is operated to transmit an ID number, and a wireless line is connected to a slave unit that matches the ID number to send meter reading request data to the slave unit. Send. Then, the slave unit converts the received meter reading request data into wired data and transmits it to the measuring device as it is, and the measuring device transmits response data such as weighing information to the slave device according to the meter reading request data. Then, the slave unit converts the received response data into wireless data and returns it to the master unit as it is.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional wireless meter reading system, there is no check for any abnormality in the meter reading request data from the master unit or the response data from the measuring device. Transmitting to weighing machine or master unit. Therefore, even if there is an abnormality in the data, the communication continues to be wasted as it is based on the erroneous data, so that there is a problem that extra useless communication time is consumed. In addition, as a result of transmitting such erroneous data as it is to the weighing machine or the master unit, there is also a problem that erroneous meter reading is likely to occur.

[0005]

For this purpose, the present invention according to claim 1 comprises, as in an embodiment described with reference to the following drawings, for example, a slave unit 11 connected to each measuring device 12, Base unit 1 performing wireless communication with unit 11
0, and when the slave unit 11 receives the request data from the master unit 10, the wireless meter reading system reads response data from the measuring device 12 according to the request data and transmits the response data to the master unit 10. The slave unit 11 includes a control unit 16 for detecting whether or not there is an abnormality in the data received from the master unit 10 or the weighing device 12 and interrupting the communication when there is an abnormality.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the wireless metering system according to the first aspect, when there is an abnormality in received data, as in the embodiment described with reference to the following drawings, for example, Wireless communication means 15 for transmitting an error signal notifying the data abnormality to the slave unit 11
Is provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, as shown in the embodiment described with reference to the drawings, for example,
2, a master device 20 for performing wireless communication with the slave devices 21, and an external connection device 25 connected to the master device 20, and a request transmitted from the external connection device 25. The data is transferred to the slave unit 21 via the master unit 20.
Is received according to the request data,
In the wireless meter reading system that reads response data from the base device 2 and transmits the response data to the externally connected device 25 through the master device 20, the master device 20 has an abnormality in data received from the externally connected device 25 or the slave device 21, for example. Control means 26 for detecting whether or not there is an abnormality and interrupting the communication when there is an abnormality.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the wireless meter reading system according to the third aspect, when there is an abnormality in received data, as in the embodiment described with reference to the following drawings, for example, the externally connected device The master unit 20 is provided with a wireless communication unit 24 for transmitting an error signal notifying the data abnormality to the master unit 20.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a system configuration of the wireless meter reading system according to the present invention.

The wireless meter reading system includes a base unit 10 installed on, for example, an entrance floor of a condominium, a sub unit 11 installed for each door of the condominium, and the sub units 11
Is provided with a measuring device 12 such as a gas meter or a water meter which is connected to each other by wire.

As shown in FIG. 2, the base unit 10 includes a wireless communication unit 13 for performing wireless communication with the slave unit 11 using an antenna 13a, a display unit (not shown) such as a liquid crystal display, and a transmission unit. External input means (not shown) having keys and numeric keys, and control means 1 for controlling them
4 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 1, the slave unit 11 includes a wireless communication unit 15 for performing wireless communication with the master unit 10 using an antenna 15a, and a control unit 16 for controlling the wireless communication unit 15 and the like. The control means 16 is connected to the weighing device 12 by wire.

When reading the meter 12, the external input means of the master unit 10 is operated to transmit an ID number from the wireless communication unit 13, and the wireless communication is performed between the slave unit 11 and the ID number that matches the ID number. After connecting the line, the meter reading request data is transmitted to the slave unit 11.

The handset 11 converts the received meter reading request data into wired data by the wireless communication means 15 and detects by the control means 16 whether the meter reading request data is abnormal. In that case, for example, data length (number of data bits)
The presence or absence of the number of start / stop bits, parity check, and the like are used to detect whether the data is abnormal.

When there is no abnormality in the meter reading request data, the request data is transmitted to the meter 12. On the other hand, when there is an abnormality, the communication with the measuring device 12 is interrupted so that the request data is not transmitted to the measuring device 12.

When the meter reading request data is sent, the meter 12 returns response data such as measurement information to the slave unit 11 in accordance with the request data. Then, the slave unit 11 detects whether or not the received response data has an abnormality by the control unit 16, and when there is no abnormality, converts the response data into wireless data by the wireless communication unit 15 and sends the response data to the master unit 10. Send. On the other hand, if there is an abnormality, the communication with the master unit 10 is interrupted so that the response data is not transmitted to the master unit 10.

In the above-described wireless meter reading system, when the control means 16 detects that there is an error in the meter reading request data from the master unit 10 and the response data from the measuring device 12, an error notifying the data abnormality is provided. Signal
It is preferable that the wireless communication means 15 transmit the data to the master device 10.

