JP2002111890A - Communication substitute device and system thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication substitute device which can preferentially perform communication between first communication equipment 6 arranged so that it can communicate with a first communication path 5 at every area 4 and an objective unit 2 of communication, which is connected to second communication equipment 8, through second communication equipment 8 arranged so that it can communicate with first communication equipment 6 through a second communication path 7 with respect to a communication instruction with high emergency even in a situation where the communication instructions from a plurality of communication requests are concentrically generated at the same time. SOLUTION: The communication substitute device has a communication instruction input part 11 receiving the communication instruction, a communication order managing means 12 for deciding the communication order of a plurality of communication instructions and a communication part 16 communicating with the unit which is the object of communication based on the communication instruction and the communication order. When a plurality of communication instructions are to the unit 2 which is the object of communication in the same communication area 4 from the different communication requesters and the communication time bands are overlapped, the communication order managing means 12 compares respective preferential parameters included in the communication instruction and decides the priority of the communication instructions.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication system which receives communication instructions from a plurality of communication requesters, and performs communication with a communication target device based on these communication instructions on behalf of the communication requester. The agency system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As such a communication surrogate system, when a gas meter or an electric meter for metering the usage of gas, electricity or the like in each home (customer) is automatically and remotely measured via a communication line, a gas company or an electric power company is required. Instead of using a communication system for automatic meter reading provided by each company, each business operator independently performs the automatic meter reading, a joint meter reading system in which each meter reading service is entrusted to a certain meter reading agency is conceivable.

[0003] In the case of using a joint meter reading system, a communication system from a meter reading agency to each home is shared, and the communication system is shared by various types of automatic meter reading, thereby reducing equipment costs. There is an advantage that the cost of meter reading can be reduced for gas utilities, electric utilities, and the like.

[0004]

However, in the joint meter reading proxy system using the above-mentioned common communication system, when a plurality of companies request meter reading at the same time, automatic meter reading installed in each home is required. Since the transmission and reception of data related to the meter reading request and the meter reading response occur simultaneously with the terminal and the meter, it is difficult to perform automatic meter reading at the same time unless communication is multiplexed. In addition, such communication multiplexing requires a special device and causes an increase in communication cost, which hinders the merit of adopting the joint meter reading. In particular,
If the communication target is the same customer and the same area, it is very difficult to deal with it. In addition, when a meter reading is performed on behalf of a request from the same company, since communication is performed intensively in the same area, another communication cannot be performed for a long time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and has as its object to solve the problem that communication instructions from a plurality of communication requesters are concentrated at the same time or time zone. An object of the present invention is to provide a communication proxy device and a system which can execute a communication instruction having a high degree of urgency with priority.

[0006]

A first characteristic configuration of a communication proxy system according to the present invention for achieving this object is as follows.
As described in claim 1 in the column of claims, a first communication device provided so as to be able to communicate with a first communication path for each of one or more communication areas, and the first communication device for each of the communication areas. Communication that is communicably connected to the second communication device based on a communication instruction from a communication client via a first communication device and a second communication device communicably provided via a second communication path. A communication proxy device that manages and executes communication with the target device, a communication instruction input unit that receives the communication instruction, and the communication target device according to a plurality of communication instructions input from the communication instruction input unit. Communication order management means for determining a communication order for communication, communicably connected to the first communication device via the first communication path, based on the communication instruction and the communication order determined by the communication order management means And the first and And a communication unit that executes communication with the communication target device according to the communication instruction via the communication device, wherein the communication order management unit transmits the plurality of communication instructions from different communication requesters. A communication instruction to the communication target device in the same communication area, when the communication time zones overlap each other, compare each priority parameter included in the plurality of communication instructions, and The point is to determine the priority of communication based on the priority.

[0007] In the second feature configuration, in addition to the first feature configuration, in addition to the first feature configuration, the priority parameter can be converted into a communication cost or a communication cost. The point is that it is data.

[0008] In the third feature configuration, as described in claim 3 of the claims, in addition to the first or second feature configuration, list data representing the reception status of the communication instruction is stored. It is characterized in that it comprises list data generation storage means for generating and storing the list data in a predetermined storage means, and list data output means for outputting the list data to at least the communication requester. Here, the communication requester to which the list data is output is not limited to the communication requester who has already issued the communication instruction for the purpose, but also includes the communication requester who is planning to give the communication instruction.

