WO2017068736A1

WO2017068736A1 - Communication system for water industry

Info

Publication number: WO2017068736A1
Application number: PCT/JP2015/085330
Authority: WO
Inventors: 眞吾荒川
Original assignee: 株式会社コスモライフ
Priority date: 2015-10-19
Filing date: 2015-12-17
Publication date: 2017-04-27
Also published as: CN108293085A; KR20180066058A; JP2017079344A; TW201715899A

Abstract

The present invention is provided with a communication device (200) used in the premises of a user (U1, U2), a wireless terminal (300) for performing wireless communication directly with the communication device (200), and an operator-side communication device (400) managed by a water industry operator (WO). The communication device (200), designed to be drivable by an external power supply, transmits by an SMS a text message wirelessly transmitted from the wireless terminal (300) to the operator side communication device (400), and wirelessly transmits a text message transmitted by an SMS from the operator-side communication device (400) to the wireless terminal (300). The wireless terminal (300), designed to be a wireless apparatus to which prescribed information sent from the user (U1, U2) to the water industry operator (WO) can be inputted, wirelessly transmits input information as a text message to the communication device (200), and wirelessly receives a text message wirelessly transmitted from the communication device (200) and outputs a response.

Description

Communication system for water business

The present invention relates to a water business communication system used for communication between a water server user and a water business operator who orders an exchangeable raw water container connectable to the water server.

In recent years, interest in water safety and health has increased, and water servers are becoming popular in ordinary households. In general, a water server can provide a casing, a temperature adjustment tank stored in the casing, a raw water introduction path for supplying drinking water to the temperature adjustment tank, and drinking water in the temperature adjustment tank outside the casing. And an outlet pipe. The user can receive drinking water flowing down from the pouring pipe by a cup or the like by opening the valve of the pouring pipe.

For users who care about the taste and safety of drinking water, a water server of a system in which an exchangeable raw water container is connected to the raw water introduction path is popular (for example, Patent Document 1 below). The raw water container contains natural water and highly treated water. The specified capacity of the raw water container is about 8 to 20 liters, and the raw water container is often used up in about two weeks.

In general, the water business that sells raw water containers is provided by the water company in the form of lending or transferring the water server to the user, and in the provision contract, the user is obliged to purchase the raw water container regularly, By recovering the cost of the water server with the sales profit of the raw water container, it has become a business model that provides the user with a water server at a free or inexpensive price.

The user of the water server makes a contract with the water operator who orders the raw water container, specifying the product type, quantity, and regular delivery interval of the raw water container appropriately classified according to the production area, capacity, etc. of natural water . The water company delivers regular items according to the contract.

Depending on the season, weather, and the user's home condition, the user's drinking water intake may increase or decrease. For this reason, the user may order a raw water container from the water company, order a change in the regular delivery date, or order a temporary suspension of the regular delivery. The user may also query the water company for the next delivery date before placing such an order with the water company.

Generally, a water company installs a call center for the above orders and inquiries, and responds by telephone operators and IVR (automatic voice response). In addition, for users who can use the Internet, a Web page for responding to orders and inquiries as described above is established.

JP 2013-88641 A

However, there are cases where the water company wants to actively notify many users. For example, if a regular delivery is delayed to a wide range of users due to natural disasters, or if the sampling of natural water is suspended due to heavy rain, the regular delivery will be delayed to the target user. However, it is not realistic to notify a large number of users from the call center in terms of time required and human cost. The notification by the Web page is a passive means for waiting for page access by the user, and the page access is irregular and uncertain. Also, elderly users are less interested in using the Internet and often do not have an environment for accessing Web pages. In consideration of such circumstances, water companies use postal mail for notification, but the cost per mail is high, and the situation changed before the mail arrived at the user, and was posted on the postal mail. In some cases, the content of the announcement lacked validity.

Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to make information communication between the user of the water server and the water operator who orders an exchangeable raw water container low-cost and convenient.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention is a water business communication system used for information communication between a user of a water server and a water business operator who orders an exchangeable raw water container connectable to the water server. A communication device that is used in the cellular phone network and the user's home and is assigned a telephone number used for connection with the cellular phone network in advance, and a radio that can directly perform wireless communication with the communication device A power supply capable of acquiring power from an external power source, and a vendor-side communication device that is operated by the water provider and is assigned in advance with a telephone number used for connection with the mobile phone network. Receiving a text message wirelessly transmitted from the wireless terminal, and transmitting the text message to the telephone number of the communication device on the vendor side, Receiving a text message transmitted from the communication device to the telephone number of the communication device, and transmitting the text message to the wireless terminal wirelessly, and the wireless terminal includes the user From the operation unit capable of inputting predetermined information to be sent to the water company from the transmission unit, the transmission unit that wirelessly transmits the information input by the operation unit as a text message to the transmission unit for outside the house, and the transmission unit for the house A water business comprising: a receiving unit that wirelessly receives a text message transmitted wirelessly; a notification unit that outputs corresponding to the text message received by the receiving unit; and a built-in battery unit that supplies power to the wireless terminal. The communication system is adopted.

