Method for collecting meter reading data from AMR water smart meters

Abstract

To provide a method for collecting meter reading data from AMR water smart meters, which enables meter reading operations for collecting the meter reading data to be performed more efficiently.SOLUTION: A method for collecting meter reading data uses AMR water smart meters 11 to 14 having a first memory unit for storing water meter reading data for a specified date and time and a function for transmitting the meter reading data stored in the first memory unit via wireless communication, a receiver for receiving the meter reading data transmitted from the water smart meters, and mobile objects 71, 72 on which the receiver is mounted. The mobile object 71, 72 move to a location within 1 km of the water smart meter, the receivers on the mobile objects receive the meter reading data transmitted from the water smart meter, and the receivers on the mobile objects that has received the data move away from the location within 1 km.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for collecting meter reading data from an AMR (Automated Meter Reading) water smart meter. [Background technology]

[0002] Water utilities are mainly managed by municipalities. However, municipalities do not necessarily manage water utilities directly, and may outsource the work to private businesses. Therefore, in this specification, the term "water utilities" includes businesses outsourced by municipalities.

[0003] The water meter reading process is explained below. A water utility's meter reader goes to the residence of a water user with a handheld terminal, reads the reading on the analog water meter installed there, and inputs the reading into the handheld terminal. The previous reading on the analog water meter is stored in the handheld terminal, and the handheld terminal calculates the amount of water usage by calculating the difference between the previous reading and the current reading, and the water bill is calculated based on the amount of water usage. In this way, a meter reader visits the residence of a water user who has a water supply contract with the water utility and collects data on the water usage and water bill of the water user. A related technology is described in Patent Document 1.

[0004] However, due to the declining population in Japan, it is becoming more difficult to secure meter readers. In addition, as the population declines, the overall amount of water usage also declines, and the total income from water charges for water utilities is also declining. Thus, the difficulty of securing meter readers and the problem of declining water charge income for water utilities are expected to become even more serious in the future.

[0005] Therefore, there is a demand for meter reading services that can collect meter reading data with fewer meter readers and for the cost of meter reading services to be reduced. In other words, there is a demand for more efficient meter reading services. Therefore, there is a demand for analog water meters to be replaced with smart water meters. AMI-type water smart meters are expensive and difficult to adopt, but AMR-type water smart meters, which are cheaper and do not depend on carrier communications, are thought to be easier to adopt. However, with AMR-type water smart meters, meter readers do not need to go to the point where they can see the readings on the meter, as with analog water meters, but they still need to go close to the meter. In other words, there is a demand for fewer meter readers than with current analog meters, but meter readers are still needed, so there is a demand for a method to reduce the number of meter readers. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2004-148522 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] Various aspects of the present invention aim to provide a method for collecting meter reading data from an AMR water smart meter, which enables meter reading work to be performed more efficiently by using an AMR water smart meter. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] Various aspects of the present invention are described below.

[0009] [1] An AMR water smart meter having a first memory unit that stores water meter reading data for a specified date and time and a function of transmitting the meter reading data stored in the first memory unit by wireless communication; A receiver that receives the meter reading data transmitted from the AMR water smart meter; A mobile body carrying the receiver; This is a meter reading data collection method that utilizes The moving object is at least one of a garbage collection vehicle, a parcel delivery vehicle, a postal vehicle, a parcel delivery person, a postal delivery person, which are outsourced by a water utility, a disabled person employed by the water utility, and an elderly person who is walking for health purposes and is requested by the water utility, A method for collecting meter reading data from an AMR water smart meter, characterized in that the mobile body moves to a location within 1 km of the water smart meter, the receiver mounted on the mobile body receives the meter reading data transmitted from the AMR water smart meter, and the mobile body on which the received receiver is mounted leaves the location within 1 km.

[0010] [2] In paragraph [1] above: A method for collecting meter reading data from AMR-type water smart meters, characterized by transferring the work previously done by meter readers to vehicles or persons moving for a different purpose, such as the mobile body, to collect meter reading data.

[0011] [3] In [1] or [2] above, A method for collecting meter reading data from an AMR-type water smart meter, characterized in that the meter reading data received by the receiver is stored in data storage on the cloud directly or via wireless communication, and the meter reading data stored in the data storage on the cloud is received directly or via wireless communication by a water smart meter meter reading management device.

