JPH08289033A - Automatic meter reading system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To improve the collection rate of meter information and reduce the meter reading cost. [Composition] When the automatic meter reading meter 10 is called from the communication center 1 due to a trouble, the telephone line is not connected and the meter information cannot be acquired.
2, the automatic calling circuit 13 is driven and the meter information is automatically transmitted to the communication center 1 side.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention utilizes a telephone line to
The present invention relates to a so-called automatic meter reading system that acquires meter information of gas, electricity, water, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional automatic meter reading system generally uses a telephone line from a communication center to call an automatic meter reading meter to acquire meter information.

[0003]

Therefore, if there is a problem with the telephone line or telephone exchange equipment, it will be difficult to call the automatic meter-reading meter from the communication center side to acquire the meter information. Therefore, conventionally, a retry is made after a certain period of time, and when communication is still not possible, a meter-reader goes to a customer to perform meter-reading. Therefore, when trouble occurs in a telephone line or the like, it takes manpower.

Also, when the customer's telephone number is changed, there is no problem if this change notice is sent immediately.
Usually, it is often delayed, and sometimes it is not notified at all. In this case as well, it is impossible to obtain the meter information by telephone, so the meter reading must be performed manually.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems, and the constitution thereof is as follows. In the automatic meter reading system that calls the customer's automatic meter reading meter using the telephone line from the communication center and acquires the meter information recorded in this automatic meter reading meter, a communication monitoring circuit and a call calling circuit are provided on the automatic meter reading side. Provided, the communication monitoring circuit monitors whether or not the meter information was transmitted from the automatic meter-reading meter side in response to a call from the communication center side, and if it was not transmitted, it drives the calling circuit. Automatic meter reading The meter reading system calls the communication center side from the meter side and sends meter information.

[0006]

In the normal automatic meter reading, the automatic meter reading meter is called from the communication center side to acquire meter information. This communication is performed, for example, at the same time every month on the same day. The communication monitoring circuit on the automatic meter-reading meter side checks whether or not there was a call this month and whether or not the meter information was transmitted.If the call and the meter information are not transmitted, the automatic call circuit is driven. Then, the meter reading side calls the communication center and sends the meter information.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of an automatic meter reading system embodying the present invention. Reference numeral 1 is a communication center, 2 is a transmission control system, 3 is a reception control system, 4 is a transmission telephone line, 5 is a reception telephone line, 6 is a telephone station, 7 is a terminal telephone line, 8 is a T-NCU, and 9 is The telephone 10 is an automatic meter-reading meter, and the automatic meter-reading meter 10 records, for example, data such as an integrated flow rate of gas used for one month and the usage status of gas.

Reference numeral 11 is a transmission circuit for transmitting the meter information in the automatic meter reading meter 10 in response to a call from the communication center 1, 12 is a communication monitoring circuit for monitoring the transmission status of the transmission circuit 11, and 13 is the communication monitoring circuit. Reference numeral 12 is a spontaneous call circuit that drives the transmission circuit 11 to call the communication center 1 and automatically send the meter information, for example, when it is confirmed that the call and the meter information are not sent this month.

[0009]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the meter information is not acquired from the communication center side for some reason,
Automatic meter reading The communication center is called from the meter side by the call origination method and the meter information is sent, so it is necessary to perform the meter reading work manually even if there is a problem with the telephone line or a change in the telephone number as in the past. Disappear. Therefore, it is possible to improve the meter information collection rate and reduce the meter reading cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an automatic meter reading system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional automatic meter reading system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Communication Center 2 Origination Control System 3 Reception Control System 4 Originating Telephone Line 5 Receiving Telephone Line 6 Telephone Station 7 Customer Telephone Line 8 T-NCU 9 Telephone 10 Automatic Meter Reading Meter 11 Transmitting Circuit 12 Communication Monitoring Circuit 13 Self Calling Circuit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An automatic meter reading system for calling a customer's automatic meter reading meter from a communication center using a telephone line and acquiring meter information recorded in the automatic meter reading meter, wherein a communication monitoring circuit is provided on the automatic meter reading side. And a self-calling circuit,
The communication monitoring circuit monitors whether or not the meter information has been transmitted from the automatic meter-reading meter side in response to a call from the communication center side, and if the transmission is not made, drives the self-calling circuit. Automatic meter reading An automatic meter reading system that calls the communication center side from the meter side and sends meter information.