KR20190115870A - Remote meter reading method for configuring remote meter reading network using QR code - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a remote metering method using QR code. A remote metering system comprises: a meter installed in consumer′s house and metering usage of power, gas, water and so on; a QR code attached to a main body of the meter; a user terminal capable of capturing the QR code and the meter at the same time, recognizing the QR code and checking the billing details; and a server connected to the user terminal by a communication network for transmitting and receiving information with the user terminal. The remote metering method comprises: a step of photographing, with the user terminal, a QR code attached to the main body of the meter; a step of allowing a meter reading application corresponding to the recognized QR code to be executed in the user terminal; a step of inputting customer information into the executed meter reading application; a step of executing an alarm for billing when the meter reading date is reached; a step of photographing a numeric plate and a QR code of the meter at the same time by using the user terminal; a step of recognizing the photographed number of the numeric plate and QR code through the server and comparing with the previous used amount; a step of calculating used amount according to the comparison result with the previous used amount and notifying the calculated amount to the user terminal; and a step of allowing the user to confirm whether the calculated amount is correct or not. By attaching the QR code to the meter and allowing the customer to photograph the QR code and send the same to the his/her mobile phone, there is no issue in terms of meter reading error and the labor cost of meter readers can be reduced. In addition, a consumer can immediately check his/her usage, and user′s privacy can be protected.

Description

Remote meter reading method for configuring remote meter reading network using QR code}

The present invention relates to a remote meter reading method using a QR code, and more specifically, by attaching a QR code to the meter and photographed and transmitted to the mobile phone of the customer, it is possible to check error-free and accurate weighing and use amount, and above all It relates to a remote meter reading method that can respect the privacy of individuals by refraining from visits by meter readers.

In general, the resources necessary for life, such as electricity, gas, and water, have a main body to manage them, and thus, supply them and receive money from users instead.

At this time, the cost is periodically received. For billing, it is essential to read the meter accurately. However, the conventional meter reading method is a manual meter reading (MMR) method that calculates the amount of usage by converting the difference between the amount of usage of the previous month and the amount of meter reading by reading the meter directly by visiting the customer.

This manual metering method has a huge labor cost and operation cost, and it takes a considerable amount of time to read the meter, and when the user is absent, it causes inconvenience such as missing or revisiting the meter. It is often unwelcome to visitor of meter reading such as to user who thinks. In addition, since a lot of manpower has to be put in every month for meter reading, there are many difficulties in manpower operation and the inconvenience of having to enroll each time for meter reading.

Of course, in order to solve the shortcomings of the manual meter reading, the technology development for the electronic meter reading and the remote meter reading has been actively conducted. The meter reading is carried out by a meter reader bringing the electronic reader closer to the field meter or reading the meter by wireless communication at a short distance. The billing system is automatically issued without the need for input in the office or office.

In addition, remote meter reading is a system in which meter value data of a site is periodically input to an external server through a communication system without a visit of a meter reader. For electronic meter reading or remote meter reading of meter, total meter data should be provided from meter. However, it is not applicable to customer meter which is installed about 90% of meter meter meter and replaced with electronic meter that provides pulse with accumulated data. There is a need to install a new converter that receives the pulse data and calculates and transmits the data to the upper level.

In order to solve this problem, in recent years, there has been a remote metering method mainly used in the United States and Europe, which is a smart meter (smart meter) was established early in the smart grid concept. According to this method, power consumption, gas consumption, etc. are converted into a fee to display usage and charge on a liquid crystal display (LCD) mounted on the meter, or a separate display device (IHD: In Home) installed in a living room in a house using a modem. Display usage and rates on the display so customers can check the meter from time to time. In this case, the meter not only displays the power consumption, but also has a built-in rate table that can be converted into a fee using metered values and billing tables, or a high-performance processor and memory for communicating charges to the IHD while communicating with the modem in the house. Since it must be equipped with a meter, there was a problem that a separate processor cost in addition to the meter in the meter side.

In addition, these methods and principles are similar, but recently used a way to install a kind of gateway (Gateway) in the home to convert the metering data or billing information directly from the meter to display on the IHD using a wireless method . The gateway is equipped with two modems, a wired modem such as a PLC and a wireless modem such as ZigBee. In addition, the gateway has a separate processor for data processing for each communication method and conversion of metered data. The reason for introducing the gateway is that if the modem of the meter is a wireless modem, if the communication network is configured in the above manner, the radio frequency passes through the wall, causing a significant attenuation, which causes the failure rate to be transmitted to the IHD. to be.

