JPH11144179A - Radio meter-reading system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a button for radio meter-reading and a button for visual meter-reading which are shown on a displaying part of a master unit from being mistaken for each other in a radio meter-reading system which performs remote meter-reading of a meter. SOLUTION: A controlling part 8 of a master unit 1 contains a meter-reading propriety deciding means that decides whether or not meter-reading through radio communication can be performed with a meter 3 connected to a slave unit 2 and a display controlling means which shows only a button that selects meter-reading start of the meter through radio meter-reading on a displaying part 6 when the decision result shows that the meter-reading is possible and also shows a button that selects visual meter-reading start when it fails in radio communication the defined number of times.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wireless meter reading system for remotely measuring a meter such as a gas meter or a water meter by wireless communication using a master unit, a slave unit, and an external device. The present invention relates to a wireless meter reading system with improved button display.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a measuring instrument, a wireless meter reading has been performed when a wireless meter reading is possible. However, if the button for wireless meter reading and the button for visual meter reading displayed on the display unit of the master unit are displayed at the same size at the same time, even though the meter reading by wireless communication is possible, visual inspection is mistaken. There is a risk of performing an operation for meter reading.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless meter reading system for remote meter reading of a measuring instrument, in which a button for wireless meter reading and a button for visual meter reading displayed on a display unit of a master unit are misunderstood. Is to prevent

[0004]

Therefore, according to a first embodiment of the present invention, a master unit, a slave unit, and a weighing device connected to the slave unit are provided, and signals are exchanged between the master unit and the slave unit. In a wireless meter reading system that performs wireless meter reading of a weighing device with a master device, the master device includes a wireless transmission / reception unit for performing wireless transmission / reception, a display unit, and a control unit, or the master device is controlled by an external device. In the wireless meter reading system, which transmits and receives signals between the master unit and the slave unit and responds to the result to the external device, the external device performs wireless meter reading of the scale, And a display unit and a control unit provided on an external device, and the control unit determines whether or not a meter is connected to the slave unit and meter reading by wireless communication is possible. Means for determining whether or not meter reading is possible, and Display control means for displaying only a button for selecting the start of meter reading by a wireless meter on the display unit, and also displaying a button for selecting the start of visual meter reading when the wireless communication has failed for the specified number of times. And characterized in that:

According to a second embodiment of the present invention, a master unit and a slave unit, and a scale connected to the slave unit are provided, and signals are transmitted and received between the master unit and the slave unit, and the scale is measured by the master unit. In a wireless meter reading system that performs wireless meter reading, a master unit includes a wireless transmission / reception unit for performing wireless transmission / reception, a display unit, and a control unit, or the master unit and a slave unit are controlled by an external device to control the master unit. In a wireless meter reading system that sends and receives signals between devices and responds to the result with an external device, the external device performs wireless meter reading of the measuring instrument. Along with the external device, a display unit and a control unit, the control unit, a meter reading possibility determination means for determining whether or not a meter is connected to the slave unit and meter reading by wireless communication is possible, If the judgment result indicates that meter reading is possible, the wireless meter reading is displayed on the display. The button for selecting the start of meter reading by the meter is displayed larger than the button for selecting the start of meter reading by visual inspection, and when the wireless communication has failed the specified number of times, the meter is read by the wireless meter. A display control means for displaying a button for selecting start and a button for visually selecting start of meter reading with an equal size is provided.

[0006]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a wireless meter reading system. This system comprises a master 1 according to the present invention and a slave 2
And a measuring device 3 connected to the slave device 2. The master device 1 transmits and receives signals between the master device 1 and the slave device 2, and the master device 1 performs wireless meter reading of the measuring device 3.

The base unit 1 displays a radio transmission / reception unit 4 for performing radio transmission / reception with the slave unit 2, an input unit 5 for selecting a meter reading method of the measuring device 3, a button for selecting a meter reading method, and the like. It comprises a display unit 6, a memory unit 7 for storing information about the weighing device 3, and the like, and a control unit 8 for controlling these.

In the present invention, the control unit 8 has two modes, and the control unit of the first mode determines whether or not the meter 3 is connected to the slave unit 2 and meter reading by wireless communication is possible. Means for determining whether or not wireless meter reading is possible, and when the determination result indicates that meter reading is possible, only a button for selecting the start of meter reading of the measuring device 3 by wireless meter reading is displayed on the display unit 6; Display control means for also displaying a button for selecting the start of visual meter reading.

The control unit according to the second embodiment includes wireless meter reading determination means for determining whether or not the meter 3 is connected to the slave unit 2 to enable meter reading by wireless communication. When meter reading is possible, the button for selecting the start of meter reading of the measuring device 3 by wireless meter reading is displayed larger than the button for selecting the start of meter reading by visual display on the display unit 6, and the wireless communication is performed a specified number of times. If the reading fails, a button for selecting the start of meter reading of the meter 3 by wireless meter reading and a button for visually selecting the start of meter reading are provided with display control means for displaying the same size. I have.

