KR20120071882A - Smart meter and method for operating thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A smart meter is provided to reduce the costs and time for construction of a power network by utilizing a broad band wireless communication network for smart metering without additional changes. CONSTITUTION: A smart meter(100) comprises a smart metering unit(110), a wireless network connection unit(120), and a gateway performing unit(130). The smart metering unit collects metering data from a metering instrument and creates service data units with the metering data as payload. The wireless network connection unit converts the service data units into the packet data units for a broad band wireless communication network and transmits the packet data units to the central server of a metering service provider.

Description

Smart meter and its operation method {SMART METER AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THEREOF}

The present invention relates to a smart meter and a method of operation thereof.

With the growing importance of environmentally friendly energy use and management around the world, the business of the Smart Grid is rapidly expanding.

Smart Grid is a next-generation intelligent power grid technology that maximizes energy efficiency by exchanging real-time information in both directions by integrating information and communication technology into the existing power grid, improving the stability of power supply and improving the efficiency of energy use. Benefits such as conservation and financial benefits.

As the smart grid business progresses, smart metering, an essential technology of the smart grid, is spreading widely. Smart metering combines embedded intelligence and communication with existing metering equipment, and periodically collects and aggregates metering information from residential, commercial and industrial facilities and provides it to service providers.

Metering equipment can be categorized by type, but the most common metering equipment is a power meter that measures power energy usage. The power meter measures the power usage and sends the power usage to the central collection system via a communication function. The central collection system collects and manages the power usage transmitted by each power meter.

Operators that provide electric power services will service national or equivalent large areas because of the nature of their services, and within that area there will be users who consume power for many homes, commercial and industrial areas. In this nationwide scale, a large number of power meters exist, and a network unit system must be established to collect and manage the large amount of data provided by them. However, it is not easy for the network service provider to provide a nationwide network for smart metering in terms of cost, and it will take considerable time to build a smart grid because it requires standardization work to construct a power network. Can be.

The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a smart meter and its operation method that can reduce the construction cost and time of the power network.

The smart meter according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a smart metering unit and a wireless network connection unit. The smart metering execution unit collects metering information of the metering device and generates a service data unit (SDU) that uses the metering information as a payload. The wireless network access execution unit converts the SDU into a packet data unit (PDU) of a broadband wireless communication network and transmits the SDU to a central server of a metering service provider.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method of operating a smart meter is provided. A method of operating a smart meter may include collecting metering information of a metering device, generating a service data unit (SDU) using the metering information as a payload, and converting the SDU into packet data of a broadband wireless communication network. Converting to a unit (Packet Data Unit, PDU) and transmitting to the central server of the metering service provider.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a smart meter can be connected to a broadband wireless network in which a smart meter is constructed, and by converting and transmitting metering information into a broadband wireless communication type, the broadband wireless network can be used for smart metering without further modification. There is a number. Thus, there is no need to establish a national network for smart metering.

In addition, the smart meter can control the home communication devices and perform the wireless home gateway function to increase the utilization of the smart meter, thereby enabling the spread of the smart meter.

1 is a view showing a smart meter according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 and 3 are flowcharts illustrating functions performed by the metering network connection unit shown in FIG. 1, respectively.
4 and 5 are flowcharts illustrating functions performed by the wireless network access unit illustrated in FIG. 1, respectively.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art may easily implement the present invention. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. In the drawings, parts irrelevant to the description are omitted in order to clearly describe the present invention, and like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the specification.

Throughout the specification and claims, when a section is referred to as "including " an element, it is understood that it does not exclude other elements, but may include other elements, unless specifically stated otherwise.

Now, a smart meter and an operation method thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Smart meter according to an embodiment of the present invention is a power meter for measuring the power energy consumption, which may be applied to a meter for measuring the amount of use of gas or water as an embodiment.

1 is a view showing a smart meter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the smart meter 100 includes a smart metering unit 110, a wireless network connection unit 120, and a gateway unit 130.

