JP2012015943A - Intercom system for multiple dwelling house - Google Patents

Abstract

A combination housing intercom system and a remote meter reading system are used to reduce costs and ensure signal transmission such as meter reading commands and meter reading information.
A control device includes a gateway device connected to a wide area network, and a dwelling interphone master unit receives a command to the lifeline meter from the wide area network through the gateway device and the interphone line. On the other hand, the status information of the lifeline meter 16 is transmitted to the wide area network 20 side.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an intercom system for a housing complex that incorporates remote meter reading technology such as an electric meter and a gas meter.

  A slave unit that communicates with the master unit is attached to the power meter installed in each dwelling unit. The slave unit notifies the power master unit that is measured by the power meter, and the master unit communicates over a wide area. There has been disclosed a remote meter reading system configured to notify a host management apparatus through a network. This system assumes the case where a plurality of power measuring devices are arranged in one building such as an apartment house or an office building, and a power line is used as a transmission path for measurement data. Such communication using a power line is generally called PLC (Power Line Communication).

JP 2010-004263 A

  However, in a housing complex, transmission through a power line as described above has a problem that communication errors frequently occur due to noise generated in a microwave oven of each dwelling unit. On the other hand, if a network cable is used, a communication error is unlikely to occur, but it takes time for construction and increases the cost.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a system having a new configuration capable of reducing the cost and reliably transmitting a signal such as a meter reading command or meter reading information by combining an intercom system for an apartment house and a remote meter reading system. And

  The present invention includes a dwelling unit intercom master unit connected to a lifeline meter, a lobby intercom, and a control device that controls communication thereof, and the dwelling unit intercom master unit is connected to the control device via an interphone line. In the collective housing intercom system, the control device includes a gateway device connected to a wide area network, and the dwelling unit interphone master unit is connected to the lifeline meter from the wide area network side through the gateway device and the interphone line. While receiving a command, the lifeline meter status information is transmitted to the wide area network side.

  In the interphone line, communication is performed based on a predetermined interphone line protocol. When the dwelling unit interphone master transmits state information of the lifeline meter, the state information is converted into the interphone line protocol. You may make it do.

  In addition, the dwelling unit intercom master unit may add a predetermined header or footer to the state information as a process of converting the state information into the intercom line protocol.

  Since the present invention is configured to transmit commands for the lifeline meter, status information of the lifeline meter, etc. through the intercom line in the apartment building, a network cable or the like for transmitting those signals is unnecessary. Cost can be reduced. In addition, since only the gateway device is connected to the wide area network, a provider contract is unnecessary for each dwelling unit.

  In addition, in communication using an interphone line, there is no problem of noise as in signal transmission using a power line, so it is possible to reliably transmit commands to the lifeline meter, lifeline meter status information, and the like.

It is a basic block diagram of an intercom system for collective housing to which the present invention is applied. It is a basic block diagram of the modification of the intercom system for apartment houses to which the present invention is applied. It is a functional block diagram of a dwelling unit intercom main unit, an adapter, and a lifeline meter. It is a functional block diagram of a gateway apparatus. It is the signal transmission figure which showed the change of protocol.

  An intercom system 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a dwelling unit intercom master unit 11 installed in each room of a residence building, a lobby intercom 12 installed in a common entrance, etc., a control device 13 installed in a manager's room, etc. It consists of The intercom system 1 further includes a gateway device 18 connected to the wide area network 20. Here, the dwelling unit intercom base unit 11 is connected to the control device 13 by an intercom line 19.

  The dwelling unit intercom master unit 11 includes a door phone slave unit 14 and is connected to a lifeline meter 16 via an adapter 15. The lifeline meter 16 is, for example, an electric meter or a gas meter, and these may be installed outside the dwelling unit. The adapter 15 is separate from the dwelling interphone master unit 11, but may be configured integrally. Further, the adapter 15 may be configured integrally with the lifeline meter 16.

  The lobby intercom 12 includes a video camera 17 for photographing a visitor. Here, the lobby intercom 12 has one system, but may be two systems or more if it is a large-scale apartment house or the like.

