JP6168444B2 - Meter reading system, communication device, smart meter - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a meter reading system in which a server acquires meter reading data of a plurality of consumers, a communication device used for the meter reading system, and a smart meter.

  Conventionally, the amount of power used by consumers is measured with a power meter, and the master unit (master station) periodically acquires the measurement results as meter reading data from the communication device (slave station) attached to the power meter. The remote meter-reading system comprised in 1 is proposed (for example, refer patent document 1).

  In the system described in Patent Literature 1, the master unit further communicates with a server (upper aggregation server) operated by an electric power company or the like through a communication network, and aggregates meter reading data for each power meter acquired from the communication device. To the server, thereby enabling remote meter reading.

  By the way, in the system as described above, when the master device transmits the meter reading data periodically acquired from the communication device to the server, the meter reading data acquired by the server may be leaked depending on the communication status or the like. Therefore, in Patent Document 1, in preparation for such a case, the server has a function of specifying a communication device and acquiring meter-reading data from the communication device via the master unit. Thereby, the server can complement the leaked meter reading data.

JP2011-250301A

  However, in the conventional system as described above, when a communication abnormality occurs between the server and the parent device, the server cannot acquire meter reading data from any of a plurality of consumers under the control of the parent device. For this reason, a large number of meter reading data may be leaked out. In such a case, since the server individually acquires the leaked meter reading data from each communication device after the communication abnormality between the server and the master unit is resolved, that is, after the communication is restored, the meter reading data that has been leaked. It takes time to acquire all of the above, and the efficiency of acquiring meter reading data may deteriorate.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above reasons, and after eliminating a communication abnormality between the server and the master unit, a meter reading system, a communication apparatus, and the like, which can efficiently acquire meter reading data during the communication abnormality period, An object is to provide a smart meter.

The meter-reading system of the present invention includes a communication device attached to a measuring instrument for measuring consumption of resources at a consumer, a master device capable of communicating with the plurality of communication devices provided at the plurality of consumers, A server that acquires meter-reading data including measurement results of the measuring instrument from the plurality of communication devices via the master unit, and the master unit determines whether there is a communication abnormality with the server. One of the master unit and the specific communication device includes a collection unit that collects the meter reading data from the plurality of communication devices during a period of occurrence of communication abnormality between the server and the master unit; A storage unit that stores the meter reading data collected by the collection unit as backup data, and the backup data stored in the storage unit is transmitted to the server when a communication abnormality between the server and the parent device is resolved Yes and a notification unit that The collection unit, the storage unit, and the notification unit are provided in the base unit, and the communication device receives the meter reading request from the server and sends the meter reading data to the server as a response to the meter reading request. Can be switched between a normal mode for transmitting to the emergency mode and an emergency mode for actively transmitting the meter-reading data to the base unit. The collection unit transmits the cutoff notification to a plurality of the communication devices when the communication abnormality occurs between the server and the parent device, and shifts to the emergency mode. The meter reading data transmitted from a plurality of the communication devices are collected and stored in the storage unit .

The meter-reading system of the present invention includes a communication device attached to a measuring instrument for measuring consumption of resources at a consumer, a master device capable of communicating with the plurality of communication devices provided at the plurality of consumers, A server that acquires meter-reading data including measurement results of the measuring instrument from the plurality of communication devices via the master unit, and the master unit determines whether there is a communication abnormality with the server. One of the master unit and the specific communication device includes a collection unit that collects the meter reading data from the plurality of communication devices during a period of occurrence of communication abnormality between the server and the master unit; A storage unit that stores the meter reading data collected by the collection unit as backup data, and the backup data stored in the storage unit is transmitted to the server when a communication abnormality between the server and the parent device is resolved With notification section , Said collection unit and said storage unit and said notifying unit are provided in the specific of the communication device, wherein the specific of the communication device, to receive the result of the discrimination at the judgment unit from the base unit The notification unit is configured to transmit the backup data stored in the storage unit to the server via the master unit when a communication abnormality between the server and the master unit is resolved. Tei Ru.

  In this meter-reading system, the specific communication device includes a sub-determination unit that determines whether or not there is a communication abnormality with the parent device, and another communication during the occurrence of a communication abnormality with the parent device. A sub-collection unit that collects the meter-reading data from a device; a sub-storage unit that stores the meter-reading data collected by the sub-collection unit as backup data; and backup data stored in the sub-storage unit It is more desirable to have a sub-notification unit that transmits to the server when the communication abnormality between the two is resolved.

  In this meter reading system, when the communication device receives a meter reading request from the server, the communication device is configured to transmit the meter reading data to the server as a response to the meter reading request. When the specific communication device receives the meter-reading request from the server after the communication abnormality with the base unit is resolved, backup data stored in the storage unit is stored together with the meter-reading data. More preferably, it is configured to transmit to the server.

  In this meter reading system, it is preferable that the notification unit is configured to transmit backup data stored in the storage unit to the server as a response to the backup request when receiving a backup request from the server. .

  The communication device of the present invention is used in the meter reading system described above.

  The smart meter of this invention is equipped with said communication apparatus and the measuring device which measures the consumption of the resource in a consumer, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  In the present invention, one of the master unit and a specific communication device collects meter reading data from a plurality of communication devices in a collecting unit during a period of occurrence of communication abnormality between the server and the master unit, and stores it as backup data The backup data is transmitted to the server at the notification unit when the communication abnormality is resolved. Therefore, there is an advantage that the meter reading data during the communication abnormality period can be efficiently acquired by the server after the communication abnormality between the server and the parent device is resolved.

1 is a system configuration diagram illustrating a meter reading system according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement of the meter-reading system which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the meter reading system according to the second embodiment. It is a system block diagram which shows the meter-reading system which concerns on Embodiment 3. It is explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement of the meter-reading system which concerns on Embodiment 3. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement of the meter-reading system which concerns on Embodiment 3. FIG.

