WO2005038739A1

WO2005038739A1 - Method and apparatus for automatic remote meter-reading using short message service

Info

Publication number: WO2005038739A1
Application number: PCT/KR2004/000686
Authority: WO
Inventors: Chang Beom Kim
Original assignee: Hyundai Digital Technology Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2003-10-15
Filing date: 2004-03-26
Publication date: 2005-04-28
Also published as: KR20040004196A; KR100467275B1

Abstract

Disclosed are method and apparatus for automatic remote meter-reading using a short message service, wherein a meter reading for a gauge is made at a remote place by using a mobile communication wireless modem regardless of the type of gauges manufactured by a variety of manufacturers. According to the present invention, unlike an existing M to M mode, i.e., a direct connection method of a mobile communication wireless modem on the part of a remote meter-reading server and a mobile communication wireless modem on the part of a gauge, if a short message service message being a simplex service is sent to the mobile communication wireless modem on the part of the gauge, the mobile communication wireless modem on the part of the gauge connects to a remote meter-reading server using TCP/IP and the remote meter-reading server collects meter-reading data from a gauge connected to a wireless modem using a gauge protocol.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC REMOTE METER-READING USING SHORT MESSAGE SERVICE

Technical Field The present invention allows for a remote meter reading using a short message service (SMS) as a simplex message service in a mobile communication network, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for an automatic' remote meter reading using a short message service, wherein a meter reading of a gauge is made at a remote place using a mobile communication wireless modem irrespective of type of a gauge.