The smart metering unit 110 includes a metering unit 112, a metering network connection unit 114, and a metering control unit 116.

The metering unit 112 collects metering information such as power consumption of the home power device. The metering unit 112 may collect metering information of the home power device by receiving the metering information from the home power device. In this case, the home power devices may periodically transmit the metering information to the metering unit 112 or receive a request from the metering unit 112 and transmit the metering information to the metering unit 112 in response thereto. The indoor power devices have their own identifiers, and the metering unit 112 may distinguish metering information of the power device and the power devices from the identifiers of the power devices.

The metering unit 112 periodically transmits the collected metering information to the metering network connection unit 114 and the metering control unit 116. The metering unit 112 may receive the request of the metering network connection 114 and transmit the collected metering information to the metering network connection 114 in response thereto.

In addition to the metering function of the existing integrated power meter, the metering unit 112 calculates power consumption hourly and monthly power consumption statistics by using power consumption information of the home electric power device, analyzes power consumption patterns, and calculates these metering information. It can be provided to the user through a display device (not shown).

Metering network connection 114 is a central server (not shown) of the power service provider through the base station 210 of the broadband wireless communication network 200, such as WiMAX (WiMAX) in which the metering information received from the metering unit 112 is built (not shown) ) To send to. The metering information has a periodicity, and the metering network connection unit 114 periodically transmits the metering information received from the metering unit 112 to the smart metering network 400 through the broadband wireless communication network 200. Here, the smart metering network 400 is a network operated by an operator providing a power service. For example, the smart metering network 400 collects and processes power related information transmitted from the smart meter 100 of each home, company, and industrial facility.

The smart metering network 400 may include a central server (not shown) of an operator providing power service, and the metering information transmitted from the smart meter 100 may include the broadband wireless communication network 200 and the smart metering network 400. Can be sent to the central server. The central server may request metering information from the smart meter 100 as needed, and the smart meter 100 may transmit the metering information collected by the metering unit 112 to the central server in response thereto.

The metering network connection unit 114 classifies the metering information received from the metering unit 112 by type, generates a service data unit (SDU) that uses the classified metering information as a payload, and then connects the wireless network connection unit 120. To pass). That is, the metering network connection unit 114 converts the metering information into the same format as the general traffic data in the broadband wireless communication network 200. In this way, changes in the broadband wireless communication network 200 can be minimized for smart metering.

The metering control unit 116 may perform basic settings of the smart meter 100 and upgrade of firmware or other software, and provide metering information to an indoor user by using a display device.

The metering control unit 116 provides a function of assigning or deleting an identifier to these power devices when adding or removing new power devices.

The metering control unit 116 may check the on / off status of the power devices supporting the smart metering and the state of the current power devices and provide these information through the broadband wireless communication network 200. Therefore, the user can control the power devices in the home and check the state of the power devices from the outside. For this function, the metering control unit 116 performs a function of authenticating a user.

The metering control unit 116 may collect charging information according to power consumption from the central server of the smart metering network 400 and provide the user with the display device. Specifically, taking the smart meter 100 of the home, for example, the smart meter 100 transmits the power usage to the central server through the broadband wireless communication network 200 and the smart metering network 400, the central server through this You can calculate your home electricity bill in real time. The central server transmits the calculated electric charge to the smart meter 100 of the home at a predetermined cycle through the broadband wireless communication network 200. The metering control unit 116 may provide the user with the electric charge transmitted from the central server through the display device, and the user may check the charging information according to the power usage in the home in real time and use the broadband wireless communication network in the home. You can also check billing information.

The wireless network access unit 120 connects the smart metering unit 110 and the gateway unit 130 with the base station 210 of the broadband wireless communication network 200. In the broadband wireless communication network 200, the wireless network connection unit 120 may perform a terminal function, and in the smart meter 100, the wireless network connection unit 120 may perform a gateway function.

