JPH11175873A - Radio meter inspection system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent ID codes of a master machine and a slave machine which a storage means is made to store respectively from being deleted in a radio meter inspection system of a metering instrument for performing radio communication between the master machine and each of the slave machines. SOLUTION: A master machine 10 is equipped with a storage means 16 for storing an ID code of its own ID number or the like and a slave machine is equipped with a storage means for storing its own ID code. Those storage means are constituted by a nonvolatile storage means and it is made that the stored ID code is not erased even when a power source is disconnected by power interruption or the like.

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 a gas meter, a water meter, a hot water meter and an integrating calorimeter by wireless communication between a master unit and a slave unit.

[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 a condominium or the like, a slave unit is installed together with a weighing device for each unit of the apartment, and meter reading of the weighing device is performed by wireless communication between the slave unit and the master device.

[0003] Each of the slave units is provided with a wireless transmission / reception unit and a built-in volatile storage unit that individually stores an ID code such as its own ID number.

[0004] Then, when reading the meter of the measuring device, the slave unit has an ID.
When a wireless line connection request including the code is sent from the master unit, when the ID code matches the ID code stored in its own storage means, a wireless line with the master unit is connected,
Reads the weighing information of the weighing instrument and returns it to the parent machine.

[0005] On the other hand, since the transmission / reception range of the master unit may overlap with the transmission / reception range of the other master unit, the master unit is provided with a radio transmission / reception means and is also required to be distinguished from the other master unit. It has a built-in volatile storage means for storing its own ID code.

For example, when an abnormality such as a gas leak, pressure abnormality, or overflow occurs, when the security data is transmitted from the child device to the parent device, the ID code of the parent device is transmitted in advance. When the ID code matches the ID code stored in its own storage means, it connects a wireless line to the slave and receives security data sent from the slave.

[0007]

However, in the conventional wireless meter reading system as described above, if the power is turned off due to a power failure or the like, the ID codes of the master unit and the slave unit stored in the storage means are erased. There was a problem that it would.

[0008]

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, the base unit 10
Is provided with a storage means 16 for storing its own ID code, and the storage means 16 is constituted by a nonvolatile one.

[0010] The invention described in claim 2 is, for example, an embodiment described with reference to the following drawings.
In a wireless meter reading system including a slave unit 11 connected to each of the slave units 2 and a master unit 10 for performing wireless communication between the slave units 11, a storage unit 22 for storing its own ID code is provided in the slave unit 11. The storage means 22 is constituted by a non-volatile memory.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wireless meter reading system according to the first or second aspect, wherein, as in an embodiment described with reference to the following drawings, for example,
Only when the read process is performed,
Provided with control means 17 and 23 for supplying power to the
It is characterized by the following.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a wireless meter reading system according to the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the master unit.

This wireless meter reading system includes, for example, a master unit 10 installed on an entrance floor of an apartment, a slave unit 11 installed for each house of the apartment, and a meter such as a gas meter or a water meter for connecting the slave units. 12
And so on.

The base unit 10 includes a wireless transmission / reception unit 13 for performing wireless communication with the slave unit 11 using an antenna 13a, a power supply unit 14 such as a commercial power supply or a battery, and an input / output of signals to / from the outside. External input / output unit 15 and a nonvolatile storage unit 16 storing an ID code such as its own ID number.
It is connected to control means 17 for controlling them.

The external input / output unit 15 includes a connection unit (not shown) for connecting an external connection device 18 such as a handy terminal or a telephone line network controller. Although not shown,
When setting or changing the ID code of base unit 10, the ID
A connection unit for connecting an ID setting device for inputting a code is provided. Note that the ID code may be wirelessly input via the wireless transmission / reception unit 13 using an ID setting device having a communication function.

The slave unit 11 uses an antenna 19a for wireless communication with the master unit 10, a wireless transmission / reception unit 19, a power supply means 20 such as a commercial power supply or a battery, and inputs and outputs signals to and from the outside. An external input / output unit 21 and a non-volatile storage unit 22 storing an ID code such as its own ID number.
It is connected to control means 23 for controlling them.