  The gateway device 18 is connected to a wide area network 20 such as the Internet. Connected to the wide area network 20 is a server device 21 for a power company, a gas company, etc. to remotely read the lifeline meter 16. The gateway device 18 is separate from the control device 13, but may be configured integrally.

  The interphone line 19 performs communication according to an interphone line protocol different from that of the wide area network 20. There, a unique interphone line addressless is given to each of the dwelling unit interphone master units 11, and a conversation voice or a visitor between the lobby interphone 12 and the called dwelling unit interphone master unit 11 is controlled by the control device 13. Video transmission is done exclusively.

  The basic operation of the intercom system 1 is the same as the conventional one. That is, when a call specifying a dwelling unit number is made on the lobby intercom 12, the control device 13 specifies an intercom line address corresponding to the dwelling unit number and calls the dwelling unit intercom master unit 11. When a response operation is performed on the called dwelling unit intercom base unit 11, the control device 13 exclusively transmits an audio signal and a video signal between the dwelling unit intercom base unit 11 and the lobby interphone 12. As a result, a call only between the dwelling unit intercom base unit 11 and the lobby intercom unit 12 is allowed, and an image captured by the video camera 17 is displayed on the display unit of the dwelling unit intercom base unit 11.

  At this time, the control device 13 relays communication between the dwelling unit intercom base unit 11 and the lobby intercom 12, but exclusive control is performed by the dwelling unit intercom base unit 11 and the control unit 13 specifying the transmission destination. This is possible through communication. Since the communication between the control device 13 and the lobby interphone 12 is basically one-to-one communication, it may be performed in a format other than the interphone line protocol. In that case, the control device 13 performs protocol conversion and communication relay.

  Note that the call between the dwelling unit intercom base unit 11 and the lobby interphone 12 is terminated by the control device 13 when a termination operation is performed on the dwelling unit intercom base unit 11 or when a predetermined time has elapsed.

  Next, the basic operation of the remote meter reading of the lifeline meter 16 which is a feature of the present invention will be described.

  The server device 21 corresponds to each registration number of the lifeline meter 16, the customer address including the customer name, residence number, and room number, and route information for reaching the lifeline meter 16 through the wide area network 20. Etc. are registered in the customer database. Here, the route information includes at least the network address assigned to the adapter 15.

  The remote meter reading is performed by a procedure of transmitting a meter reading command from the server device 21 to the lifeline meter 16 side and returning meter reading information from the lifeline meter 16 side to the server device 21 as a response. In addition, you may make it transmit meter-reading information spontaneously and regularly to the server apparatus 21 from the lifeline meter 16 side.

  The meter reading command is transmitted from the server device 21 by the network protocol, with the network address of the adapter 15 being designated as the transmission destination. The wide area network 20 includes a plurality of routers (not shown). The meter reading instructions are successively transferred based on the route information set in each router and reach the gateway device 18.

  When the gateway device 18 receives the meter reading command, it reads the network address of the transmission destination, and if it is within a predetermined range, that is, if it is any network address of the adapter 15 installed in the residence building, the meter reading command Is sent to the intercom line 19. At that time, as a conversion from the network protocol to the interphone line protocol, a predetermined header or footer is added to the meter reading command. The converted meter reading command includes a broadcast interphone line address that designates all of the dwelling interphone master units 11 as a transmission destination. The interphone line address for broadcasting is a special form of the interphone line address.

  With such a configuration, the gateway device 18 can determine whether or not to read only the address of the transmission destination of the meter reading command received from the wide area network 20 and send it to the intercom line 19 in the residence. Further, on the server device 21 side, the meter reading command can be generated and transmitted without knowing the configuration of the intercom system 1, for example, the intercom line address of the dwelling interphone master unit 11, and the system operation becomes easy.

  The meter reading command output to the interphone line 19 by the gateway device 18 is received by all of the dwelling unit intercom master units 11. As a protocol conversion, the dwelling unit intercom base unit 11 removes the header and footer of the interphone line protocol from the meter reading command, and outputs the meter reading command to the adapter 15.

