In Japan, PHS is not only used for movable voice service, but also as machine-to-machine tele-metering data terminal. This time, we will introduce you the PHS adopted by Toyo Keiki Co. Ltd. as the remote reader of gasmeters for average households.

1. Company Introduction of TOYO Keiki
   
   

   Mr. Chimato Takei, the first engineer-in-chief of Toyo Keiki made the history of water meter and gas meter in Japan since 1905, when he created and released Japanese first home-made water meter. Toyo Keiki was formerly established in Nagano Prefecture in 1949 to produce and sell water meter first and gas meter later. In 1987, the company developed auto-reply system to read gas meter and water meter based on telephone circuit. The system is named RINDOU. In 1999, based on wireless PHS technology, new system was developed to read gas meter and water meter automatically. Marketing activities of the auto-checking system was hence started.
   
   Toyo Keiki, engaged in producing and selling water meter and gas meter, as well as producing and selling meter communication system, is one of the leading companies in the industry.
   
   

2. Introduction of All Wireless System based on PHS technology
   
   

   In an All Wireless System, a subsidiary device will read a gas meter and send the data to a low-power-consumption parent device within 300m. By connecting parent devices with a PHS-based RINDOUN, the supervision center will then be able to read all the data collected by parent devices via the PHS network.
   
   To cut down telecom cost, a PHS-based RINDOU system could be connected with up to 144 gas meters and all data can be sent at once.
   

• Meter Reading
  Data can be read and sent at a fixed time designated by the supervision center. The system will automatically take the order to collect data from respective gas meters at requested time and sent the data via PHS-based RINDOU.
  
  
• Security Information
  Security information such as gas leaking can be reported from gas meter, via PHS-based RINDOU to the supervision center.

3. Background of the Birth of the System
   

   By the year of 2000, gas meters installed at some 4.5m households in Japan have been taken into collective supervision already. But, the further expansion of the system after the year of 2000 slowed down. Due to the choice versatility of indoor telecom methods (ISDN, ADSL, Optical Fiber, and mobile service are all developing quick.), the unified application of the gas meter supervision system based on fixed circuit becomes difficult. To keep conducting collective supervision on LP gas meters, some low-cost communication method that could go without telephone circuit has to be adopted.
   
   
   

4. Reason to Decide PHS for This Particular System
   PHS is highly reliable as it has made specialized standard for data communication using PIAFS method from the very beginning.
   
   In addition, its feature of low power consuming made it perfect choice for battery-drive development. We also developed PHS-based message sending device, of which the battery can last for 10 years. The device is widely applied as supervision system for bulk equipment and for residential complex.
   
   
   
5. Application of the System
   
   1. Applied on Home Security System
      As PHS message sending device powered with battery is operated under wireless environment, it is applicable in a security system. Toyo Keiki has developed and is selling the product as My Home Security “E-box”.
      
      
   2. Applied on digital claim and digital settlement
      By making use of PHS collective supervision system and IT technology, Digital Claim and Digital Settlement “E-Gas Ticket” service was started last year. Linked with POS machines in convenient stores, settlement information can be reflected real-timely.
      
      
   3. Applied on General Energy Management System
      As the cogeneration system of fuel battery and gas engine becomes more and more popular, general energy management system shall not only provide information for business engagers in the energy industry, but also that end-users shall be given the access to information.