Centralized management system with system interoperability through data conversion

Abstract

To provide a centralized management system equipped with a centralized monitoring server for gas, water, and electricity that can efficiently support various communication protocols and data formats.SOLUTION: A communication unit 20 of a gas centralized monitoring server 10 of a gas centralized management system 1 includes a plurality of communication modules 21 provided corresponding to respective operator-side devices 6 and a data conversion unit 24. Each communication module 21 includes a data connector 22 and a communication control adapter 23. The data connector 22 has a communication function for performing data communication in compliance with a communication protocol used by an operator side with a preset operator-side device 6. The communication control adapter 23 converts reception data received by the data connector 22 into reception data in a common format, and hands over the reception data to a centralized monitoring unit 30. By adding a communication module 21, data communication with a provider-side device 6 with a different communication protocol is possible.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a centralized monitoring server that centrally monitors the usage of gas, water, and electricity at consumer homes via a communication network and provides the monitoring results to gas, water, and electricity supplier devices, and a centralized management system equipped with the centralized monitoring server. More specifically, the present invention relates to a centralized monitoring server that performs data communication with multiple supplier devices using different communication protocols. [Background technology]

[0002] Various types of centralized control systems are known. For example, a centralized gas control system that can collect gas usage fees on a prepaid basis has been proposed (Patent Document 1). Another gas control system displays gas usage fees as a web statement on the gas user's smartphone, eliminating the need for paper bills such as meter reading slips and invoices.

[0003] A centralized gas management system generally consists of a gas meter and a customer-side communication device installed at each gas customer's home, a gas supplier server installed at the gas supplier's site, and a central monitoring server operated by a management company entrusted with management by the gas supplier. The central monitoring server communicates with each gas supplier's customer-side server via the communication network provided by each communication supplier, obtains customer information about gas customers managed by each gas supplier, communicates with each gas customer's customer-side communication device based on the customer information, reads and monitors gas meters, and provides information such as meter reading and monitoring results and gas charges to each gas supplier's server via the communication network. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-173684 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Here, the data formats used in the gas supplier's gas management system, which includes the supplier's server installed on each gas supplier's side, differ from supplier to supplier. Furthermore, the communication protocols for data communication via the communication network may also differ. The centralized monitoring server of the centralized management system must be configured to enable data communication and data linkage with each supplier's system. Furthermore, each time a new gas supplier is entrusted with management, the centralized monitoring server must be updated to accommodate the newly added gas supplier's system. The same is true for centralized monitoring servers and systems that centrally monitor water or electricity usage via a communication network.

[0006] In view of this, the present invention aims to provide a centralized monitoring server for gas, water, and electricity that can efficiently support various communication protocols and data formats, and a centralized control system equipped with the centralized monitoring server. Also, by connecting multiple centralized control systems to the centralized monitoring server, it is possible to enable interoperability among consumer-side communication devices, prepaid gas control systems, or gas control systems equipped with web-based billing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides: A centralized monitoring server that performs data communication using a predetermined communication protocol with a gas, water, or electricity supplier's equipment or a plurality of centralized control systems, acquires consumer information regarding gas, water, or electricity consumers managed by each of the suppliers, monitors consumer conditions including the gas, water, or electricity usage status of each of the consumers based on the consumer information, and provides the monitoring results of each consumer to each of the supplier's equipment; a plurality of communication modules provided corresponding to the carrier-side devices; a data conversion unit; It is equipped with Each communication module includes a data connector and a communication control adapter; the data connector has a communication function for performing data communication with the pre-set carrier-side device according to a communication protocol used by the carrier-side device; the communication control adapter has a communication protocol conversion function for converting received data conforming to the communication protocol received by the data connector into received data in a predetermined common format, and converting transmitted data in the common format into transmitted data conforming to the communication protocol; The data conversion unit is characterized by having a data format conversion function that converts the received data converted to the common format by the communication control adapter into internal data that conforms to the internal format used inside the centralized monitoring server, and converts internal data for transmission in the internal format into transmission data in the common format.

