JPH0452453A - Abnormality-monitoring method for instantaneous hot water-supplying unit by gas - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the occurrence of secondary disaster at the time when a user handles the title unit by the indication of an improper counterplan, by a method wherein when something is wrong with the deuce, both trouble factor information and user-discriminating information are transmitted from the deuce to a host computer in a troublemonitoring center. CONSTITUTION:When something is wrong with the unit 1, both trouble factor information and user-discriminating information are transmitted to a host computer 6 through a telephone, on the basis of the telephone number of a trouble- monitoring center 5, and the number is stored in an operationstoring means 2. The host computer receives them and decides trouble factors on the basis of both the trouble factor information and the userdiscriminating information, and transmits indicating information to the device 1. The indicating information is displayed on an indicating part 3, and both the trouble factor information and the user-discriminating information are stored in the host computer 6. A user for whom the occurrence of trouble is informed stops use of the title unit by the indication displayed on the indicating part 3, and considers such a counterplan as to await repair by a serviceman.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to an abnormality monitoring method for a gas instantaneous water heater, which performs remote maintenance of the gas instantaneous water heater using an online system.

<Conventional Technology> Conventionally, when a malfunction occurs in a gas instantaneous water heater, the user who discovers the malfunction calls the retailer or manufacturer and verbally notifies them of the occurrence of the malfunction.

Then, the store or the like that receives the notification of the failure takes measures such as giving instructions on how to deal with the problem or dispatching the device for repair.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, the conventional method of responding to a malfunction is to determine the cause of the malfunction through verbal communication from the user, who is not familiar with the mechanism of the gas instantaneous water heater, and to provide the user with countermeasures. Instruct.

Therefore, it may not be possible to give accurate instructions, and there is a risk that the user who received the instructions may perform an inappropriate operation, resulting in a secondary accident.

<Means for Solving the Problems> This invention was proposed in view of the above, and it communicates via a communication line between a gas instantaneous water heater and a host computer installed in a failure monitoring center, and detects a malfunction in the gas instantaneous water heater. When a failure occurs, the gas instantaneous hot water heater sends failure cause information and user identification information to the failure monitoring center's host computer, and the gas instantaneous hot water heater also sends failure cause information and user identification information to the failure monitoring center's host computer. The operating status information is sent to the host computer of the monitoring center, and in response to this, the host computer of the failure monitoring center determines the occurrence and cause of the failure, and sends instruction information to the gas instantaneous water heater where the failure occurred. The present invention is characterized in that it instructs the user of the gas instantaneous hot water heater how to deal with the failure.

<Example> Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of the system of the present invention.

Each user's gas instantaneous water heater 1 has a calculation storage means 2 such as a microcomputer, and a display section 3 for displaying instruction information and the like. The gas instantaneous water heater 1 has a telephone line 4.
It communicates with the failure monitoring center 5 via. When connecting the gas instant water heater l to the telephone line 4, you may use a telephone with a communication control function or a modem with a built-in network control unit (hereinafter referred to as NCU); If a communication control device is built into the instantaneous water heater 1, these devices become unnecessary.

The above-mentioned calculation storage means 2 stores user identification information such as the telephone number of the failure monitoring center 5 and the equipment number at the time of manufacturing the gas instantaneous water heater 1.

The display unit 3 described above is made of, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays instruction information based on instructions from the failure monitoring center 5.

The failure monitoring center 5 is installed, for example, at a gas instantaneous water heater manufacturer.

The host computer 6 of the failure monitoring center 5 is connected to the telephone line 4 via a communication control device 7, a buffer 8, and an NCU 9.

From the host computer 6 to each user's gas instant water heater
When using the function of transmitting a command to request transmission of operating status information to a user, the user's telephone number is stored in the host computer 6 when the gas instantaneous water heater 1 is installed.

In the present invention, the telephone line 4 (public communication line network) is used as the communication line, but other communication lines, such as a specific communication line or a digital communication line network, may also be used.

Below, the implementation procedure of the present invention will be explained.

Figure 2 shows the flow from the gas instantaneous water heater 1 to the failure monitoring center 5.
12 is a flowchart when transmitting failure cause information to a computer.

