Communication device

Abstract

To provide a communication device that can receive indicator value information at a plurality of types of water meters and transmit the information to an external apparatus.SOLUTION: A communication device includes a first communication unit that has a communication interface for each type of water meter having a predetermined activation message method and acquires indicator value information of the water meter through wired communication, and a second communication unit that transmits the indicator value information received by the first communication unit to an external apparatus via wireless communication compliant with the Wi-SUN HAN (Home Area Network (R)) or Wi-SUN Enhanced HAN (Home Area Network) standard, or wireless communication compliant with the Wi-SUN FAN (Field Area Network) standard, or wireless communication compliant with the Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity (R)) standard.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a communication device. [Background technology]

[0002] In a relay transmission device to which a centralized meter reading device and a plurality of meters with communication functions are connected and which relays meter readings by the centralized meter reading device for the plurality of meters, the plurality of meters include a plurality of types of meters with different communication speeds and / or data structures, the relay transmission device comprises a centralized meter reading device communication circuit for transmitting and receiving transmission signals to and from the centralized meter reading device, a meter communication circuit having a communication interface for each type of meter and transmitting and receiving transmission signals to and from the plurality of types of meters, and a control unit for controlling communication from a source device corresponding to either the centralized meter reading device or the meter to a destination device corresponding to the other via the centralized meter reading device communication circuit and the meter communication circuit, and the control unit controls communication between the source device and the destination device via the centralized meter reading device communication circuit and the meter communication circuit, A relay transmission device is known which has a conversion determination means for determining whether or not conversion of the communication speed and / or data structure is necessary based on the type of communication interface with which communication is to be performed when receiving data via a communication circuit on the device side and transmitting it to a destination device via a communication circuit on the destination device side out of the centralized meter reading device communication circuit and the meter communication circuit, a communication conversion means for converting the communication speed of a transmission signal received from a source device to match the communication speed of the destination device by controlling the waveform length of the transmission signal received from the communication circuit on the source device side if the conversion determination means determines that conversion of the data structure is necessary, and a data conversion means for converting the data structure of the transmission signal received from the source device to match the data structure of the destination device if the conversion determination means determines that conversion of the communication speed and data structure is unnecessary, and which controls the transmission signal received via the communication circuit on the source device side to pass through as is and transmit it to the sending device via the communication circuit on the destination device side (Patent Document 1).

[0003] A smart meter communication device is also known which includes a smart meter communication unit having a communication module that communicates with a smart meter equipped with a power measurement function and a Wi-SUN (registered trademark) communication function, a data transmission unit that outputs power usage data obtained by communicating with the smart meter, a Wi-Fi communication unit for inputting the smart meter's ID and password from an external device, a communication control unit that controls the communication, and a communication operation unit that transitions the Wi-Fi communication unit from an off state to an on state, and which, when the communication control unit receives information about the smart meter's ID and password transmitted from an external device via the Wi-Fi communication unit that has been transitioned to the on state by operation of the communication operation unit, registers the information and initiates Wi-SUN (registered trademark) communication with the smart meter (Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2007-249893 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2019-106599 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The present invention receives indicator value information from a plurality of types of water meters and transmits it to an external device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, the communication device according to claim 1 comprises: a first communication unit that acquires, via wired communication, indication value information of a water meter having a predetermined activation message method; A second communication unit that transmits the guideline value information acquired by the first communication unit to an external device via wireless communication conforming to the Wi-SUN (Wireless Smart Utility Network, registered trademark) standard or wireless communication conforming to the Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity, registered trademark) standard. It is characterized by:

[0007] The invention described in claim 2 is the communication device described in claim 1, the first communication unit has a communication interface for each type of water meter and communicates with a plurality of types of water meters to acquire the guideline value information; It is characterized by:

[0008] The invention described in claim 3 is the communication device described in claim 2, The activation message method includes an 8-bit message method, a 5-bit message method and a pulse signal output method; It is characterized by:

[0009] The invention as set forth in claim 4 provides the communication device as set forth in claim 1, The second communication unit is switchable between wireless communication conforming to the Wi-SUN HAN (Home Area Network) or Wi-SUN Enhanced HAN (Home Area Network) standard and wireless communication conforming to the Wi-SUN FAN (Field Area Network) standard. It is characterized by:

[0010] The invention described in claim 5 is a communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The external device includes a relay transmission device having a wireless communication function conforming to the Wi-SUN (Wireless Smart Utility Network, registered trademark) standard or the Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity, registered trademark) standard and relaying data when a centralized meter reading device reads a water meter, or an EMS (Energy Management System) device controlling a load device installed in a consumer where the water meter is installed, and a power meter forming a multi-hop mesh network. It is characterized by: Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the invention recited in claim 1, guideline value information for a plurality of types of water meters can be received and transmitted to an external device.

[0012] According to the invention as recited in claim 2, communication can be performed in accordance with water meters using different communication methods.

[0013] According to the invention as recited in claim 3, communication can be performed in accordance with water meters of different activation message systems.

[0014] According to the invention as recited in claim 4, it is possible to switch and transmit a Wi-SUN communication profile between two systems, route A, IoT route, and route B.

[0015] According to the invention recited in claim 5, the guideline value information of the water meter can be transmitted to the outside via route A, route IoT or route B. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a functional block diagram showing an overall configuration of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 10A to 10C are diagrams illustrating a conversion determination process for a transmission signal in a communication device according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 3](a) is a diagram explaining Wi-SUN HAN, Wi-SUN Enhanced HAN or Wi-SUN FAN communication on route B in a communication device, and (b) is a diagram explaining Wi-SUN FAN, Wi-SUN HAN or Wi-SUN Enhanced HAN communication on route A and IoT route in a communication device. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart showing a process flow for transmitting integrated flow rate data in the communication device according to the embodiment. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Next, specific examples of the embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. In the following explanation using the drawings, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and the ratios of the dimensions, etc. may differ from the actual ones, and in order to facilitate understanding, illustrations other than those of components necessary for the explanation have been omitted as appropriate.

[0018] (1) Configuration of communication device FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the overall configuration of a communication device 1 according to this embodiment, FIG. 2 is a diagram explaining the conversion decision processing of a transmission signal in the communication device 1 according to this embodiment, FIG. 3(a) is a diagram explaining Wi-SUN HAN, Wi-SUN Enhanced HAN or Wi-SUN FAN communication on route B in the communication device 1, and FIG. 3(b) is a diagram explaining Wi-SUN FAN, Wi-SUN HAN or Wi-SUN Enhanced HAN communication on route A and the IoT route in the communication device 1. The overall configuration and operation of the communication device 1 according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0019] (1.1) Overall configuration of communication device As shown in FIG. 1, the communication device 1 includes a first communication unit 11 that communicates with the water meter 2, a second communication unit 12 that communicates with an external device 3, a memory unit 13 that stores information used for various processes of the communication device 1, including indicator value information including accumulated water flow rate data received from the water meter 2 (hereinafter referred to as accumulated flow rate data), and a control unit 14 that performs overall control of the operation of the communication device 1.

[0020] Examples of water meters 2 include so-called water smart meters, such as electronic water meters that accumulate water flow rate data based on the rotational speed of a rotor that rotates according to the water flow rate; electromagnetic water meters that generate a magnetic field within the water flow path using an excitation coil, and calculate the water flow rate by generating an electromotive force according to the water flow rate from a pair of electrodes arranged at opposing positions on the outer periphery of the flow path; and ultrasonic water meters that have a pair of ultrasonic transducers arranged at offset positions upstream and downstream of the water flow path, transmit and receive ultrasonic waves from each other from the ultrasonic transducers on both sides, and calculate the water flow rate from the difference in propagation time of the ultrasonic waves.