When the master unit 10 receives the error signals, the base unit 10 displays the abnormality in the meter reading request data or the response data on the display means to notify the meter reader.

FIG. 4 shows another example of the system configuration of the wireless meter reading system according to the present invention. In this wireless meter reading system, for example, as described above, a master unit 20, a slave unit 21, and a measuring device 22 installed in an apartment or the like are provided. Prepare.

As shown in FIG. 5, the master unit 20 includes a wireless communication unit 24 for performing wireless communication with the slave unit 21 using an antenna 24a, and an external input / output unit 25 for connecting an external connection device 23. And control means 26 for controlling them.

The external connection device 23 is a data collection device such as a handy terminal. The external connection device 23 includes a display unit such as a liquid crystal display, and an external input unit having a transmission key, numeric keys, and the like. In addition,
As the external connection device 23, a telephone line network controller (NC)
U) or the like may be connected to the external input / output means 25.

When the meter 22 is to be read, the externally connected device 23 is connected to the connection of the external input / output means 25 of the master unit 20. Then, the user operates the externally connected device 23 to input the meter reading request data together with the ID number.
To master device 20 via

Then, the master unit 20 uses the control means 26 to detect whether there is any abnormality in the received meter reading request data. When there is no abnormality, the meter reading request data including the ID number is converted into wireless data by the wireless communication unit 24 and transmitted to the slave unit 21, and the wireless line is connected to the slave unit 21 having the same ID number. I do.

On the other hand, when there is an abnormality, the communication with the slave unit 21 is interrupted by the control means 26 so that the request data is not transmitted to the slave unit 21.

When the handset 21 receives the meter reading request data by the wireless communication means, it converts the wireless data into wired data and transmits it to the weighing device 22. The weighing device 22 outputs response data such as weighing information according to the transmitted request data.
The slave unit 21 converts the response data into wireless data by wireless communication means and transmits the wireless data to the master unit 20.

Then, master device 20 converts the received response data into wired data by wireless communication means 24 and detects by control means 26 whether the response data is abnormal. If there is no abnormality, the external connection device 23
Send to On the other hand, when there is an abnormality, the communication with the external device 23 is interrupted, and the response data is not transmitted to the external device 23.

In the wireless meter reading system shown in FIG. 4, the control means 26 determines that there is an abnormality in the meter reading request data from the externally connected device 23 and the response data from the slave unit 21.
It is preferable that the wireless communication unit 24 transmits an error signal notifying the data abnormality to the externally connected device 23 when the data is detected by the above.

When the external connection device 23 receives these error signals, it displays on the display unit that the meter reading request data or the response data is abnormal to notify the meter reading person.

[0029]

Therefore, according to the first and third aspects of the present invention, at the time of communication, the data received by the slave unit or the master unit is monitored for any abnormality, and if there is an abnormality, the communication is interrupted at that point. Therefore, it is not necessary to continue communication of erroneous data as in the related art, so that unnecessary communication time can be saved and the efficiency can be improved. Further, since erroneous data is not transmitted when it is detected, it is possible to prevent erroneous meter reading based on erroneous data as in the related art.

According to the second and fourth aspects of the present invention,
In addition, if there is an error in the data received by the slave unit or the master unit, an error signal is sent to notify the data abnormality, so that the meter reader re-inputs the normal data in response to the data abnormality. For example, the next process can be promptly performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a slave unit provided in a wireless meter reading system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a master unit provided in the wireless meter reading system.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a system configuration of the wireless meter reading system.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing another example of the system configuration of the wireless meter reading system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a master unit provided in the wireless meter reading system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10.20 Master unit 11.21 Slave unit 12.22 Measuring device 15.24 Wireless communication means 16.26 Control means

Claims (4)

[Claims] An information processing apparatus includes: a slave unit connected to each measuring device; and a master unit for performing wireless communication with the slave units. When the slave unit receives request data from the master unit, In a wireless meter reading system that reads response data from the measuring device in response to the request data and transmits the response data to the master unit, it detects whether the slave unit has an error in received data, and interrupts communication when there is an error. A wireless meter reading system, comprising a control unit for performing the reading. 2. The wireless metering system according to claim 1, wherein the slave unit includes a wireless communication unit that transmits an error signal notifying the master device of the data abnormality when the received data has an abnormality. 3. A slave unit connected to each of the measuring instruments, a master unit for performing wireless communication with the slave units, and an externally connected device connected to the master unit, and transmitted from the externally connected device. When the slave unit receives the request data via the master unit, in a wireless meter reading system that reads response data from the measuring device in accordance with the request data and transmits the response data to the externally connected device via the master unit, A wireless meter reading system, wherein the master unit includes a control unit that detects whether there is an abnormality in received data and interrupts communication when there is an abnormality. 4. The wireless meter reading system according to claim 3, wherein the master unit is provided with a wireless communication unit for transmitting an error signal notifying the data error to the externally connected device when there is an error in the received data.