JP2001292485A - Automatic notification device and automatic notification method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To provide an automatic notification device and an automatic notification method that can reduce the burden on an operator by automatically resetting the setting content set in a memory. SOLUTION: Connected to a center 11 via a communication line and connected to 5-bit devices G1 to G3 and a contact device N1, and based on setting contents stored in a function setting memory 28, the 5-bit devices G1 to G3 are An automatic notifying device that sends a meter reading request and sends meter reading information from the 5-bit devices G1 to G3 to the center 11.
A message determination unit 26 that determines whether or not the message received from 3 is a reset message, and a function setting memory 28 when the message determination unit 26 determines that the message is a reset message.
And a reset unit 27 for resetting the setting content stored in the storage unit.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is connected to a center via a communication line and connected to a plurality of microcomputer built-in gas meters (hereinafter referred to as "gas meters"), and communicates meter reading information and security information from each gas meter. The present invention relates to an automatic notifying apparatus and an automatic notifying method for notifying a center via a line, and more particularly, to an automatic notifying apparatus and an automatic notifying method capable of resetting setting contents stored in a memory by a reset message from a center or a setting device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 shows a conventional automatic meter reading system provided with this kind of automatic notification device. In the automatic meter reading system shown in FIG.
a to 103n through a plurality of gas meters 105a to 105a to 105n.
5n is connected, and the automatic reporting device 101 reports security information such as meter reading value information and gas leak detection information of the plurality of gas meters 105a to 105n to the center 109 via the communication line 107.

In this case, calling of the gas meter is performed by a communication sequence as shown in FIG. First, for example, No. When the gas meter (device number 5) of No. 5 detects a gas leak, this gas No. 5 5 is an automatic reporting device 1
01 is requested, and data is sent in a predetermined message format.

[0004] Next, the automatic notification device 101 is
Is called, the center 109 is connected to the automatic notification device 101 via a telephone line. When the data is output from the gas meter, the automatic notification device 101 writes the port number “05” to which the gas meter is connected as a device number (hereinafter, referred to as a device number) in a message, and an ID that has already been registered. (Identification information) is added and transferred to the center 109.

The instrument number is a code number previously written in the microcomputer of the gas meter in accordance with the type such as the size of the gas meter, and is used when the center wants to know the type of the gas meter.

On the other hand, the center 109 searches for an automatic reporting device of the customer master corresponding to the ID of the received data,
The sub-customer master file is searched by the received device number, and the communication partner can be notified by displaying the customer name, gas meter user, address, telephone number, etc. corresponding to the searched device number on the screen.

[0007] In addition, at the time of periodic notification of the meter reading value information of the gas meter, for example, the automatic notification device 101 calls each gas meter in ascending order of the port numbers of the five pit ports to which the gas meter is connected, and centers the data. 109.

In such an automatic reporting device, information required for gas reading is set in a memory in the automatic reporting device according to a set message from the center, and the gas reading is set based on the set contents set in the memory. Has been done.

On the other hand, there is a case where it is desired to reset the set contents set in the memory and set new set contents. At this time, if the automatic notification device is provided with a reset terminal, the setting content set in the memory can be reset by short-circuiting the reset terminal.

[0010]

However, if the conventional automatic notification device does not have a reset terminal, the setting contents are reset by removing the battery for the CPU power supply once. That is, the operation of removing and inserting the battery has to be performed, and the burden on the operator is great.

Further, when the battery cannot be removed, there is a problem that the reset operation of the set contents becomes impossible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic notification device and an automatic notification method capable of reducing the burden on an operator by automatically resetting the settings set in a memory.