  The meter reading system shown in the following embodiment is a meter reading data obtained by measuring the consumption of resources in each consumer for consumers of resources such as electric power, gas, water, and heat supplied from an external supplier. This is a system for acquiring a server at a remote site. Below, although the case where a consumer is each dwelling unit of an apartment house is illustrated, it is not restricted to this example, For example, a consumer may be a detached house, an office, a factory, etc. In the following, a case where the resource is electric power will be described as an example. However, not only electric power but also consumption of resources other than electric power can be set as a meter reading target of the meter reading system.

(Embodiment 1)
As shown in FIG. 1, a meter reading system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of communication devices 201, 202,... 20n (hereinafter simply referred to as “communication device 2” when not distinguished from each other) and a concentrator 3 as a master unit. And a server 4.

  The communication device 2 is provided at each consumer in the apartment house 10. Each of the communication devices 201, 202,... 20n is attached to a measuring instrument 5 that measures the consumption of resources at each consumer. The concentrator 3 is provided for each collective housing 10, and can communicate with the plurality of communication devices 2 under the control of a plurality of communication devices 2 provided to a plurality of consumers in the same collective housing 10. It is configured. The server 4 is configured to acquire meter reading data including the measurement results of the measuring instrument 5 from the plurality of communication devices 2 via the concentrator 3.

  The meter-reading system 1 actually includes a plurality of concentrators 3 and is configured so that one server 4 can acquire meter-reading data from the communication device 2 under the control of each of the plurality of concentrators 3. ing. The concentrator 3 is not limited to the configuration provided for each apartment house 10, and may be provided, for example, for each region including a plurality of consumers or for each floor of the apartment house 10. However, in the present embodiment, focusing on only one apartment house 10, the configuration and function of the meter reading system 1 will be described using a single concentrator 3 as a model.

  Hereinafter, specific configurations of the measuring instrument 5, the communication apparatus 2, the concentrator 3, and the server 4 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The measuring instrument 5 is connected to the distribution line L1 to which power (resources) from a power supplier is supplied, and is a power meter that measures the amount of power used (resource consumption) at each consumer. . The measuring instrument 5 constitutes a smart meter 6 together with the communication device 2 and enables remote meter reading or the like by the communication between the concentrator 3 connected to the distribution line L1 and the communication device 2. In the smart meter 6, it is preferable that the communication device 2 and the measuring instrument 5 share a casing (not shown), but the communication apparatus 2 and the measuring instrument 5 may have separate casings.

  Communication between the communication device 2 and the concentrator 3 is realized by using power line communication (PLC) technology that performs communication using the distribution line L1 as a transmission medium. That is, a communication path using the distribution line L1 as a transmission medium is formed between the communication device 2 and the concentrator 3. The communication device 2 transmits meter reading data to the concentrator 3 by performing power line carrier communication with the concentrator 3 through the communication path (distribution line L1). The meter reading data here includes at least the amount of power used measured by the measuring instrument 5 within a predetermined period. The communication device 2 is not limited to a configuration that performs power line carrier communication with the concentrator 3, but may be configured to perform other wired communication or wireless communication.

  Therefore, the communication device 2 communicates with the concentrator 3 (third) communication interface (hereinafter referred to as “I / F”) 21, and a meter reading unit 22 that acquires measurement results from the measuring instrument 5. And (first) control unit 23 for controlling the operation of each unit. 1 shows the communication I / F 21, the meter-reading unit 22, and the control unit 23 only for the communication device 201, the other communication devices 202,... 20n have the same configuration.

  As described above, the communication I / F 21 is configured to perform bidirectional power line carrier communication with the concentrator 3 using the distribution line L1 on the upstream side of the measuring instrument 5 as a transmission medium. The meter-reading part 22 enables exchange of data between the measuring instruments 5 by the structure connected to the expansion terminal (not shown) of the measuring instrument 5, for example. In addition, the meter-reading part 22 is not restricted to the structure wiredly connected with the measuring device 5, For example, the structure which performs wireless communication and optical communication with the measuring device 5 may be sufficient.

  The control unit 23 mainly includes a device such as a microcomputer having a processor that operates according to a program, and implements various functions by executing predetermined programs. Here, the control unit 23 has a function of generating meter reading data based on at least the measurement result of the measuring instrument 5 acquired by the meter reading unit 22, and transmitting the meter reading data to the concentrator 3 from the communication I / F 21. . Furthermore, the communication device 2 has a memory (not shown), and stores meter reading data for every predetermined time (for example, 1 minute, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, etc.) in the memory for a certain period (for example, 1 day). It is configured.

  The concentrator 3 is disposed in an administrator room or an electrical room of the apartment house 10. The concentrator 3 acquires meter reading data from the communication devices 2 of a plurality of consumers in the apartment house 10 under its control, and transfers the acquired meter reading data to the server 4.

  Therefore, the concentrator 3 controls the first communication I / F 31 that performs communication with the server 4, the second communication I / F 32 that performs communication with the communication device 2, and the operation of each unit (second) control unit 33. And have.

  The first communication I / F 31 is connected to a dedicated line NT1 using an optical fiber or the like, and is configured to perform bidirectional communication with the server 4 via the dedicated line NT1. As described above, the second communication I / F 32 is configured to perform power line carrier communication bidirectionally with the communication device 2 using the distribution line L1 on the upstream side of the measuring instrument 5 as a transmission medium. . The concentrator 3 is not limited to the configuration for communicating with the server 4 via the dedicated line NT1, but may be configured to communicate with the server 4 via a public network such as the Internet or by wireless communication. Good.

  The control unit 33 mainly includes a device such as a microcomputer including a processor that operates according to a program, and implements various functions by executing a predetermined program. Here, the control part 33 acquires meter-reading data by 2nd communication I / F32 from the communication apparatus 2 of the some customer in the housing complex 10 at least, and acquires the acquired meter-reading data from the 1st communication I / F to the server 4. It has a function to transmit.

  The server 4 is composed of a server computer that collects meter reading data from a plurality of consumers within the management range. The server 4 is a power company that is a supplier, or a power saving company that manages and supports power saving on behalf of the power company (power saving). Aggregator) and other service providers. Here, the server 4 has a remote meter reading function for periodically collecting meter reading data of a customer under its control. That is, the server 4 can collect meter reading data via the concentrator 3 from a plurality of communication devices 2 managed by the concentrator 3 by communicating with the concentrator 3 through the dedicated line NT1.