[0021] Examples of the external device 3 include a power meter, a gateway device, an EMS (Energy Management System) device, etc., and the communication device 1 transmits the water flow rate accumulation data received by the first communication unit 11 via an IoT route or route A for communicating with the power meter via wireless communication compliant with the Wi-SUN (Wireless Smart Utility Network registered trademark) standard, and via route B for communicating with the gateway device or the EMS device.

[0022] EMSs can be classified into HEMS (Home Energy Management Systems), MEMS (Mansion Energy Management Systems), BEMS (Building Energy Management Systems), FEMS (Factory Energy Management Systems), and CEMS (Cluster / Community Energy Management Systems) depending on the objects they manage. HEMS is for homes, MEMS is for apartment buildings, BEMS is for commercial buildings, FEMS is for factories, and CEMS is for the entire region that includes all of the above.

[0023] (1.2) First communication section The first communication unit 11 is a communication circuit that transmits and receives transmission signals to and from the water meter 2, is wired-connected to the water meter 2 via a communication line 4, and receives integrated flow rate data from the water meter 2 in a predetermined activation message format. 2, the first communication unit 11 has a communication I / F corresponding to the type of activation message method (communication I / F) of the connected water meter 2, and communicates with the water meter 2 in accordance with the communication speed and data configuration of the water meter 2. Here, examples of the activation message method include, but are not limited to, an 8-bit message method, a 5-bit message method, and a pulse signal output method.

[0024] In addition, the first communication unit 11 converts the communication speed and data structure of a transmission signal received from an external device 3, as an example of a source device, to match the communication speed and data structure of the water meter 2, as necessary, based on the type of communication I / F of the activation message method that is the target of communication.

[0025] Here, if the communication I / F is of an 8-bit or 5-bit telegram format, bit configuration conversion is performed. Also, if the communication I / F is of a pulse signal output format, a pulse signal is received from the connected water meter 2, and the received pulse signal is accumulated in a non-volatile memory or the like (not shown) to obtain integrated flow rate data, which is then stored in the storage unit 13. On the other hand, if conversion of the transmission signal is not required, the transmission signal is output to the water meter 2 without data configuration conversion and communication speed conversion.

[0026] (1.3) Second communication section The second communication unit 12 has a communication module having a wireless communication function conforming to the Wi-SUN (Wireless Smart Utility Network, registered trademark) standard, and is configured to be switchable between wireless communication 12A conforming to the Wi-SUN HAN (Home Area Network) standard, wireless communication 12B conforming to the Wi-SUN Enhanced HAN (Home Area Network) standard, and wireless communication 12C conforming to the Wi-SUN FAN (Field Area Network) standard. As a result, the second communication unit 12 switches between the above-mentioned A route, IoT route, or B route, and periodically transmits the flow rate integrated data received from the water meter 2 by performing Wi-SUN communication with the power meter (A route, IoT route) or the gateway device or EMS device (B route) as the external device 3. Here, the periodic transmission means transmitting the flow rate integrated data, which is periodic meter reading information, at a fixed transmission period (periodic transmission period), and the periodic transmission period is, for example, any one of 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, and one day (24 hours), but is not limited thereto. Moreover, in response to a transmission request from the external device 3, the flow rate integrated data received from the water meter 2 is transmitted each time. Furthermore, the second communication unit 12 transmits various types of status information of the water meter 2 (such as abnormalities related to the flow measurement operation, the power supply state, etc.) to the cloud via the external device 3 on a regular or irregular basis.

[0027] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3(a), the second communication unit 12 performs wireless communication with a HEMS-GW (Home Energy Management System gateway), which is an example of an EMS device, in compliance with the Wi-SUN HAN, Wi-SUN Enhanced HAN or Wi-SUN FAN standard (route B), and transmits the flow rate accumulation data retrieved from the memory unit 13. In addition, as shown in Figure 3 (b), the second communication unit 12 performs wireless communication with the power meters that form the multi-hop mesh network in accordance with the Wi-SUN FAN, Wi-SUN HAN, or Wi-SUN Enhanced HAN standard (route A, IoT route), and transmits the flow rate accumulation data retrieved from the memory unit 13.