FIG. 5 shows the operation of the control unit of the first embodiment, and FIG. 6 shows the operation of the control unit of the second embodiment.

Referring to the flowchart of FIG. 5, in step 1, the control unit 8 reads information on the measuring device 3 from the memory unit 7, determines whether or not the measuring device 3 can perform wireless meter reading from this information, and If possible, only the button 9 for starting the meter reading by the wireless meter reading is displayed on the display unit 6 in Step 2 as shown in FIG. In this case, the user presses button 9 on display 6
Then, the user presses a button for starting wireless meter reading by the input unit 5. If wireless meter reading cannot be performed, only a button for starting visual meter reading is displayed in step 7. In this case, the user operates the input unit 5 according to the button on the display unit 6.
Press the button to start visual meter reading.

In the next step 3, the master unit 1
When the wireless communication fails, the control unit 8 counts the number of failures in step 4 and stores it in the memory unit 7. Then, the control unit 8 determines in step 5 whether the number of failures stored in the memory unit 7 is equal to or more than the specified number, and returns to step 2 if the number is not equal to or more than the specified number. If the number of times has exceeded the specified number, the process proceeds to step 6, and as shown in FIG.
The button 9 for selecting the start of the meter reading and the button 10 for selecting the start of the meter reading visually are displayed on the display unit 6 in an equal size.

Next, the flowchart of FIG. 6 will be described. In step 11, the control unit 8 reads information on the measuring device 3 from the memory unit 7 and determines whether or not the measuring device 3 can perform wireless meter reading from this information. When the wireless meter reading is possible, the button 9 for starting the meter reading by the wireless meter reading in the step 12 as shown in FIG.
It is displayed on the display unit 6 with a size larger than the button 10 for selecting the start of the visual meter reading. In this case, the user presses a button for starting wireless meter reading by the input unit 5 according to the large button 9 on the display unit 6. That is, in step 13, the wireless meter reading is selected.

If wireless meter reading cannot be performed in step 11,
In step 18, only the button 10 for starting the visual meter reading is displayed. In this case, the user presses a button for starting visual meter reading by the input unit 5 according to the button 10 on the display unit 6.

If wireless meter reading is selected in step 13,
The base unit 1 performs wireless communication with the slave unit 2, but the control unit 8 determines in step 14 whether the wireless communication has failed,
In step 15, the number of failures is counted and stored in the memory unit 7. Then, the control unit 8 determines in step 16 whether the number of failures stored in the memory unit 7 is equal to or more than the specified number.
Return to If the number of times exceeds the specified number, step 17
As shown in FIG. 4, a button 9 for selecting the start of the meter reading of the measuring device 3 by the wireless meter reading and a button 10 for selecting the start of the meter reading by visual display are equally sized on the display unit 6. To be displayed.

In the illustrated example, the master unit 1 and the slave unit 2
And a measuring device 3 connected to the slave device 2, a signal is exchanged between the master device 1 and the slave device 2, and the master device 1 performs wireless meter reading of the measuring device. An example in which the present invention is applied to a type including a wireless transmitting / receiving unit 4, a display unit 6, and a control unit 8 for performing wireless transmission / reception has been described. However, the external device such as a handy terminal controls the master device to transmit and receive signals between the master device and the slave device, and responds to the result with the external device, thereby performing wireless meter reading of the measuring device with the external device. In the wireless meter reading system, the present invention can also be applied to a type in which a wireless transmission / reception unit for performing wireless transmission / reception is provided in the master unit and an external device includes a display unit and a control unit.

In the first embodiment, the control unit of the external device determines whether or not the measuring device is connected to the slave unit and the meter can be read by wireless communication. When meter reading is possible, only the button for selecting the start of meter reading of the measuring device by wireless meter reading is displayed on the display unit, and when the wireless communication has failed the specified number of times, the button for selecting the start of meter reading by visual inspection is also provided. And display control means for displaying.

In the second embodiment, the control unit of the external device determines whether or not the measuring device is connected to the slave unit and the meter can be read by wireless communication. When meter reading is possible, the button for selecting the start of meter reading of the meter by wireless meter reading is displayed larger than the button for selecting the start of visual meter reading on the display unit, and the wireless communication is performed for the specified number of times. If it fails, a button for selecting the start of meter reading by wireless meter reading,
And a display control means for displaying a button for selecting the start of visual meter reading with a uniform size.

[0020]

As described above, claims 1 and 2
In the invention described in (1), when a meter is connected to the slave unit and meter reading by wireless communication is possible, only the button for selecting the start of meter reading of the meter is displayed. Can be prevented. As a result, on the meter reading method selection screen, the user mistakenly presses a button for starting the visual meter reading even though wireless meter reading of the measuring instrument is possible, and an extra time for returning to the meter reading method selection screen is displayed. A complicated operation is not required, and a quick meter reading operation can be performed.

