PAY-AS-YOU-GO GAS METER COMMUNICATION APPARATUS AND GAS USE SYSTEM HAVING PAY-AS-YOU-GO FUNCTION

摘要

To provide a pay-as-you-go gas meter communication apparatus enabling gas to be used by a prepaid amount of money without use of a dedicated gas meter having a pay-as-you-go function.SOLUTION: A pay-as-you-go gas meter communication apparatus 4 is used by being connected to a gas meter 3. When a customer prepays a gas charge, the charge information is transmitted from a user communication terminal 11 to the pay-as-you-go gas meter communication apparatus 4. On receipt of the charge information, a pay-as-you-go related control function unit 46 of the pay-as-you-go gas meter communication apparatus 4 opens the gas meter 3 and enables gas to be used by a gas usable quantity corresponding to the prepaid amount of money. The gas meter 3 and pay-as-you-go gas meter communication apparatus 4 may perform general text communication with each other for performing a meter reading action, a shutoff valve opening/closing action for security, or the like. Use of gas in a pay-as-you-go manner is enabled by employing a commonly used gas meter or a gas meter of a different manufacturer.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2