JP2007304913A - Radio meter reading system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To resolve the problem that detailed gas consumption conditions and detailed rates of gas consumption are not known in a house demanding gas. <P>SOLUTION: A gas meter 1 incorporates a meter radio part 4 having a specific low-power radio mounted thereon as a radio communication means, and a mobile phone 5 of a person demanding gas incorporates a portable radio part 6 having a specific low-power radio mounted thereon. When the mobile phone 5 and the gas meter 1 are at such distance from each other that they can communicate with each other, the user communicates with the meter radio part 4 of the gas meter 1 to acquire gas consumption information held in a measurement part 2 of the gas meter 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless meter reading system that transmits gas use information as wireless data.

  In recent years, for example, in the case of gas, if a gas meter that measures the amount of gas used has been measured for a large amount of flow, or if it has been used for a long time that is not normal, it is determined that the gas passage is abnormal. The one with a built-in security device that shuts off and secures safety is widespread.

Then, a system in which an expert manually stores the measured value of the gas meter in a control terminal called a handy terminal and brings the meter reading result back to the center that manages the gas has been put into practical use (for example, see Patent Document 1). .
JP 2006-067418 A

  However, in the case of a system in which specialists go around the area in charge with a master unit and a control terminal, specialists can distribute gas usage and fee guidance on a monthly basis based on the meter reading results. At home, there was a problem that detailed gas usage and detailed gas usage fees were unknown.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, a wireless meter reading system according to the present invention comprises a gas meter for measuring a gas flow rate, a meter-side wireless communication means built in the gas meter, and a mobile-side wireless communication means for communicating with the gas meter. It is composed of a built-in mobile communication device at a gas customer's house, communicates between the mobile communication device and the gas meter by wireless communication means, and displays information of the gas meter on the screen of the mobile communication device.

  As a result, detailed gas usage conditions and detailed gas usage charges can be understood at the gas customer's home.

  According to the wireless meter reading system of the present invention, it is possible to grasp the detailed gas usage status and remotely operate the gas meter at the gas customer's home.

  A wireless meter reading system according to a first invention includes a gas meter for measuring a gas flow rate, a meter-side wireless communication means built in the gas meter, and a mobile body in a gas consumer's house incorporating mobile body-side wireless communication means for communicating with the gas meter. And a communication device.

  Thereby, in a gas consumer's house, a detailed gas use condition and a detailed gas use charge can be grasped | ascertained at any time with the mobile communication apparatus of a gas consumer house.

  According to a second aspect of the invention, in particular, in the first aspect of the invention, the display unit of the mobile communication device displays at least one of a gas meter shut-off reason, a gas usage status, and gas appliance charge display information.

  Thereby, in a gas consumer's house, the mobile communication apparatus of a gas consumer's house can grasp | ascertain the gas meter interruption | blocking reason, a gas usage condition, and the charge display information according to gas appliances at any time.

  The third invention is characterized in that, in the second invention, in particular, by using the operation unit of the mobile communication device, the remote shut-off, remote return, shut-off level of the gas meter or data held by the gas meter can be changed. It is.

  As a result, at the gas customer's home, the gas communication device can be remotely shut off, remotely returned, remotely returned, shut down, and the gas meter data can be changed by operating the mobile communication device at the gas consumer's home. Can be displayed on the screen.

  The fourth invention is characterized in that, in any one of the first to third inventions, communication between the gas meter and the center can be performed via the public line of the mobile communication device.

  As a result, automatic meter reading has traditionally been performed using fixed-line telephone lines contracted by gas consumers. Therefore, whenever the communication quality and specifications of the fixed-line telephone line change due to digitization or IP conversion, the communication method However, since automatic meter reading is performed via the public line of the mobile communication device at the gas consumer's house, automatic meter reading is possible without being affected by the fixed telephone line. .

  In a fifth aspect of the invention, in particular, in any one of the first to fourth aspects of the invention, the mobile communication device is provided by a gas operator to a gas customer.