Mobile phone network carrier services are deployed in a wide area. There are thousands of users of water servers dealing with water companies, such as thousands and tens of thousands, and they are distributed in many regions. In addition, the cellular phone network has become a communication medium familiar to many users due to the rapid spread in recent years. Therefore, the mobile phone network can be said to be a suitable communication medium for information communication between the water company and the user.

Since the contents of information transmitted and received by the information communication are simple such as additional order and next delivery date, it can be transmitted only by text message, and a graphical user interface (GUI) using photo data and image data can be transmitted. It is not necessary to output in such a form. When information communication is performed using a text message through a mobile phone network, a text message transmission / reception service using a telephone number, such as a short message service (SMS), is possible, thereby reducing the communication cost per communication. Therefore, the water company can quickly and actively transmit information to a large number of users at a low cost by using the communication device on the supplier side.

On the other hand, the communication device used in the user's home is a communication device connected to the mobile phone network, and it is preferable to be able to be driven by an external power source in order to consume relatively power. There is not always a place where the water can be connected to the external power supply near the water server. If a wireless terminal for home communication is prepared separately from the communication device, the wireless terminal can be arranged in the water server or in the vicinity thereof even when the communication device is not present in the vicinity of the water server. That is, the wireless terminal accepts input corresponding to predetermined information such as an additional order or next delivery date inquiry, in-home wireless communication with a communication device used in the user's home, and a text message received from the communication device Therefore, a wireless communication device that can be driven by a built-in battery can be obtained. Such a wireless terminal is easily attached to or placed on a water server, a nearby home appliance, a shelf or the like with a magnet or the like. For this reason, when replacing the raw water container of the water server, a resident at the user's home who has realized the necessity of an additional order or the like can quickly place an additional order or the like using a wireless terminal near the water server.

Preferably, the out-of-home transmission unit of the communication device suspends the transmission of the text message when receiving the text message from the transmission unit of the wireless terminal, and a standby unit that notifies the occurrence of the suspension, Approval means capable of inputting the permission of the pending transmission may be included.

In this way, when a resident such as a child who does not have the authority to place an additional order at the user's home performs an input operation such as an additional order using a wireless terminal, a corresponding text message is immediately sent from the communication device. There is no transmission to the vendor side communication device. For this reason, the mother who has the ordering authority or the resident of the householder is informed that the additional order has been made from the notification of the waiting means, and has the opportunity to approve the transmission of the additional order to the communication device at the mother's discretion. Can be produced. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent erroneous ordering that does not conform to the intention of the resident who has ordering authority.

The communication device used in the user's home is a mobile phone service subscriber terminal provided on the mobile phone network, but the subscriber may be either a water company or a user.

For example, when a subscriber is a water company, the transmission unit for the outside of the communication device uses the telephone number previously assigned to the communication device with the water company as a subscriber to the mobile phone network. Connect and send and receive text messages only by the short message service of the mobile phone network.

In this way, the water company as the contracting party provides the user with the opened SIM card, so that the telephone number assigned to the SIM card can be known in advance. For this reason, a water company can notify each user of the provision destination quickly and actively. In general, the communication cost of the short message service is borne by the subscriber on the transmission side at a low cost. Since the water company becomes a subscriber of the communication device, the use of the communication system for water business according to the present invention can be promoted without causing the user to bear the communication cost.

Further, when a subscriber is a user, the transmission unit for the outside of the communication device connects to the mobile phone network using a telephone number previously assigned to the communication device with the user as a subscriber. The text message is transmitted / received only by the short message service of the mobile phone network.