[0012] [4] In [1] or [2] above, The water smart meter reading and management device is connected directly or via an API or the like to a water billing system owned by the water utility, The water smart meter reading and management device includes: A function (31a) of receiving the meter reading data received by the receiver directly or by wireless communication via a data storage on a cloud; A function (31b) for exporting the meter reading data received by the function (31a) to the water billing system; A method for collecting meter reading data from an AMR-based water smart meter, comprising:

[0013] [5] In paragraph [4] above: The water smart meter meter reading management device has a function (31c) of retaining the meter reading data received by the function (31a), thereby achieving the method for collecting meter reading data from an AMR-type water smart meter.

[0014] [6] In paragraph [4] above: The AMR water smart meter includes first to fourth AMR water smart meters, The receiver includes a first receiver and a second receiver; The moving body includes a first moving body and a second moving body, the first receiver is mounted on the first mobile body and the second receiver is mounted on the second mobile body; The first receiver receives meter reading data from each of the first and second water smart meters of the AMR system, The second receiver receives meter reading data of each of the third and fourth water smart meters of the AMR system, The water utility is a first water utility and a second water utility, The water rate system includes a first water rate system and a second water rate system manufactured by different manufacturers; The first water utility has the first water rate system, and the second water utility has the second water rate system; The function (31b) is a function of exporting meter reading data of each of the first and second water smart meters using the AMR method received by the function (31a) to the first water billing system, and exporting meter reading data of each of the third and fourth water smart meters using the AMR method received by the function (31a) to the second water billing system, The water smart meter reading and management device includes: A function (31c) for storing the meter reading data for the first water rate system and the meter reading data for the second water rate system; a function for converting the meter reading data to conform to the data formats of the first and second water rate systems as necessary when the function (31b) exports the meter reading data to the first and second water rate systems; A method for collecting meter reading data from an AMR-based water smart meter, comprising:

[0015] [7] In paragraph [6] above: The first AMR water smart meter and the second AMR water smart meter are manufactured by a first manufacturing company, and the third AMR water smart meter and the fourth AMR water smart meter are manufactured by a second manufacturing company; The first to fourth water smart meters of the AMR system are provided with marker data so that it is possible to identify which of the first and second water utilities the water smart meters belong to; The cloud comprises a data storage of each of a first cloud and a second cloud; The data storage on the first cloud stores meter reading data of each of the first and second water smart meters using the AMR method, The data storage on the second cloud stores meter reading data of the third and fourth water smart meters of the AMR system, The function (31a) is a meter reading data collection method for AMR-type water smart meters, characterized in that the water smart meter meter reading management device has a function of converting a data format when receiving meter reading data of each of the first and second water smart meters of the AMR type received by the first receiver if the meter reading data is different, and has a function of converting a data format when receiving meter reading data of each of the third and fourth water smart meters of the AMR type received by the second receiver if the meter reading data is different. Effect of the Invention

[0016] According to various aspects of the present invention, a method for collecting meter reading data from an AMR water smart meter can be provided that enables meter reading work to be performed more efficiently by using an AMR water smart meter. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a method for collecting meter reading data from an AMR-based water smart meter according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 2 is a schematic diagram showing details of first to fourth AMR water smart meters 11 to 14, first and second cloud-based data storages 21, 22, and first and second mobile objects 71, 72 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following description, and it is easily understood by those skilled in the art that the form and details of the present invention can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to the description of the embodiments shown below.

[0019] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a method for collecting meter reading data of an AMR water smart meter according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing details of the first to fourth AMR water smart meters 11 to 14, the first and second cloud data storages 21, 22, and the first and second mobile objects 71, 72 shown in Fig. 1. This meter reading data collection method is a method of collecting meter reading data by using AMR water smart meters 11 to 14, receivers 81, 82, and mobile objects 71, 72 carrying these receivers 81, 82.

[0020] The AMR (Automated Meter Reading) water smart meters 11-14 have a first memory unit (not shown) that stores water meter reading data for a specified date and time, and have the function of transmitting the meter reading data stored in this first memory unit via wireless communication.