  Specifically, the server 4 is configured to transmit a meter reading request to the communication device 2 via the concentrator 3 periodically (for example, at a cycle of 30 minutes). When receiving a meter reading request from the server 4, the communication device 2 is configured to transmit meter reading data to the server 4 via the concentrator 3 as a response to the meter reading request. Therefore, the server 4 can periodically acquire meter reading data from the plurality of communication devices 2 via the concentrator 3. Processing in which the server 4 periodically transmits a meter reading request and acquires meter reading data from the plurality of communication devices 2 in this manner is hereinafter referred to as “periodic meter reading”.

  Here, in the periodic meter reading, the server 4 sets a plurality of communication devices 201, 202,... 20n at a predetermined meter reading time (for example, 0:00, 0:30, 1:00,...). A meter reading request is sequentially transmitted to each. At this time, the server 4 requests the meter reading, for example, based on an identifier (meter number) unique to the smart meter 6 or at random so that the timing of transmitting the meter reading request is different for each of the communication devices 201, 202,. Is determined.

  Note that the server 4 may be an area management server provided for each region, which is subordinate to an upper server operated by a supplier or the like. In this case, the server 4 is configured to collect meter reading data from the concentrator 3 for each region and transmit it to the upper server. Thereby, the host server operated by the supplier or the like can efficiently collect meter reading data of consumers in a plurality of regions by collecting meter reading data from the plurality of servers 4. Further, the server 4 may include both such an area management server and an upper server.

  By the way, the meter-reading system 1 of this embodiment is a meter-reading for complementing the meter-reading data (hereinafter referred to as “backup”) even when the meter-reading data acquired by the server 4 in the periodic meter-reading due to the communication status or the like. The meter reading is called “meter reading”. In the following, a configuration for backup meter reading that the server 4 acquires meter reading data that the server 4 could not acquire during the communication error period between the server 4 and the concentrator 3 will be described in detail.

  The concentrator 3 includes a determination unit 34 that determines whether there is a communication abnormality with the server 4. For example, the determination unit 34 determines whether there is a communication abnormality between the server 4 and the concentrator 3 based on the reception status of a keep-alive signal transmitted from the server 4 at regular intervals. That is, the determination unit 34 determines that there is no communication abnormality if the keep-alive signal is normally received, and that there is a communication abnormality if the keep-alive signal cannot be normally received.

  Further, the concentrator 3 has a backup unit 35 that collects meter reading data instead of the server 4 during the period of occurrence of communication abnormality with the server 4 and transmits the collected meter reading data to the server 4 when the communication abnormality is resolved. doing. The backup unit 35 includes a collection unit 351, a storage unit 352, and a notification unit 353.

  The collection unit 351 is configured to collect meter-reading data from the plurality of communication devices 2 during a period of occurrence of communication abnormality between the server 4 and the concentrator 3. Here, the collection unit 351 receives the determination result of the determination unit 34 and detects the occurrence of a communication abnormality. If the determination unit 34 determines that a communication abnormality has occurred, the collection unit 351 is under the control of the concentrator 3 (that is, the same). Meter reading data is collected from all of the plurality of communication devices 2 of the housing complex 10).

  The storage unit 352 is configured to store the meter reading data collected by the collection unit 351 as backup data. That is, the backup unit 35 stores the meter reading data collected from the plurality of communication devices 2 by the collection unit 351 in the storage unit 352 during the occurrence of the communication abnormality between the server 4 and the concentrator 3 as backup data. The storage unit 352 stores the backup data in time series in association with the time collected by the collection unit 351. The storage unit 352 may be assigned a part of a storage area of a memory (not shown) provided in the concentrator 3.

  The notification unit 353 is configured to transmit the backup data stored in the storage unit 352 to the server 4 when the communication abnormality is resolved. Here, the notification unit 353 receives the determination result of the determination unit 34 and detects the cancellation of the communication abnormality. When the determination unit 34 determines that the communication abnormality has been resolved, the notification unit 353 is collected during the communication abnormality period. The backup data (stored in the storage unit 352) is transmitted to the server 4.

  More specifically, the concentrator 3 includes a normal mode in which a meter reading request and meter reading data are relayed between the server 4 and the communication device 2 and an emergency mode in which meter reading data is collected from the communication device 2 instead of the server 4. Two operation modes can be switched. The concentrator 3 normally operates in the normal mode, and shifts to the emergency mode when a communication abnormality with the server 4 occurs.

  In the present embodiment, the concentrator 3 transmits a meter reading request from the collecting unit 351 to each of the plurality of communication devices 2 under its management in order to collect meter reading data by a polling method in the emergency mode. Each communication device 2 is configured to transmit meter reading data to the concentrator 3 as a response to the meter reading request from the collecting unit 351 of the concentrator 3. That is, the collection unit 351 transmits a meter reading request to each of the plurality of communication devices 2 during the occurrence of the communication abnormality between the server 4 and the concentrator 3, and from each of the plurality of communication devices 2 as a response to the meter reading request. The meter reading data to be transmitted is collected and stored in the storage unit 352.

  Here, like the server 4 at the time of periodic meter reading, the collecting unit 351 has a plurality of communication devices 201 at a predetermined periodic meter reading time (for example, 0:00, 0:30, 1:00,...). , 202,... 20n are sequentially transmitted to each of the meter reading requests. At this time, the collection unit 351 reads the meter reading request, for example, based on an identifier (meter number) unique to the smart meter 6 or randomly so that the timing for transmitting the meter reading request differs for each communication device 201, 202,. Determine when to send the request.

  The notification unit 353 transmits backup data for backup meter reading to the server 4 when the determination unit 34 determines that the communication abnormality between the server 4 and the concentrator 3 has been resolved. May not reach the server 4. Therefore, the notification unit 353 also has a function of transmitting backup data to the server 4 as a response to the backup request when receiving a backup request from the server 4. If the server 4 does not receive backup data even after a certain period of time has passed after resolution of the communication error with the concentrator 3 even though there is leaked meter reading data, the server 4 sends a backup request to the concentrator 3. Send. Thereby, even if the server 4 fails to acquire the backup data from the concentrator 3 at the first backup meter reading, the server 4 can reliably acquire the necessary backup data by transmitting the backup request.

