Patent ID: 8442696

Claim:
A gas meter comprising: a flow measurement unit that measures a gas flow flowing through a gas flow passage; a flow computing unit that computes predetermined flow data in accordance with a flow value measured by the flow measurement unit; a function setting unit configured to set at least one safety function from among a plurality of safety functions pertaining to usage of a gas; a monitoring unit that detects, based on the flow value, occurrence of a malfunction arising during usage of a gas; a control unit that determines, when the monitoring unit detects a malfunction, whether the detected malfunction corresponds to one of the at least one safety function set by the function setting unit; and a communication unit that establishes a communication with the monitoring center that monitors a gas supply in accordance with a command from the control unit, wherein the control unit further; interrupts a gas supply when the detected malfunction corresponds to one of the at least one safety function set by the function setting unit; and when the detected malfunction does not correspond to one of the at least one safety function set by the function setting unit, sends a report of the occurrence of the detected malfunction to the monitoring center by means of the communication unit.