JPH0632151B2 - Meter reading system - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a meter reading system for metering gas, water, electricity, etc., and in particular, the meter value at the site can be easily registered with the meter reading value of the meter reading system. Meter reading system.

[Prior Art and Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

Conventionally, various meter reading systems have been proposed and implemented,
When registering these consumptions of customers who are already using gas, water, electricity, etc. in these examination systems, at least one person on site and one person on the collection (management) side need two people in total. There was a drawback. In addition, as described above, when registering the first meter value on the site and the receiving side, since the operations are performed at different distances, the registration operation is deviated in timing, and the once registered value and the actual meter reading However, there is a problem in that they do not match and must be corrected.

The present invention aims at labor saving of such meter reading and accuracy of registration of meter values.

[Means and Solutions for Solving the Problems]

In the present invention, in a meter reading system configured to include a meter that indicates various consumption amounts in an integrated format and a counting unit that is connected to the meter and counts a value corresponding to the reading of the meter, the meter reading system is connected to the meter. And a transmitter for transmitting an incremental signal corresponding to the consumption amount is provided, and the counting means includes a first addition means for adding the incremental signal from the transmitter and a first addition means for the first addition means. A second adding means for further adding the added value is provided, and the first adding means is configured so that the addition result is cleared when the second adding means performs addition, and the same as the indicated value of the meter or The initial data registration means for registering a data value slightly higher than that to the second addition means, and the second value when the indicated value of the meter coincides with the initial registration data input by the initial data registration means. Meter reading system characterized by having a registration confirmation setting means for setting to check the data registration to the summing means.

Further, the meter and the transmitter are integrally configured.

〔Example〕

A meter reading system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an embodiment of a remote meter reading system. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an operation of the remote meter-reading system of FIG.

In FIG. 1, a center for centrally managing each building is provided with a host computer 1 for monitoring and controlling each building and processing meter reading data, sending various information and commands to each building,
Communication control device 2 for controlling incoming calls, display device 3 with a key board for monitoring this system and registering various data, printer 4 for issuing reports such as meter readings and integrated values, meter readings for each building and data An external storage device, such as a magnetic disk 5, for storing the data is installed. The host computer 1 of this center has a plurality of buildings, buildings A to N, via telephone lines and communication media such as a telephone exchange EX.
It is connected to the main controller of the building.

The construction of each device will be described by exemplifying the A building. The building A is connected to the host computer 1 of the center through the communication control unit 2 of the center, collects data and information of various devices in the building A, or sends a command from the center to the local controller 20A, A main controller 10 with a built-in microcomputer that relays to 20B is installed. The main control 10 is a microcomputer CPU (μCPU) 1 that performs communication control and monitoring control with the center and local controllers 20A and 20B described later.
1, a modem interface 12 connected to the center via a telephone line, local controllers 20A, 20B
A local bus interface 13 which is connected to the main controller 10 for receiving various meter reading values described later, an address switch 14 for setting the identification number (ID-NO) of the main controller 10, a program for the main controller 10 and the like.
It is composed of M15, a RAM 16 for temporarily storing the meter reading value of each meter, and a terminal interface 17 for connecting to the portable terminal 80. The μCPU11 and these units are connected by a CPU bus.