  Note that the server 4 is not limited to the configuration in which the backup request is triggered by the fact that the backup data cannot be received even after a certain period of time has elapsed after the communication abnormality is resolved as described above, and other events are backed up to the concentrator 3. It may be a trigger for sending a request. For example, the server 4 compares the meter-reading data acquired from the communication device 2 at the time of periodic meter-reading with the meter-reading data already acquired from the same communication device 2, and if there is omission of meter-reading data, that is used as a trigger. Configured to send a backup request. As an example, if the server 4 acquires 1.00 meter reading data after 0:00 meter reading data from a certain communication device 2, the 0:30 meter reading data from this communication device 2 is leaked. Then, a backup request is transmitted to the upper concentrator 3 of the communication device 2.

  Next, operation | movement of the meter-reading system 1 of this embodiment is demonstrated with reference to FIG.

  When the concentrator 3 is in the normal mode, the server 4 sequentially issues a meter reading request for acquiring meter reading data to the communication devices 201, 202,... 20n via the concentrator 3 when the current time becomes the regular meter reading time. Transmit (S1, S3). Receiving the meter reading request, the communication devices 201, 202,... 20n sequentially transmit meter reading data to the server 4 via the concentrator 3 (S2, S4). Thus, at the time of periodic meter reading, the server 4 sequentially acquires meter reading data from the plurality of communication devices 201, 202,... 20n via the concentrator 3.

  On the other hand, when a communication abnormality occurs between the server 4 and the concentrator 3 (S5), the concentrator 3 switches the operation mode from the normal mode to the emergency mode according to the determination result of the determination unit 34 (S6). In the emergency mode, when the current time becomes the regular meter reading time, the concentrator 3 sequentially transmits meter reading requests to the communication devices 201, 202,... 20n instead of the server 4 in the collecting unit 351 (S7, S9). . Receiving the meter reading request, the communication devices 201, 202,... 20n sequentially transmit meter reading data to the concentrator 3 (S8, S10). At this time, the concentrator 3 stores the meter reading data received from the communication devices 201, 202,... 20n in the storage unit 352 as backup data in the collection unit 351 without transferring the data to the server 4 (S11).

  When the communication abnormality between the server 4 and the concentrator 3 is resolved and the communication is restored (S12), the concentrator 3 transmits the backup data stored in the storage unit 352 to the server 4 in the notification unit 353 during the communication abnormality period ( S13). Thereafter, the concentrator 3 switches the operation mode from the emergency mode to the normal mode (S14).

  If the backup data transmitted from the notification unit 353 cannot be normally received due to the communication status or the like, the server 4 transmits a backup request to the concentrator 3 after a certain period of time has elapsed after the communication abnormality is resolved, and the response As a backup data.

  According to the meter reading system 1 described above, the concentrator 3 includes a collection unit 351 that collects meter reading data during a communication abnormality period, a storage unit 352 that stores backup data, and backup data to the server 4 when the communication abnormality is resolved. And a notification unit 353 for transmission. That is, the concentrator 3 collects meter reading data from a plurality of communication devices 2 instead of the server 4 and stores it in the storage unit 352 during the communication abnormality period between the server 4 and the concentrator 3, and communicates the collected meter reading data. When the abnormality is resolved, it is transmitted to the server 4 at once. Thereby, even if the meter reading system 1 fails in the periodic meter reading by the server 4, the meter reading system 1 can perform backup meter reading for complementing the leaked meter reading data.

  Therefore, even when a communication abnormality occurs between the server 4 and the concentrator 3 and a large amount of meter reading data is leaked in the server 4, the server 4 is in a communication abnormal period in which leakage occurs only by communication with the concentrator 3. Meter reading data can be acquired at once. As a result, the server 4 does not need to individually acquire the leaked meter reading data from each communication device 2 after the communication abnormality is resolved, and can shorten the time taken to acquire all the leaked meter reading data. Therefore, the meter reading data during the communication abnormality period can be efficiently acquired.

  In the present embodiment, the backup unit 35 (collection unit 351, storage unit 352, and notification unit 353) for backup meter reading is provided in the concentrator 3. The collection unit 351 transmits a meter reading request to each of the plurality of communication devices 2 during the occurrence of a communication abnormality between the server 4 and the concentrator 3, and is transmitted from each of the plurality of communication devices 2 as a response to the meter reading request. Meter reading data is collected and stored in the storage unit 352. That is, the communication device 2 only needs to transmit meter reading data to the concentrator 3 as a response to the meter reading request even during the backup meter reading, as in the case of the periodic meter reading. Therefore, the existing communication device can be used without changing the specifications. it can.

  Further, when receiving a backup request from the server 4, the notifying unit 353 transmits backup data to the server 4 as a response to the backup request. Therefore, even if the server 4 fails to acquire backup data from the concentrator 3, it can reliably acquire necessary backup data by transmitting a backup request.

(Embodiment 2)
The meter-reading system 1 of this embodiment is the point by which the collection part 351 collects meter-reading data by an event drive system, and the meter-collection part 351 transmits a meter-reading request | requirement to each of several communication apparatuses 2, and meter-reading by a polling system It differs from the meter-reading system 1 of Embodiment 1 which collects data. Hereinafter, the same configurations as those of the first embodiment are denoted by common reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

  In this embodiment, when the communication device 2 receives a meter reading request from the server 4, a normal mode in which meter reading data is transmitted to the server 4 as a response to the meter reading request, and an emergency mode in which meter reading data is actively transmitted to the concentrator 4. These two operation modes can be switched. The communication device 2 normally operates in the normal mode, and shifts to the emergency mode when receiving a cutoff notification from the concentrator 3, and shifts to the normal mode when receiving a recovery notification from the concentrator 3.

