JP2001309069A - Radio meter read system to be started by pager - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce power consumption of a radio communication equipment to be used for a system for performing concentrated radio meter reading between a concentrated managing center and each gas meter, etc., through a radio line. SOLUTION: Normally, the power source of the battery 14a of a pager 14 is kept on and the battery of the radio communication equipment 12a is kept off. When receiving a call on the pager 14 called from the concentrated managing center 50, a controller 12 turns on the power source of the equipment 12a to start and by using the equipment 12a which is turned on, the controller 12 transmits meter read data of a meter 11 to the center 50 through a PHS base station, a public telephone network 30 and an NCU 40 and turns of the power source of the equipment 12a again after completion of the transmission.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a wireless meter reading system, and more particularly, to a system for transmitting and receiving meter reading data between a central management center and each meter via a wireless communication device activated by a pager.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the business of reading the meter of various meters indicating the usage of gas, water, electric power, etc., for example, a worker for the meter reading patrols the meter and performs a visual meter reading or a work. A method in which a worker reads a meter reading using a handy terminal has been executed. Also, in order to rationalize the patrol of workers as described above, various system configurations are known for a method of performing communication between the central management center and each meter using a wired communication means such as a telephone line. ing.

On the other hand, in order to further streamline such a meter reading system and not to be restricted by an installation environment, a wireless meter reading system using a wireless communication system using a wireless communication device has been developed.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of the above-described conventional wireless meter reading system. In the figure, 10 is a terminal device, 11 is a meter, 12 is a control device, 12a is a wireless communication device, 13 is a meter line, 20 is a PHS base station, 30
Is a public line network, 40 is an NCU, 50 is a central management center,
Reference numeral 60 denotes an AC 100V power supply. Central Management Center 50
Is connected to a plurality of terminal devices via the public network 30. Hereinafter, for ease of explanation, a case will be described in which one terminal device 10 of the plurality of terminal devices and the central management center 50 are operating facing each other. As the wireless communication device 12a, for example, a PHS, a mobile phone, a satellite phone, a GPS, and the like can be considered. Here, a system using the PHS as the wireless communication device will be described. The meter 11 measures the flow rate of gas, water, and the like, and stores meter reading data such as an integrated value based on the measurement. The terminal device 10 includes a meter 11 and a control device 12 including a PHS wireless communication device 12a.

In order for the meter 11 and the central control center 50 to transmit and receive meter reading data, the meter 11 and the control device 1
2 is connected via a meter line 13, and the PHS wireless communication device 12 a is wirelessly connected to the PHS base station 20. The PHS base station 20 is connected to a central management center 50 via a public line network 30 and an NCU 40. As the meter reading data, for example, management data such as instantaneous flow rate value and integrated value data, management number and replacement date of the meter, security data such as gas leak detection information, and the like can be considered.

When data is transmitted and received between the meter 11 and the central control center 50, the central control center 50 calls the telephone number of the PHS wireless communication device 12 a to establish a radio line, and , A request for transmitting the current meter reading data necessary for the meter reading of the meter 11 is made. The control device 12 that has received the transmission request transmits the current meter reading data collected from the meter 11 to the central management center 50 through the established wireless line. Further, in the event of an abnormality such as a gas leak, the central control center 50 can be called from the control device 12 using the PHS wireless communication device 12a and connected thereto to transmit management data, security data, and the like.

[0007]

As described above, the conventional wireless meter reading system using a wireless communication device can provide a system that can be easily installed even in a place where the installation environment is poor, such as a mountain area. However, in the above-described system, there is a problem that power consumption is large because the power of the wireless communication device such as the PHS must be constantly turned on. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and in a system that performs wireless central meter reading of a meter by performing data communication between a central management center and each meter via a wireless communication device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a wireless meter reading system capable of reducing the power consumption of a wireless communication device by turning off the power of the communication device except during the time of wireless centralized meter reading.