  As a result, the mobile communication device provided by the gas operator to the gas customer can always be installed at the gas customer's home, so a personal contract must be made at the gas customer's home that may be taken out when going out. It is no longer necessary to communicate with the gas meter using the existing mobile communication device, and communication between the center and the gas meter via the mobile communication device is always possible.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Although the present embodiment will be described in terms of gas, it is not limited to this, and fuel such as electric power, water, kerosene, or the like may be used.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a gas wireless meter reading system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  The gas meter 1 mainly includes a gas flow rate measuring unit 2 using ultrasonic waves, a gas passage blocking device 3, and a meter wireless unit 4 equipped with a specific low-power radio as wireless communication means.

  Here, the gas flow measurement of the measuring unit 2 uses ultrasonic waves, and it is possible to measure the instantaneous flow rate, and the amount of information and measurement accuracy per unit time that can be obtained is greatly increased compared to conventional membrane meters. This makes it possible to discriminate the appliances that are being used, and services such as appliance-specific charges are also possible. Further, the communication reach of the meter radio unit 4 equipped with the specific low power radio is suitable for communication in the house or between the neighborhoods.

5 is a mobile phone that is most popular among mobile communication devices, and has a built-in portable wireless unit 6 equipped with a specific low-power radio as a wireless communication means for wirelessly communicating with the gas meter 1, and is a registered gas meter. Wireless communication is possible. In the mobile radio unit 6 of the mobile phone 5, a plurality of gas meters can be registered, and even in the case of a gas customer having two or more gas meters, it is possible to communicate with all the gas meters at the customer's house with one mobile phone. Can do. The mobile phone 5 is a mobile phone in which a gas consumer has a personal contract with a communication carrier. The communicable distance between the mobile phone 5 and the gas meter 1 is the reach of the specific low-power radio, so the description will be made on the assumption that the mobile phone 5 is placed in the gas customer's home 10.

  According to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, in the gas meter 1, the gas flow rate is measured by the measuring unit 2 and the information is retained. When the mobile phone 5 is located at a short distance from the gas meter 1 such as when it is placed in a gas customer's home, the mobile radio unit 6 can communicate with the meter radio unit 4 built in the gas meter 1. The mobile radio unit 6 of the mobile phone 5 communicates with the meter radio unit 4 of the gas meter 1 to acquire the gas use information held by the measurement unit 2 of the gas meter 1. The cellular phone 5 receives gas use information from the built-in portable radio unit 6 as necessary, and stores the information.

  Thereby, the gas usage information can be acquired from the gas meter 1 by the mobile phone 5 of the gas customer's house, and the detailed gas usage status and the detailed gas usage fee can be acquired from the mobile phone 5 as needed.

(Embodiment 2)
In the second embodiment of the present invention, the gas which is the information of the gas meter 1 acquired by the communication between the meter wireless unit 4 of the gas meter 1 and the portable wireless unit 6 of the mobile phone 5 in the gas wireless meter reading system described in the first embodiment. The reason for shutting down, the gas usage status, and the charge display information for each gas appliance are displayed on the screen of the mobile phone 5 of the gas consumer's house, or an alarm sound is generated.

  Thereby, in the gas consumer's house, the reason for shutting down the gas meter 1, the state of gas use, and the charge display information for each gas appliance can be displayed on the screen of the mobile phone 5 of the gas consumer's house at any time. In addition to displaying on the screen, it is also possible to generate an alarm sound of the mobile phone 5 when the gas is shut off or when the gas is shut off.

  Therefore, a gas information display device similar to a dedicated home controller is unnecessary, and the cellular phone 5 of the gas consumer can be provided as a gas information display device.

  If the gas meter 1 is linked to a gas leak alarm, CO alarm, fire alarm, security alarm, or other device, the information is also displayed on the screen of the mobile phone 5 or an alarm sound is generated. It becomes possible to do.

(Embodiment 3)
According to Embodiment 3 of the present invention, in the gas wireless meter reading system described in Embodiment 1,
By transmitting a control telegram of the gas meter 1 from the mobile radio unit 6 by operating the cellular phone 5, the gas meter 1 can be remotely shut off, remotely restored, remotely restored, shut down level, and gas meter data can be changed. This is displayed on the screen of the mobile phone 5.