[0021] The receiver 81 receives meter reading data transmitted from the AMR water smart meters 11, 12. In detail, the receiver 81 is brought to a place where the meter reading data transmitted from the AMR water smart meters 11, 12 can be received, and when the receiver 81 sends a signal to the AMR water smart meters 11, 12 by wireless communication, the meter reading data is transmitted from the AMR water smart meters 11, 12, and the meter reading data is received by the receiver 81. The receiver 81 is mounted on a mobile object 71, and by moving the mobile object 71, the receiver 81 can be brought to a place where the meter reading data transmitted from the AMR water smart meters 11, 12 can be received.

[0022] A mobile object 71 moves to a location within 1 km of the water smart meters 11, 12, and a receiver 81 mounted on the mobile object 71 receives the meter reading data transmitted from the AMR water smart meter 11. The mobile object 71 then moves away from the location within 1 km. By repeating this process of moving to a location within 1 km and then moving away from the location within 1 km, the receiver 81 accumulates the meter reading data transmitted from the AMR water smart meters 11, 12.

[0023] In this embodiment, in order to receive meter reading data transmitted from the AMR water smart meters 11, 12, the receiver 81 is to be located within 1 km of the water smart meters 11, 12; however, depending on the type of AMR water smart meters 11, 12 and the surrounding buildings and other environment around the installation location of the AMR water smart meters 11, 12, it may be necessary to get closer to within 500 m, 400 m, 300 m, 200 m, or 100 m.

[0024] Furthermore, the above meter reading data is, for example, data on the meter ID, the number of readings, and the date and time of the number of readings. The meter ID identifies the water user. The number of readings and the date and time of the number of readings identify the value of the water meter up to that date and time. As a result, by obtaining meter reading data every specified period, it is possible to identify the value of the water meter for every specified period. The predetermined period means a period of one minute or more and two months or less, and may be, for example, two weeks. If the meter reading data is stored in the AMR water smart meters 11, 12 once every two weeks, the mobile body 71 carrying the receiver 81 may also move to a location within 1 km of the water smart meters 11, 12 once every two weeks, receive the meter reading data transmitted from the AMR water smart meter 11 by the receiver 81 carried on the mobile body 71, and then move the mobile body 71 carrying the receiver 81 away from the location within 1 km.

[0025] The above-mentioned moving objects 71, 72 are at least one of postal vehicles 71a, 72a, parcel delivery vehicles 71b, 72b, garbage collection trucks 71c, 72c, postal workers 71d, 72d, parcel delivery workers 71e, 72e contracted by the water utility, disabled persons 71g, 72g employed by the water utility, and elderly people 71f, 72f who are walking for health purposes at the request of the water utility.

[0026] By mounting receivers 81, 82 on postal vehicles (bicycles, motorbikes, cars, etc.) 71a, 72a or parcel delivery vehicles 71b, 72b outsourced by the water utility, simply by performing postal delivery or parcel delivery operations, the receivers 81, 82 are naturally moved to a location within 1 km of the AMR water smart meters 11-14, meter reading data transmitted from the AMR water smart meters 11-14 is received, and the receivers 81, 82 move away from the location within 1 km, and this can be repeated. This allows the receivers 81, 82 to collect meter reading data.

[0027] By placing the receiver 81, 82 in the delivery bag of a postman 71d, 72d or a courier 71e, 72e who has been contracted by a water utility, the postman 71d, 72d or the courier 71e, 72e can simply perform their postal or courier delivery duties, and the receiver 81, 82 can receive and collect meter reading data, as described above.

[0028] By mounting receivers 81, 82 on garbage collection trucks 71c, 72c outsourced by the water utility, simply by performing garbage collection operations, the receivers 81, 82 are naturally moved to a location within 1 km of AMR water smart meters 11-14, meter reading data transmitted from AMR water smart meters 11-14 is received, and the receivers 81, 82 move away from the location within 1 km, and this can be repeated. This allows the receivers 81, 82 to collect meter reading data.

