Telemeter system, vending machine, and method for terminal device

• US 9,449,502 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2012
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Hata, Mitsutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Jeanglaude, Jean B
• Application Number:
  US13/648,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20130082847A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,441 Days
• Field of Search: 341/870.07, 341/635, 341/870.01, 341/870.11, 341/665, 341/541, 341/3.1, 341/5.4
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/00 Electric signal transmission systems G08C17/00 takes precedence

Abstract

A telemeter system in which information that has an effect on a state of communication between a terminal device and a central device can be readily and accurately reported from the terminal device to the central device. When a central device transmits a request signal for prescribed measurement result information to a terminal device, a terminal control component of the terminal device extracts the measurement result information from a measurement component, and transmits the measurement result information to the central device. When a communication component of the central device receives the measurement result information, a center control component stores the received measurement result information in a storage component. The state of communication between the terminal device and the central device is reported to an administrator as necessary.

Claims

1. A telemeter system comprising:

a central device configured to perform centralized monitoring; and

a terminal device connected to the central device via a telecommunication line,

wherein the terminal device comprises a telecommunication component configured to transmit, upon receipt of a request signal that has been transmitted from the central device, a state of the telecommunication line to the central device, wherein the state of the telecommunication line is a measured indicator of communications quality of the telecommunication line;

wherein the telecommunication component transmits operation information of a vending machine; and

wherein, in response to communications quality of the transmitting of the operation information of the vending machine being lower than a predetermined level, the telecommunication component transmits the measured indicator.

2. The telemeter system according to claim 1,

wherein, after the transmitting of the operation information of the vending machine is successfully completed, the telecommunication component transmits the measured indicator.

3. A telemeter system comprising:

a central device configured to perform centralized monitoring; and

a terminal device connected to the central device via a telecommunication line,

wherein the terminal device comprises a telecommunication component configured to transmit, upon receipt of a request signal that has been transmitted from the central device, measurement result information regarding a prescribed item indicating communications quality of the telecommunication line to the central device just before a communication link with the central device is disestablished;

wherein the telecommunication component transmits operation information of a vending machine; and

wherein, in response to communications quality of the transmitting of the operation information of the vending machine being lower than a predetermined level, the telecommunication component transmits the measurement result information.

4. A telemeter system comprising:

a central device configured to perform centralized monitoring; and

a terminal device connected to the central device via a telecommunication line,

wherein the terminal device comprises a telecommunication component configured to transmit, upon receipt of a request signal that has been transmitted from the central device, measurement result information regarding a prescribed item indicating communications quality of the telecommunication line to the central device via electronic mail;

wherein the telecommunication component transmits operation information of a vending machine; and

wherein, in response to communications quality of the transmitting of the operation information of the vending machine being lower than a predetermined level, the telecommunication component transmits the measurement result information.

5. A vending machine connected to a central device performing centralized monitoring via a telecommunication line comprising:

a telecommunication component configured to transmit, upon receipt of a request signal that has been transmitted from the central device, a state of the telecommunication line to the central device, wherein the state of the telecommunication line is a measured indicator of communications quality of the telecommunication line;

wherein the telecommunication component transmits operation information of a vending machine; and

wherein, in response to communications quality of the transmitting of the operation information of the vending machine being lower than a predetermined level, the telecommunication component transmits the measured indicator.

6. A vending machine connected to a central device performing centralized monitoring via a telecommunication line comprising:

a telecommunication component configured to transmit, upon receipt of a request signal that has been transmitted from the central device, measurement result information regarding a prescribed item indicating communications quality of the telecommunication line to the central device just before a communication link with the central device is disestablished;

wherein the telecommunication component transmits operation information of a vending machine; and

wherein, in response to communications quality of the transmitting of the operation information of the vending machine being lower than a predetermined level, the telecommunication component transmits the measurement result information.

7. A vending machine connected to a central device performing centralized monitoring via a telecommunication line comprising:

a telecommunication component configured to transmit, upon receipt of a request signal that has been transmitted from the central device, measurement result information regarding a prescribed item indicating communications quality of the telecommunication line to the central device via electronic mail;

wherein the telecommunication component transmits operation information of a vending machine; and

wherein, in response to communications quality of the transmitting of the operation information of the vending machine being lower than a predetermined level, the telecommunication component transmits the measurement result information.

8. A method for a terminal device connected to a central device configured to perform centralized monitoring via a telecommunication line, the method comprising:

transmitting, upon receipt of a request signal that has been transmitted from the central device, a state of the telecommunication line to the central device, wherein the state of the telecommunication line is a measured indicator of communications quality of the telecommunication line;

wherein the telecommunication component transmits operation information of a vending machine; and

wherein, in response to communications quality of the transmitting of the operation information of the vending machine being lower than a predetermined level, the telecommunication component transmits the measured indicator.

9. A method for a terminal device connected to a central device configured to perform centralized monitoring via a telecommunication line, the method comprising:

transmitting, upon receipt of a request signal that has been transmitted from the central device, measurement result information regarding a prescribed item indicating communications quality of the telecommunication line to the central device just before a communication link with the central device is disestablished;

wherein the telecommunication component transmits operation information of a vending machine; and

wherein, in response to communications quality of the transmitting of the operation information of the vending machine being lower than a predetermined level, the telecommunication component transmits the measurement result information.

10. A method for a terminal device connected to a central device configured to perform centralized monitoring via a telecommunication line, the method comprising:

transmitting, upon receipt of a request signal that has been transmitted from the central device, measurement result information regarding a prescribed item indicating communications quality of the telecommunication line to the central device via electronic mail;

wherein the telecommunication component transmits operation information of a vending machine; and

wherein, in response to communications quality of the transmitting of the operation information of the vending machine being lower than a predetermined level, the telecommunication component transmits the measurement result information.