A first characteristic configuration of the communication proxy system according to the present invention for achieving this object is that, as described in claim 4 of the claims, the communication proxy system is provided for every one or more communication areas. A first communication device provided communicable with one communication path, a second communication device provided communicable with the first communication device and a second communication path for each of the communication areas, It is characterized by comprising a communication target device communicably connected to the second communication device, and a communication proxy device having the first, second, or third characteristic configuration.

[0010] The second characteristic configuration is, in addition to the first characteristic configuration, all of the second communication devices existing in the same communication area, in addition to the first characteristic configuration. Alternatively, at least in part, at least two of the communication target devices are individually connected as communication targets of the different communication requesters.

[0011] The third characteristic configuration is such that, in addition to the second characteristic configuration, the at least two communication target devices are a gas meter, an electric meter, It comprises at least two of the water meters.

The operation and effect of each of the above features will be described below.

[0013] According to the first feature configuration of the communication proxy device according to the present invention, communication instructions from a plurality of communication requesters are received by the communication instruction input unit, and the received plurality of communication instructions are transmitted to the communication order management. Means for determining the order of communication based on the communication time and the data of the communication target device and the like included in the communication instruction, and the communication unit based on the communication order determined by the communication order management means and the content of each communication instruction. The communication with the communication target device according to the communication instruction can be performed via the first and second communication devices, so that communication instructions from a plurality of communication requesters are accepted and the communication proxy is performed. be able to. In addition, even when a plurality of communication instructions for the same communication area are received from different communication requesters at the same time or time zone, the communication order management means may control the conflicting communication according to the priority parameters included in the communication instructions. Since the priority of the instruction can be determined, the communication unit
The communication instruction can be executed according to the priority. That is, the communication requester can properly use the priority parameter according to the communication purpose or the degree of urgency. In addition, since the priority parameters are input based on the will of the communication requester, a dispute regarding the priority order between competing communication requesters can be obtained by having the characteristics and functions of the priority parameters recognized in advance. There is no risk of occurrence.

According to the second feature configuration, since the priority parameter is the communication cost or equivalent thereto, if the priority of the own communication instruction is to be increased, the higher communication cost may be borne. Become. Conversely, if the communication has a low degree of urgency, a communication instruction can be issued at a low communication cost, so that the communication requester can use the priority parameter properly according to the communication purpose. As a result, by using the communication proxy device having this characteristic configuration, it is possible to provide a communication proxy service with a high degree of freedom for the communication requester, which is a customer, according to cost advantages and communication purposes.

According to the third characteristic configuration, the communication requester can determine whether communication instructions from the communication requester and other communication requesters are concentrated at what time or time zone, and what communication parameters have any priority parameters. Since it is known in advance before giving a new communication instruction whether or not an instruction has been given, the communication time can be changed if the time or time period has already been given for another communication instruction, or a higher priority can be given. By attaching the parameter, communication with high urgency can be performed prior to other communication instructions. In addition, if the communication has a low degree of urgency and the priority may be low, the communication instruction can be directly given with a low priority parameter.

In particular, when the communication requester has the second characteristic configuration and interrupts communication with high urgency, the communication requester can give priority to another communication instruction given earlier in the same time or time zone. Since it is possible to select a priority parameter which can be prioritized at the lowest communication cost with respect to the parameter, it is possible to prevent the use of the priority parameter which has an unduly high communication cost.

According to the first feature configuration of the communication proxy system according to the present invention described above, the communication proxy device having the first, second, or third feature configuration exhibits the operation and effect achieved by the communication proxy system, and performs communication. The communication with the communication target device according to the communication instruction of the client can be performed on behalf of the client.

[0018] According to the second characteristic configuration, different communication requesters can substitute for different communication target devices of the same communication target. In other words, when different communication requesters independently communicate with different communication target devices of the same communication target, the communication requester (although it is no longer the requester) and each communication target device of the communication requester are A relay means comprising the first and second communication devices to be contacted must be provided for each communication requester, but such duplication of communication equipment can be avoided. As a result, it is possible to provide an efficient and economical communication proxy service to a plurality of communication requesters common to a plurality of communication targets.