Background Art Generally, a meter-reading method for a gauge (an electronic wattmeter, a gasometer, a water meter, a heat meter and the like) includes a direct meter-reading method by a meterman and a remote meter-reading method for remotely collecting information on the quantity consumed, which is stored in the gauge, if necessary. Of the two methods, the direct meter-reading method by the meterman may have a low reliability, require a lot of persons for a meter reading, and be inefficient and uneconomic since a large amount of a prior work is required to write a bill in order to send it to a subscriber. Furthermore, this method has a disadvantage that maintenance and repair are difficult since a person has to confirm whether the gauge is normal one by one. In order to overcome the aforementioned problems in the conventional direct meter-reading method, the remote meter-reading method was proposed. In the existing remote meter-reading method, meter- reading data are acquired by matching a gauge device and a wireless modem device by means of a serial communication device using a data service of a CDMA mobile communication network. Such a remote meter-reading method employs a packet communication scheme using mobile to mobile (hereinafter, referred to as ^ΛM to ") and TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) . At this time, information on gauges by various manufacturers are manually set in mobile communication wireless modems on the part of the gauges. Information on the amount consumed, which is stored in the gauges, is remotely collected, if necessary, or meter-reading data are collected at a periodic meter-reading time period stored in the mobile communication wireless modems on the part of the gauges. In the above, the information may include information on a gauge manufacturer, a gauge number and a gauge meter- reading period. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the construction of a gauge remote meter-reading system using a CDMA mobile communication network in the related art. Referring to FIG. 1, if a remote meter-reading server 1 calls an answering number of a mobile communication wireless modem 4 on the part of a gauge in order to perform a remote meter reading, this signal is sent to the mobile communication wireless modem 4 on the part of the gauge via a mobile communication wireless modem 2 on the part of a remote meter-reading server and a mobile communication network (CDMA, PCS, Cellular, GSM communication network) 3. Thereafter, if the remote meter-reading server 1 sends a transmit data which are sent in order to set various information necessary for the meter reading of a gauge 5 or a transmit data for requesting information already set in the gauge 5, those transmit data are sent to the mobile communication wireless modem 4 on the part of the gauge via the mobile communication wireless modem 2 on the part of the remote meter-reading server and the mobile communication network 3. Then, the mobile communication wireless modem 4 on the part of the gauge sets various information on the gauge 5, or packets the set information on the gauge 5 or the meter-reading data collected from the gauge 5, and then sends the resulting information to the mobile communication network 3. The packet data sent thus are transferred to the remote meter-reading server 1 through a data processing system 6 and a data service network 7. Thereby, the remote meter-reading server 1 can not only recognize the status of the gauge 5 located at a remote place but also collect the meter-reading data of the gauge 5 at a remote place. This method is a remote meter-reading method using the M to M and the packet communication. The M to M scheme has an advantage that it can secure the stability of data transmission until a call is released while data are exchanged between wireless modems in a full-duplex mode. On the contrary, if the M to M scheme is used in the CDMA mobile communication network, it is required that specific data service options provided by a mobile communication network be set. Due to such setting, there is a disadvantage that the M to M service cannot be serviced by an overseas mobile communication network. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a process of performing the gauge remote meter reading using the conventional M to M scheme. In the following context, a capital letter ^λλS" designates a step. The remote meter-reading server 1 first requests an access to an answering number of the mobile communication wireless modem 4 on the part of the gauge (SI) . The mobile communication wireless modem 2 on the part of the remote meter-reading server requests a calling to the mobile communication wireless modem 4 on the part of the gauge by using a mobile communication subscription number assigned to the mobile communication wireless modem 4 on the part of the gauge (S2) . The mobile communication wireless modem 4 on the part of the gauge, which received the request for the calling, sends an answering response to the mobile communication wireless modem 2 on the part of the remote meter-reading server (S3) . Thereafter, the mobile communication wireless modem 2 on the part of the remote meter-reading server and the mobile communication wireless modem 4 on the part of the gauge serve as a communication channel between the remote meter-reading server 1 and the gauge 5, allowing wireless communications to be established between the remote meter-reading server 1 and the gauge 5 (S4) . If the wireless communication channel is established through the process, the remote meter-reading server 1 informs the wireless modem 4 on the part of the gauge of information on the server and requests information on the gauge to be set (S5) . The mobile communication wireless modem 4 on the part of the gauge stores a variety of information in its internal memory, which is necessary to perform the remote meter reading, and sends a response to the remote meter- reading server 1 (S6) . Thereafter, steps (S5 to S6) are repeatedly performed. If remote meter-reading server 1 requests a release of the connection to the mobile communication wireless modem 4 on the part of the gauge, the wireless modem 4 on the part of the gauge receives the call release request and performs a normal call release procedure, thereby finishing the M to M connection (S7). As noted above, in the conventional remote meter- reading method, the mobile communication wireless modem on the part of the gauge collects meter-reading information through the matching with the gauge and then sends the collected meter-reading information to the remote meter- reading server using the data service of the CDMA mobile communication network. The remote meter-reading server informs the mobile communication wireless modem on the part of the gauge of information necessary for a meter reading by using the data service of the mobile communication network. In other words, information, which is used to set a protocol for a meter reading or collect meter-reading data depending on a meter-reading time, is manually directly set in the mobile communication wireless modem on the part of the gauge. Further, it is possible to collect meter- reading information by immediately performing a meter reading, if necessary, not a meter-reading time period, in the M to M method. Next, the mobile communication wireless modem on the part of the gauge collects meter-reading information from the gauge by using a gauge protocol at the time of a meter- reading period using meter-reading information received in the procedure. The mobile communication wireless modem then sends the collected information using the data service (TCP/IP) of the mobile communication network. This method employs the M to M scheme being a special data service of a CDMA mobile communication network. Therefore, this method has a shortcoming that it cannot be used in mobile communication networks, which do not use such a special data service. In addition, this method has a problem that a mobile communication wireless modem on the part of a ^'gauge has to be replaced when a gauge protocol is added since a meter- reading protocol is inserted into the mobile communication wireless modem on the part of the gauge.