According to the third and fourth aspects of the present invention, when a measuring device is connected to the slave unit and a meter can be read by wireless communication, a button for selecting a wireless meter reading start of the measuring device is provided.
Since the display is made larger than the button for selecting the start of the meter reading by visual observation, it is possible to prevent a mistake in pressing the selection button of the meter reading method. As a result, on the meter reading method selection screen, the user mistakenly presses a button for starting the visual meter reading even though wireless meter reading of the measuring instrument is possible, and an extra time for returning to the meter reading method selection screen is displayed. A complicated operation is not required, and a quick meter reading operation can be performed.

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, the button for selecting the start of the visual meter reading is not displayed unless the meter reading by wireless communication fails several times. Although it is conceivable that the operation cannot be performed, in the inventions according to claims 3 and 4, since the button for selecting the start of visual meter reading is displayed from the beginning, the number of times of failure in wireless meter reading is reduced. This allows for a quicker meter reading operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a wireless meter reading system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display example in which only a button for selecting start of meter reading of a measuring device by wireless meter reading is displayed on a display unit.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example in which a button for selecting the start of meter reading by a wireless meter is displayed larger than a button for selecting the start of meter reading visually.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example in which a button for selecting start of meter reading of a measuring instrument by wireless meter reading and a button for selecting start of meter reading visually are displayed in an equal size.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of a control unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of a control unit according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 1 master unit 2 slave unit 3 measuring device 4 wireless transmission / reception unit 5 input unit 6 display unit 7 memory unit 8 control unit 9 button for selecting start of meter reading by wireless meter reading 10 for selecting start of visual meter reading Button

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Shingo Osuga 2--13 Nishiki, Naka-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi Ricoh Elemex Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shoichi Kato 2-Nishiki, Naka-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi No. 2-13 Ricoh Elemex Corporation

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A wireless meter reading system comprising a master unit and a slave unit, and a scale connected to the slave unit, and transmitting / receiving signals between the master unit and the slave unit, and performing wireless meter reading of the scale by the master unit. The master unit includes a wireless transmission / reception unit, a display unit, and a control unit for performing wireless transmission / reception, and the control unit is connected to the measuring device to the slave unit, and can perform meter reading by wireless communication. Means for determining whether or not wireless meter reading is possible, and when the determination result indicates that meter reading is possible, only a button for selecting the start of meter reading of the meter by wireless meter reading is displayed on the display unit, and the specified number of times of wireless communication is performed. A wireless meter reading system, further comprising: a display control unit for displaying a button for visually selecting start of meter reading when a failure has occurred. 2. A wireless device for controlling a base unit with an external device to transmit and receive signals between the base unit and the slave unit, and responding the result to the external device, so that the external device performs wireless meter reading of a measuring instrument. In the meter reading system, the master unit is provided with a wireless transmission / reception unit for performing wireless transmission / reception, and the external device includes a display unit and a control unit, and the control unit includes the slave unit and the measuring device. A wireless metering availability determining means for determining whether or not meter reading by wireless communication is possible, and when the determination result indicates that meter reading is possible, to select the start of meter reading of the meter by wireless meter reading on the display unit. And a display control means for displaying a button for visually selecting start of meter reading when wireless communication has failed a specified number of times. 3. A wireless meter reading system including a master unit and a slave unit, and a measuring device connected to the slave unit, wherein signals are transmitted and received between the master device and the slave unit to perform wireless meter reading of the measuring device by the master device. The master unit includes a wireless transmission / reception unit, a display unit, and a control unit for performing wireless transmission / reception, and the control unit is connected to the measuring device to the slave unit, and can perform meter reading by wireless communication. Means for determining whether or not wireless meter reading is possible, and when the determination result indicates that meter reading is possible, a button for selecting the start of meter reading of the measuring instrument by wireless meter reading is selected on the display section, and the start of visual meter reading is selected. Button for selecting the start of meter reading of the measuring device by wireless meter reading, and a button for selecting the start of meter reading visually. And with equal size A wireless meter reading system, comprising: a display control means for displaying the information. 4. A wireless device for controlling a base unit by an external device to transmit and receive signals between the base unit and the slave unit, and responding the result to the external device so that the external device performs wireless meter reading of the measuring instrument. In the meter reading system, the master unit is provided with a wireless transmission / reception unit for performing wireless transmission / reception, and the external device includes a display unit and a control unit, and the control unit includes the slave unit and the measuring device. A wireless metering availability determining means for determining whether or not meter reading by wireless communication is possible, and when the determination result indicates that meter reading is possible, to select the start of meter reading of the meter by wireless meter reading on the display unit. Button is displayed larger than the button for selecting the start of visual meter reading, and when the wireless communication has failed the specified number of times, a button for selecting the start of meter reading of the measuring device by wireless meter reading, Visual inspection A wireless meter reading system comprising: a button for selecting start of a needle; and a display control means for displaying the button in an equal size.