Bidirectional notification system for electricity/gas/ water counting information and necessary information concerned with the counting information

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD [Detailed description of the invention]

【0001】

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

The present invention relates to the measurement information of electricity, gas, and water, which enables the necessary information including the measurement information of electricity, gas, and water to be automatically transmitted and received between the parties concerned while maintaining bidirectionality. Regarding the two-way notification system for necessary information.

【0002】

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, the electricity, gas, and water usage charges are the amount corresponding to the usage amount for the current month after the meter reader goes to the installation site of the meter reading meter of each user and visually and confirms it. A system has been adopted in which the supplier calculates and charges each user as a usage fee.

【0003】

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, in the case of the above-mentioned conventional system, monthly meter reading must be performed by a human-wave tactic of dispatching meter readers, and as a result, the ratio of labor cost to the total business cost on the supplier side is There was a problem that became excessive.

【0004】

In addition, under the above-mentioned conventional system, the usage fee and other necessary information are also notified from the supplier side to the user side via offline means such as mail, so that the notification document Not only is it costly to create and deliver, but it also has the disadvantage that it takes time to actually notify the other party and lacks promptness.

【0005】

Furthermore, for the user side, there is a relationship with the installation location of the meter reading meter, so it is not possible to easily visually check the daily usage amount of electricity, gas, water, and monthly usage amount. Since it has not been used, there is also a problem that it is often used wastefully due to lack of awareness of energy saving.

【0006】

In view of the above-mentioned problems seen in the conventional system, the present invention allows the supplier to acquire necessary information such as billing data without a meter reader, and the user is aware of energy saving, and the utility cost is reduced. The purpose is to provide a two-way notification system for electricity, gas, and water measurement information and related necessary information, which can save money and also has the convenience of bidirectional real-time information exchange.

【0007】

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention has been made to achieve the above object, and its structural feature is to supply a user of electricity, gas, or water, and at least one of electricity, gas, or water to the user. It is composed of a supplier and a service provider that manages necessary information by intervening between these users and the supplier, and each user measures the amount of electricity, gas, and water used. It is equipped with at least a terminal device having a measurement information aggregation function that aggregates information as measurement information, a communication function for sending and receiving necessary information including the measurement information to and from the outside, and a display function for displaying various related information. Each of the suppliers is provided with at least a data processing device for inputting / receiving various necessary information to be transmitted / received, and the service provider can connect the terminal device and the data processing device via a communication network. It is equipped with at least a server that centrally manages related information including various necessary information that should be sent and received between the terminals, and the server collects billing data corresponding to the amount of electricity, gas, and water used by each user received from each terminal device. Necessary information including necessary information is sent to the supplier side via the data processing device, and various necessary information including usage charges calculated for each user based on the billing data is sent to the individual user side via the terminal device. It is to announce each separately.

【0008】

In this case, the terminal device can also display a banner advertisement managed and operated by the service provider.

【0009】

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an outline of a system configuration according to the present invention, and the whole is a user 11 including a company and an individual using electricity, gas, and water, and the user 11. The supply company 31 that supplies at least one of electricity, gas, and water (including water and sewage) and the service provider 41 that intervenes between these users 11 and the supply company 31. It is configured.

【0010】

Of these, each of the users 11 is at least equipped with a terminal device 12 with a communication function formed so as to be able to measure the amount of electricity, gas, and water used and display necessary information.

【0011】

The terminal device 12 is a CPU provided with a measurement information aggregation function that aggregates measurement information received from a measurement meter 28 composed of a power meter, a water meter, and a gas meter installed on the side of each user 11. The measurement information aggregation means 13 composed of the above, the communication means 20 provided with the communication function for transmitting and receiving the necessary information including the measurement information to and from the service provider 41 via the server 42, the billing information, etc. It is formed by providing a display means 26 including an LCD or the like to which a display function of necessary information and other real-time information is added.

【0012】

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram as an example of the terminal device 12. According to the figure, when each measuring meter 28 is an existing one, the usage data (numerical value, etc.) displayed on the meter 28 is captured as image data by the CCD camera 15, and the optical information recognition processor 16 and the signal are obtained. It is taken into the measurement information aggregation means 13 via the processor 17 and the interface 14, and is aggregated as the measurement information. In this case, the signal processor 17 and the interface 14 are directly connected by wire or wirelessly using the transmitter 18 and the receiver 19.