[0029] The disabled persons 71g, 72g employed by the water utility carry receivers 81, 82, and the disabled persons 71g, 72g move to a location within 1 km of the AMR water smart meters 11-14, the meter reading data transmitted from the AMR water smart meters 11-14 is received by the receivers 81, 82, and the disabled persons 71g, 72g move away from the location within 1 km, and this is repeated. This allows the receivers 81, 82 to collect meter reading data. This leads to the promotion of employment of the disabled persons 71g, 72g, and since they can be employed at a lower rate than conventional meter readers, it is expected that the cost of meter reading work for collecting meter reading data will be reduced.

[0030] The elderly person who is walking for health purposes at the request of the water utility carries the receiver 81, 82, and the elderly person 71f, 72f moves to a location within 1 km of the AMR water smart meter 11-14, the meter reading data transmitted from the AMR water smart meter 11-14 is received by the receiver 81, 82, and the elderly person 71f, 72f moves away from the location within 1 km, and this is repeated. In this way, the receiver 81, 82 can naturally collect meter reading data while the elderly person 71f, 72f is walking for health purposes. This leads to the promotion of the health of the elderly person 71f, 72f, and since it can be requested at a lower cost or no cost than a conventional meter reader, it is expected that the cost of meter reading work for collecting meter reading data can be reduced.

[0031] In addition, the work previously performed by meter readers is now transferred to vehicles or persons operating for other purposes, such as the above-mentioned mobile objects, to collect meter data. In other words, the garbage collection vehicles 71a, 72a, the parcel delivery vehicles 71b, 72b, the postal vehicles 71c, 72c, the parcel delivery personnel 71d, 72d, the postal delivery personnel 71e, 72e, the disabled persons 71f, 72f employed by the water utility, and the elderly people 71g, 72g who are walking for health purposes and are requested by the water utility function as the mobile bodies 71, 72, so that the meter reading work of collecting meter reading data can be performed even with a small number of meter readers, and the cost of the meter reading work can be reduced. In other words, the meter reading work can be performed more efficiently.

[0032] 1 and 2, the meter reading data received by the receivers 81 and 82 is stored in the data storages 21 and 22 on the cloud directly or via wireless communication. The meter reading data stored in the data storages 21 and 22 on the cloud can be received by the water smart meter meter reading management device 31 directly or via wireless communication.

[0033] The water smart meter meter reading and management device 31 is connected to a water billing system 41 owned by a water utility directly or via an API, etc. In detail, the water smart meter meter reading and management device 31 is connected to each of a first water billing system 41 owned by a first water utility and a second water billing system 42 owned by a second water utility directly or via an API, etc.

[0034] The water smart meter meter reading management device 31 has a function 31a of receiving meter reading data received by receivers 81, 82 directly or via wireless communication via data storages 21, 22 on the cloud, and a function 31b of exporting the meter reading data received by this function 31a to water billing systems 41, 42.

[0035] These functions 31a and 31b are functions of the water meter reading management system. The water smart meter meter reading management device 31 has a water smart meter meter reading management program that realizes the functions 31a and 31b.

[0036] In addition, the water smart meter meter reading management device 31 has a function 31c of storing the meter reading data received by the above function 31a. This function 31c is a function of the water meter reading management system. The water smart meter meter reading management device 31 has a water smart meter meter reading management program that realizes the function 31c.

[0037] The AMR water smart meter shown in Figures 1 and 2 has first to fourth AMR water smart meters 11 to 14, the receiver has first and second receivers 81, 82, and the mobile body has first and second mobile bodies 71, 72.

[0038] The first receiver 81 is mounted on the first mobile body 71, and the second receiver 82 is mounted on the second mobile body 72. The first receiver 81 receives meter reading data from each of the first and second water smart meters 11, 12 that use the AMR system, and the second receiver 82 receives meter reading data from each of the third and fourth water smart meters 13, 14 that use the AMR system.

[0039] As described above, the water utility according to this embodiment has the first and second water utility. The water rate system has the first and second water rate systems 41 and 42 manufactured by different manufacturers. As described above, the first water utility has the first water rate system 41, and the second water utility has the second water rate system 42.

[0040] The details of the above function 31b are a function to export the meter reading data of each of the first and second water smart meters 11, 12 using the AMR method received by the above function 31a to a first water billing system 41, and export the meter reading data of each of the third and fourth water smart meters 13, 14 using the AMR method received by the above function 31a to a second water billing system 42.

