JP4282791B2 - Communications system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a communication system using a PHS or a mobile phone.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in an automatic meter reading system using a PHS cordless telephone or a mobile phone, a terminal for automatic meter reading is directly contracted with a public company and attached to a gas meter. As such a conventional communication system, there is a communication system 101 for directly contracting a cordless telephone as shown in FIG. The communication system 101 includes a center 102, a telephone line 105, a public base station 106, a plurality of PHS terminals 108-1, 108-2, 108-3, ..., meters 109-1, 109-2, 109-3, ... and so on. 104-1, 104-2, 104-3,... Indicate customers. Communication such as meter reading and blocking is performed by calling from the center 102 or calling from the meter 109.
[0003]
In the case of a PHS cordless telephone, since a private radio wave can be used, a private base station is installed as a relay base station and communicates with a gas meter via a private radio wave. The private base station passes through a public base station. There is a system that communicates with the center. As such a conventional communication system, there is a communication system 111 in which a private base station as shown in FIG. 6 is installed. This communication system 111 includes a center 112, a telephone line 115, a public base station 116, a private base station 117, a plurality of PHS terminals 118-1, 118-2, 118-3, ..., meters 119-1, 119-. 2, 119-3, etc. 114-1, 114-2, 114-3,... Indicate customers. The private base station 117 communicates with each PHS terminal 118-1, 118-2, 118-3,... Wirelessly, and the private base station 117 communicates with the center 112 via the public base station 116.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, in the communication system 101 in FIG. 5 that directly contracts with a public service provider, it is necessary to contract with each public service provider for PHS and a mobile phone in order to perform communication. Therefore, it is costly to contract one gas meter at a time.
[0005]
In addition, in the communication system 111 of FIG. 6 in which the relay base station is installed, the basic charge and the communication charge can be reduced, but it takes a cost to install a large number of private base stations and a maintenance cost.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an efficient communication system with low cost.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention comprises a center and a plurality of terminals respectively connected to a plurality of devices, and a terminal having a communication right among the plurality of terminals communicates with the center. When a command is sent from the center side to a specific terminal, information and a command indicating the specific terminal are transmitted to the terminal having the communication right, and the terminal having the communication right Is a communication system, wherein the command and the communication right are wirelessly transmitted to the specific terminal, and the terminal that has received the command communicates with the center.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a communication system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system 1 includes a center 2, a telephone line 5, a public base station 6, a plurality of PHS terminals 8-1, 8-2, 8-3,. -2, 9-3,... 4-1, 4-2, 4-3,... Indicate customers.
[0010]
The center 2 and the public base station 6 are connected via a telephone line 5, and meters 9-1, 9-2,... Are connected to PHS terminals 8-1, 8-2,. The public base station 6 and the PHS terminals 8-1, 8-2, ... communicate with each other wirelessly. The meters 9-1, 9-2,... Are gas meters, but may be electric meters or water meters.
[0011]
In this embodiment, user information, billing information, etc. are exchanged between the PHS terminals 8-1, 8-2,..., So that the PHS terminals 8-1, 8-2,. Only one of them communicates with the center 2. That is, the PHS terminal 8 having user information, billing information, etc. has the right to communicate with the center 2.
The user information and billing information are the same as the information described in a card called a SIM (Subscriber Information Module) card. The SIM card is used for, for example, a car phone. When this card is inserted into one of a plurality of car phones, the phone can be used only when the card is inserted. In this case, a contract is made with the telephone company as a single telephone.
By transmitting and receiving the user information and billing information wirelessly, among the plurality of PHS terminals 8-1, 8-2,. It can be carried out.
[0012]
In the automatic meter reading system, since there is no distance to the adjacent gas meter 9, a method using a self-operated radio wave such as a transceiver mode is used for PHS, and a radio that does not require a license such as incorporating a specific low-power radio for a mobile phone. User information, billing information and the like are exchanged wirelessly between the PHS terminals 8 by a method using a station.
[0013]
During automatic meter reading, it is basically only necessary to make a call once a month. Therefore, the PHS terminals 8-1, 8-2,... Of customers 4-1, 4-2,. ., And the center 2 communicates with each PHS terminal 8-1, 8-2,. FIG. 2 shows the delivery and operation procedure of user information of the PHS terminal 8 at the time of automatic meter reading.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 2, first, the PHS terminal 8-1 that holds user information, billing information 20 and the like performs communication such as meter reading transmission to the center 2 (202). Next, the PHS terminal 8-1 transmits user information, billing information 20 and the like 20 to the PHS terminal 8-2 (203), and the PHS terminal 8-2 transmits the meter reading value to the center 2 and the like. (204). Communication between a plurality of PHS terminals 8-1, 8-2,... And the center 2 by sequentially transmitting user information, billing information, etc. between the PHS terminals 8-1, 8-2,. I do.
[0015]