[0008] The centralized control system for gas, water or electricity of the present invention further comprises: a centralized monitoring server having the above configuration operated by a management company; a company-side device or a plurality of centralized control systems operated by each of the gas, water, or electricity supply companies and connected to the centralized monitoring server; a consumer-side device that detects information including the usage status of gas, water, or electricity at each of the gas, water, or electricity consumers managed by each of the businesses and is communicatively connected to the centralized monitoring server; It is characterized by having: [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the centralized monitoring server and system of the present invention, by adding a communication module capable of data communication conforming to the required communication protocol to the centralized monitoring server, it is possible to easily accommodate new subscriptions to provider-side devices with different data formats or communication protocols, or multiple centralized management systems, and it becomes possible to mutually use consumer-side communication devices, management systems for prepaid gas, or management systems for gas with web details. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a centralized gas control system to which the present invention is applied. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the communication function of a centralized gas monitoring server of the centralized gas management system. [Figure 3] 10 is an explanatory diagram showing data linkage between the centralized gas monitoring server and a business-side device or a plurality of centralized control systems. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a centralized gas control system to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to centralized gas control systems, and can also be applied to centralized control systems for water and electricity.

[0012] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a gas centralized control system according to this embodiment. The gas centralized control system 1 includes a gas meter 3 and a consumer-side communication device 4 installed in each gas consumer's home 2(1), 2(2), 2(3), 2(4), etc., which are gas consumption locations, provider-side devices 6(1), 6(2), etc., installed on the side of each gas supplier 5(1), 5(2), etc., telecommunications supplier-side centralized control systems 8(1), 8(2), etc., installed on the side of each telecommunications supplier 7(1), 7(2), etc., and a gas central monitoring server 10 operated by a management company 9 entrusted with management by each gas supplier 5(1), 5(2), etc. In the following explanation, when there is no need to distinguish between gas consumer homes 2(1), 2(2)..., they will be referred to as gas consumer homes 2, and similarly, gas suppliers 5(1), 5(2)... will be referred to as gas suppliers 5, supplier-side equipment 6(1), 6(2)... will be referred to as supplier-side equipment 6, and similarly, telecommunications suppliers 7(1), 7(2)... will be referred to as telecommunications suppliers 7, and telecommunications supplier-side centralized control system 8(1), 8(2)... will be referred to as telecommunications supplier-side centralized control system 8.

[0013] At each gas consumer's home 2, gas can be supplied from an LP gas cylinder (not shown) to each gas appliance (heating appliance, stove, water heater, etc.) (not shown). The gas meter 3 is a so-called microcomputer gas meter. The gas meter 3 measures the gas flowing through an internal gas passage (not shown), and a control unit (not shown) mainly composed of a computer calculates the gas flow rate and integrated flow rate. The gas meter 3 performs typical telegram communication with the consumer-side communication device 4 via a communication cable (not shown), and transmits meter reading information (gas flow rate, integrated flow rate, etc.), makes meter calls, and performs various settings.

[0014] The consumer-side communication device 4, which is connected to the gas meter 3 when in use, includes a meter-side communication unit 4a that communicates with the gas meter 3 via a communication network, and an upper-level communication unit 4b that communicates with the upper-level gas central monitoring server 10. The consumer-side communication device 4 mediates two-way communication (meter call notifications, monitoring information including meter reading information, setting commands for the gas meter 3, etc.) between the gas meter 3 and the gas central monitoring server 10 via the meter-side communication unit 4a and the upper-level communication unit 4b.

[0015] Each gas supplier's device 6 installed at each gas supplier 5 includes a communication unit 61 that communicates with the gas central monitoring server 10 via a communication network, a control unit 62 that controls the operation of each unit, and a database 63. The database 63 stores information about each consumer to which gas is supplied.

[0016] Each telecommunications carrier-side centralized control system 8 installed in each telecommunications carrier 7 includes a communication unit 84 (for cooperation) that communicates with the consumer-side communication device 4 via the communication network, a communication unit 81 that communicates with the gas centralized monitoring server 10, a control unit 82 that controls the operation of each unit, a database 83, etc. The database 83 stores meter call notifications, monitoring information including meter reading information, various settings, and information about each consumer to which gas is supplied.

[0017] The gas centralized monitoring server 10 operated by the management company 9 includes a communication unit 20 that communicates with each consumer-side communication device 4, each provider-side device 6, and each telecommunications provider-side centralized control system 8, a centralized monitoring unit 30 that reads and monitors meter reading information from the gas meters 3 obtained via each consumer-side communication device 4, and a management unit (prepaid management unit) 40 that collectively manages customer information, gas usage fees, etc. The centralized monitoring unit 30 centrally monitors the gas usage status at each gas consumer's home 2. The centralized monitoring unit 30 includes a control unit 31 with a centralized monitoring function and a centralized monitoring database 32. The centralized monitoring database 32 stores customer (gas user) information, gas usage status for each customer, the operating status of each gas meter, and other information.