In this way, the water operator does not have to bear communication costs between the communication device on the supplier side and the communication device. It is also advantageous when the water company avoids providing the communication device to the user to reduce costs. In other words, when a communication device is not provided from a water company to a user who does not have a communication device such as a smartphone or a tablet that is compatible with a mobile phone network, the user is expected to use this communication system for water business. Can not. As the number of provisions increases, transmission costs and communication device procurement costs become heavier for water companies. In the case of a user who owns a compatible smartphone or the like, the water company only needs to provide the user with application software for operating the smartphone or the like as the communication device. Residents of the user's house who do not own the communication device realized on a smartphone or the like can use the wireless terminal, so even if the resident who owns the communication device is not near the water server, make an additional order, etc. There is no hindrance.

Preferably, the wireless communication conforms to the Bluetooth standard. The Bluetooth standard is a low-speed communication compared to the wireless LAN standard, but consumes less power and is suitable for a wireless terminal driven by a built-in battery.

As described above, the communication system for water business according to the present invention suppresses the communication cost per communication by adopting the above-described configuration, and the water business operator uses a communication device on the supplier side at a low cost for many users. Information can be transmitted quickly and actively, while a wireless radio terminal can be placed near the water server at the user's home, and additional orders can be made quickly using the radio terminal. Therefore, it is possible to make information communication between the user of the water server and the water business operator who orders the replaceable raw water container low-cost and convenient.

The conceptual diagram which shows the network structure of the communication system for water businesses which concerns on embodiment 1 is a block diagram showing main hardware resources of the communication apparatus of FIG. Functional block diagram of the communication apparatus of FIG. Block diagram showing the main hardware resources of the wireless terminal of FIG. Functional block diagram of the wireless terminal of FIG. Sequence diagram showing an operation example when information communication is performed from the user of FIG. 1 to the water company Sequence diagram showing an operation example when information communication is performed from the water operator of FIG. 1 to the user

FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a water business communication system according to an embodiment. This water business communication system is used for information communication between users U1 and U2 of the water servers WS1 and WS2 and a water business operator WO that receives an order for a replaceable raw water container B that can be connected to the water servers WS1 and WS2. It is for use. In the figure, the number of users U1 and U2 is limited to two, but in reality, the number of users in the thousands or ten thousand units is assumed.

The water servers WS1 and WS2 installed at the user's homes of the users U1 and U2 are provided with a joint capable of connecting the raw water container B, a storage tank for adjusting the temperature of the drinking water, and the drinking water in the raw water container B. A water supply path for sending to the storage tank and a water injection path for pouring drinking water from the storage tank into a cup or the like are provided. The structure of the water servers WS1 and WS2 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a water server that stores the raw water container B in the lower part of the casing, and a water server that places the raw water container B on the upper part of the casing.

The water company WO provides the users U1 and U2 with water servers WS1 and WS2, and concludes a regular purchase contract for the raw water container B with the users U1 and U2.

This water business communication system includes a mobile phone network 100,

communication devices

200 and 200 used in the homes of users U1 and U2, and wireless devices that can directly perform wireless communication in the homes of the

communication devices

200 and 200.

Terminals

300 and 300 and a vendor-side communication device 400 operated by a water operator WO are provided. Note that “can perform wireless communication immediately” means that wireless communication can be performed without using other communication devices.

The mobile phone network 100 includes a communication network that provides a mobile phone service. A telecommunications carrier that provides a mobile phone service provides a short message service (Short Message Service (SMS)) between communication devices connected to the mobile phone network 100. In SMS, a text message having a predetermined number of characters or less is transmitted to a telephone number. The text message is transmitted to a communication device having the telephone number via a center server under the control of the communication carrier. If the communication device having the telephone number is turned on, the communication device automatically receives the text message.

Each communication device 200 and the vendor-side communication device 400 are communication devices to which telephone numbers used for connection with the mobile phone network 100 are assigned in advance.

The main hardware resources provided in each communication device 200 are conceptually shown in FIG. Each communication device 200 includes a central processing unit 201, a storage device 202, a communication device 203 responsible for communication processing using the mobile phone network 100, a card slot 205 in which a SIM card (Subscriber Module Card) 204 can be mounted, It has a communication device 206 responsible for wireless communication in accordance with the Bluetooth standard, a display screen 207, and a power supply unit 208 that can acquire power necessary for driving the communication device 200 from an external power supply. These hardware resources are generally used in existing smartphones and tablet computers compatible with third-generation and fourth-generation mobile communication networks.

The power supply unit 208 is a circuit that acquires power via a power adapter 208a connected to a household outlet that supplies commercial power and supplies the power to a required part of the communication device 200, and can be connected to the power adapter 208a. A terminal 208b and a battery 208c that stores electric power input from the terminal 208b are provided.