According to the third characteristic configuration, at least two devices to be communicated include at least two of a gas meter, an electric meter, and a water meter. , Remote control such as supply / interruption of gas, electricity, water, etc. can be performed on behalf of a plurality of companies such as a gas company, an electric company, and a water company. In addition, since the communication proxy system of this characteristic configuration is provided with the communication proxy device of the first characteristic configuration, for example, a proxy for an automatic meter reading by communication with an electric meter in a communication area of an electric utility is performed. In the case where the request has already been made, if the gas company needs to urgently shut off the gas supply by remotely operating the gas meter in the communication area, or during the same time period, the gas meter of the specific communication target When it is necessary to operate the meter and read the meter only for a limited time, if a communication instruction is issued using a priority parameter having a higher priority than the communication instruction of the electric utility, communication with the gas meter is given priority to the electric meter. Yes, and can meet the above needs.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a communication proxy device and system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a communication proxy system according to the present invention (hereinafter, simply referred to as "the present invention system").
Is a communication agent device 1 according to the present invention (hereinafter, simply referred to as "the present device 1") in a communication agent center operated by a communication agent company, and a communication target device 2 as a communication object of the communication agent.
And two relay stations 3 for relaying communication between the device 1 of the present invention and the communication target device 2.

One of the relay stations 3 is a first communication device 6 provided communicable with a public line network 5 as a first communication path for each of one or more communication areas 4, and the other relay station 3. The station 3 is a second communication device 8 provided communicable with the first communication device 6 via a specific low-power wireless line 7 that is a second communication path for each communication area 4. Here, the first communication device 6 is a master unit of the specific low-power wireless communication, and the second communication device 8 is configured as a slave terminal of the specific low-power wireless communication. When one and the second communication device 8 are communicably connected, the communication between the first communication device 6 and the other second communication device 8 in the same communication area 4 becomes impossible.

In this embodiment, as an example of the communication target device 2, a gas meter 2a for remote automatic meter reading, an electric meter 2b, a water meter 2c, and a display terminal 2d for displaying a communication message from a communication requester are provided. , Are communicably connected to each second communication device 8. Here, gas meter 2
a also has a security function of shutting off gas supply in an emergency. Further, the communication between each communication target device 2 and the second communication device 8 may be any communication method such as a wired communication and a wireless communication.
Communication with the electric meter 2b can use power line carrier communication. In other words, in the present embodiment, the communication agent performs communication with the communication target device 2 (gas meter 2a) such as automatic meter reading, gas emergency shutoff, and output of notification information to the display terminal 2d from a plurality of businesses such as gas, electricity, and water. , Electric meter 2
b, it is assumed that various communication with the water meter 2c and the display terminal 2d) is requested and the communication is performed on behalf of the request. Therefore, the second communication device 8 connected to the various communication target devices 2
Is provided for each consumer of gas, electricity, water, etc. in principle. However, when a plurality of communication target devices 2 of the same consumer are installed apart from each other and it is difficult to connect to one second communication device 8 (for example, in a detached house or the like, the gas meter 2a and the electric meter 2b Are installed at different locations), the second communication device 8 may be installed separately for each of the communication target devices 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, the device 1 of the present invention is connected to a computer terminal 10 of a communication client via the Internet 9.
It is configured to be accessible from. In communication with a communication requester via the Internet 9, a communication instruction from each requester is received, and list data representing a communication reception status is output to each requester. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the apparatus 1 of the present invention includes a communication instruction input unit 11 that receives a communication instruction from each client, and a communication related to a plurality of communication instructions input from the communication instruction input unit 11. A communication order management unit for determining a communication order for communication with the target device; a list data generation storage unit for generating list data indicating a reception status of a communication instruction and storing the list data in a predetermined storage unit; A list data output unit 15 for outputting list data to the computer terminal 10 of each communication requester; a first communication device 6 and a public network 5
And a communication unit 16 that communicates with the communication target device 2 via the relay station 3 based on the communication instruction and the communication order determined by the communication order management unit 12 via the relay station 3. It is comprised including. Here, the communication instruction input unit 11 and the list data output unit 15 are connected to the Internet 9.
A common communication interface unit 17 is provided for performing bidirectional communication with the communication requester's computer terminal 10 via the communication requester, and displays a screen for reserving (inputting) a communication instruction in response to access from the communication requester. Computer terminal 10
On the display screen 10a, and receives the communication instruction input from the display screen 10a. Further, in response to a list data display request from the communication requester, the list data is output on the display screen 10a. The communication unit 16 includes a communication interface unit 18 for communicating with the first communication device 6 via the public line network 5 and a communication control unit 19 for controlling the communication.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first communication device 6 includes a first communication path interface unit 20 for performing analog communication with the communication unit 16 of the device 1 of the present invention via the public network 5; It comprises a second communication path interface unit 21 for performing communication with the second communication device 8 by specific low-power wireless communication, and a communication control unit 22 for controlling communication between the two interface units 20 and 21. Further, the first communication path interface unit 20 includes a modem circuit unit 20a.
And an interface circuit unit 20b for converting necessary communication data between the modem circuit unit 20a and the communication control unit 22
The second communication path interface unit 21 includes a wireless transmission / reception unit 21a for specific low-power wireless communication, and an interface circuit unit 21b that performs necessary communication data conversion and the like between the wireless transmission / reception unit 21a and the communication control unit 22. It is comprised including. In addition, the communication control unit 22
2a and a memory 22b for storing communication data, a communication control program, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 4, the second communication device 8 includes a second communication path interface unit 23 for performing communication with the first communication device 6 by specific low-power wireless communication, and each communication target device 2 And a communication control unit 25 that controls communication between the two interface units 23 and 24. Further, the second communication path interface unit 23 includes a wireless transmitting / receiving unit 23a for specific low-power wireless communication and a wireless transmitting / receiving unit 23
a and an interface circuit unit 23b for performing necessary conversion of communication data between the communication control unit 25 and the communication target device interface unit 24.
d and communication target device communication units 24 a to 24 d that individually perform communication according to the respective communication systems, and communication target device communication units 2
4a to 24d and an interface circuit unit 24e for performing necessary conversion of communication data between the communication control unit 25 and the like. The communication control unit 25 includes a microcomputer 25a and a memory 25b for storing communication data, a communication control program, and the like.