[0018] The management unit (prepaid management unit) 40 of the gas central monitoring server 10 includes a control unit 41 with a function for managing gas charges for prepaid and postpaid systems, a management database 42, and the like. The management database 42 stores information such as information on each gas supplier (gas company), customer information (consumer information) for each gas supplier, and the billing history of each customer. The customer information also includes information such as a customer code (central monitoring code or supplier-side management code) that has been registered in advance. Based on this information, the control unit 41 manages the identification information, billing information, payment information, and the like for each customer for each gas company. New customer information is registered in the gas central monitoring server 10 by the supplier-side device 6 of the gas supplier 5.

[0019] The visualization management unit 50 of the gas central monitoring server 10 includes a control unit 51 with the function of displaying gas usage charges and bills as online statements, a management database 52, and the like. The management database 52 stores information on each gas supplier (gas company), customer information (demand user information) for each gas supplier, and gas usage and billing information for each customer. The customer information also includes information such as a pre-registered customer code (central monitoring code or supplier-side management code). Based on this information, the control unit 51 manages the identification information and billing information for each customer for each gas company. New customer information is registered in the gas central monitoring server 10 from the supplier-side device 6 of the gas supplier 5 or the telecommunications supplier-side centralized control system 8.

[0020] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the portion of the communication unit 20 of the gas centralized monitoring server 10 that communicates with the carrier-side devices 6. The following describes communication with the carrier-side devices 6, but the same applies to communication with the telecommunications carrier-side centralized control system 8, so the description thereof will be omitted. The communication unit 20 of the gas centralized monitoring server 10 includes a plurality of communication modules 21(1), 21(2), 21(3), etc., each provided corresponding to one of the carrier-side devices 6, and a data conversion unit 24. Each of the communication modules 21(1), 21(2), 21(3), etc., includes a data connector 22 and a communication control adapter 23. These are functions realized by, for example, software. In the following description, when there is no need to distinguish between the communication modules 21(1), 21(2), 21(3), etc., they will be referred to as communication modules 21.

[0021] In each communication module 21, the data connector 22 has a communication function for performing data communication with a communication unit 61 of a predetermined carrier-side device 6 in a data format (WSDL, JSON, telegram, etc.) and communication protocol used by the carrier-side device 6. The communication control adapter 23 has a communication protocol conversion function for converting received data that complies with a predetermined communication protocol (SOAP, RestAPI, WebSocket, UDP, TCP (KHK), TCP (eDRX), etc.) received by the data connector 22 into received data in a predetermined common format, and for converting transmitted data in the common format into transmitted data that complies with the communication protocol used by the communication unit 61 of the carrier-side device 6.

[0022] The data conversion unit 24 has a data format conversion function that converts the received data converted into a common format by the communication control adapter 23 into internal data that conforms to the internal format used inside the gas centralized monitoring server 10, and converts the internal data for transmission that conforms to the internal format into transmission data in the common format.

[0023] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing data linkage between the utility-side device 6 and the gas central monitoring server 10. Data conforming to a preset data format and communication protocol is provided to the gas central monitoring server 10 from the communication unit 61 of the utility-side device 6 via a communication network. The communication unit 20 of the gas central monitoring server 10 receives the data via the data connector 22 of the communication module 21, which is pre-assigned to the communication unit 61 of the utility-side device 6. The communication control adapter 23 converts the received data into data in a common format and temporarily stores it in the internal memory 23a. The data in the common format is passed to the data conversion unit 24, which converts it into data conforming to the internal format used by the gas central monitoring server 10. The converted data is passed to the centralized monitoring unit 30 and registered in the centralized monitoring database 32. Alternatively, the centralized monitoring unit 30 transfers the data to the management unit 40 and registers it in the management database 42.

[0024] On the other hand, the data transmitted from the gas centralized monitoring server 10 to the business-side device 6 is transferred from the centralized monitoring unit 30 to the data conversion unit 24 of the communication unit 20, where it is converted from the internal format to data conforming to a common format, and then converted into transmission data conforming to the communication protocol used by the business-side device 6 in the communication control adapter 23 of the communication module 21, and transmitted to the business-side device 6 via the data connector 22.