【0013】

If each meter 28 is of the electrical isolation type, it may be directly connected to the interface 14 via the signal processor 17 or the transmitter 18 and the receiver 19 may be connected between the signal processor 17 and the interface 14. By directly connecting with and wirelessly, the measurement information is taken in by the measurement information aggregation means 13 and aggregated as the measurement information.

【0014】

In addition, the display means 26 can display various necessary information. In this case, the necessary information includes the usage status of electricity, gas, and water, notification information individually issued from each supplier 31 to each user 11, and the user 11 himself / herself as an individual supplier. Notification information issued separately to 31 and information from local governments (prefectures, municipalities) and local communities (neighborhood associations, etc.) can be displayed.

【0015】

In this case, if a display example relating to the usage status of electricity, gas, and water displayed on the display means 26 is shown, the following items can be mentioned. Daily usage status (usage amount, usage fee, hourly transition, ratio to target) Monthly usage status (usage amount, usage fee, target ratio, month-on-month change, year-on-year change) Annual usage status (cumulative usage, cumulative usage fee, ratio to target) The above-mentioned display items are merely exemplary items, and when used, various combinations of necessary information that are concise and useful can be selectively displayed in consideration of the convenience of the user 11 (for example). Monthly cumulative usage, monthly cumulative usage fee, etc.). Further, in addition to the numerical items as described above, the display means 26 is provided with a light emitter consisting of, for example, an LED that emits light according to the colors of green, yellow, and red, so that the usage status of electricity, gas, water, etc. May be displayed in a list.

【0016】

Moreover, by interposing an expandable interface 21 in the communication means 20 constituting the terminal device 12, a browser box 24 can be added so that a communication network such as the Internet can be used in the home television 23. , The personal computer 22 can be used to enable an Internet connection, and the e-mail terminal 25 can be used. In addition, by incorporating electricity / gas / water control software into the personal computer 22 and connecting it to household electric appliances and gas products, it is possible to automatically perform energy-saving operation according to the usage situation. Further, by connecting the terminal device 12 to the home television 23 via a connecting terminal, it is possible to distribute a program by cable television via, for example, an optical cable network. The display means 26 can also be used as a home television or prepared as an independent dedicated machine so that necessary information can be received wirelessly.

【0017】

On the other hand, the supply companies 31 include, for example, an electric power company 32 that manages and operates the power supply, a gas company 33 that manages and operates the gas supply, and a water supply company that manages and operates the water supply. It is composed of 34 businesses and 35 sewerage businesses that manage and operate sewerage.

【0018】

Moreover, each of the above-mentioned suppliers 31 is provided with at least a data processing device 36 such as a computer system that is connected to a communication network 51 such as the Internet and processes various information transmitted / received.

【0019】

In addition, the service provider 41 includes at least a server 42 that centrally manages necessary information to be transmitted and received between the terminal device 12 and the data processing device 36 via a communication network 51 such as the Internet.

【0020】

Then, the server 42 receives the measurement total information corresponding to the usage amount of electricity, gas, and water aggregated by the measurement information totaling means 13 of the terminal device 12 provided by each user 11 via the communication means 20. Various necessary information including the usage fee calculated based on the billing data is displayed on the side of the supplier 31 via the data processing device 36 as the necessary information including the billing data after performing the necessary processing. It is possible to notify each user separately via 26.

【0021】

That is, the service provider 41 uses the server 42 to collect billing data corresponding to the amount of electricity, gas, and water used sent from the terminal device 12 provided by each user 11 via the communication network 51. After performing the sorting process, it is possible to notify the supplier 21 on behalf of each other via the data processing device 36 together with other necessary information.

【0022】

Further, the service provider 41 uses the server 42 to handle various necessary information including the usage fee for each user 11 sent from the side of each supplier 31 via the data processing device 36. It is possible to notify each user 11 on behalf of each user via the display means 26 of the terminal device 12.

【0023】

Moreover, the server 42 classifies various types of information sent and received, and for example, aggregates the amount of electricity, gas, and water used by the user 11, classifies the aggregated data, and so on. In addition to being able to store the necessary information in a database, various additional functions such as providing energy-saving information to the user 11 side, providing Internet provider services, managing and operating banner advertisements, etc. Can also be given.