[0013]

The present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above-mentioned problems. The invention according to claim 1 is connected to a center via a communication line, is connected to a terminal device, makes a meter reading request to the terminal device based on the setting content stored in the memory, and transmits meter reading information from the terminal device to the center. A determination unit for determining whether a message received from a center or a setting device is a reset message, and storing the message in a memory when the determination unit determines that the message is a reset message. Reset means for resetting the set contents.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the determining means determines whether the message received from the center or the setting device is a reset message, the reset means determines that the message is a reset message by the determining means. Resets the settings stored in the memory. That is, by automatically resetting the settings set in the memory, the burden on the operator can be reduced.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the automatic notification device according to the first aspect, a setting means for setting the contents of a setting message sent from the center or the setting device in the memory reset by the reset means. It is characterized by.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the setting means sets the contents of the setting message sent from the center or the setting device in the memory reset by the reset means, so that any contents can be set in the memory. can do.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the automatic notification device according to the first or second aspect, the reset message includes reset information for instructing a reset of the setting contents.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the telegram from the center or the setting device can be determined to be the reset telegram based on the reset information included in the reset telegram.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a meter reading request is sent to the terminal device based on the setting contents stored in the memory, the meter being connected to the center and the terminal device via a communication line. An automatic reporting method for reporting information to a center, comprising: a determination step of determining whether a message received from a center or a setting device is a reset message; and a memory stored in a memory when the message is determined to be a reset message. Resetting step of resetting the set contents. According to the invention of claim 4, the same effect as the effect of the invention of claim 1 can be obtained.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the automatic notification method according to the fourth aspect, further comprising a setting step of setting the content of a setting message sent from the center or the setting device in the reset memory. I do. According to the fifth aspect, the same effect as that of the second aspect can be obtained.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the automatic notification method according to the fourth or fifth aspect, the reset message includes reset information for instructing reset of the setting contents. According to the invention of claim 6, the same effect as the effect of the invention of claim 3 can be obtained.

[0022]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an automatic notification device according to the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a configuration block diagram of an automatic meter reading system including the automatic notification device according to the embodiment. The automatic meter reading system shown in FIG.
1, an automatic notification device 20 connected to the center 11 via an exchange 13 and a communication line (station line) 15, and a telephone 31 connected to the automatic notification device 20.

The automatic notification device 20 has four ports P1 to P1.
P4, a port P5 connected to the communication line 15, and a port P6 connected to the telephone set 31. 5-bit device G is connected to ports P1, P2, and P3 via signal lines.
1, G2, G3 are connected, and a contact device N1 is connected to the port P4 via a signal line.

The 5-bit devices G1, G2, and G3 are, for example, gas meters and output 5-bit data to corresponding ports. The contact device N1 is, for example, a water heater having a contact. When the user uses hot water, the contact turns on and outputs a contact signal to a corresponding port. When the user does not use hot water, the contact is turned on. Turns off and does not output the contact signal to the corresponding port.

The center 11 sets a setting message in which the setting data for setting in the automatic notification device 20 is in the form of a message in a function setting memory 28 described later in the automatic notification device 20 via the communication line 15.

As data to be set, for example, an ID, an alarm report destination telephone number, a meter reading destination telephone number, a regular meter reading condition, an operation condition, connection meter information, a maintenance report function, etc. are set for the 5-bit device. . As the data to be set, for example, an ID, a report destination telephone number, a calling condition, a calling cycle, and the like are set for the contact device. In addition, the center 11 transmits a reset message for resetting the setting content set in the function setting memory 28 to the automatic notification device 20.

The automatic notification device 20 includes a network control unit (NCU) 21, a modem 22, and a control unit 2.
3, an interface unit 24, and a battery 25.

The NCU 21 controls the line connection to the center 11 and the line connection to the telephone 31. The modem 22 modulates and demodulates data. The interface unit 24 controls input and output between the control unit 23 and the 5-bit device G or the contact device N via each of the ports P1 to P4. The battery 25 is connected to the control unit 2
3. Power is supplied to the modem 22, the NCU 21, and the like.

The control unit 23 is a read only memory (ROM) for storing a control program for executing a message determination unit 26, a reset unit 27, a function setting memory 28, a setting unit 29, and a reset process of setting contents and a setting process. 30.

The function setting memory 28 includes a 5-bit device G1.
The setting contents of a 5-bit port for performing communication with G3 and the contact port setting for monitoring the contact device N1 are stored. FIG. 2 shows a setting example of the port setting contents.