[0025] In the gas central monitoring server 10 of the gas central control system 1 of this example, when a new business operator side device 6, for example, business operator side device 6(k) shown by imaginary lines in Figure 2, is added as a client, a communication module 21(k) that is compatible with the data format and communication protocol of the business operator side device 6(k) can be designed and added to the communication unit 20 of the gas central monitoring server 10 so that data communication and data linkage can be performed with the business operator side device 6(k) of the gas company in question.

[0026] The data connector 22 of the added communication module 21(k) has a communication function for communicating data with the new provider-side device 6(k) in accordance with the data format and communication protocol used by the new provider-side device 6(k), and the communication control adapter 23 has a communication protocol conversion function for converting received data received by the data connector 22 into received data in a predetermined common format and converting transmitted data in the common format into transmitted data in accordance with the communication protocol used by the new provider-side device 6(k). The data conversion unit 24 only needs to have its settings changed so that it can exchange data with the newly added communication module 21(k). There is essentially no need to change or redesign any components of the gas centralized monitoring server 10 other than the communication unit 20.

[0027] If the communication protocol of the newly subscribed carrier side device 6(k) is the same as the communication protocol used by the existing carrier side device 6, it is possible to easily deal with this by simply designing and adding a communication module 21(k) using a communication control adapter 23 with the same specifications as the communication control adapter 23 in the communication module 21 installed in correspondence with this carrier side device 6.

[0028] Furthermore, in the event that one of the gas companies ceases to provide management services, the communication module 21 associated with the company-side device 6 and installed in the communication unit 20 of the gas central monitoring server 10 can be deleted, and the settings required for sending and receiving data to and from the deleted communication module 21 can be deleted in the data conversion unit 24. This case can also be handled with a simple operation. [Explanation of symbols]

[0029] 1. Centralized gas management system 2, 2(1), 2(2) Gas consumer homes 3 Gas meter 4 Consumer side communication equipment 4a Meter side communication unit 4b Upper communication section 5, 5(1), 5(2) Gas supplier 6, 6(1), 6(2), 6(k) Business equipment 7, 7(1), 7(2) Telecommunications carriers 8, 8(1), 8(2) Centralized management system on the telecommunications carrier side 9. Management Company 10 Central gas monitoring server 20 Communications Department 21, 21(1), 21(2), 21(3), 21(k) Communication Module 22 Data Connectors 23 Communication control adapter 23a Internal memory 24 Data conversion section 30 Central monitoring department 31 Control Unit 32 Centralized monitoring database 40 Management Department (Prepaid Management Department) 41 Control Unit 42 Management Database 50 Visualization Management Department 51 Control section 52 Management Database 61 Communications Department 62 Control Unit 63 databases 81 Communications Department 82 Control Unit 83 databases 84 Communications Department

Claims

1. A centralized monitoring server having a function of performing data communication with a gas, water, or electricity supplier's equipment using a predetermined communication protocol, acquiring customer information relating to gas, water, or electricity customers managed by each of the suppliers, a function of monitoring customer conditions including the gas, water, or electricity usage status of each of the customers based on the customer information, and a function of providing the results of monitoring each customer to each of the supplier's equipment; a plurality of communication modules provided corresponding to the carrier-side devices; a data conversion unit; It is equipped with Each communication module includes a data connector and a communication control adapter; the data connector has a communication function for performing data communication with the pre-set carrier-side device according to a communication protocol used by the carrier-side device; the communication control adapter has a communication protocol conversion function for converting received data conforming to the communication protocol received by the data connector into received data in a predetermined common format, and converting transmitted data in the common format into transmitted data conforming to the communication protocol; The centralized monitoring server is characterized in that the data conversion unit converts the received data converted to the common format by the communication control adapter into internal data that conforms to the internal format used within the centralized monitoring server, and is equipped with a data format conversion function that converts internal data for transmission in the internal format into transmission data in the common format.

2. In claim 1, The communication modules include at least first and second communication modules, the communication protocol preset in the first communication module is a first communication protocol; The centralized monitoring server, wherein the communication protocol preset in the second communication module is the first communication protocol or a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol.

3. The centralized monitoring server according to claim 1, which is operated by a management company; a business-side device operated by each of the gas, water, and electricity supply businesses and communicatively connected to the centralized monitoring server; a consumer-side device that detects information including the usage status of gas, water, or electricity at each of the gas, water, or electricity consumers managed by each of the businesses and is communicatively connected to the centralized monitoring server; A centralized control system comprising:

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