Here, the gas meter 2a, the electric meter 2b, and the water meter 2c in the communication target device 2 are classified into any of the following three types. As shown in FIG.
The first type is a type in which the meter 2A has a built-in measuring unit 26 and a communication unit 27 for automatic meter reading, and the second type is a meter 2B in which the meter 2B has only the measuring unit 26, and the automatic meter reading is performed. Communication unit 27 is provided externally,
The third type is a type in which the meter 2C includes only the measuring unit 26 and the communication unit 27 for automatic meter reading is provided on the communication unit communication unit 24a to 24d side. The first type of meter 2A is a dedicated meter manufactured for automatic meter reading. On the other hand, the meters 2B and 2C of the second and third types are obtained by adding a communication unit 27 to a conventional meter without a built-in automatic meter reading function and adding the automatic meter reading function. Here, the gas meter 2a, the electric meter 2b, and the water meter 2c do not necessarily correspond to the first to third types of meters 2A to 2C in order, and may be any type of meter. I do not care. Therefore, the third type of meter 2
In the case where C is included, as shown in FIG. 5, on the communication target device interface 24 side, communication target device communication units 24a to 24d corresponding to the third type meter 2C are provided.
The communication unit 27 for automatic meter reading is externally attached to the device.

Next, the procedure for performing a communication agency service using the system of the present invention and the operation of each section of the system of the present invention will be described. The communication agency work is executed by using the apparatus 1 of the present invention, and is divided into an actual communication step and a preparation step. The preparing step includes a communication instruction input step of receiving a communication instruction from a communication requester, a communication order determining step of determining a communication order of the communication instruction, and a list data generation storage for generating and storing list data representing a reception state of the communication instruction. A main step includes a step and a list data output step of outputting the list data to the computer terminal 10 of each communication requester. Here, in each step, the list data is basically an important element. As an example, as shown in FIG. 6, in the list data, the content of each communication instruction is displayed in accordance with the communication order for each communication time (a communication time as one notation of a communication time zone) and each communication area. The contents of the displayed communication instruction include communication date, communication time, priority parameter (equivalent to communication cost), communication requester, communication target, communication content (communication purpose),
It is a reservation situation.