In FIG. 2, the setting contents of the 5-bit port include setting items of ID, alarm report destination telephone number, meter reading report destination telephone number, regular meter reading condition, operation condition, connection meter information, and maintenance report function. Contact device port settings
It has setting items of ID, report destination telephone number, calling condition, and calling time.

The control unit 23 communicates with the 5-bit devices G1 to G3 and monitors the contact device N1. The message determination unit 26 corresponds to a determination unit of the present invention, and determines whether the message input from the center 11 or the setting unit 33 is a reset message.

The reset unit 27 corresponds to the reset unit of the present invention, and resets (clears) the setting contents set in the function setting memory 30 when the electronic message determining unit 26 determines that the electronic message is a reset electronic message. Become Setting unit 29
Corresponds to the setting means of the present invention, and sets the contents of the setting message in the function setting memory 30 when the input message is determined to be the setting message.

The automatic notification device 20 is provided with a setting device pin 32, and a setting device 33 is connected to the setting device pin 32 via a signal line. This setting device 33
Enter the setting message or reset message.

The control unit 23 sets the contents of the setting message from the setting device 33 in the function setting memory 28,
The reset contents set in the function setting memory 28 are reset and initialized by the reset message from.

Next, the reset processing and the setting processing of the setting contents set in the function setting memory provided in the automatic notification device of the embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. Here, it is assumed that the setting contents are set in the function setting memory 28 in the initial state at the time of reset start (power-on).

First, the automatic notification device 20 communicates with the center 11 or the setting device 33, and receives a message from the center 11 or the setting device 33 (step S11). Then, the automatic notification device 20 is connected to the center 11 or the setting device 33.
The message received from is decoded (step S13).

Next, the message determining section 26 determines whether or not the decrypted message is a reset message (step S1).
5). Here, it is checked whether or not the decrypted message has a flag '0'. If there is a flag '0', the decrypted message is determined to be a reset message. The flag '0' corresponds to reset information for instructing reset of the setting contents of the present invention.

In this case, the reset unit 27 sets the contents set in the function setting memory 28 (the setting contents of the 5-bit port and the contact device port as shown in FIG. 2).
Is reset and initialized (step S17).

On the other hand, if the decrypted message is not the reset message in step S15, it is determined whether the decrypted message is the set message (step S1).
9). Here, it is checked whether or not the flag '1' is present in the decrypted message. If there is a flag '1', the decrypted message is determined to be the set message.

In this case, the setting unit 29 sets the contents of the setting included in the setting message in the function setting memory 28, ie,
The 5-bit port setting and the contact device port setting as shown in FIG. 2 are set (step S21). In addition,
If the decrypted message does not include the flag '0' or the flag '1', the process ends immediately.

As described above, according to the automatic notification device of the embodiment, the setting contents set in the function setting memory 28 can be reset and initialized by the reset message from the center 11 or the setting device 33.

Accordingly, there is no need to provide a reset terminal as in the prior art, and there is no problem that the reset operation cannot be performed due to the inability to remove the battery. That is, by automatically resetting the settings set in the function setting memory 28, it is possible to provide an automatic notification device and an automatic notification method that can reduce the burden on the operator.

After the contents of the function setting memory 28 are initialized by the reset message, new contents can be set in the function setting memory 28 by the setting message from the center 11 or the setting unit 33.

Even when the contents are set in the function setting memory 28 and the contents are not reset by the reset message, if a new setting message is sent from the center 11 or the setting device 33, , Function setting memory 2
The setting contents already set in 8 can be rewritten (overwriting setting) with the setting contents based on a new setting message from the center 11 or the setting device 33.

In the automatic notification device of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the 5-bit port setting and the contact device port setting are set in the function setting memory 28. For example, as shown in FIG. , The management port setting contents, and the 8-bit port setting contents may be further set in the function setting memory 28.

The management port setting contents include a master ID, a calling signal type, a telephone line, a telephone priority function, a fax control function, a timer, a call destination telephone number, the number of incoming calls, and a port I.
D function. The contents of the 8-bit port settings are
D, report destination telephone number, regular meter reading condition, maintenance report function, etc.