  The collection unit 351 collects and stores meter-reading data transmitted from the plurality of communication devices 2 that have shifted to the emergency mode by transmitting a cutoff notification to the plurality of communication devices 2 when a communication abnormality between the server 4 and the concentrator 3 occurs. The unit 352 is configured to store the information. In other words, the concentrator 3 transmits a cutoff notification all at once to a plurality of communication devices 2 under its management in order to collect meter reading data in an event-driven manner when a communication abnormality with the server 4 occurs. The operation mode of all communication devices 2 is shifted to the emergency mode. Accordingly, each communication device 2 actively transmits meter-reading data to the concentrator 3, so that the collection unit 351 receives information from each of the plurality of communication devices 2 during the occurrence of the communication abnormality between the server 4 and the concentrator 3. The meter reading data to be transmitted can be collected. When the communication abnormality between the server 4 and the concentrator 3 is resolved, the collection unit 351 simultaneously transmits a recovery notification to the plurality of communication devices 2 and shifts the operation mode of all these communication devices 2 to the normal mode.

  Note that the collection unit 351 is not limited to the configuration in which the cutoff notification and the recovery notification are transmitted to the plurality of communication devices 2 under management all at once by multicast, and the unicast is performed for each of the plurality of communication devices 2. May be configured to transmit individually.

  Here, the communication device 2 operating in the emergency mode requests a meter reading when a predetermined meter reading time (for example, 0:00, 0:30, 1:00,...) Is reached as in the case of the periodic meter reading. The meter reading data is automatically transmitted to the concentrator 3 even if it is not received. At this time, the communication device 2 reads the meter reading data, for example, based on an identifier (meter number) unique to the smart meter 6 or randomly so that the timing for transmitting the meter reading data differs for each of the communication devices 201, 202,. Determine when to send data.

  Next, operation | movement of the meter-reading system 1 of this embodiment is demonstrated with reference to FIG.

  When the communication device 2 is in the normal mode, the server 4 sends a meter reading request for acquiring meter reading data to the communication devices 201, 202,. It transmits sequentially (S101, S103). Receiving the meter reading request, the communication devices 201, 202,... 20n sequentially transmit meter reading data to the server 4 via the concentrator 3 (S102, S104). Thus, at the time of periodic meter reading, the server 4 sequentially acquires meter reading data from the plurality of communication devices 201, 202,... 20n via the concentrator 3.

  On the other hand, when a communication abnormality occurs between the server 4 and the concentrator 3 (S105), the concentrator 3 broadcasts a cutoff notification to the plurality of communication devices 201, 202,... 20n according to the determination result of the determination unit 34 (S106). As a result, the operation mode of each of the communication devices 201, 202,... 20n is switched from the normal mode to the emergency mode (S107). In the emergency mode, the communication devices 201, 202,... 20n automatically transmit the meter reading data sequentially to the concentrator 3 when the current time becomes the regular meter reading time (S108, S109). At this time, the concentrator 3 stores the meter reading data received from the communication devices 201, 202,... 20n in the storage unit 352 as backup data in the collection unit 351 without transferring the data to the server 4 (S110).

  When the communication abnormality between the server 4 and the concentrator 3 is resolved and communication is restored (S111), the concentrator 3 transmits a restoration notice to the plurality of communication devices 201, 202,... 20n simultaneously (S112). As a result, the communication devices 201, 202,... 20n are all switched from the emergency mode to the normal mode (S113). At this time, the concentrator 3 further transmits the backup data stored in the storage unit 352 to the server 4 by the notification unit 353 during the communication abnormality period (S114).

  If the backup data transmitted from the notification unit 353 cannot be normally received due to the communication status or the like, the server 4 transmits a backup request to the concentrator 3 after a certain period of time has elapsed after the communication abnormality is resolved, and the response As a backup data.

  According to the meter-reading system 1 of this embodiment demonstrated above, the collection part 351 transmits the interruption | blocking notification to the some communication apparatus 2 at the time of communication abnormality between the server 4-concentrator 3, and all these communication apparatuses. The operation mode 2 is shifted to the emergency mode. As a result, each communication device 2 actively transmits meter reading data to the concentrator 3, so that the collection unit 351 does not transmit a meter reading request during the occurrence of a communication abnormality between the server 4 and the concentrator 3. Meter reading data can be collected from the communication device 2. Therefore, the concentrator 3 can reduce the communication traffic with the communication device 2.

  Other configurations and functions are the same as those of the first embodiment.

(Embodiment 3)
The meter reading system 1 of the present embodiment is different from the meter reading system 1 of the first embodiment in that a backup unit for backup meter reading is provided in a specific communication device 2 instead of the concentrator 3. Hereinafter, the same configurations as those of the first embodiment are denoted by common reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

  Here, the specific communication device 2 is an arbitrary communication device 2 selected from the plurality of communication devices 2 under the control of the concentrator 3, but the communication device 2 with the shortest communication distance from the concentrator 3. Preferably there is. For example, in the case of the housing complex 10, the specific communication device 2 is preferably the communication device 2 (the communication device 201 in FIG. 4) connected to the position closest to the concentrator 3 on the trunk line of the distribution line L1. Further, in the case of using multi-hop communication that relays data through a plurality of communication devices 2 for communication between the concentrator 3 and the communication device 2, the specific communication device 2 determines the number of hops from the concentrator 3. It is desirable that the communication device 2 is the highest-order communication device that minimizes.

  The specific communication device 2 is configured to receive a determination result from the determination unit 34 from the concentrator 3. The specific communication device 2 and the other communication devices 2 are a common device, and whether or not the communication device 2 is a specific communication device 2 is set according to the state of a setting switch (not shown) provided in each device. That is, for example, when the meter reading system 1 is introduced, an operator can cause the communication device 2 to function as a specific communication device 2 by operating a setting switch of an arbitrary communication device 2. The specific communication device 2 is not limited to one, and may be a plurality.

  Note that the communication device 2 is not limited to the setting by the setting switch, and may be configured to switch whether or not the communication device 2 is a specific communication device by a switching signal from the server 4 or a maintenance terminal (not shown), for example. Good. The maintenance terminal here has a communication function capable of communicating with the communication device 2 only at a short distance of several meters, and is generally carried by an operator such as an electric power company to communicate with the measuring instrument 5 and the communication terminal 2. Used for maintenance and inspection of the device 2. In this case, the operator can determine which communication device 2 functions as the specific communication device 2 by operating the server 4 or the maintenance terminal.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, meter reading data is collected instead of the server 4 during the period of occurrence of the communication abnormality between the server 4 and the concentrator 3, and the collected meter reading data is stored in the server 4 when the communication abnormality is resolved. The backup unit 24 for transmission is provided in the communication device 201. The configurations of the communication devices 2 other than the specific communication device 201 are the same as those of the communication device 2 illustrated in FIG.