In this embodiment, the communication instruction input step is executed together with the list data output step. Specifically, FIG.
As shown in (1), when each communication requester accesses the communication agency business reception site managed by the device 1 of the present invention from the computer terminal 10 via the Internet 9 (#)
1), the communication instruction input unit 11 of the apparatus 1 of the present invention displays a top page screen of a reception site for prompting input of a registration ID, a password, and the like on the display screen 10a of the computer terminal 10 from the communication interface unit 17 via the Internet 9 (# 2). When the communication requester inputs a registration ID, a password, and the like from the computer terminal 10 (# 3), the communication instruction input unit 11 performs identity verification. After the confirmation, the communication instruction input screen is displayed on the display screen 10 of the computer terminal 10.
Displayed on a (# 4). The communication requester inputs a communication date, a communication time, a communication target, a communication content (communication purpose), and a priority parameter (communication cost) among the above communication contents according to the input items on the communication instruction input screen (# 5). Depending on the purpose of communication, it may be sufficient for the communication target to specify a communication area, or it may be necessary to specify the second communication device 8 and further the communication target device 2 connected thereto. For example, in the case of the automatic gas meter reading, if the communication area is specified, it is specified that the communication is to all the gas meters 2a in the communication area. On the other hand, in the case of communication with the gas meter 2a at a specific gas consumer's house, for example,
In communication for automatic meter reading and emergency gas shutoff for a limited time associated with gas closure at the gas consumer's home, the second communication device 8 or the second communication device 8 corresponding to the gas consumer in addition to the communication area And the communication target device 2 must be clearly specified.

Here, when a communication instruction from another communication requester to the same communication area is already registered at the same communication time, and the input value of the priority parameter is the same or lower than that, Since the communication of the preceding communication instruction is executed in advance, the communication that needs to be performed at the communication time is performed by inputting a priority parameter having a higher priority than other preceding communication instructions. A communication order earlier than the instruction can be obtained. For this purpose, the communication requester needs to know in advance the reservation status of the preceding communication instruction, and thus requests display of list data from the communication instruction input screen before inputting the communication instruction in the above step # 5 ( # 6). This display request is an arbitrary action of the communication requester, and is not particularly required as long as the communication instruction has a low urgency. The list data output unit 15 of the present invention apparatus 1 reads the list data from the storage unit 13 in response to the list data display request input to the list data output unit 15 from the communication interface unit 17 via the Internet 9 and Output from the unit 17 to the display screen 10a via the Internet 9 (# 7). This is the list data output process.
After steps # 6 and # 7, a communication instruction is input (# 5).

In the communication instruction input step, when the communication requester inputs a communication instruction in step # 5, the communication instruction is transmitted from the communication interface unit 17 to the communication instruction input unit 11 via the Internet 9 in the apparatus 1 of the present invention. It is input (# 8). The communication instruction input to the communication instruction input unit 11 is input to the communication order management unit 12, and a communication order determination step is performed (# 9). In this step, the list data is read from the storage unit 13 to check whether there is a preceding communication instruction in the same communication time and the same communication area. If there is no preceding communication instruction, a communication order “1” is assigned to the communication instruction. If there is already a preceding communication instruction, the priority parameter of each preceding communication instruction and the priority of the newly input communication instruction are given. The communication order is changed in the order of the priority parameter having the highest priority by comparing the communication priority with the parameter. Among communication instructions having the same priority parameter, the communication instruction input earlier has a higher communication order.

When the communication order determination step (# 9) is executed, the list data generation storage means 14 determines the communication time in the input communication instruction and the communication instruction in the list data in the communication area by the newly determined communication instruction. Are rearranged based on the appropriate communication order and stored in the storage means 13 (# 10). When there is no preceding communication instruction, only the communication instruction of the communication order “1” is displayed. This list data generation and storage step (# 1
0) and the communication order determination step (# 9) are executed for the communication time and communication area related to the communication instruction every time the communication instruction input step is executed, and the newly generated or updated list data is displayed. Are provided to the communication requestor in the list data output step. Here, when there are a plurality of communication times and communication areas according to the input communication instruction, a communication order determination step (# 9) and a list data generation storage step (# 10) are executed for each.