When a failure occurs in the gas instant water heater 1, a call is made to the failure monitoring center 5 using the telephone number of the failure monitoring center 5 stored in the calculation storage means 2, and the failure cause information and user identification information are sent to the host computer. Send to 6. In response, the host computer 6 determines the cause of the failure based on the failure cause information and user identification information, sends instruction information to the gas instantaneous water heater l, and displays the display unit 3.
The instruction information is displayed on the host computer 6.
Stores failure cause information and user identification information in the memory. In this case, if the gas instantaneous water heater 1 generates an alarm or the like, the user can be notified of the occurrence of a failure as soon as possible.

Upon learning of the occurrence of a failure, the user takes actions such as stopping the use of the gas instantaneous water heater 1 and waiting for repair by a service person based on the instructions displayed on the display unit 3.

Next, a case where the user's telephone number is stored in the host computer 6 will be explained based on the flowchart of FIG.

Periodically or as necessary, the host computer 6 of the failure monitoring center 5 calls the user using the stored phone number of the user and requests the gas instantaneous water heater 1 to send operating status information. Send commands. In response, the gas instantaneous water heater 1 transmits operating status information to the host computer 6 of the failure monitoring center 5. This operating status information includes information such as whether or not a failure has occurred, the cause of the failure, and the history of the failure. Then, the host computer 6 of the failure monitoring center 5 determines whether or not a failure has occurred based on the operating status information, and if a failure has occurred, transmits instruction information to the gas instantaneous water heater 1, and displays on the display section 3. The host computer 6 displays instruction information and stores operating status information in the host computer 6.

Upon learning of the occurrence of a failure, the user takes actions such as stopping the use of the gas instantaneous water heater 1 and waiting for repair by a service person based on the instructions displayed on the display unit 3. In this case as well, the gas instantaneous water heater 1 may generate an alarm or the like in the same manner as described above.

<Effects of the Invention> As explained above, in the present invention, the host computer of the failure monitoring center and the gas instantaneous water heater are communicated via the communication line.

Therefore, when a failure occurs in the gas instantaneous water heater, failure information can be obtained directly from the gas instantaneous water heater without verbal communication from the user.

Therefore, since the failure monitoring center can obtain accurate failure information and issue appropriate response instructions, it is possible for users to perform operations based on inaccurate response instructions, thereby preventing secondary disasters from occurring. °Can be prevented.

Furthermore, since the operating status of each user's gas instantaneous water heater can be checked periodically or as needed from the failure monitoring center, it is possible to prevent accidents due to failures.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system conceptual diagram explaining the present invention, FIG.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the procedure for implementing the present invention. In the figure, 1... gas instantaneous water heater, 2... calculation storage means, 3... display section, 4... telephone line, 5... failure monitoring center, 6... host computer. Figure 2 Kasu! 1 Naimon-〇9 is also unyielding. Dice ti9M piece and t>ri ~ Figure 3 1° between the master and the 4th year history I shang tsui Ran 7 center

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A gas instantaneous water heater that has a calculation storage means and a display unit and a host computer installed in a failure monitoring center are communicated via a communication line, and when a failure occurs in the gas instantaneous hot water heater, the gas instantaneous The water heater sends failure cause information and user identification information to the failure monitoring center's host computer, and the failure monitoring center's host computer determines the cause of the failure and sends information to the gas instantaneous water heater where the failure occurred. 1. A method for monitoring an abnormality in a gas instantaneous hot water heater, characterized by transmitting instruction information to the gas instantaneous hot water heater and displaying it on a display section, and instructing a user of the gas instantaneous water heater how to respond to a failure. (2) A gas instantaneous hot water heater having a calculation storage means and a display unit and a host computer installed at the failure monitoring center are communicated via a communication line, and the host computer at the failure monitoring center is connected to the gas instantaneous hot water heater. A command to request transmission of operating status information is sent, and in response to this, the gas instantaneous hot water heater transmits operating status information to the host computer of the failure monitoring center, which determines whether a failure has occurred and detects the failure. If a problem occurs, instruction information is transmitted to the gas instantaneous water heater and displayed on the display section, and the gas instantaneous water heater is characterized in that the user of the gas instantaneous hot water heater is instructed to respond to the failure. How to monitor abnormalities in water heaters.