  As a result, at the gas customer's house, by operating the mobile phone 5 of the gas customer's house, the gas meter 1 can be remotely shut off, remotely restored, remotely restored, the shut-off level, and the data of the gas meter changed, and the operation results can be transmitted to the cellular phone. 5 screen.

  Therefore, the resident of the gas consumer can remotely control from his / her mobile phone 5 so that the gas can be used by shutting off the gas when going out and can be used when returning home.

Although it has been described that the gas meter 1 is remotely controlled by the operation of the mobile phone 5, even if the mobile phone 5 is not operated every time, the mobile phone 5 can be operated once so that the meter wireless unit 4 and the mobile phone It is also possible for the wireless unit 6 to periodically communicate, and the meter wireless unit 4 can detect a state in which there is no mobile phone in the vicinity of the gas meter 1, and this information is used as a shut-off device for the gas meter 1. It is also possible to shut off the gas. That is, when the resident is absent, the gas can be automatically shut off.

  In addition, by registering in advance in the meter radio unit 4 so that the owner of the mobile phone can be identified, the meter radio unit 4 can identify that only elderly people and children are at home. Therefore, the gas meter 1 can determine the usage status of each gas appliance, automatically change the shut-off level and alarm level, and shut off or warn the gas early according to the person at home.

  For example, when only the child is at home and the gas meter 1 determines that the gas stove is being used, the gas is immediately shut off. When it is determined that the gas water heater is being used, the gas cutoff at the normal level is monitored.

(Embodiment 4)
According to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, in the gas wireless meter reading system described in the first, second, or third embodiment, via the public line 7 of the mobile phone 5 of the gas consumer's house, Communication is made between the gas meter 1 and the center 8 of the gas company.

  As a result, automatic meter reading has traditionally been performed using fixed-line telephone lines contracted by gas consumers. Therefore, whenever the communication quality and specifications of the fixed-line telephone line change due to digitization or IP conversion, the communication method However, since automatic meter reading is performed via the public line of the cellular phone 5 at the gas customer's house, automatic meter reading is possible without being affected by diversification of fixed telephone lines. It becomes. In addition, automatic meter reading of gas customers who do not have a fixed telephone line becomes possible.

(Embodiment 5)
According to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, in the gas wireless meter reading system described in the first, second, third or fourth embodiment, the mobile phone 5 of the gas customer's house is provided from the gas operator to the gas customer. It has been done.

  Thereby, the mobile phone 5 provided to the gas customer by the gas company can be always installed in the gas customer's home. Therefore, there is no worry that communication with the gas meter 1 from the center 8 is not possible while the resident of the gas customer takes out the mobile phone when going out, and communication is always possible between the center 8 and the gas meter 1.

  In the first to fifth embodiments, the mobile communication device has been described as a mobile phone, but it may be a PHS.

  The present invention is not limited to a wireless meter reading system that transmits home gas usage as wireless data, but can also be applied to applications such as a wireless meter reading system that transmits power usage and water usage in offices and stores as wireless data.

The block diagram which shows the wireless meter-reading system in Embodiment 1 of this invention The block diagram which shows the wireless meter-reading system in Embodiment 4 of this invention

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Gas meter 2 Measuring part 3 Shut-off device 4 Meter radio part 5 Cellular phone 6 Portable radio part 7 Public line 8 Center

Claims (5)

A radio comprised of a gas meter for measuring a gas flow rate, a meter-side wireless communication means built in the gas meter, and a mobile communication device at a gas consumer's house containing a mobile-side wireless communication means for communicating with the gas meter Meter reading system. 2. The wireless meter reading system according to claim 1, wherein the display unit of the mobile communication device displays at least one of a gas meter shut-off reason, a gas usage status, and a fee display information for each gas appliance. 3. The wireless meter reading system according to claim 2, wherein the gas meter remote shut-off, remote return, shut-off level or data held by the gas meter can be changed by using an operation unit of the mobile communication device. The wireless meter reading system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein communication between the gas meter and the center can be performed via a public line of the mobile communication device. The wireless communication metering system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the mobile communication device is provided to a gas consumer by a gas company.

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