The SIM card 204 stores a unique number called an IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity), a telephone number, and the like, and enables communication in the mobile phone network 100 by connecting the IMSI and the telephone number. The SIM card may be called UIM or R-UIM depending on the corresponding standard.

The functions provided in each communication device 200 are conceptually shown in FIG. For these functions, various software such as an OS (Operating System) and application software stored in the storage device 202 is executed on a predetermined device such as the central processing unit 201, and these hardware resources and software cooperate. This is realized on each communication device 200.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, each communication device 200 receives a text message wirelessly transmitted from the wireless terminal 300 and transmits the text message to the telephone number of the vendor-side communication device 400. Unit 210 and an in-home transmission unit 220 that receives a text message transmitted from the supplier side communication device 400 to the telephone number of the communication device 200 and wirelessly transmits the text message to the wireless terminal 300. Note that the telephone number of the vendor-side communication device 400 is stored in advance in a predetermined memory area assigned to the outside transmission unit 210 and the inside transmission unit 220. This memory may be input on either the user U1, U2 side or the water operator WO side.

The home transmission unit 210 and the home transmission unit 220 perform communication protocol conversion between the Bluetooth standard and the SMS standard provided by the mobile phone network 100. In the homes of the users U1 and U2, pairing between the communication device 200 and the wireless terminal 300 is performed according to the Bluetooth standard as a premise for starting the use of the communication device 200 and the wireless terminal 300.

The outside transmission unit 210 receives the Bluetooth packet wirelessly transmitted from the wireless terminal 300 by the receiving antenna 206a corresponding to Bluetooth, reads the text message stored in the payload of the packet, and reads the read text message into the payload. The SMS message stored in is sent to the telephone number of the vendor side communication device 400, and the SMS message is emitted from the transmission antenna 203a corresponding to the mobile phone network 100.

Here, the out-of-home transmission unit 210 suspends transmission of each read text message to the vendor-side communication device 400, and inputs a standby unit 211 for notifying the occurrence of the suspension and permission of the suspended transmission. Possible authorization means 212.

The standby unit 211 writes the text message whose transmission is suspended in the subordinate memory area, and displays the text message on the subordinate display screen 207 to notify the occurrence of the deferral.

The approving means 212 accepts transmission permission or transmission rejection in units of text messages with the operation buttons 212a and 212b. The users U1 and U2 read the content displayed on the display screen 207, and permit the transmission of the text message being displayed by pressing the operation button 212a, or press the operation button 212b. You can refuse to send text messages. In addition, when there are a plurality of hold targets, the approval unit 212 accepts switching of the display content on the display screen 207 with the operation button 212c. The out-of-home transmission unit 210 transmits an SMS message to the telephone number of the merchant-side communication device 400 for the text message whose transmission permission has been accepted by the operation button 212a, and deletes it from the memory area. Further, the outside transmission unit 210 deletes the text message, which has been refused transmission by the operation button 212b, from the memory area without transmitting it to the mobile phone network 100. In addition, although the example which provided the operation button 212a etc. as a part of GUI (Graphical | User | User Interface) on the display screen 207 which consists of a touch panel was shown, you may make these operation buttons into a mechanical switch.

When the in-home transmission unit 220 receives an SMS message with the telephone number of the communication device 400 on the merchant side as the transmission source by the receiving antenna 203b corresponding to the mobile phone network 100, the in-house transmission unit 220 receives the text message stored in the payload of the SMS message. A Bluetooth packet in which the read text message is stored in the payload is generated for the wireless terminal 300, and the packet is emitted from the Bluetooth-compatible transmission antenna 206b.

The communication device 200 used in the user U1's home is a dedicated device procured by the water operator WO, and is provided from the water operator WO to the user U1. The SIM card 204 attached to the communication device 200 is contracted between a telecommunications carrier that provides a mobile phone service in the mobile phone network 100 and the water operator WO. That is, the communication device 200 used in the user U1's home is connected to the mobile phone network 100 using a telephone number (stored in the SIM card 204) pre-assigned to the communication device 200 with the water operator WO as a subscriber. To do. The telephone number of the other party with which the communication device 200 used in the user U1's home can communicate via the mobile phone network 100 is limited to the telephone number of the vendor side communication device 400. This is to prevent the water company WO from bearing communication costs outside of its own business.