[0041] Further, the details of the above-mentioned function 31c are a function for holding meter reading data for the first water billing system 41 and meter reading data for the second water billing system 42. In addition, the water smart meter meter reading management device 31 has a function of converting the meter reading data to match the data format of each of the first and second water rate systems 41, 24 as necessary when exporting the meter reading data to the first and second water rate systems 41, 42 by the above function 31b. The reason for having this function is that when the company (manufacturer) that manufactured the first water rate system 41 is different from the company (manufacturer) that manufactured the second water rate system 42, or when the companies (manufacturers) that manufactured each of the first to fourth water smart meters 11, 12, 13, 14 of the AMR system are different from each other, the data format of the meter reading data may also be different. Even in such cases, since the water smart meter meter reading management device 31 has a function of converting the meter reading data to match the data format of each of the first and second water rate systems 41, 42, it becomes possible to easily introduce the first to fourth water smart meters 11, 12, 13, 14 of the AMR system to each of the first and second water rate systems 41, 42.

[0042] For example, the first AMR water smart meter 11 and the second AMR water smart meter 12 are manufactured by a first manufacturing company, and the third AMR water smart meter 13 and the fourth AMR water smart meter 14 are manufactured by a second manufacturing company. The first to fourth AMR water smart meters 11 to 14 have marker data added so that it can be identified which of the first and second water utilities the water smart meter belongs to.

[0043] The cloud has first and second cloud data storages 21 and 22, respectively. The data storage 21 on the first cloud stores meter reading data of the first and second water smart meters 11 and 12 that use the AMR system, and the data storage 22 on the second cloud stores meter reading data of the third and fourth water smart meters 13 and 14 that use the AMR system.

[0044] The function 31a has a function of converting the data format when the meter reading data of each of the first and second water smart meters 11 and 12 of the AMR system received by the first receiver 81 is different from that of the data storage 21 on the first cloud, and has a function of converting the data format when the meter reading data of each of the third and fourth water smart meters 13 and 14 of the AMR system received by the second receiver 82 is different from that of the data storage 22 on the second cloud. The reason for having such a function is that when the first and second water smart meters 11 and 12 of the AMR system and the third and fourth water smart meters 13 and 14 of the AMR system are manufactured by different companies (manufacturers), the data formats of the meter reading data are also different from each other, so that the different data formats are converted into a unified data format and stored by the meter reading data storage function 31c of the water smart meter meter reading management device 31 described above.

[0045] The water smart meter meter reading management device 31 also has a function 31d that calculates the water usage for a specified period of the water user at the residence where the water smart meter 11, 12, 13, 14 is installed according to usage calculation logic using the meter reading data received by the above function 31a, and a function 31e that calculates the water charge for the water user for a specified period according to charge calculation logic using a charge table from the water usage calculated by this function 31d. These usage calculation function 31d and charge calculation function 31e are functions of the water meter reading management system. The water smart meter meter reading management device 31 has a water smart meter meter reading management program that realizes the usage calculation function 31d and charge calculation function 31e.

[0046] In this embodiment, a case is described in which first and second water bill systems 41, 42 owned by two water utilities (first and second water utilities) are connected to the water smart meter meter reading management device 31 directly or via an API, etc., but one water bill system owned by one water utility may be connected to the water smart meter meter reading management device 31 directly or via an API, etc., and three or more water bill systems owned by three or more water utilities may be connected to the water smart meter meter reading management device 31 directly or via an API, etc.

[0047] In this embodiment, a case is described in which there are four AMR water smart meters (first to fourth AMR water smart meters 11, 12, 13, and 14), but the present invention can also be applied to cases in which there are one to three AMR water smart meters or five or more AMR water smart meters.

[0048] In this embodiment, a case where there are two clouds (a first and a second cloud) will be described, but the present invention can also be applied to a case where there is one cloud or three or more clouds.

[0049] The water smart meter meter reading management device 31 also has a function 31f that notifies water users of the water usage and water charges for a given period of time of the water users at the residences where the first to fourth water smart meters 11, 12, 13, and 14 of the AMR system are installed by SMS, email, or LINE, calculated based on the meter reading data stored by the meter reading data storage function 31c. This function 31f may also include a function to notify a notice by LINE. This can increase convenience for water users.