In addition, it uses the power line communication (PLC) method to send the measured data to the home without loss and converts the signal to wireless at the gateway in the home and transmits the data to the IHD installed within 5m of the living room. In addition to the extra cost for the processor, there is a significant cost to configure the gateway, IHD also has a disadvantage that the battery must be replaced with a battery (Battery) to drive the modem with a built-in wireless modem.

[Preceding technical literature]

1. Patent Registration No. 10-0829903 'Analog and Digital Combined Water Meter'

2. Patent registration No. 10-1429970 'Mechanical water meter which can extend the remote meter reading function'

An object of the present invention for solving the problems as described above, by attaching a QR (QuR) (Quick Response) to the meter and let the customer directly shoot and transmit it to the customer's mobile phone, there is no application for the meter reading error, It is possible to reduce the labor cost of the meter reader, the customer can immediately determine their usage, and also to ensure that the user's privacy is not violated.

Looking at the solution according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the object as described above, the meter is installed in the customer's house and metering the amount of power, gas, water, etc., QR code attached to the meter body, A remote terminal including a user terminal capable of simultaneously photographing the QR code and the meter and recognizing the QR code and checking the settled billing history, and a server connected to the user terminal by a communication network and transmitting and receiving information with the user terminal; In the meter reading system, photographing a QR code attached to a main body of a meter to a user terminal, causing the meter reading app corresponding to the recognized QR code to be executed on the user terminal, and the customer to the executed meter reading app. Inputting information, executing an alarm for charging when the meter reading date arrives, and the user terminal Photographing the numeric plate and the QR code of the meter at the same time, recognizing the number and the QR code of the photographed numeric plate through the server and comparing it with the previous usage, calculating the amount of use according to the comparison with the previous usage, And informing the user terminal of the calculated amount, and confirming whether the calculated amount is correct or incorrect.

As the effect of the present invention as described above by attaching the QR code to the meter and send it directly to the customer to the customer's mobile phone, there is no complication for the meter reading error, can reduce the manpower cost of many meter reading staff, It is an invention useful to everyone because it can immediately determine their usage and the user's privacy is not violated.

1 is a block diagram of a remote meter reading system for enabling the present invention remote meter reading method.
Figure 2 is a reference diagram showing a meter with a QR code in the present invention.
Figure 3 is a flow chart of the remote meter reading method of the present invention.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art may easily implement the present invention. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural forms as well, unless the phrases clearly indicate the opposite. As used herein, the term "comprising" embodies a particular characteristic, region, integer, step, operation, element, and / or component, and other specific characteristics, region, integer, step, operation, element, component, and / or group. It does not exclude the presence or addition of. Unless defined otherwise, all terms including technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Commonly defined terms used are additionally interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the related technical literature and the presently disclosed contents, and are not interpreted as ideal or official meanings unless defined.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a remote meter reading method using a QR code according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram of a remote meter reading system for enabling the remote meter reading method of the present invention, Figure 2 is a reference diagram showing a meter with a QR code in the present invention, Figure 3 is a remote meter reading method of the present invention Is a flowchart.

First, in the drawings, the same components or parts are to be noted that the same reference numerals as possible. In addition, in describing the present invention, a detailed description of related known functions or configurations will be omitted in order not to obscure the subject matter of the present invention.

A remote meter reading system that enables a remote meter reading method using a QR code according to an embodiment of the present invention is as follows.

That is, the meter 110 is installed in the customer's house, the meter 110 for reading the amount of power, gas, water, etc., the QR code 120 attached to the meter 110 body, the QR code 120 and the meter 110 The user terminal 130 and the user terminal 130 that can recognize the QR code 120 and check the billing history, and are connected by the communication network and the user terminal 130 and transmit and receive information with the user terminal 130 at the same time It includes a server 140 for the.

The meter 110 is for measuring the power consumption in the case of a customer using electricity, the water means a water metering, the gas means a device for gas metering.

The meter 110 is attached to a different Quick Response (QR) code, which can identify the customer and the user. The QR code 120 is designed as one of methods for reading data such as printed letters or numbers, and may contain various information by encoding various data into codes that are easy to process logic, and easily recognized using a smartphone. It is an information medium that can be used easily with personal information. In the present invention, the QR code 120 is utilized as a medium containing a customer or a user, that is, customer information.

In the present invention, the user terminal 130 generally means a smartphone owned by the user.

The server 140 is connected to the user terminal 130 of the consumer and calculates the billing history by comparing with the previous usage using the current usage received from the user terminal 130 and the calculated billing user terminal It may include a data concentration unit (DCU) (not shown) for transmission to the 130. Of course, the DCU is a processor (not shown) that calculates the billing history by comparing with the previous usage using the current usage received from the user terminal 130 and transmits the calculated billing history to the user terminal 130. Of course, it can include).