Further, the input of the priority parameter in the input of the communication instruction (# 5) will be described by taking three cases as an example. Here, the list data (reservation status) of the communication instruction in a certain communication time and communication area is in the state as shown in FIG. 6, and the communication requester D inputs the communication instruction to the same communication time and communication area. Suppose you do.

As a first case, when the communication requester D wants to execute "emergency control" for a certain meter 2 very quickly, the priority parameter "101" or more (in order to aim at the communication order "1") For example, apply for “110”). The result is shown in FIG. Further, as a second case, if the communication requester D also wants to execute “meter reading” relatively quickly, the priority parameter “51” or more (for example, “60”) in order to aim at the communication order “2”. Apply at The result is shown in FIG. Further, as a third case, the communication requester D also wants to execute “advertisement” at a relatively low cost (in this case, the contents of the advertisement are displayed on the display terminal 2 d which is one of the communication target devices 2). In the case where the urgency is low, the priority parameter is less than “20” (for example, “1”
5 can also input (apply) a communication instruction. The result is shown in FIG.

Next, the actual communication process will be described.
As a specific example, a meter (gas meter 2a, electric meter 2) which is a communication target device 2 according to a communication instruction from the present invention device 1
b, water meter 2c).
A case where a meter reading request is transmitted and a meter reading response is received from the meter 2 will be described for two cases (communication procedure examples).

In the first case (End to End communication), as shown in FIG. 11, at a certain communication time, the communication control unit 19 reads out the list data of each communication area at the communication time from the storage means 13, For each communication area, a meter reading request having a predetermined data format, which will be described later, is generated based on the communication instruction in order from the first communication order, and the corresponding first communication device is transmitted from the communication interface unit 18 via the public network 5. 6 (# 11).
Here, in the communication between the device 1 of the present invention and each communication target device, a device having a data format shown in FIG. 12 is used as an example. In FIG. 12, STX is the head identifier of data, the terminal type is a code indicating the type of meter,
The D number is an ID number for specifying the meter, the data is a command or data representing a communication item to be performed with the meter 2, ETX is a data end identifier, and BBC is an error detection code.

The meter reading request transmitted to the first communication device 6 is
In the first communication device 6, the data is transferred from the first communication route interface unit 20 to the second communication route interface unit 21 via the communication control unit 22, and is transmitted to the second communication device 8 via the specified low power wireless line 7. (# 12). Second
The meter reading request transmitted to the communication device 8 is transmitted from the second communication path interface unit 23 to the communication target device interface unit 24 via the communication control unit 25 in the second communication device 8.
And transmitted to the predetermined meter 2 (# 13).

The meter 2 having received the meter reading request performs meter reading in accordance with the meter reading request, and outputs the meter reading response as a result.
The data is transmitted to the second communication device 8 in the data format shown in FIG. 12 (# 14). The meter reading response transmitted to the second communication device 8 is transferred from the communication target device interface unit 24 to the second communication path interface unit 23 via the communication control unit 25 in the second communication device 8, and the specified low power It is transmitted to the first communication device 6 via the wireless line 7 (# 1
5). The meter reading response transmitted to the first communication device 6 is transmitted to the second communication path interface unit 21 in the first communication device 6.
Is transmitted to the first communication path interface unit 20 via the communication control unit 22 and transmitted to the device 1 of the present invention via the public line network 5 (# 16). When receiving the meter reading response, the present invention apparatus 1 transmits an end instruction to the meter 2 in the same manner as the meter reading request transmission procedure (steps # 11 to # 13) (# 17 to # 19), The communication process ends when the meter 2 receives the end instruction.