[0050] In this embodiment, as described above, the water usage and water charge are calculated by the water smart meter meter reading and management device 31, but this is not limited to this and may be calculated by each of the first and second water charge systems 41, 42. The water smart meter meter reading and management device 31 receives the data on the water usage and water charge calculated by each of the first and second water charge systems 41, 42, and can notify the water users of the water usage and water charge for a specified period of time at the residences where the first to fourth water smart meters 11, 12, 13, 14 are installed by SMS, email, or LINE.

[0051] The water rate systems 41, 42 are configured to be able to transmit and receive data (e.g., meter reading schedules and meter reading results) to and from a terminal (e.g., handheld terminal) 61 equipped with usage calculation logic 61a and rate calculation logic 61b. This terminal 61 has a function whereby a meter reader inputs values ​​from a water analog meter 51 at predetermined intervals. The water smart meter meter reading management device 31 can thus be linked to the water rate system 41 that can transmit and receive data from the terminal 61. In other words, the water smart meter meter reading management device 31 can easily coexist with the water rate system 41 that can transmit and receive data from the terminal 61. Therefore, the AMR water smart meters 11, 12, 13, 14 can easily be linked to the water rate systems 41, 42 that each water utility has independently. The reason for allowing the coexistence of traditional meter reading services by meter readers using handheld terminals in this way is that it is difficult for a water utility to replace all of its analog water meters with AMR water smart meters at once, so allowing coexistence makes it easier to introduce AMR water smart meters 11, 12, 13, 14.

[0052] The water smart meter meter reading and management device 31 has a portal site 31g. In detail, the water smart meter meter reading and management device 31 has a function of posting on the portal site 31g the water usage and water charges for a predetermined period of time of water users at residences where the first to fourth water smart meters 11, 12, 13, and 14 of the AMR system are installed, which are calculated based on the meter reading data stored by the meter reading data storage function 31c, and enabling the water users to view the water usage and water charges for the predetermined period by accessing the portal site 31g. This can improve convenience for water users.

[0053] In the present embodiment, as described above, the water usage and water charge are calculated by the water smart meter meter reading and management device 31, but this is not limited thereto, and the water usage and water charge may be calculated by each of the first and second water charge systems 41, 42. The water smart meter meter reading and management device 31 receives the data on the water usage and water charge calculated by each of the first and second water charge systems 41, 42, and can post the water usage and water charge for a predetermined period of time of water users at the residences where the first to fourth water smart meters 11, 12, 13, 14 are installed, on the portal site 31g.

[0054] In addition, the portal site 31g may have functions that water users can access to check the history of water usage and water charges, start and stop water usage, change their address, apply for direct debit, and view notices to water users. This can further increase convenience for water users.

[0055] The water smart meter meter reading management device 31 may have a function of diagnosing the occurrence of a water leak based on the meter reading data stored by the meter reading data storage function 31c. In detail, the predetermined period of the usage calculation function 31d is, for example, within two weeks, and the water smart meter meter reading and management device 31 may have a memory unit that stores data on the water usage for each predetermined period calculated by the usage calculation function 31d, and a function 31h that diagnoses that a water leak has occurred when the water usage for the latest predetermined period stored by the memory unit is a predetermined amount higher than the water usage for any predetermined period before the latest predetermined period. This water leakage diagnosis function 31h enables the water smart meter meter reading and management device 31 to determine whether a water leak has occurred. This makes it possible to reduce the waste of tap water and prevent water users from paying unnecessarily high water rates. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 11 The first AMR water smart meter 12 Second AMR water smart meter 13 The third AMR water smart meter 14 The fourth AMR water smart meter 21 No. 1 cloud data storage 22 Data storage on the second cloud 31 Water smart meter reading and management device 31a Function to receive meter reading data received by the receiver via data storage on the cloud 31b Ability to export meter reading data to water billing system 31c Meter reading data retention function 41 The First Water Tariff System 42 The second water rate system 71 First Mobile Unit 72 Second Mobile Unit 71a,72a Garbage truck 71b,72b Delivery vehicle 71c, 72c Postal car 71d,72d Courier delivery person 71e,72e Postman 71f,72f Disabled 71g, 72g Elderly 81 First Receiver 82 Second Receiver