The wireless network access unit 120 receives system information and uplink / downlink map information in synchronization with the base station 210 to allocate uplink / downlink radio resources, and uses uplink / downlink using these radio resources. Handle the traffic.

Next, the gateway execution unit 130 performs a function of providing an Internet service to a communication device in a home or an area where the smart meter 100 is serviced. That is, the gateway performing unit 130 receives uplink traffic from communication devices requesting Internet service, transmits the uplink traffic to the wireless network access unit 120, classifies the downlink traffic received from the wireless network access unit 120, and then classifies the corresponding downlink traffic. It performs the routing function of transmitting to the communication device.

The gateway performing unit 130 may support a wireless LAN for an interface of a mobile device in a home or a smart meter 100 service area and may include a UTP port for a wired connection of the communication device. have.

In addition, the gateway performing unit 130 may be connected to the wireless network connection unit 120 through Ethernet.

2 and 3 are flowcharts illustrating functions performed by the metering network connection unit shown in FIG. 1, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 2, when the metering network connection unit 114 receives metering information from the metering unit 112 (S210), the metering network connection unit 114 classifies the metering information by type (S220). Metering information according to an embodiment of the present invention may include power consumption for various devices, and the metering network connection unit 114 may classify power usage for each device. In general, you can see the total power consumption at home, but not the power consumption by device. The smart meter 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention collects power consumption by various devices, such as air conditioners, refrigerators, and other electric devices, and calculates statistics of cumulative values for a set period of time, thereby providing usage trends and other information to a user. Can provide.

The metering network connection unit 114 generates an SDU including the classified metering information (S230).

Thereafter, the metering network connection unit 114 transmits the SDU to the wireless network connection unit 120 (S240).

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 3, when the metering network access unit 114 receives a downlink packet from the wireless network access unit 120 (S310), the metering unit 112 extracts the metering related information included in the downlink packet and then measures it. To be delivered (S320 to S330). In this case, the downlink packet received from the wireless network access unit 120 may include control information for controlling the metering unit 112, information for requesting metering information to the metering unit 112, and billing information.

4 and 5 are flowcharts illustrating functions performed by the wireless network access unit illustrated in FIG. 1, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the wireless network access unit 120 receives uplink traffic from the smart metering unit 110 or the gateway unit 130 (S410), a ranging procedure and a network entry are performed. The procedure is performed to access the broadband wireless communication network 200 (S420). At this time, the wireless network access unit 120 calculates the amount of uplink traffic from the smart metering unit 110 and the amount of uplink traffic from the gateway performing unit 130, and uses bandwidth ranging (uplink map information). Bandwidth Ranging) is performed to allocate uplink radio resources.

Since the wireless network access unit 120 receives the SDU from the smart metering performing unit 110 or the gateway performing unit 130 as uplink traffic, the wireless network access unit 120 receives the received SDU as a packet of the broadband wireless communication network 200. The data unit is converted into a packet data unit (PDU) (S430).

Next, the wireless network access unit 120 transmits the PDU to the base station 210 by using the allocated uplink radio resource (S440).

Since the metering information, which is uplink traffic from the smart metering execution unit 110, is periodically transmitted to the central server, the wireless network access unit 120 may periodically allocate uplink radio resources to secure radio resources.

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 5, the wireless network access unit 120 may receive downlink traffic from the base station 210 (S510).

The wireless network access unit 120 classifies the downlink traffic according to the presence or absence of header information for smart metering of the downlink traffic, and transmits the downlink traffic to the smart metering performing unit 110 or the gateway performing unit 130 (S520 to S530). That is, the wireless network access unit 120 transmits the downlink traffic to the smart metering unit 110 when the downlink traffic is the metering related traffic, and transmits the downlink traffic to the gateway performing unit 130 when the downlink traffic is general Internet traffic. I can deliver it.