In addition, the server 140 includes a QR code 120 recognition module (not shown) and a numeric recognition module (not shown) to read information of the QR code 120 from an image transmitted from the user terminal 130. In addition, the number of the meter 110 can recognize the number. In addition, the server 140 includes a database 141, in which the customer information data and usage information corresponding to the QR code 120 attached to the meter 110 are stored.

In addition, the communication network for connecting the server 140 and the user terminal 130 may use a wired or wireless communication line, it is made of a configuration that can exchange a lot of information through the Internet.

One embodiment of the remote metering method of the present invention using the remote metering system as described above is as follows.

That is, the number plate and the QR code 120 of the meter 110 are simultaneously photographed by the user terminal 130 at once (S1). At this time, the QR code 120 is preferably attached to the main body of the meter 110, and the meaning of photographing at the same time and simultaneously means that the number plate and the QR code 120 of the meter 110 are photographed with one image cut. . The QR code 120 confirms that the meter 110 is a normal meter 110 installed in the customer's home, and the number plate is for checking the amount of electricity, water, gas, etc. currently being used.

When the user terminal 130 recognizes the QR code 120 as described above, the meter reading application corresponding to the QR code 120 is executed in the user terminal 130 (S2). This is possible because the QR code 120 includes information that can be linked to a site that can download the program for the remote meter reading of the present invention (hereinafter, referred to as a meter reading application).

Accordingly, when the meter reading application is executed, the user inputs the information of the prisoner for the meter reading, that is, the customer information (S3). The customer information entered at this time will be a variety of information required for billing, such as address, name, remittance bank name.

As such, when all the customer information is entered, the meter reading date (usually about a month from the date of the customer information input), the meter reading application will run an alarm for charging (S4). The execution of the alarm may be a message and alarm sound of the meter reading application itself, or may be notified through other text messages or messengers.

Therefore, the customer who knows that the meter reading, that is, the user is simultaneously photographing the numeric plate and the QR code 120 of the meter 110 using the user terminal 130 on which the meter reading application is placed (S5). The reason why the number plate and the QR code 120 of the meter 110 must be photographed at the same time is that if the number plate and the QR code 120 of the meter 110 are separately photographed, the user meter 110 of the customer is recognized, and the customer is registered. This is because the server 140, that is, the collection company cannot check whether the QR code 120 of the corresponding meter 110 is attached.

The number (usage) recorded on the numeric plate of the meter 110 photographed as described above and the QR code 120 are transmitted to the server 140 as a single image and programmed with the numeric recognition module and QR code. 120 is recognized by the recognition module.

Therefore, if it is confirmed whether or not it is the correct customer and the amount properly measured, the amount of usage (usage) recorded on the number plate of the previous meter and the photographed meter 110 is compared (S6).

In this way, the server 140 compares the previous usage with the current usage, calculates the usage amount, that is, the charge according to the difference, and informs the user terminal 130 of the corresponding amount (S7). Eventually, the user checks whether the amount calculated and notified by the server 140 is correct and then selects "OK button" if it is correct and proceeds with the transfer, or selects "No button" to dispute the charge. (S8).

In this way, the remote meter reading method of the present invention is to complete all processes for charging. However, if you are not a new user, you do not need to enter additional customer information from next month after entering customer information in the meter reading application. Of course, if there is a change, it will be possible to modify the customer information.

As described above, although the present invention has been described by way of limited embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the technical concept of the present invention and the following will be described by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Various modifications and variations will be possible within the scope of the appended claims.

110: meter
120: QR code
130: user terminal
140: server

Claims (1)

The meter is installed in the customer's house and the meter is used to read the amount of power, gas, water, etc. In the remote meter reading system comprising a user terminal that can be identified, and a server connected to the user terminal and the communication network for transmitting and receiving information with the user terminal,
Simultaneously photographing the number plate and the QR code of the meter with a user terminal (S1);
(S2) allowing the meter reading app corresponding to the recognized QR code to be executed in the user terminal;
Inputting customer information into the executed meter reading application (S3);
When the meter reading date (S4) and executing the alarm for charging;
Photographing the numeric plate and the QR code of the meter at the same time using the user terminal (S5);
Recognizing the number and the QR code of the photographed number through the server and comparing with the previous usage (S6),
Calculating a usage amount according to the comparison with the previous usage amount and informing the user terminal of the calculated amount (S7);
Remote reading method using a QR code, characterized in that the step of the user checks whether the calculated amount is correct or wrong (S8).