Claims

1. a water smart meter of an AMR system having a first memory unit for storing meter reading data of a water meter at a specified date and time and having a function of transmitting the meter reading data stored in the first memory unit by wireless communication; A receiver that receives the meter reading data transmitted from the AMR water smart meter; A mobile body carrying the receiver; This is a meter reading data collection method that utilizes The moving object is at least one of a garbage collection vehicle, a parcel delivery vehicle, a postal vehicle, a parcel delivery person, a postal delivery person, which are outsourced by a water utility, a disabled person employed by the water utility, and an elderly person who is walking for health purposes and is requested by the water utility, A method for collecting meter reading data from an AMR water smart meter, characterized in that the mobile body moves to a location within 1 km of the water smart meter, the receiver mounted on the mobile body receives the meter reading data transmitted from the AMR water smart meter, and the mobile body on which the received receiver is mounted moves away from the location within 1 km.

2. In claim 1, A method for collecting meter reading data from AMR-type water smart meters, characterized in that meter reading data is collected by transferring the work previously done by meter readers to a vehicle or person moving for a different purpose, such as the mobile body.

3. In claim 1 or 2, A method for collecting meter reading data from an AMR-type water smart meter, characterized in that the meter reading data received by the receiver is stored in data storage on the cloud directly or via wireless communication, and the meter reading data stored in the data storage on the cloud is received by a water smart meter meter reading management device directly or via wireless communication.

4. In claim 1 or 2, The water smart meter reading and management device is connected directly or via an API or the like to a water billing system owned by the water utility, The water smart meter reading and management device includes: A function (31a) of receiving the meter reading data received by the receiver directly or by wireless communication via a data storage on a cloud; A function (31b) for exporting the meter reading data received by the function (31a) to the water billing system; A method for collecting meter reading data from an AMR type water smart meter, comprising:

5. In claim 4, The water smart meter meter reading management device 31 has a function (31c) of retaining the meter reading data received by the function (31a), in accordance with an AMR type water smart meter meter reading data collection method.

6. In claim 4, The AMR water smart meter includes first to fourth AMR water smart meters, The receiver includes a first receiver and a second receiver; The moving body includes a first moving body and a second moving body, the first receiver is mounted on the first mobile body and the second receiver is mounted on the second mobile body; The first receiver receives meter reading data of each of the first and second water smart meters of the AMR system, The second receiver receives meter reading data of each of the third and fourth water smart meters of the AMR system, The water utility is a first water utility and a second water utility, The water rate system includes a first water rate system and a second water rate system manufactured by different manufacturers; The first water utility has the first water rate system, and the second water utility has the second water rate system; The function (31b) is a function of exporting meter reading data of each of the first and second water smart meters of the AMR system received by the function (31a) to the first water billing system, and exporting meter reading data of each of the third and fourth water smart meters of the AMR system received by the function (31a) to the second water billing system, The water smart meter reading and management device includes: A function (31c) for storing the meter reading data for the first water rate system and the meter reading data for the second water rate system; a function for converting the meter reading data to conform to the data formats of the first and second water rate systems as necessary when the function (31b) exports the meter reading data to the first and second water rate systems; A method for collecting meter reading data from an AMR type water smart meter, comprising:

7. In claim 6, The first AMR water smart meter and the second AMR water smart meter are manufactured by a first manufacturing company, and the third AMR water smart meter and the fourth AMR water smart meter are manufactured by a second manufacturing company, The first to fourth water smart meters of the AMR system are provided with marking data so that it is possible to identify which of the first and second water utilities the water smart meters belong to; The cloud includes a first cloud and a second cloud data storage, The data storage on the first cloud stores meter reading data of the first and second water smart meters of the AMR system, The data storage on the second cloud stores meter reading data of the third and fourth water smart meters of the AMR system, The function (31a) is a meter reading data collection method for an AMR type water smart meter, characterized in that the water smart meter meter reading management device has a function of converting a data format when receiving meter reading data of each of the first and second water smart meters of the AMR type received by the first receiver if the meter reading data is different, and has a function of converting a data format when receiving meter reading data of each of the third and fourth water smart meters of the AMR type received by the second receiver if the meter reading data is different.

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