【0024】

Since the present invention is configured in this way, each supplier 31 sets the amount of electricity, gas, and water used by each user 11 from each terminal device 12 to the communication network 51 and the service provider 41. By passing through, it is possible to acquire billing data for electricity, gas, and water for each user 11 in real time via the data processing device 36.

【0025】

For this reason, it is possible to completely eliminate the need to dispatch the meter reader to the user 11 side, which was conventionally required every month, and it is possible to significantly reduce the labor cost to be borne by the supplier 31.

【0026】

Moreover, since the individual supplier 31 can notify each user 11 of the usage fee and other necessary information in real time via the communication network 51, the work cost can be reduced by eliminating the trouble of mailing and the like. Not only can it be suppressed, but the necessary information can be promptly disseminated and thoroughly disseminated to the user 11.

【0027】

On the other hand, each user 11 can acquire various necessary information including the usage fee sent from the supplier 31 side in real time via the communication network 51 through the display means 26 of the terminal device 12. it can.

【0028】

Further, since each user 11 can construct the necessary communication system including the terminal device 12 at the expense of the supplier 31, he / she is not forced to bear an extra burden.

【0029】

Furthermore, each user 11 can easily visually check and confirm the energy-saving information displayed using the display means 26 and the necessary information such as the current usage amount of electricity, gas, and water, and always raise awareness of energy saving. Therefore, the utility bill can be kept low, and as a result, it can be effectively contributed as an aid to curb the waste of resources.

【0030】

Since the system according to the present invention is constructed via the communication network 51, for example, sewer optical fibers under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Construction and optical fiber networks owned by companies such as electric power, electric railways, and roads are combined. By connecting them together, it can help to build a high-speed, large-capacity Internet environment on a nationwide scale. Further, in the system according to the present invention, for example, if the user 11 is an elderly person living alone, the service provider 41 checks the daily usage of electricity, gas, and water to check for the occurrence of an abnormal situation. It can also be effectively used as a long-term care contact network for the elderly living alone. Furthermore, if the banner advertisement managed and operated by the service provider 41 can be displayed on the display means 26, it can be expanded to businesses in other industries other than the supplier 31. It is also possible to add further extended functions to the system according to the present invention.

【0031】

[Effect of the invention]

As described above, according to the present invention, each supplier uses the amount of electricity, gas, and water used by each user in real time as billing data for electricity, gas, and water for each user. Since it can be obtained, it is possible to eliminate the need for a meter reader and significantly reduce labor costs.

【0032】

Moreover, since each supplier can notify each user of usage fees and other necessary information in real time, not only can the work cost be reduced by eliminating the trouble of mailing, etc., but also the user. It is also possible to promptly disseminate and thoroughly disseminate the necessary information.

【0033】

On the other hand, each user can acquire various necessary information including the usage fee sent from the supplier side in real time, and the necessary communication system including the terminal device is paid by the supplier side. It can be built and does not impose an extra burden.

【0034】

Furthermore, each user can easily visually check and confirm the energy-saving information displayed on the display means constituting the terminal device and the necessary information such as the current usage amount of electricity, gas, and water, and always be aware of energy saving. As a result, utility costs can be kept low, and as a result, it can be effectively contributed as an aid to curbing the waste of resources.

【0035】

In addition, if banner advertisements, etc. managed and operated by the service provider can be displayed on the display means, the use of the system of the present invention is encouraged to businesses in industries other than the supplier. It is possible to add further extended functions and expand it.

[Simple explanation of drawings]

[Figure 1]

Explanatory drawing which shows the system configuration example of this invention.

[Figure 2]

The functional block diagram which shows the schematic configuration example of the terminal device installed on the side of a user in this invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 User 12 Terminal equipment 13 Weighing information aggregation means 14 interface 15 CCD camera 16 Optical information recognition processor 17 Signal processor 18 transmitter 19 receiver 20 means of communication 21 interface 22 personal computer 23 television 24 browser box 25 Email terminal 26 Display means 28 Weighing meter 31 Supplier 32 Electric power companies 33 Gas operator 34 Water supply company 35 Sewerage operator 36 Data processing device 41 Service provider 42 server 51 Communication network