  The backup unit 24 includes a collection unit 241, a storage unit 242, and a notification unit 243. Regarding the basic configuration and functions, the collection unit 241 is the “collection unit 351” of the first embodiment, the storage unit 242 is the “storage unit 352” of the first embodiment, and the notification unit 243 is the “notification unit” of the first embodiment. 353 ".

  That is, the collection unit 241 collects meter reading data from the plurality of communication devices 2 during the period of occurrence of communication abnormality between the server 4 and the concentrator 3. Here, the collection unit 241 detects the occurrence of a communication abnormality upon receiving a cutoff notification from the concentrator 3, and when a communication abnormality occurs, another communication (other than the specific communication device 201) in the same housing complex 10. Meter reading data is collected from all of the devices 2.

  The backup unit 24 stores the meter reading data collected by the collection unit 241 from the plurality of communication devices 2 in the storage unit 242 as backup data during the occurrence of the communication abnormality between the server 4 and the concentrator 3. At this time, the collection unit 241 stores the meter reading data of the specific communication device 201 itself in the storage unit 242 as backup data together with the meter reading data collected from the other communication device 2. The storage unit 242 stores the backup data in time series in association with the time collected by the collection unit 241. Note that the storage unit 242 may be assigned a part of a storage area of a memory (not shown) provided in the communication device 2.

  The notification unit 243 transmits the backup data stored in the storage unit 242 to the server 4 via the concentrator 3 when the communication abnormality is resolved. The notification unit 243 receives the recovery notification from the concentrator 3 and detects the cancellation of the communication abnormality. When the communication abnormality is resolved, the backup collected during this communication abnormality period (that is, stored in the storage unit 242). Data is transmitted to the server 4 via the concentrator 3.

  More specifically, in the present embodiment, as described in the second embodiment, the backup unit 24 collects meter reading data in an event-driven manner during the occurrence of a communication abnormality between the server 4 and the concentrator 3. It is configured.

  That is, when the communication device 2 receives a meter reading request from the server 4, a normal mode in which meter reading data is transmitted to the server 4 as a response to the meter reading request, and an emergency mode in which meter reading data is actively transmitted to a specific communication device 201. These two operation modes can be switched. The specific communication device 201 stores meter-reading data as backup data in its own storage unit 242 in the emergency mode.

  When the specific communication device 201 receives the cutoff notification from the concentrator 3 and shifts to the emergency mode, the collection unit 241 collects the meter reading data transmitted from the other plurality of communication devices 2 that have shifted to the emergency mode, and stores it in the storage unit 352. It is configured to memorize. When receiving a recovery notification from the concentrator 3, the specific communication device 201 transmits the backup data stored in the storage unit 242 to the server 4 via the concentrator 3 by the notification unit 243 and then shifts to the normal mode.

  Next, operation | movement of the meter-reading system 1 of this embodiment is demonstrated with reference to FIG.

  When the communication device 2 is in the normal mode, the server 4 sends a meter reading request for acquiring meter reading data to the communication devices 201, 202,. It transmits sequentially (S201, S203). Receiving the meter reading request, the communication devices 201, 202,... 20n sequentially transmit meter reading data to the server 4 via the concentrator 3 (S202, S204). Thus, at the time of periodic meter reading, the server 4 sequentially acquires meter reading data from the plurality of communication devices 201, 202,... 20n via the concentrator 3.

  On the other hand, when a communication abnormality occurs between the server 4 and the concentrator 3 (S205), the concentrator 3 broadcasts a cutoff notification to the plurality of communication devices 201, 202,... 20n according to the determination result of the determination unit 34 (S206). As a result, the communication devices 201, 202,... 20n are all switched from the normal mode to the emergency mode (S207). In the emergency mode, the communication devices 202,... 20n automatically transmit the meter reading data sequentially to the specific communication device 201 when the current time becomes the regular meter reading time (S208, S209). At this time, the specific communication device 201 stores the meter reading data received from the other communication devices 202,... 20n as backup data together with its own meter reading data in the collection unit 241 without transferring the meter reading data to the server 4. (S210).

  When the communication abnormality between the server 4 and the concentrator 3 is resolved and communication is restored (S211), the concentrator 3 transmits a restoration notification to a plurality of communication devices 201, 202,... 20n simultaneously (S212). At this time, the specific communication device 201 transmits the backup data stored in the storage unit 242 to the server 4 via the concentrator 3 in the notification unit 243 during the communication abnormality period (S213). Thereafter, the communication devices 201, 202,... 20n are all switched from the emergency mode to the normal mode (S214).

  Note that if the server 4 cannot normally receive the backup data transmitted from the notification unit 243 due to a communication status or the like, the server 4 transmits a backup request to the specific communication device 201 after a certain time has elapsed after the communication abnormality is resolved. As a response, backup data is acquired.

  Further, the backup unit 24 collects meter reading data by the polling method during the occurrence of the communication abnormality between the server 4 and the concentrator 3 as described in the first embodiment, not limited to the event driving method as described above. It may be configured as follows. In this case, the specific communication device 2 collects the meter reading data from the communication device 2 instead of the server 4 in the normal mode in which the meter reading data is transmitted to the server 4 as a response to the meter reading request when the meter reading request from the server 4 is received. The operation mode is configured to be switchable between two emergency modes. The specific communication device 2 normally operates in the normal mode, and shifts to the emergency mode when a communication abnormality occurs between the server 4 and the concentrator 3.