On the other hand, the communication device 200 used in the home of the user U2 is realized on a communication device such as a smartphone related to the user U2. The SIM card 204 attached to the communication device 200 used at the user U2's home is contracted between the communication provider that provides the mobile phone service on the mobile phone network 100 and the user U2. That is, the communication device 200 used in the user U2's home connects to the mobile phone network 100 using the telephone number (stored in the SIM card 204) assigned in advance to the communication device 200 with the user U2 as a subscriber. . In recent years, smartphones and the like are generally provided with a home communication function conforming to the Bluetooth standard or the Wi-Fi standard in order to support tethering applications. Smartphones that are self-owned by the user U2 with application software that realizes the functions of the outside transmission unit 210 and the inside transmission unit 220 using the in-home communication function or the touch-panel user interface provided in the smartphone, etc. If installed, the communication device 200 can be realized on the smartphone or the like of the user U2.

FIG. 4 conceptually shows main hardware resources provided in each wireless terminal 300 shown in FIG. Each communication device 300 includes a central processing unit 301, a storage device 302, a communication device 303 responsible for wireless communication in accordance with the Bluetooth standard, a display screen 304, operation buttons 305a to 305c each composed of a mechanical switch, a wireless terminal And a built-in battery unit 306 that supplies electric power necessary for driving 300. These hardware resources are as commonly employed in pagers.

The built-in battery unit 306 is a circuit that acquires electric power from the battery and supplies it to a required unit of the wireless terminal 300.

The functions of each communication device 300 are conceptually shown in FIG. For these functions, various software such as an OS (Operating System) and application software stored in the storage device 302 is executed on a predetermined device such as the central processing unit 301, and these hardware resources and software cooperate. This is realized on each wireless terminal 300.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 5, each wireless terminal 300 is input by the operation unit 310 that can input predetermined information to be sent from the users U <b> 1 and U <b> 2 to the water operator WO, and the operation unit 310. A transmission unit 320 that wirelessly transmits information to the outside transmission unit 210 as a text message, a reception unit 330 that wirelessly receives a text message wirelessly transmitted from the home transmission unit 220, and a text message received by the reception unit 330 And a notification unit 340 that performs output corresponding to.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, the operation unit 310 includes, as the predetermined information, information indicating an additional order for the raw water container B, information indicating an inquiry about the next delivery date of the raw water container B, and It corresponds to. That is, the operation unit 310 receives an additional order with the operation button 305a and receives an inquiry about the next delivery date with the operation button 305b. Residents of the users U1 and U2 can make one additional order by pressing the operation button 305a once, or inquire about the next delivery date by pressing the operation button 305b once.

Here, “additional order” means placing an order for raw water container B outside the regular purchase contract for raw water container B concluded between water operator WO and users U1, U2. "Means the date on which the raw water container B is scheduled to reach the inquiring users U1 and U2's homes, and if there are multiple schedules, the date is the latest scheduled date. The water company WO can calculate and manage the next delivery date based on the regular delivery date based on the regular purchase contract, the order date of the additional order, and the lead time required for delivery to the users U1 and U2 homes. .

The transmission unit 320 generates a Bluetooth packet in which a text message indicating information input by the operation unit 310 is stored in a payload to the communication device 200, and emits the packet from the transmission antenna 303a corresponding to Bluetooth.

When receiving the Bluetooth packet having the communication device 200 as a transmission source by the receiving antenna 303b corresponding to Bluetooth, the receiving unit 330 reads the text message stored in the payload of the packet and sends the read text message to the notification unit 340. hand over.

The notifying unit 340 writes the text message passed from the receiving unit 330 in a subordinate memory area, and outputs the information indicated by the text message to the display screen 304 as a text sentence. The notification unit 340 accepts erasure of information being displayed with the operation button 305c, and erases a text message corresponding to the information accepted for erasure from the memory area. In addition, when the notification unit 340 stores a plurality of text messages passed from the reception unit 330, the notification unit 340 accepts switching of the display content on the display screen 304 with the operation button 305c.

Note that the text message transmitted and received between the wireless terminal 300 and the communication device 200 is not a description of the information content itself in text, but a code corresponding to each predetermined information. For example, the code “1” is used as a text message indicating an additional order, and the code “2” is used as a text message indicating an inquiry about the next delivery date. The notification unit 340 stores a fixed phrase corresponding to the code in a subordinate memory area, and can output predetermined information based on the corresponding fixed sentence. If the text message of the code is employed in this way, the amount of communication per time between the wireless terminal 300 and the communication device 200 can be made small, and the power consumption of the wireless terminal 300 can be suppressed. As a result, the amount of transmission from the communication device 200 to the vendor-side communication device 400 is also small, so that the transmission cost from the communication device 200 can be suppressed.