  When the adapter 15 receives the meter reading command, the adapter 15 determines whether or not its own network address is specified as the transmission destination, and if so, outputs the meter reading command to the lifeline meter 16. On the other hand, if the network address is not designated as the transmission destination, the meter reading command is abandoned. The communication between the adapter 15 and the lifeline meter 16 may be any protocol.

  When the lifeline meter 16 detects a meter reading command from the adapter 15, it returns the meter reading data at that time. When the adapter 15 accepts the meter reading data, the adapter 15 generates meter reading information specifying the network address of the server device 21 as a transmission destination, and transmits the meter reading information to the dwelling unit intercom master unit 11.

  The dwelling unit intercom base unit 11 adds the header and footer of the interphone line protocol to the meter reading information received from the adapter 15 and sends the information to the interphone line 19. The meter reading information output to the interphone line includes the interphone line address of the gateway device 18 as a transmission destination.

  When the gateway device 18 receives the meter reading information from the interphone line 19, the gateway device 18 converts it to a network protocol by removing the header and footer of the interphone line protocol from the meter reading information, and sends it to the wide area network 20.

  The meter reading information output to the wide area network 20 is sequentially transferred by a plurality of routers and reaches the server device 21 because the network address of the server device 21 is designated as a transmission destination. The server device 21 performs processing such as reading the meter reading information and storing it in a charging database or the like.

  Thus, if it is set as the structure which transmits the meter-reading instruction | command with respect to the lifeline meter 16, the meter-reading information of the lifeline meter 16, etc. via the intercom line 19 at least in a building of an apartment house, those Since a network cable or the like for transmitting signals is not necessary, the cost can be reduced. Since only the gateway device 18 is connected to the wide area network 20, a provider contract is not required for each dwelling unit.

  Further, in the communication using the interphone line 19, there is no problem of noise such as signal transmission through the power line, so the meter reading command to the life line meter 16, the meter reading information of the life line meter 16 and the like can be reliably transmitted.

  In the above embodiment, protocol conversion by the dwelling interphone master unit 11 or the gateway device 18 simply adds or removes the interphone line protocol header and footer to the network protocol meter reading command and meter reading information. It can be executed with a simple circuit. At that time, even if the meter reading command and meter reading information are encrypted, the protocol can be converted without any problem.

  In the above operation, the server device 21 transmits a meter reading command and the lifeline meter 16 side returns meter reading information, but the server device 21 can also send a command other than the meter reading command. For example, a self-diagnosis command or the like may be transmitted so that the diagnosis result is returned from the lifeline meter 16 side.

  In the above operation, the network address of the wide area network 20 is assigned to the adapter 15, but identification information of the adapter 15 or the lifeline meter 16 may be assigned. In this case, the server device 21 transmits a meter reading command specifying the network address of the gateway device 18 as a transmission destination. At this time, if such identification information is included in the meter reading command, the adapter 15 can determine whether or not the meter reading command is addressed to itself. Further, if such identification information is included in the meter reading information returned from the adapter 15 to the server device 21, the server device 21 can determine which lifeline meter 16 the meter reading information belongs to. The format of the identification information is not particularly limited, and may be a registration number, a number with a specific number of digits, or a combination of a house number and a room number.

  In the modification of the intercom system 1 shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of lifeline meters 16 are wired over one adapter 15. Other components and basic operations are the same as described above. Such a configuration is particularly effective in a housing complex in which, for example, a service yard that accommodates the lifeline meter 16 is disposed adjacent to every two dwelling units. Further, several adapters 15 may be arranged on one floor. Alternatively, a plurality of types of lifeline meters 16 may be connected to one adapter 15.

  In this modification, identification information is assigned to the lifeline meter 16, and the server device 21 transmits a meter-reading instruction including the identification information of the plurality of lifeline meters 16. On the other hand, the adapter 15 determines whether or not the identification information is for the lifeline meter 16 under its own management, and if it is under management, the meter 15 reads each meter from the lifeline meter 16 by polling. Read data. Then, meter reading information that associates the identification information of the lifeline meter 16 with the meter reading data is generated and returned to the server device 21. The meter reading information may be generated for each lifeline meter 16 or may be generated for a plurality of lifeline meters 16 at a time.