[0028] (1.4) Storage section The memory unit 13 stores the flow rate integrated data received from the water meter 2. Specifically, under the control of the control unit 14, data such as measurement information that associates the integrated amount of water flow rate with the measurement time is periodically received from the water meter 2 and stored. As a result, in the case of periodic transmission or when there is a transmission request from the external device 3, the most recent flow rate integrated data stored in the memory unit 13 can be transmitted to the external device 3 without waiting for a reply from the water meter 2. The data transmitted to the external device 3 is then deleted.

[0029] (1.5) Control section The control unit 14 has a processor including, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), and a random access memory (RAM), and performs overall control of the communication device 1. The control unit 14 causes the memory unit 13 to store the integrated amount of flow rate of the water meter 2 received via the first communication unit 11 in association with the time information. Furthermore, the control unit 14 calculates an integrated amount of flow rate for every 30 minutes, for example, and stores integrated flow rate information in which the integrated amount of flow rate is associated with the measurement date and measurement time in the storage unit 13. The control unit 14 also controls communication with the power meter via the above-mentioned route A and IoT route via the second communication unit 12, and controls communication with the gateway device or the EMS device via route B. The control unit 14 notifies the gateway device or the EMS device of a property value notification activation message including, for example, the measurement date, the measurement time (time information in hours, minutes, and seconds), and the integrated amount of flow rate via route B every 30 minutes.

[0030] (2) Operation of communication devices FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of a process for transmitting integrated flow rate data in the communication device 1. As shown in FIG. The communication device 1 of this embodiment stores the accumulated flow rate data received from the wired water meter 2 in the memory unit 13, and transmits the accumulated flow rate data to the external device 3 via wireless communication compliant with the Wi-SUN (Wireless Smart Utility Network registered trademark) standard at a regular transmission interval or upon receiving a transmission request from the external device 3. Here, three types of water meters 2 will be described, but are not limited to, an 8-bit telegram water meter 2A, a 5-bit telegram water meter 2B, and a pulse signal output water meter 2C. Similarly, three types of communication I / Fs included in the first communication unit 11 will be described, but are not limited to, an 8-bit telegram I / F 11A, a 5-bit telegram I / F 11B, and a pulse signal I / F 11C.

[0031] First, in step S101, the communication device 1 checks whether there is a transmission request from the external device 3 as a source device via the second communication unit 12 (S101). If there is a transmission request from the external device 3 (S101: Yes), in step S102, a conversion determination process for the activation message format is executed (S102). Specifically, when transmitting a transmission signal (8-bit message format, 5-bit message format, pulse signal output format) sent from the external device 3 to the water meter 2, conversion of the communication speed and / or data structure is executed in accordance with the type of the communication I / F 11A, 11B, 11C that is the communication target (S102).

[0032] Next, in step S103, it is determined whether the memory unit 13 holds flow rate integrated data to be transmitted to the external device 3 (S103). If the memory unit 13 holds flow rate integrated data (S103; Yes), in step S104, the flow rate integrated data called up from the memory unit 13 is transmitted to the external device 3 via the second communication unit 12 by wireless communication conforming to the Wi-SUN (Wireless Smart Utility Network registered trademark) standard (S104).

[0033] If the flow rate integrated data is not stored in the memory unit 13 (S103; No), the first communication unit 11 outputs a transmission signal to the water meter 2 (S105). Then, the first communication unit 11 transmits the flow rate integrated data received by the first communication unit 11 to the external device 3 via the second communication unit 12 by wireless communication conforming to the Wi-SUN (Wireless Smart Utility Network, registered trademark) standard (S106).