The second case (Link by Link)
In the communication), as shown in FIG.
At a certain communication time, the list data of each communication area at the communication time is read from the storage means 13, and the meter reading request of the data format shown in FIG. At the same time, the activation instruction is transmitted from the communication interface unit 18 to the corresponding first communication device 6 via the public network 5 (# 21). Upon receiving the activation instruction, the first communication device 6 generates a response to it in the communication control unit 22 or reads out a response stored in the memory 22b in advance, and reads the device 1 of the present invention 1 from the first communication path interface unit 20. (# 22). The device 1 of the present invention that has received the response transmits the generated meter reading request from the communication interface unit 18 to the same first communication device 6 via the public network 5 (# 23). The first communication device 6 that has received the meter reading request temporarily stores the meter reading request in the memory 22b.
In the communication control unit 2
2 or read out in advance stored in the memory 22b, and transmit it from the first communication path interface unit 20 to the apparatus 1 of the present invention via the public network 5 (# 24). The device 1 of the present invention receiving the response,
An end instruction is transmitted from the communication interface unit 18 to the same first communication device 6 via the public network 5 (# 2).
5).

In the first communication device 6 having received the end instruction, the communication control unit 22 reads the meter reading request temporarily stored in the memory 22b, and connects the specified low power wireless line 7 from the second communication path interface unit 21. Then, it is transmitted to the second communication device 8 (# 26). The meter reading request transmitted to the second communication device 8 is transferred from the second communication path interface unit 23 to the communication target device interface unit 24 via the communication control unit 25 in the second communication device 8, and the predetermined meter 2 (# 27). The meter 2 that has received the meter reading request performs meter reading in accordance with the meter reading request, and outputs the meter reading response as a result in the data format shown in FIG.
The data is transmitted to the second communication device 8 (# 28). Second communication device 8
The meter reading response transmitted to the second communication device 8 is transferred from the communication target device interface unit 24 to the second communication path interface unit 23 via the communication control unit 25 in the second communication device 8, and is transmitted via the specific low power wireless line 7. Then, it is transmitted to the first communication device 6 (# 29). The first communication device 6 that has received the meter reading response temporarily stores the meter reading response in the memory 22b, and generates an end instruction for the second communication device 8 and the meter 2 in the communication control unit 22, or
2b is read in advance, and the specified low-power wireless circuit 7 is
(# 30), the communication control unit 22 generates an activation instruction for the device of the present invention, or reads a command stored in the memory 22b in advance, and transmits the start instruction to the first communication path. Interface unit 2
0 is transmitted to the device 1 of the present invention via the public line network 5 (# 31). Upon receiving the end instruction, the second communication device 8 sends the end instruction to the meter 2 and transmits a meter reading request procedure (# 2).
6) Transmit in the same manner (# 32). The device 1 of the present invention that has received the activation instruction transmits a response to the instruction to the communication control unit 19.
, Or reads out the data stored in a predetermined storage means in advance, and transmits the read data from the communication interface unit 18 to the first communication device 6 via the public network 5 (# 33). The first communication device 6 that has received the response reads the meter reading response stored in the memory 22b,
It is transmitted from the communication path interface unit 20 to the device 1 of the present invention via the public line network 5 (# 34). The device 1 of the present invention, which has received the meter reading response, generates an end instruction in the communication control unit 19 or reads out an instruction stored in a predetermined storage unit in advance, and from the communication interface unit 18 via the public network 5 It is transmitted to the first communication device 6 (# 3
5), the first communication unit 6 receives the end instruction, and the communication process ends.

Another embodiment will be described below.

<1> In the above embodiment, the priority parameter is determined by the relative relationship with the priority parameter of another communication instruction displayed in the list data at the time of inputting the communication instruction, regardless of the communication purpose. Although the case has been exemplified, the priority order may be determined in advance for each communication purpose, and the priority order determination step may function with another communication instruction within the same communication purpose. For example, the highest priority may be given in advance for a communication purpose requiring absolutely highest priority, such as gas emergency shutoff, with a fixed communication fee.

<2> In the above embodiment, if the first communication device 6 and one second communication device 8 are communicably connected in one communication area 4, the first communication device 6 in the same communication area 4 It is assumed that the communication between the communication device 6 and the other second communication device 8 becomes impossible, that is, the specific low-power wireless line 7 is one line, but the number of lines may be two or more. Absent. If it is 2 or more, even if communication instructions conflict in the same communication area and the same communication time, they can be executed simultaneously, and the necessity of adjusting the priority order is further reduced. If there are many, it is still necessary to determine the priority.