Each communication device 200 is provided from the water operator WO to the users U1 and U2.

1 is incorporated in a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system operated by a water operator WO. The CRM system uses as a communication device 200 a communication device such as a database DB that integrates and manages various information necessary for the work provided by the water operator WO to the users U1 and U2, and a smartphone compatible with the mobile phone network 100. And a server S that provides application software for operating. In the database DB, a telephone number corresponding to the SIM card 204 provided to the user U1 is registered. In the database DB, the telephone number of the communication device that downloaded the application software from the server S is also registered. This download may be performed via the Internet.

When the merchant-side communication device 400 receives the SMS message from each communication device 200 via the mobile phone network 100 only by the receiving antenna 401 corresponding to the mobile phone network 100, it stores the phone number of the transmission source and its payload. It has a function of reading the text message and reflecting it in the database DB.

Further, the vendor side communication device 400 generates an SMS message in which a text message indicating completion of the order for the additional order is stored in the payload to the telephone number that is the transmission source of the additional order, and the SMS message is transmitted to the mobile phone network 100. It has the function to emit from the transmitting antenna 402 corresponding to.

Further, the vendor side communication device 400 acquires the next delivery date when the inquiry is received from the database DB, and sends the SMS message in which the text message indicating the next delivery date is stored in the payload to the telephone number that is the transmission source of the inquiry. And the SMS message is emitted from the transmitting antenna 402.

Of course, the text message transmitted from the communication device 400 on the supplier side to the communication device 200 is preferably coded as much as possible. For example, the code “10” is used as a text message indicating completion of an order for an additional order, and the code “20XXYY” is used as a text message indicating an answer to the next delivery date from the vendor side communication device 400 (where XX is a number indicating the month, YY is In this way, the amount of communication per transmission transmitted from the vendor side communication device 400 to the communication device 200 is reduced, and the transmission cost from the vendor side communication device 400 can be suppressed. .

Further, the communication device 400 on the trader side accepts an arbitrary search condition such as the addresses of the users U1 and U2, extracts a telephone number from the database DB, and inputs an arbitrary text using an arbitrary input means such as key input or reading of a medium. It has a function of receiving a message, generating an SMS message storing the received text message in a payload addressed to the extracted telephone number, and emitting the SMS message from the transmission antenna 402.

Such an arbitrary text message includes the delivery delay information of the raw water container B. Here, the delivery delay information of the raw water container is information related to the delay from the scheduled delivery date, and includes, for example, the reason for the delay, the number of days to be delayed, the product to be delayed, the area to be delayed, and the prospect of delay recovery. The arbitrary text message is not limited to the notification purpose of the water company WO regarding its own water business, but may be, for example, an advertisement that the water company WO has received a request from a vendor of another industry.

An operation example of the water business communication system according to the embodiment will be described. In the following operation example, the pairing between the communication device 200 and the wireless terminal 300 has been completed, and the telephone number assigned to each communication device 200 is registered in the database DB managed by the water operator WO. It is assumed that the telephone numbers assigned to the communication devices 400 on the trader side are stored in each communication device 200.

FIG. 6 shows an operation example when the residents of the users U1 and U2 shown in FIG. 1 make an additional order for the raw water container B and inquire about the next delivery date to the water company WO (hereinafter, FIG. 1 and FIG. 6). reference). The replacement time of the raw water containers B connected to the water servers WS1 and WS2 has arrived, and the residents of the users U1 and U2's homes go to pick up the raw water containers B stored in storage spaces such as storerooms. At this time, the resident looks at the remaining state of the raw water container B at the user's U1, U2 home, and knows the necessity of an additional order or a next delivery date inquiry according to the remaining state. A resident who has returned to the side of the water servers WS1 and WS2 to replace the raw water container B presses the

operation buttons

305a and 305b of the wireless terminal 300 disposed near the water servers WS1 and WS2 (S1). Receiving this, the wireless terminal 300 transmits the Bluetooth packet P1 corresponding to the additional order or the next delivery date inquiry to the paired communication device 200 (S2). This transmission is automatically repeated according to the Bluetooth standard until it is received by the paired communication device 200.