[0034] Here, if the communication speed and / or data structure of the transmission signal has been converted in step S102, the communication speed and / or data structure are converted again to match the activation message method of the external device 3 that has requested the transmission, and then the signal is transmitted. Furthermore, if the water meter 2 is a water meter 2C that uses a pulse signal output method, the first communication unit 11 receives a pulse signal, stores the received pulse signal in a non-volatile memory, and transmits the accumulated flow data obtained to the external device 3.

[0035] If there is no transmission request from the external device in step S101 (S101: No), the flow rate integrated data called up from the storage unit 13 is periodically transmitted to the external device 3 at the periodic transmission interval (S107).

[0036] The communication device 1 according to the present embodiment described above has a communication I / F corresponding to the type of connected water meter 2, and communicates with the wired connected water meter 2. This allows communication corresponding to water meters 2 of different activation message methods.

[0037] The water meter 2 also has a communication module with wireless communication function that complies with the Wi-SUN (Wireless Smart Utility Network, registered trademark) standard, and is configured to be switchable between wireless communication that complies with the Wi-SUN HAN or Wi-SUN Enhanced HAN standard and wireless communication that complies with the Wi-SUN FAN standard, and is capable of performing Wi-SUN (Wireless Smart Utility Network, registered trademark) communication with an external device 3 and transmitting integrated flow rate data received from the water meter 2 via either route A, IoT route or route B.

[0038] In the present embodiment, the second communication unit 12 has a communication module having a wireless communication function conforming to the Wi-SUN (Wireless Smart Utility Network, registered trademark) standard, and the communication device 1 is described as periodically transmitting flow rate integrated data received from the water meter 2. However, the second communication unit 12 may be configured as a WI-Fi module capable of wireless communication conforming to the Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity, registered trademark) method conforming to the international standard IEEE802.11, which is a standard for short-distance wireless communication using wireless signals in frequency bands such as 920 MHz and 2.4 GHz. By using WI-Fi communication, for example, the flow rate integrated data can be transmitted at a data transfer rate of up to 3.3 Mbps within a line-of-sight distance range of up to 2.3 km from an EMS device or a power meter. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1. Communication device 11...1st communication section, 11A, 11B, 11C...Communication I / F 12...2nd communication section, 12A...Wi-SUN HAN, 12B...Wi-SUN Enhanced HAN, 12C...Wi-SUN FAN 13...Storage section 14. Control section 2··· Water meter, 2A··· 8-bit telegram water meter, 2B··· 5-bit telegram water meter, 2C··· Pulse signal output water meter 3. External devices (power meters, gateway devices, EMS devices)

Claims

1. a first communication unit that receives, via wired communication, indication value information of a water meter having a predetermined activation message method; A second communication unit that transmits the guideline value information received by the first communication unit to an external device via wireless communication conforming to the Wi-SUN (Wireless Smart Utility Network, registered trademark) standard or wireless communication conforming to the Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity, registered trademark) standard. A communication device comprising:

2. the first communication unit has a communication interface for each type of water meter and communicates with a plurality of types of water meters to acquire the guideline value information; 2. The communication device according to claim 1 .

3. The activation message method includes an 8-bit message method, a 5-bit message method, and a pulse signal output method; 3. The communication device according to claim 2.

4. The second communication unit is switchable between wireless communication conforming to the Wi-SUN HAN (Home Area Network) or Wi-SUN Enhanced HAN (Home Area Network) standard and wireless communication conforming to the Wi-SUN FAN (Field Area Network) standard.

2. The communication device according to claim 1 .

5. The external device includes a relay transmission device having a wireless communication function conforming to the Wi-SUN (Wireless Smart Utility Network, registered trademark) standard or the Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity, registered trademark) standard and relaying when a centralized meter reading device reads a meter, or an EMS (Energy Management System) device controlling a load device installed in a consumer where the water meter is installed, and a power meter forming a multi-hop mesh network.

5. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second communication devices are connected to each other.

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