The communication procedure between the center 2 and the PHS terminals 8-1, 8-2,... At the time of automatic meter reading according to this embodiment will be described in detail. FIG. 3 shows a communication procedure between the center 2 and each PHS terminal 8-1, 8-2,. As shown in FIG. 3, at the time of automatic meter reading, first, in response to a call for a meter reading value request or the like from the center 2 side (step 201), a PHS terminal 8-1 holding user information, billing information and the like 20 is stored. However, the meter reading value is transmitted to the center 2 through the public base station 6 (step 202). Next, the PHS terminal 8-1 transmits the user information to the PHS terminal 8-2 in the transceiver mode (Step 203).
[0016]
When receiving the user information, billing information 20 and the like, the PHS terminal 8-2 transmits a meter reading value to the center 2 via the public base station 6 (step 204). Next, the PHS terminal 8-2 transmits user information, billing information 20 and the like 20 to the PHS terminal 8-3 in the transceiver mode (step 205). Thereafter, the PHS terminal 8 having the user information, billing information, etc. 20 communicates with the center 2 while transmitting the user information, billing information, etc. 20 in order.
[0017]
As described above, in the present embodiment, user information, billing information, and the like are exchanged between the PHS terminals 8-1, 8-2,. Only one of -2, ... communicates with the center 2. Therefore, although it is one terminal that makes a contract with a public company, communication can be made with many terminals. Since it is one terminal that makes a contract, the burden of the basic charge can be reduced. Moreover, since it is not necessary to install a relay base station etc., the cost concerning them can also be reduced.
Furthermore, when transmission is performed sequentially for many terminals, the time interval is shortened and the real-time property of communication is improved, so that the serviceability is also improved.
[0018]
Another embodiment will be described. A case where the meter 9 is shut off and opened from the center 2 will be described. When the PHS terminal 8 that holds user information, billing information 20 and the like communicates, the center 2 transmits a PHS terminal ID and a command. The PHS terminal 8 holding the user information, billing information, etc. 20 transmits the transmitted command and user information, billing information, etc. 20 to the PHS terminal 8 designated by the PHS terminal ID in the transceiver mode. The PHS terminal 8 that has received the command performs a designated process and calls the result to the center 2.
[0019]
A communication procedure between the center 2 and the PHS terminals 8-1, 8-2,. FIG. 4 shows a communication procedure between the center 2 and the PHS terminals 8-1, 8-2,.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 4, when the center 2 wants to shut off the meter 9-3, when the PHS terminal 8-1 holding user information, billing information 20 and the like is communicating (step 301), the center 2 The ID of the PHS terminal 8-3 and the cutoff command are transmitted to the PHS terminal 8-1 (step 302). The PHS terminal 8-1 holding the user information, billing information, etc. 20 passes the received blocking command, user information, billing information, etc. 20 to the PHS terminal 8-3 via the PHS terminal 8-2. And transmit in transceiver mode (step 304). The PHS terminal 8-3 that has received the blocking command performs the blocking process of the meter 9-3 and calls the result to the center 2 (step 305).
[0021]
As described above, in the present embodiment, when the center 2 sends a command such as blocking or opening to the PHS terminals 8-1, 8-2,. The PHS terminal 8 that transmits the command and the PHS terminal ID to the PHS terminal 8 and holds the user information, billing information, etc., sends the command, user information, billing information, etc. 20 to the designated PHS terminal 8. The designated PHS terminal 8 performs a designated process and a result response. Therefore, although it is one terminal that makes a contract with a public company, communication can be made with many terminals. Since it is one terminal that makes a contract, the burden of the basic charge can be reduced. Moreover, since it is not necessary to install a relay base station etc., the cost concerning them can also be reduced.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, the present invention can provide an efficient communication system with low cost.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a communication system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing delivery of user information and an operation procedure of a PHS terminal 8 during automatic meter reading. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a communication procedure between the center 2 and each PHS terminal 8-1, 8-2,... FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a communication procedure between FIG. 8 and FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a communication system 101 that directly contracts a conventional cordless telephone with a public operator. FIG. 6 installs a conventional private base station. Schematic configuration diagram of communication system 111 [Explanation of symbols]
1 ... Communication system 2 ... Center 4 ... Consumer 5 ... Telephone line 6 ... Public base station 8 ... PHS terminal 9 ......... Meter

Claims (4)

It consists of a center and multiple terminals connected to multiple devices,
A communication system in which a terminal having a communication right among the plurality of terminals can communicate with the center,
When sending a command to a specific terminal from the center side, send information and command indicating the specific terminal to the terminal having the communication right,
The terminal having the communication right transmits the command and the communication right wirelessly to the specific terminal,
A communication system, wherein the terminal that receives the command communicates with the center. The communication system according to claim 1 , wherein the terminal is a PHS or a mobile phone. The communication system according to claim 1 , wherein the device is any one of a gas meter, a water meter, and an electric meter. The communication system according to claim 1 , wherein the command is blocking or opening.

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