And the communication apparatus 200 which received the Bluetooth packet P1 waits for the transmission permission input from the approval means 212 by the resident of user U1, U2 home (S3), and responds to the inquiry of an additional order or the next delivery date. The SMS message M1 is sent to the mobile phone network 100 to the telephone number of the communication device 400 on the supplier side (S4).

The supplier side communication device 400 that has received the SMS message M1 reflects it in the database DB and obtains necessary information according to the contents (S5), and also sends an SMS message M2 in response to the SMS message M1 to the SMS message M1. The message is sent to the mobile phone network 100 to the telephone number that is the transmission source (S6).

The communication device 200 that has received the SMS message M2 transmits a Bluetooth packet P2 corresponding to the SMS message M2 to the paired wireless terminal 300 (S7). This transmission is automatically repeated according to the Bluetooth standard until the paired wireless terminal 300 receives the transmission.

The wireless terminal 300 that has received the Bluetooth packet P2 outputs a text sentence corresponding to the Bluetooth packet P2 to the display screen 304 (S8).

FIG. 7 shows an operation example in the case where the water operator WO shown in FIG. 1 actively makes an arbitrary notification to the users U1 and U2 (refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 7 below). The water operator WO inputs the text message indicating the notification content and the extraction condition from the database DB of the telephone number to be the notification destination to the supplier side communication device 400 (S10). The vendor communication device 400 sends the SMS message M3 storing the text message to the mobile phone network 100 to the extracted telephone number (S11).

The communication device 200 that has received the SMS message M3 stores the text message read from the SMS message M3 in the Bluetooth packet P3 and transmits it to the paired wireless terminal 300 (S12).

The wireless terminal 300 that has received the Bluetooth packet P3 reads the text message stored in the Bluetooth packet P3 and outputs the text sentence to the display screen 304 (S13).

The communication system for water business according to the embodiment (see FIG. 1) is as described above, and uses the mobile phone network 100 deployed in a wide area. It is suitable for information communication with a large number of users U1 and U2.

In addition, the communication system for water business according to the embodiment limits the information communication between the water business operator WO and the users U1 and U2 to text messages, and therefore is provided only by the mobile phone network 100 like SMS. An inexpensive transmission / reception service can be used, whereby the communication cost per communication between the vendor side communication device 400 and the communication device 200 can be suppressed. Therefore, the water operator WO can quickly and actively transmit information to a large number of users U1 and U2 at a low cost by using the supplier side communication device 400.

Further, in the water business communication system according to the embodiment, the power supply unit 208 of the communication device 200 can drive the communication device 200 that consumes relatively power with the external power supply of the user U1, U2 home.

In addition, the water business communication system according to the embodiment is small in size and consumption limited to a simple function of a pager even when the communication device 200 is not present near the water servers WS1 and WS2 in the users U1 and U2. Since the wireless wireless terminal 300 with low power is provided separately from the communication apparatus 200, the wireless terminal 300 can be easily disposed in the water servers WS1 and WS2 or in the vicinity thereof. For this reason, when the raw water containers B of the water servers WS1 and WS2 are replaced, the residents of the homes of the users U1 and U2 who have noticed the necessity for an additional order are added using the wireless terminal 300 near the water servers WS1 and WS2. Orders can be made promptly.

Therefore, the water business communication system according to the embodiment includes the users U1 and U2 of the water servers WS1 and WS2 and the water business operator WO who receives an order for a replaceable raw water container B that can be connected to the water servers WS1 and WS2. The communication cost per communication between the two is reduced, and in the water business operator WO, it is possible to transmit information quickly and actively to a large number of users U1, U2 at a low cost using the communication device 400 on the supplier side. Since the wireless wireless terminal 300 is arranged in the vicinity of the water servers WS1 and WS2 in the homes of the users U1 and U2, and the wireless terminal 300 can be used to quickly place an additional order, the users U1 and U2 Communication between the water service provider WO and the water operator WO can be made low-cost and convenient.

Moreover, when the water business communication system according to the embodiment accepts an additional order or the like at the operation unit 310 of the wireless terminal 300 by a resident such as a child who does not have an ordering authority such as an additional order at the user U1 or U2 home. The corresponding text message is not immediately transmitted from the communication device 200 to the merchant-side communication device 400, but the waiting unit 211 and the approval unit 212 of the communication device 200 notify the resident who has an ordering authority of the occurrence of an additional order or the like. At the same time, it is possible to create an opportunity to approve transmission of an additional order or the like at the judgment of the resident. Therefore, the communication system for water business according to the embodiment can prevent erroneous ordering that does not conform to the intention of the resident who has ordering authority.