[0008]

According to the present invention, a central control center and a plurality of wireless communication devices are connected via a wireless communication line, and meter reading data of a meter connected to each wireless communication device is transmitted to the management center. In a wireless meter reading system for centralized management, a pager connected to the wireless communication device is provided, and a power source of a desired wireless communication device is turned on from the management center by calling the pager, and the wireless communication device is activated. Meter reading data of a meter is collected, and the power of the wireless communication device is turned off except at the time of wireless meter reading.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an embodiment of a wireless meter reading system according to the present invention. Also in this drawing, a case will be described in which one terminal device 10 of a plurality of terminal devices and the central management center 50 are operating facing each other. Hereinafter, in FIG. 1, portions common to the above-described conventional wireless metering system of FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. The difference between the present embodiment and the configuration of the conventional wireless metering system shown in FIG. 2 is that the terminal device 10 receives the call signal from the central management center 50 by the pager 14.
A pager base station 70 wirelessly connected to the pager 14; and a point having an I / F unit 15 for transferring signals between the control device 12 and the pager 14, and the pager base station 70 It is connected to the central management center 50 via the public line network 30 and the NCU 40.

(Embodiment) Next, in the example of the configuration of the wireless meter reading system activated by the pager of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, the central management center 50 requests the meter 11 to transmit meter reading data. An example will be described.
Note that the wireless communication device 12a and the public line network 30 may be connected by wire.

In this embodiment, the pager 14
The battery 14a is always turned on. Then, the power supply of the wireless communication device 12a is normally turned off, turned on when activated via the pager 14, and turned off again when transmission of the meter reading data to the central management center 50 is completed. .

First, the central control center 50 dials the required calling number of the pager 14 of the terminal device. A pager base station 70 transmits a radio wave for a predetermined pager 14, and the pager 14 of a predetermined terminal device receives the radio wave to generate a ringing tone. I / F 15
Converts the ringer of the pager 14 into an electric signal, identifies what frequency the frequency is in and how many seconds the repetition period is, and recognizes the ringer of the pager 14 and calls the central control center 50. The signal is output to the controller 12 as a signal. When the control unit 12 receives a call from the pager 14 via the I / F unit 15, the control unit 12 turns on the radio communication device 12a to start it, and transmits the current meter reading data of the meter 11 to the PHS base station 20, the public line network. 30, N
The data is transmitted to the central management center 50 via the CU 40. When the transmission is completed, the control device 12 turns the wireless communication device 12a off again. The central management center 50 performs meter reading based on the received meter reading data.

[0013]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the power supply of the radio communication device is normally turned off,
The power is turned on only when there is a call from the pager, and turned off again after the completion of the wireless centralized meter reading, so that the power consumption of the wireless communication device can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a configuration example of a wireless meter reading system activated by a pager according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a configuration example of a conventional wireless meter reading system.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 terminal device, 11 meter, 12 control device, 12
a: wireless communication device, 13: meter line, 14: pager, 1
4a: battery, 15: I / F unit, 20: PHS base station, 3
0: Public line network, 40: NCU, 50: Central management center, 60: 100V AC power supply, 70: Pager base station.

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat II (reference) H04Q 9/00 311 G08C 17/00 Z F term (reference) 2F073 AA07 AA08 AB01 BB01 BB04 BB07 BC01 BC02 CC03 CC08 CC11 CD00 DD07 DE02 DE07 EE11 EF09 FF01 FG01 FG02 GG01 5K048 AA16 BA36 DB01 DC01 EB02 EB10 HA01 HA02 5K067 AA43 BB22 BB27 DD13 DD27 EE02 EE10 EE16 FF19 HH07 KK05 5K101 KK12 LL11

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A wireless metering system for connecting a centralized management center and a plurality of wireless communication devices via a wireless communication line, and centrally managing meter reading data of a meter connected to each wireless communication device at the centralized management center. , The plurality of wireless communication devices each include a pager, by turning on the power of the desired wireless communication device from the management center by calling up the pager, starting up, and collecting meter reading data of the meter, the wireless communication device. A wireless meter reading system activated by a pager, wherein the power is turned off except when the wireless meter reading is performed.