  And the specific communication apparatus 2 transmits a meter-reading request | requirement from the collection part 241 to each of the other several communication apparatuses 2 (other than the specific communication apparatus 2) in the same housing complex 10 in emergency mode. Each communication device 2 is configured to transmit meter reading data to the specific communication device 2 as a response to the meter reading request from the collection unit 241 of the specific communication device 2. That is, the collection unit 241 transmits a meter reading request to each of the other plurality of communication devices 2 during the occurrence of the communication abnormality between the server 4 and the concentrator 3, and the plurality of communication devices 2 as a response to the meter reading request. The meter reading data transmitted from each of these is collected and stored in the storage unit 242.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the specific communication apparatus 2 is comprised so that backup data may be transmitted to the server 4 with meter-reading data at the time of a periodic meter-reading. That is, the notification unit 243, when the communication abnormality between the server 4 and the concentrator 3 is resolved, when the specific communication device 2 receives a meter reading request from the server 4, is combined with normal meter reading data (for periodic meter reading). Then, the backup data stored in the storage unit 242 is transmitted to the server 4.

  Here, the notification unit 243 is configured to once transmit backup data to the server 4 when the communication abnormality between the server 4 and the concentrator 3 is resolved. Therefore, together with the meter reading data as a response to the meter reading request. Only unsent backup data is sent. Specifically, the notification unit 243 stores, in the storage unit 242, a flag indicating whether the meter reading data constituting the backup data is transmitted / not transmitted. The notification unit 243 transmits the backup data as a response to the meter-reading request at the time of regular meter reading only when transmission of a part or all of the backup data fails due to communication conditions or the like and unsent backup data remains.

  By the way, in addition to the above configuration, the meter reading system 1 of the present embodiment adopts the following configuration so that backup meter reading can cope with the occurrence of a communication abnormality between the concentrator 3 and the communication device 2. Yes.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the specific communication device 201 has a sub-determination unit 25 that determines whether there is a communication abnormality with the concentrator 3. The sub-determination unit 25 determines whether there is a communication abnormality between the concentrator 3 and the specific communication device 201 based on the reception status of the keep-alive signal transmitted from the concentrator 3 at regular intervals, for example. That is, the sub-determination unit 25 determines that there is no communication abnormality if the keep-alive signal can be normally received, and that there is a communication abnormality if the keep-alive signal cannot be normally received.

  Furthermore, the specific communication device 201 collects meter reading data instead of the server 4 during the occurrence of the communication abnormality with the concentrator 3, and transmits the collected meter reading data to the server 4 when the communication abnormality is resolved. A portion 26 is provided. The secondary backup unit 26 includes a secondary collection unit 261, a secondary storage unit 262, and a secondary notification unit 263.

  The sub-collection unit 261 collects meter reading data from the plurality of communication devices 2 during the occurrence of communication abnormality between the concentrator 3 and the specific communication device 201. Here, the sub-collection unit 261 detects the occurrence of the communication abnormality in response to the determination result of the sub-determination unit 25, and when the communication abnormality occurs, other sub-collection unit 10 (other than the specific communication device 201) is detected. ) Collect meter reading data from all of the communication devices 2.

  The secondary backup unit 26 stores the meter reading data collected from the plurality of communication devices 2 by the secondary collection unit 261 in the secondary storage unit 262 as backup data during the occurrence of the communication abnormality between the concentrator 3 and the specific communication device 201. To do. At this time, the sub-collection unit 261 stores the meter-reading data of the specific communication device 201 itself in the sub-storage unit 262 as backup data together with the meter-reading data collected from the other communication devices 2. The secondary storage unit 262 stores the backup data in time series in association with the time collected by the secondary collection unit 261. Note that a part of a storage area of a memory (not shown) provided in the communication device 2 may be allocated to the secondary storage unit 262.

  The sub notification unit 263 transmits the backup data stored in the sub storage unit 262 to the server 4 via the concentrator 3 when the communication abnormality is resolved. The notification unit 243 receives the determination result of the sub-determination unit 25 and detects the cancellation of the communication abnormality. When the communication abnormality is resolved, the notification unit 243 is collected during this communication abnormality period (that is, stored in the sub-storage unit 262). ) The backup data is transmitted to the server 4 via the concentrator 3.

  As with the backup unit 24, the secondary backup unit 26 collects meter reading data by the event driven method during the occurrence of communication abnormality between the concentrator 3 and the specific communication device 201, but collects the meter reading data by the polling method. It may be configured to collect. In the case of the event drive method, the specific communication device 201 is configured to transmit the cutoff notification and the recovery notification to the other communication device 2 according to the determination result of the sub-determination unit 25, and the other communication device 2 Switch operation mode in response to notification and recovery notification. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and each communication device 2 has a function of individually determining whether there is a communication abnormality between the concentrator 3 and the specific communication device 201, and the operation mode may be switched according to the determination result. .

  Next, an operation when a communication abnormality occurs between the concentrator 3 and the specific communication device 201 in the meter reading system 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  The operation (S301 to S304) at the regular meter reading is the same as the example (S201 to S204) in FIG.

  When communication abnormality occurs between the concentrator 3 and the specific communication device 201 (S305), all the communication devices 201, 202,... 20n are switched from the normal mode to the emergency mode according to the determination result of the sub-determination unit 25 (S306). ). In the emergency mode, the communication devices 202,... 20n automatically transmit the meter reading data sequentially to the specific communication device 201 when the current time becomes the regular meter reading time (S307, S308). At this time, the specific communication device 201 does not transfer the meter-reading data received from the other communication devices 202,... 20n to the server 4, and sub-stores it as backup data together with its own meter-reading data in the sub-collecting unit 261. The information is stored in the unit 262 (S309).

  When the communication between the concentrator 3 and the specific communication device 201 is restored (S310), the specific communication device 201 uses the sub notification unit 263 to store the concentrator 3 with the backup data stored in the sub storage unit 262 during the communication abnormality period. To the server 4 (S311). Thereafter, all the communication devices 201, 202,... 20n are switched from the emergency mode to the normal mode according to the determination result of the sub-determination unit 25 (S312).

  Note that if the backup data cannot be normally received due to the communication status or the like, the server 4 transmits a backup request to the specific communication device 201 when a certain time has elapsed after the cancellation of the communication abnormality, and receives the backup data as a response. The structure which acquires may be sufficient.