<3> In the above embodiment, the first and second communication paths are the public line network 5 and the specific low-power wireless line, respectively, but may be communication lines of other communication systems. . For example, the second communication path may use a PHS (Personal Handy Phone System) transceiver mode. Further, the second communication path may be a wired communication path instead of these wireless lines. In this case, even if the first communication device 6 and each second communication device 8 are individually connected in a one-to-one manner within one communication area 4, the first communication device 6 and each second communication device may be connected. 8 may be connected to one bus line.

<4> In the above embodiment, the communication target device 2
As an example, the automatic meter reading proxy assuming the gas meter 2a, the electric meter 2b, the water meter 2c, and the like has been described as an example, but the communication target device 2 and the communication purpose are not limited to those in the above embodiment.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a communication agency system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a communication proxy device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a first communication device.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a second communication device.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a relationship between a second communication device and a communication target device.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of list data.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of each procedure in a preparation process.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of list data.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of list data.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of list data.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of each procedure in a communication step (first case).

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a data format of communication data.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of each procedure in a communication step (second case).

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Communication substitute device 2: Communication target device 3: Relay station 4: Communication area 5: Public line network 6: First communication device 7: Specific low power wireless line 8: Second communication device 9: Internet 10: Computer terminal 10a : Display screen 11: communication instruction input unit 12: communication order management unit 13: storage unit 14: list data generation storage unit 15: list data output unit 16: communication unit 17: communication interface unit 18: communication interface unit 19: communication control Unit 20: First communication path interface unit 20a: Modem circuit unit 20b: Interface circuit unit 21: Second communication path interface unit 21a: Wireless transmission / reception unit 21b: Interface circuit unit 22: Communication control unit 22a: Microcomputer 22b: Memory 23: Second communication path Interface unit 23a: Wireless transmission / reception unit 23b: Interface circuit unit 24: Communication target device interface unit 24a to 24d: Communication target device communication unit 24e: Interface circuit unit 25: Communication control unit 25a: Microcomputer 25b: Memory 26: Metering unit 27: Communication unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2F073 AA07 AA08 AA09 AB01 BB07 BB20 BC01 CC03 CC05 CC07 DD07 DE11 EF10 FG01 FG02 GG01 GG06 GG08 5K033 BA11 CB06 CB15 CB17 DA01 DA06 DA17 DB12 DB14 DB18 DB20 KK07 MM07 5 RR17

Claims (6)

[Claims] A first communication device provided for communication with a first communication path for each of one or more communication areas; and a first communication device provided for each of the communication areas via the second communication path.
Through a communication device and a second communication device communicably provided, based on a communication instruction from a communication requester, communication with the communication target device communicably connected to the second communication device,
A communication proxy device that manages and executes a communication instruction input unit that receives the communication instruction, and determines a communication order for communication with the communication target device according to the plurality of communication instructions input from the communication instruction input unit. Communication order management means, communicably connected to the first communication device via the first communication path, and based on the communication instruction and the communication order determined by the communication order management means, A communication unit that executes communication with the communication target device according to the communication instruction via a communication device, wherein the communication order management unit is configured such that the plurality of communication instructions are transmitted from different communication requesters. A communication instruction to the communication target device in the same communication area, and when the communication time zones overlap each other, comparing each priority parameter included in the plurality of communication instructions, A communication proxy device for determining the priority of communication based on each communication instruction. 2. The communication proxy device according to claim 1, wherein the priority parameter is communication cost or data that can be converted into communication cost. 3. A list data generation storage unit for generating list data representing a reception status of the communication instruction and storing the list data in a predetermined storage unit, and list data for outputting the list data to at least the communication requester. The communication proxy device according to claim 1, further comprising an output unit. 4. A first communication device communicable with a first communication path for each of one or more communication areas, and a first communication device for each of the communication areas via a second communication path.
A second communication device provided so as to be able to communicate with the communication device, a communication target device communicably connected to the second communication device, and the communication proxy device according to claim 1, 2 or 3. Communication agency system. 5. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least two of the communication target devices are individually connected to all or some of the second communication devices existing in the same communication area as communication targets of the different communication requesters. The communication proxy system according to claim 4, wherein 6. The at least two communication target devices,
The communication proxy system according to claim 5, comprising at least two of a gas meter, an electric meter, and a water meter.