The local controllers 20A and 20B are distributed in the building, receive a data acquisition command from the main controller 10, and respond to each of the meter reading targets, that is,
Take-in control is performed for various meters. Further, each of the local controllers is realized by a microcomputer, for example, 20 A, a μCPU 21 for performing various controls, and a local bus interface 1 of the main controller 10.
A local bus interface 22 that is connected to the meter 3 and sends the meter reading value for each meter to the main controller 10.
A buzzer lamp interface 23 that is an interface with the buzzer 231 and the lamp 232 of the local controller 20, a liquid crystal display interface 24 that connects to a liquid crystal display (LCD) 241, and key switches 251 to 25 for various operations.
The key switch interface 25 that is the interface of 2, the ROM 26 that stores programs, the RAM 27 that temporarily stores various data, the address switch 28 that sets the identification number (ID-NO) of the local controller, the monitoring device 40A and the equipment interface. A local monitoring bus interface 29 for connecting the meter reading values of various meters via these, and a terminal interface 30 for connecting to a portable terminal 80A which will be described later. The units are connected via a CPU bus. The monitoring device 40A, which is connected to various sensors for detecting fires and intruders in the building, is connected to the meter pulse transmitters 601 to 604, and the meter reading values of these meters are converted to pulse signals from the meter pulse transmitters 601 to 604. Switch for registration 701 to 704
A facility interface 50 for inputting is input to the local controller 20A via the local monitoring control bus 35.

Next, the equipment interface 50 and the meter pulse transmitters 601 to 604 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The equipment interface 50 integrates the meter readings of each meter,
A microprocessor 51 that controls each meter and monitors and controls the overflow of the pulse integrated value, a transmission / reception device 52 that connects the local monitoring control bus 35 and the microprocessor 51, and an internal power supply 57 that is a built-in power supply in the equipment interface 50. Is configured. The microprocessor 51 has counters 53 to 56 built therein. These counters are implemented by a part of RAM and a program that updates the data in the memory in response to pulse input. Since the microprocessor 51 has 8 bits and the counter has 14 bits as described later, one counter is composed of a memory for two addresses. Meter pulse transmitters 601 to 604 that convert various consumption amounts of gas, water, electricity, etc. into pulses, and a registration confirmation switch for confirming the registration of consumed meter readings.
701 to 704 are connected to the equipment interface 50. The switches in the oscillators 601 to 604 indicate contacts for pulse output, and the switches in the registration confirmation switches 701 to 704 indicate setting switches for registration confirmation.

Next, the operation of the remote meter reading system will be described. First,
When starting remote meter reading of each building, various data relating to each building is registered via the key board of the display device 3 in the center. This registration data is stored in the external storage device 5
Is stored as a property file on the RM and downloaded to the main controller 10 via the communication control device 2 and the telephone line as a “meter reading data table”.
Stored in A16. The main controller 10 performs polling selection via the local bus interface 13 for each local controller based on the meter reading value data table. Each local controller 20A, 20B has a "block attribute table" indicating the type of seed equipment interface 50 connected to itself, and a "terminal" indicating the connection of each meter pulse oscillator 601 to 604 to each terminal with each interface. The "attribute table" is downloaded from the host computer side of the center via the main controller 10 and the RAM 27
Stored in. The local controller 20 polls the equipment interface 50 based on these tables.
Select. The micropresser 51 receives or returns data via the transmitter / receiver 52 in response to a polling / selecting signal from the local controller 20 received via the local monitor / control bus 35. The microprocessor 51 has a meter pulse oscillator 60.
A counter that takes in pulses from 1 to 604 and counts and integrates them.
53-56 are built in, and these counters 53-56 are, for example, binary 14-bit counters. The main controller 10 is based on the above-mentioned "meter reading data table", and at predetermined time intervals. Then, the integrated value of the corresponding counter is sent to the equipment interface 50 via each local controller, and the equipment interface 50 receives the instruction, and the equipment interface 50 sends the integrated value of the corresponding counter to the local control 20 via the transmitter / receiver 52. To send over. The local controller 20A sends the integrated value to the main controller 10 and at the same time, sends an integrated value clear command to the corresponding counter of the equipment interface 50. The corresponding counter of the equipment interface 50 clears the integrated value and newly restarts the counting integration in response to the pulse input. The main controller 10 also performs the same integrated value acquisition processing for counters of other equipment interfaces based on the meter reading value data table as described above, and stores the acquired integrated value in a predetermined location in the meter reading value data table in the RAM 16. All the data of the meter reading data table is stored and transmitted to the host computer 1 of the center at a predetermined time (the deadline time of the day), and the host computer 1 stores it in the external storage device 5.