  According to the meter reading system 1 of the present embodiment described above, the backup unit 24 (collection unit 241, storage unit 242, and notification unit 243) for backup meter reading is provided in the specific communication device 2. Therefore, it is not necessary for the concentrator 3 to collect meter reading data and store it as backup data at the time of backup meter reading, and the resources of the concentrator 3 can be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, the specific communication device 2 collects meter reading data instead of the server 4 during the period of occurrence of the communication abnormality with the concentrator 3, and uses the collected meter reading data as a server when the communication abnormality is resolved. 4 has a secondary backup unit 26 for transmission to the network. As a result, even during the period of occurrence of communication abnormality between the concentrator 3 and the specific communication device 2, if the periodic meter reading by the server 4 fails, backup meter reading for complementing the missing meter reading data becomes possible. Therefore, even when communication abnormality occurs between the concentrator 3 and the specific communication device 2 and a large amount of meter reading data is leaked in the server 4, the server 4 is leaked only by communication with the specific communication device 2. The meter reading data during the abnormal communication period can be acquired at once. As a result, the server 4 does not need to individually acquire the leaked meter reading data from each communication device 2 after the communication abnormality is resolved, and can shorten the time taken to acquire all the leaked meter reading data. Therefore, the meter reading data during the communication abnormality period can be efficiently acquired.

  Furthermore, the specific communication device 2 is configured to transmit backup data to the server 4 together with the meter reading data at the time of periodic meter reading. Therefore, the notification unit 243 transmits unsent backup data together with meter-reading data as a response to a meter-reading request at the time of periodic meter-reading even if transmission of part or all of the backup data fails due to communication conditions or the like. Can do.

  In the meter reading system 1 of the present embodiment, the function of the backup meter reading during the occurrence of the communication abnormality between the concentrator 3 and the specific communication device 2 is not essential, and the sub determination unit 25 and the sub backup unit 26 are omitted. It may be. In this case, the specific communication device 2 collects meter reading data instead of the server 4 only during the period of occurrence of the communication abnormality between the server 4 and the concentrator 3, and stores the collected meter reading data to the server 4 when the communication abnormality is resolved. Will be sent.

  Other configurations and functions are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  By the way, although the said Embodiments 1-3 demonstrated the case where the number of the concentrators 3 was one, the meter-reading system 1 is actually provided with the plurality of concentrators 3. FIG. When there are a plurality of concentrators 3, a backup unit is provided for each concentrator 3 (that is, each concentrator 3 or a specific communication device 2 managed by each concentrator 3), and performs a backup meter reading for each concentrator 3.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Meter-reading system 2,201,202, ... 20n Communication apparatus 25 Subjudgment part 261 Subcollection part 262 Substorage part 263 Subnotification part 3 Concentrator (master machine)
34 Judgment part 351,241 Collection part 352,242 Storage part 353,243 Notification part 4 Server 5 Measuring instrument 6 Smart meter

Claims (7)

A communication device attached to a measuring instrument that measures consumption of resources at a consumer, a parent device capable of communicating with the plurality of communication devices provided at the plurality of consumers, and a plurality of devices via the parent device A server that acquires meter reading data including the measurement result of the measuring instrument from the communication device, and the master unit has a determination unit that determines whether there is a communication abnormality with the server, and the master unit And one of the specific communication devices is collected by the collection unit that collects the meter-reading data from the plurality of communication devices during a period of occurrence of communication abnormality between the server and the parent device. wherein a storage unit for storing the meter reading data as backup data, the have a notification unit that transmits to the server a backup data stored in the storage unit in the communication abnormality eliminating time between the master unit and the server , The collection unit and the storage And the notification unit is provided in the base unit, and the communication device receives the meter reading request from the server, and transmits the meter reading data to the server as a response to the meter reading request; and It is possible to switch between an emergency mode in which meter-reading data is actively transmitted to the master unit, and is normally operated in a normal mode, and is configured to shift to an emergency mode upon receipt of a cutoff notification from the master unit. And when the communication abnormality occurs between the server and the base unit, the collection unit transmits the cutoff notification to the plurality of communication devices, and is transmitted from the plurality of communication devices that have shifted to the emergency mode. The meter reading system is configured to collect the meter reading data and store the data in the storage unit . A communication device attached to a measuring instrument that measures consumption of resources at a consumer, a parent device capable of communicating with the plurality of communication devices provided at the plurality of consumers, and a plurality of devices via the parent device A server that acquires meter reading data including the measurement result of the measuring instrument from the communication device, and the master unit has a determination unit that determines whether there is a communication abnormality with the server, and the master unit And one of the specific communication devices is collected by the collection unit that collects the meter-reading data from the plurality of communication devices during a period of occurrence of communication abnormality between the server and the parent device. A storage unit that stores the meter-reading data as backup data, and a notification unit that transmits the backup data stored in the storage unit to the server when a communication abnormality between the server and the parent device is resolved. , The collection unit and the storage And the notification unit is provided in the specific communication device, and the specific communication device is configured to receive a determination result in the determination unit from the parent device, and the notification unit Is configured to transmit the backup data stored in the storage unit to the server via the master unit when a communication abnormality between the server and the master unit is resolved. system. The specific communication device includes: a sub-determination unit that determines whether or not there is a communication abnormality with the parent device; and the meter reading data from another communication device during the occurrence of a communication abnormality with the parent device. Communication error between the sub-collection unit that collects the data, the sub-storage unit that stores the meter-reading data collected by the sub-collection unit as backup data, and the backup data stored in the sub-storage unit The meter-reading system according to claim 2, further comprising: a sub-notification unit that transmits to the server at the time of cancellation . When the communication device receives a meter reading request from the server, the communication device is configured to transmit the meter reading data to the server as a response to the meter reading request. When the specific communication device receives the meter-reading request from the server, the backup data stored in the storage unit is transmitted to the server together with the meter-reading data. The meter reading system according to claim 2 , wherein the meter reading system is configured as described above. 2. The notification unit is configured to transmit backup data stored in the storage unit to the server as a response to the backup request when receiving a backup request from the server. The meter-reading system of any one of -3. A communication device used in the meter-reading system according to claim 1 . A smart meter comprising: the communication device according to claim 6; and a measuring instrument that measures consumption of resources at a consumer .

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