Although not shown, the external input / output unit 21 is connected to an ID setting device for inputting an ID code when the ID code of the slave unit 11 is set or changed, similarly to the master unit 10. It has a unit. Note that, similarly to the master unit 10, the ID code of the slave unit 11 can be wirelessly input using an ID setting device having a communication function.

At the time of reading the meter 12, a control signal is input from the external connection device 18 to the master device 10 via the external input / output means 15. Thus, in the base unit 10,
Based on the input signal, the wireless transmitting / receiving
A wireless line connection request including the ID code 1 is transmitted.
Then, when the ID code sent from the base unit 10 matches the ID code stored in its own storage unit 22, the slave unit 11 connects the wireless line to the base unit 10, and the control unit 23 The weighing information and the like of the weighing device 12 are read out via the input / output unit 21 and returned to the master device 10. And the parent machine 10
Transmits the weighing information and the like to the externally connected device 18 via the external input / output unit 15.

In this wireless meter reading system, for example, when an abnormality such as gas leakage, pressure abnormality, overflow occurs, etc.
The ID code of the parent device is transmitted in advance so as to be transmitted from 1 to the parent device 10. Then, when the ID code sent from the slave unit 11 matches the ID code stored in the storage unit 16 of the master unit 10, the master unit 10 connects to a wireless line with the slave unit 11 and sends the wireless line from the slave unit 11. Receive security data and the like.

In the above-described wireless meter reading system, the master unit 10 is controlled by the control unit 17 in order to reduce power consumption as much as possible. It is preferable that the power is supplied from the means 14.

In the same manner, the slave unit 11 also
And write to the storage means 22
A configuration in which power is supplied from the power supply means 20 only when performing the reading process is preferable.

In the above-described wireless meter reading system, the master unit 10 is provided with the non-volatile storage means 16, but the non-volatile storage means takes a relatively long time to access, and the number of accesses is limited. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, a volatile second storage means 25 storing the ID code of the same base unit 10 is provided in the base unit 10 separately from the nonvolatile storage unit 16 to control the same. A configuration for connecting to the means 17 is also possible.

In the base unit 10, when security data and the like are transmitted from the slave unit 11 together with the ID code of the base unit, the control unit 17 reads out the own ID code from the second storage unit 25. I do. On the other hand, when the power supply is temporarily cut off due to a power failure or battery replacement, when the power supply is restored, the control means 17 reads out its own ID code from the nonvolatile storage means 16 and stores it in the second storage means. 25 is stored again.

For the same purpose, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, a non-volatile storage means 22 is also provided for the slave unit 11 and a volatile memory storing the ID code of the same slave unit 11 separately. A configuration may be adopted in which two storage means 26 are provided and connected to the control means 23.

[0024]

Therefore, in the first and second aspects of the present invention, the ID codes of the master unit and the slave unit are stored in the non-volatile storage means, respectively. Thus, it is possible to prevent a trouble that the stored ID code is erased.

According to the third aspect of the present invention,
Since power is supplied only when writing / reading processing is performed to the storage means storing the ID code, power consumption can be reduced accordingly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a slave 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 block diagram of another example of the master unit.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of another example of the slave unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 master unit 11 slave unit 12 measuring device 16.22 storage unit 17.23 control unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A wireless meter reading system including a slave unit connected to each measuring device and a master unit performing wireless communication with the slave units, wherein a storage unit for storing its own ID code in the master unit. , And the storage means is constituted by a nonvolatile one. 2. A wireless meter reading system including a slave unit connected to each measuring device and a master unit performing wireless communication with the slave unit, wherein a storage means for storing its own ID code in the slave unit. , And the storage means is constituted by a nonvolatile one. 3. The wireless metering system according to claim 1, further comprising control means for supplying power to said storage means only when writing / reading processing is performed.