Should the counter in the equipment interface 50 overflow, the carry bit becomes "1". The local controller 20 is usually the equipment interface 5
For each 0 counter 53 to 56, the presence or absence of the carry bit is polled according to the "terminal attribute table". For example, if the carry bit of the counter 53 is "1", the local controller 20 fetches the integrated value of the binary 53-bit counter 53 in the lower 8 bits and then in the upper 6 bits twice as described above. , This is transmitted to the main controller 10 and at the same time the counter 53
Send all bit clear command to. In this embodiment, the local controller 20 uses an 8-bit microcomputer. The counter 53 is once cleared,
The integration process is newly started again. Host computer 1
Converts the integrated value data to the pulse integrated value as described above to show the actual physical quantity, for example, 0.1 / pulse etc.)
In addition to the conversion processing of, the hourly, daily, January, etc. calculation processing is performed, and the daily report of consumption of gas, water, electricity, etc.
Perform monthly report processing.

Next, registration of the initial meter reading value of the meter will be described. In FIG. 1, for example, when the remote meter reading of the pulse transmitter 601 added to the water meter is started, the portable terminal 80A is connected to the terminal interface 30 of the local controller 20A.
Is connected, and a value that is the same as or slightly higher than the indicated value of the on-site meter is input to this portable terminal device 80A. The value is input to the local controller 20A as the registered value of the meter, and immediately after that, the local controller 20A starts polling the status of the registration confirmation switch of the equipment interface 50. The meter registrant presses the registration confirmation switch 701 when the meter registration value previously input to the portable terminal device 80A matches the value of the field meter. Here, for example, when registering the indication value of the water meter, if the property does not consume water due to a break or the like, set the same value as the indication value of the water meter and press the registration confirmation switch 701. You can lower it. Also, when consuming water,
Set a slightly higher value in consideration of the progress of the meter during the registration operation period. The microprocessor 51 of the equipment interface 50 holds the state where the registration confirmation switch 701 is pressed down, and at the same time returns this state in response to the polling from the local controller 20A, the registration confirmation switch
701 is reset and the integrated value of the counter 53 is cleared. In addition, the local control 20A responds to polling from the main controller 10 from the time when the pressed state of the registration confirmation switch 701 is captured, in accordance with the portable terminal device.
Registered meter value input from 80A is the main controller 1
Send to 0. The main controller 10 stores the meter registration value in the meter reading value data table, and thereafter, at every predetermined time registered in the meter reading value data table, through the local controller 20A until the deadline time of the day is reached. The value of the counter 53 is fetched.

In this embodiment, the registration confirmation switches 701 to 704 are set to two.
Although shown as a point switch, this may be a function key for confirming registration. In addition, the portable terminal 80A
For example, it suffices if the planned registration value can be input to the main controller 10 or the local controller 20 with a ten-key pad or the like. Further, although the center is provided outside the building in this embodiment, it may be provided inside the building A, for example. The host computer 1 and the main controller 10 can be connected by various communication means other than the telephone line.

The above embodiment shows a hierarchical system in which the host computer 1 is at the highest level, the main controller 10 is at the lower level, the local controllers 20A and 20B are at the lower level, and the facility interface 50 with a built-in microcomputer is at the lowest level. In addition, the host computer 1 comprehensively manages a plurality of buildings and functions as a logger for the entire building, the main controller 10 functions as a supervisory computer for each building, and the local controllers 20A and 20B are operation targets (equipment equipment). It also has a function of an information collecting means for controlling and controlling the state and inputting a state of an operation target or the like through a sensor. Equipment interface 5
0 is arranged in the vicinity of various equipments and meters, plays a role of an interface between the local controller and the equipments for controlling the equipments, and also functions as a part of the sensors of the meters together with the transmitter. That is, the value of the meter is the memory data 1 in the main controller 10.
6 and a counter in the equipment interface 50. The counter in the equipment interface 50 receives the integrated value up to that time via the local controller 20 via the main controller 10, and the main controller 10 via the local controller 20. After being sent to, the data is once cleared and the integration is started again. The memory in the main controller 10 adds up the ones accumulated by the equipment interface 50. Therefore, when viewed from the main controller 10, the equipment interface 50
Can be seen as part of a sensor that outputs relative data corresponding to readings, for example the daily consumption of meters.
On the other hand, the main controller 10 updates, for example, the daily consumption amount and indicates the absolute amount of the daily consumption amount updated.