Downlink traffic to be transmitted to the smart metering performing unit 110 includes header information for smart metering. Upon receiving the downlink traffic, the wireless network access unit 120 may classify the downlink traffic according to the presence or absence of header information for smart metering. That is, if the downlink traffic includes header information for smart metering, the wireless network access unit 120 transmits the downlink traffic to the smart metering performing unit 110, and the header information for smart metering is included in the downlink traffic. If not included, the downlink traffic is transmitted to the gateway performing unit 130.

As such, the smart meter 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention converts the metering information into a traffic form of a broadband wireless communication method and transmits the same, thereby enabling the broadband wireless communication network to be used for smart metering without further modification. In addition, the smart meter 100 may control the home communication devices and perform a wireless home gateway function, thereby increasing the utilization of the smart meter 100.

An embodiment of the present invention is not implemented only through the above-described apparatus and / or method, but may be implemented through a program for realizing a function corresponding to the configuration of the embodiment of the present invention or a recording medium on which the program is recorded. Such an implementation can be easily implemented by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains based on the description of the above-described embodiments.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, It belongs to the scope of right.

Claims (16)

In the smart meter,
A smart metering execution unit that collects metering information of the metering device and generates a service data unit (SDU) having the metering information as a payload, and
A wireless network access unit that converts the SDU into a packet data unit (PDU) of a broadband wireless communication network and transmits the SDU to a central server of a metering service provider.
Smart meter that includes. The method of claim 1,
Gateway performing unit for connecting the communication device in the service area of the smart meter and the broadband wireless communication network
Smart meter that includes more. The method of claim 2,
The wireless network connection unit,
A smart meter for transmitting the downlink traffic to the smart metering unit or the gateway unit using the header information of the downlink traffic transmitted through the broadband wireless communication network. The method of claim 3,
The wireless network connection unit,
And transmitting the downlink traffic to the smart metering performing unit when the downlink traffic includes header information for smart metering. The method of claim 1,
The smart metering performing unit,
A metering unit for collecting the metering information, and
The metering information is classified by type, and an SDU including the metering information classified by type is generated and transmitted to the wireless network access execution unit, and the metering related information is extracted from downlink traffic transmitted from the wireless network access execution unit. Smart meter including a metering network connection to the metering unit. The method of claim 5,
The smart metering performing unit,
Metering control unit for providing the metering information and the metering related information to a user through a display device, and authenticates the user
Smart meter that includes more. The method of claim 6,
The metering related information extracted from the downlink traffic includes charging information. In the operation method of the smart meter,
Collecting metering information of the metering device,
Generating a service data unit (SDU) using the metering information as a payload, and
Converting the SDU into a packet data unit (PDU) of a broadband wireless communication network and transmitting the converted SDU to a central server of a metering service provider;
Operation method of the smart meter comprising a. The method of claim 8,
The collecting step,
Receiving a request for the metering information from the central server. The method of claim 8,
Receiving an internet service access request from a communication device in a service area of the smart meter, and
Connecting the communication device with the broadband wireless communication network
Operation method of the smart meter further comprising a. The method of claim 8,
Receiving downlink traffic through the broadband wireless communication network, and
Processing the downlink traffic using the header information of the downlink traffic
Operation method of the smart meter further comprising a. The method of claim 11,
The processing step,
And transmitting the downlink traffic to a corresponding communication device when the downlink traffic does not include header information for smart metering. The method of claim 12,
If the downlink traffic includes header information for smart metering, the downlink traffic includes charging information corresponding to the metering information. The method of claim 8,
The transmitting step,
A method of operating a smart meter comprising the step of receiving an uplink radio resource using uplink map information. The method of claim 14,
The transmitting step,
Periodically transmitting the PDU
Operation method of the smart meter further comprising a. 16. The method of claim 15,
The step of receiving the assignment,
Method of operating a smart meter comprising the step of periodically assigning the uplink radio resources.

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