In addition, since the communication system for water business according to the embodiment provides the SIM card 204 that has been opened to the user U1 from the water business operator WO, the telephone number assigned to the SIM card 204 is assigned to the water business operator. You can know in advance on the WO side. For this reason, the water business operator WO can promptly and actively notify each user U1 of the provision destination. In addition, the cost of SMS communication is borne by the water service provider WO, who is the subscriber on the transmission side. Therefore, the water business communication system according to the embodiment does not need to incur communication costs between the communication device 200 used at the user U1's home and the vendor communication device 400, and the use of the water business communication system is promoted. Can be achieved.

Moreover, since the communication system 200 for water business according to the embodiment is realized on a terminal using the user U2 as a subscriber, the communication device 200 used at the user U2 home is used at the user U2 home. It is not necessary to bear the communication cost between the communication device 200 and the vendor side communication device 400 on the water operator WO side. Moreover, the communication system for water business which concerns on embodiment provides the user U2 with the application software for operating the smart phone etc. of the user U2 as the communication apparatus 200 about the communication apparatus 200 used at the user U2 home. Therefore, the cost can be reduced by avoiding providing the communication device to the user. Since a resident who does not own the communication device 200 realized in a smartphone or the like at the user U2's home can use the wireless terminal 300, it is added even when the resident who owns the communication device 200 is not near the water server WS2. There is no hindrance to ordering.

In addition, since the water business communication system according to the embodiment employs the Bluetooth standard for wireless communication between the communication device 200 and the wireless terminal 300, the power consumption is less than that of a wireless LAN standard such as Wi-Fi. This is suitable for the wireless terminal 300 driven by the built-in battery unit 306.

The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Cellular phone network 200 Communication apparatus 208 Power supply part 210 Out-of-home transmission part 211 Standby means 212 Approval means 220 In-home transmission part 300 Wireless terminal 306 Built-in battery part 310 Operation part 320 Transmission part 330 Reception part 340 Notification part 400 Merchant side communication apparatus

Claims

Between a user (U1, U2) of a water server (WS1, WS2) and a water operator (WO) who receives an order for an exchangeable raw water container (B) connectable to the water server (WS1, WS2). A water business communication system used for information communication,
A mobile phone network (100);
A communication device (200) that is used in the user's (U1, U2) premises and pre-assigned a telephone number used for connection to the mobile phone network (100);
A wireless terminal (300) capable of directly performing wireless communication with the communication device (200);
A merchant-side communication device (400) operated by the water operator (WO) and pre-assigned with a telephone number used for connection with the mobile phone network (100);
With
The communication device (200)
A power supply unit (208) capable of acquiring power from an external power supply;
An external transmission unit (210) that receives a text message wirelessly transmitted from the wireless terminal (300) and transmits the text message to the telephone number of the vendor communication device (400);
An in-home transmission unit (220) that receives a text message transmitted from the vendor side communication device (400) to the telephone number of the communication device (200) and wirelessly transmits the text message to the wireless terminal (300). When,
Have
The wireless terminal (300)
An operation unit (310) capable of inputting predetermined information sent from the user (U1, U2) to the water operator (WO);
A transmission unit (320) that wirelessly transmits the information input by the operation unit (310) as a text message to the outside transmission unit (210);
A receiving unit (330) that wirelessly receives a text message wirelessly transmitted from the in-home transmission unit (220);
A notification unit (340) that performs an output corresponding to the text message received by the reception unit (330);
A built-in battery unit (306) for supplying power to the wireless terminal (300);
Water business communication system.
When the outside transmission unit (210) of the communication device (200) receives a text message from the transmission unit (320) of the wireless terminal (300), the transmission of the text message is suspended and the suspension is performed. The communication system for water business according to claim 1, comprising standby means (211) for notifying the occurrence of occurrence and approval means (212) capable of inputting permission of the reserved transmission.
The outside transmission unit (210) of the communication device (200) uses the telephone number assigned in advance to the communication device (200) with the water operator (WO) as a subscriber. The communication system for water business according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the text message is transmitted / received only by a short message service of the mobile phone network (100).
The outside transmission unit (210) of the communication device (200) uses the telephone number assigned in advance to the communication device (200) with the user (U1, U2) as a subscriber. The water business communication system according to claim 1, wherein the text message is transmitted / received only by a short message service of the mobile phone network (100) connected to (100).
The water business communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the wireless communication conforms to a Bluetooth standard.