In the meter reading system, the local controller 20 merely serves as a buffer for communication. On the other hand, the main controller 10 and the facility interface 50 have a two-stage counter configuration as described above to achieve the function distribution, and also the risk and operation distribution. By storing the absolute value of the amount of consumption in units of one day or one hour in the main controller 10, even if the equipment interface 50 goes down, the amount of consumption updated up to that point can be sent to the host computer. When the equipment interface is restored, registration may be performed to adjust the meter readings so far, as described above. On the other hand, even if the main controller 10 goes down, the equipment interface 50 continues to integrate, and when the main controller 10 is restored, the host computer 1 resends the absolute value of the previous consumption amount, and then the downside occurs. The integrated value of the equipment interface 50 during the period of time is added.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the consumption amount is integrated as described above by the main controller 10 and the equipment interface 50.
In addition to the two steps, the registration confirmation operation is performed via the equipment interface 50 provided near the meter. A case where the present invention is applied to a system that does not have the main controller 10 that has a higher-order integrating means or a system that does not have the equipment interface 50 that has a lower-order integrating means will be described. If the main controller 10 is not provided, the local controller 20 is provided with a higher-order accumulating means and the equipment interface 50 is provided with a lower-order accumulating means, or the equipment interface 50 is provided with the above-described two-step accumulating means, and the higher-order consumption amount accumulating means is provided. On the other hand, the registration operation is performed via the portable terminal device 80, and the registration confirmation process is performed in the same manner as described above. If there is no equipment interface 50, the main controller 10 or the local controller 20 also performs lower-level integration and directly performs registration confirmation processing. In these cases, the registration confirmation switch can be integrated with the portable terminal 80.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the meter reading system of the present invention, the value of the integrated value meter at the time when the meter reading is started can be accurately registered, so that the reliability of the meter reading value data is improved and
Since the operator can register the meter reading value by operation, it is possible to save labor, and even if there is no communication means such as a telephone at the site meter, there is no need to communicate with the sensor and the meter is easily read. This has the effect that value data can be registered.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a meter reading system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the connection of the equipment interface of FIG. 1, the meter-palace transmitter, and the registration confirmation switch. (Description of symbols) 1 ... Host computer, 10 ... Main controller, 20A, 20B ... Local controller, 50 ... Facility interface, 60A-60B ... Meter pulse transmitter, 70A-70B ... Registration confirmation switch .

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A meter reading system comprising a meter for indicating various consumption amounts in an integrated form and a counting means connected to the meter for counting a value corresponding to a reading of the meter, the meter reading system being connected to the meter. And a transmitter for transmitting an incremental signal corresponding to the consumption amount is provided, and the counting means includes a first addition means for adding an incremental signal from the transmitter and a first addition means for the first addition means. Second adding means for further adding the added value is provided, and the first adding means is provided.
Is configured so that the addition result is cleared when the second adding means performs addition, and the initial data for registering the data value which is the same as or slightly higher than the indicated value of the meter in the second adding means. Registration means, and registration confirmation setting means for confirming and setting the data registration to the second adding means when the indicated value of the meter and the initial registration data input by the initial data registration means match. A meter reading system that is characterized by 2. The meter reading system according to claim 1, wherein the meter and the transmitter are integrally formed.