  Next, the configuration of the dwelling unit intercom base unit 11, the adapter 15, the lifeline meter 16, and the gateway device 18 that are the main parts of the present invention will be described.

  3 includes an interphone communication unit 11a that communicates with the control device 13 and the gateway device 18, a call unit 11b that performs a call process between the lobby interphone 12 or the door phone slave unit 14, and a video. It is comprised with the display part 11c which displays the visitor image | video which the camera 17 image | photographed. The interphone base unit 11 includes a network communication unit 11d that communicates with the adapter 15, and a protocol conversion unit 18e that converts a network protocol and an interphone line protocol into each other.

  The adapter 15 includes a network communication unit 15 a that processes the network protocol and communicates with the dwelling unit intercom base unit 11, and a meter control unit 15 b that controls the lifeline meter 16.

  The lifeline meter 16 includes a control unit 16a that communicates with the adapter 15, a display unit 16b that displays the usage amount of the lifeline, and a blocking unit 16c that blocks the lifeline.

  The gateway device 18 shown in FIG. 4 includes a network communication unit 18a that communicates with the server device 21 and the like through the wide area network 20, and an interphone line communication unit 18b that communicates with the dwelling unit interphone master unit 11 and the like through the interphone line 19. Yes. The gateway device 18 includes a protocol conversion unit 18c that converts between a network protocol and an interphone line protocol.

  FIG. 5 is a signal transmission diagram showing a change in protocol between the server device 21 and the lifeline meter 16.

  The meter reading command is transmitted by the network protocol in the wide area network 20 between the server device 21 and the gateway device 18. At this time, the header of the meter reading command includes the network address of the adapter 15 as a transmission destination. The gateway device 18 converts the network protocol to the interphone line protocol, and the interphone line 19 transmits the interphone line protocol. At this time, the header of the meter reading command includes a broadcast interphone line address as a transmission destination. The dwelling unit intercom base unit 11 converts the intercom line protocol to the network protocol. The meter reading command is transmitted between the dwelling unit intercom base unit 11 and the adapter 15 by a network protocol. In the adapter 15, the network protocol is converted into an arbitrary format, and the converted meter reading command is transmitted to the lifeline meter 16.

  On the other hand, the meter reading data sent out by the lifeline meter 16 is converted into meter reading information of the network protocol by the adapter 15, and transmitted between the adapter 15 and the dwelling unit intercom master unit 11 by the network protocol. At this time, the header of the meter reading information includes the network address of the server device 21 as a transmission destination. The dwelling unit interphone master unit 11 converts the network protocol into the interphone line protocol, and the interphone line 19 transmits the interphone line protocol. At this time, the header of the meter-reading instruction includes the interphone line address of the gateway device 18 as a transmission destination. The gateway device 18 converts the interphone line protocol to the network protocol, and the wide area network 20 transmits the network protocol.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Intercom system for apartment houses 11 Dwelling unit intercom main unit 12 Lobby intercom 13 Control device 15 Adapter 16 Lifeline meter 18 Gateway device 19 Intercom line 20 Wide area network

Claims (3)

A dwelling unit intercom main unit connected to a lifeline meter, a lobby intercom, and a control device for controlling communication thereof, wherein the dwelling unit intercom main unit is connected to the control unit via an interphone line In intercom system for
The control device includes a gateway device connected to a wide area network,
The dwelling unit intercom master unit receives an instruction for the lifeline meter from the wide area network side through the gateway device and the intercom line, and transmits state information of the lifeline meter to the wide area network side Intercom system. In claim 1,
In the intercom line, communication based on a predetermined intercom line protocol is performed,
The dwelling unit intercom master unit, when transmitting status information of the lifeline meter, converts the status information into the intercom line protocol. In claim 2,
The dwelling unit intercom base unit is a collective housing intercom system that adds a predetermined header or footer to the status information as a process of converting the status information into the interphone line protocol.

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