By setting the contents in the function setting memory 28 in this manner, data from an 8-bit device that outputs 8-bit data can be monitored, and the function setting memory 28 can be stored in the function setting memory 28 by a reset message from the center 11 or the setting unit 33. The set contents of the 8-bit port and the set contents of the management port can be reset and initialized.

Further, in the automatic notification device of the embodiment, 3
Although the five 5-bit devices G1 to G3 and one contact device N1 are connected to the automatic notification device, the present invention is not limited to this. The number of 5-bit devices and the number of contact devices N1 are determined according to the number of customers and the like. It can be selected as appropriate.

[0050]

According to the automatic notification device of the first aspect of the present invention, when the determination means determines whether or not the message received from the center or the setting device is a reset message, the reset means:
When the determination unit determines that the message is a reset message, the setting content stored in the memory is reset. That is, by automatically resetting the settings set in the memory, the burden on the operator can be reduced.

According to the automatic notification device of the second aspect of the present invention,
The setting means sets the contents of the setting message sent from the center or the setting device in the memory reset by the reset means, so that any contents can be set in the memory.

According to the automatic notification device of the third aspect of the present invention,
Based on the reset information included in the reset message, the message from the center or the setting device can be determined to be the reset message.

According to the automatic notification method of the fourth aspect, the same effect as that of the automatic notification device of the first aspect can be obtained. According to the automatic notification method of the fifth aspect, the same effect as that of the automatic notification device of the second aspect can be obtained. According to the automatic notification method of the invention of claim 6,
The same effect as that of the automatic notification device according to the third aspect of the invention can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of an automatic meter reading system including an automatic notification device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a setting example of port setting contents for each port;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another setting example of port setting contents for each port.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a reset process and a setting process of setting contents of the automatic notification device.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a conventional automatic meter reading system.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a communication sequence for calling a gas meter in a conventional automatic meter reading system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 11 center 13 exchange 15 communication line 20 automatic notification device 21 NCU (network control unit) 22 modem 23 control unit 24 interface unit 25 battery 26 message 26 message determination unit 27 reset unit 28 function setting memory 29 setting unit 30 ROM 31 telephone set 33 setting device P1 To P4 port G1 to G3 5-bit device N1 contact device

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Ken Abe 23 Minami-Kashima, Futamata-machi, Tenryu-shi, Shizuoka Prefecture Inside Yazaki Keiki Co., Ltd. 2F073 AA08 AB01 BB09 BC01 CC03 CC07 CC08 CC12 DD07 DE07 DE13 EE11 EF09 FG01 FG02 FG14 GG01 GG06 GG08 5K048 AA05 BA36 BA53 DC07 EA16 EB06 EB09 EB10 HA01 HA02 5K101 KK12 LL01

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A meter reading request is sent to the terminal device based on setting contents stored in a memory, connected to a center and a terminal device via a communication line, and meter reading information from the terminal device is sent to the terminal device. An automatic notification device for notifying a center, a determination unit for determining whether or not the message received from the center or the setting device is a reset message; and when the determination unit determines that the message is a reset message, An automatic notifying device, comprising: reset means for resetting the setting content stored in the memory. 2. The automatic notification according to claim 1, further comprising setting means for setting the contents of a setting message sent from said center or said setting device in said memory reset by said reset means. apparatus. 3. The automatic notification device according to claim 1, wherein the reset message includes reset information for instructing reset of the setting content. 4. A meter reading request is sent to the terminal device based on the setting contents stored in a memory connected to a center and a terminal device via a communication line, and meter reading information from the terminal device is sent to the terminal device. An automatic reporting method for reporting to a center, comprising: a determination step of determining whether a message received from the center or the setting device is a reset message; and storing the message in the memory when the message is determined to be a reset message. And a reset step of resetting the set contents. 5. The automatic notification method according to claim 4, further comprising a setting step of setting the content of a setting message sent from the center or the setting device in the reset memory. 6. The automatic notification method according to claim 4, wherein the reset message includes reset information for instructing a reset of the setting contents.