Disclosure of Invention Accordingly, the present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems in the conventional remote meter-reading method. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for automatic remote meter-reading using a short message service, wherein a meter reading is attempted using the short message service being a simplex service of a mobile communication network, acquired meter- reading data are used to collect meter-reading data through a full-duplex TCP/IP, meter-reading execution information adopted in an existing mobile communication wireless modem on the part of a gauge is managed in a remote meter-reading server that performs the short message service, and a meter-reading scheduler is automatically implemented to communicate with the mobile communication wireless modem on the part of the gauge according to a scheduling, thus collecting meter-reading data. To achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a remote meter-reading server is implemented to have a meter-reading scheduler function of automatically performing a meter reading by means of a meter-reading scheduling, a gauge protocol processing function and a TCP/IP reception function. A mobile communication wireless modem on the part of a gauge is implemented to have a short message service answering function, a TCP/IP calling function, a RS-232C control function and a Hayes processing function so that a short message service is supported. The meter-reading scheduler searches a database to confirm the last meter-reading time in order to attempt a meter reading every certain period, and attempts the meter reading if the last meter-reading is lower than the current time. Further, the meter-reading scheduler has a function of managing a protocol by the gauge, and performs communications with a wireless modem on the part of a wattmeter by managing a modem on the part of the remote meter-reading server and stores the collected meter-reading data in a database. The remote meter-reading server writes a message including an IP address and a port number of a remote meter-reading server and an answering number of a wireless modem on the part of a gauge, by including the message in a short message service message according to a meter-reading scheduling. The remote meter-reading server then sends the message to the mobile communication wireless modem on the part of the gauge being the answering number by using the short message service of the mobile communication network. The mobile communication wireless modem on the part of the gauge connects to a remote meter-reading server through TCP/IP by using the connection information. After being connected, the remote meter-reading server directly collects meter-reading data from by the mediation of the mobile communication wireless modem on the part of the gauge.

Brief Description of Drawings Further objects and advantages of the invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the construction of a gauge remote meter-reading system using a CDMA mobile communication network in the related art; FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a process of performing a gauge remote meter reading using a conventional M to M scheme; FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the construction of a remote meter-reading apparatus using a short message service according to the present invention; FIG. 4 is a diagram shown to explain the operation of a meter-reading scheduler in the remote meter-reading server shown in FIG. 3; and FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a remote meter- reading method using the short message service according to the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention The present invention will now be described in detail in connection with preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings . FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the construction of a remote meter-reading apparatus using a short message service according to the present invention. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 110 indicates a remote meter-reading server. The remote meter-reading server selects a mobile communication wireless modem on the part of a gauge for which a meter reading has to be made by searching a database for a wireless modem for which a meter reading will be made through a meter-reading scheduler, searches information on the mobile communication wireless modem on the part of the gauge connected to a gauge to write a short message, which contains its IP address and port number and an answering number of the selected mobile communication wireless modem on the part of the gauge, sends the written short message to the gauge, and collects meter-reading data from the gauge through TCP/IP communication. Reference numeral 120 indicates a mobile communication wireless modem on the part of the remote meter-reading server, which performs a calling function for connection to a mobile communication network. Reference numeral 130 designates a short message service (SMS) center for transmitting the short message received from the mobile communication wireless modem 120 on the part of the remote meter-reading server to an answering side through a mobile communication network 160. Furthermore, reference numeral 140 indicates a mobile communication wireless modem on the part of a gauge, which has a short message service answering function and a TCP/IP calling function and establishes a TCP/IP communication with the remote meter-reading server by using the IP address and port number of the remote meter-reading server, which are extracted from the received short message. Reference numeral 150 designates a gauge 150 for transmitting meter-reading data to the remote meter-reading server 110 by the mediation of the mobile communication wireless modem 140 on the part of the gauge. Reference numeral 170 indicates a data processing system 170 connected to the mobile communication network 160, for processing the meter-reading data received from the gauge 150. Reference numeral 180 indicates a data service network connected to the data processing system 170, for transmitting the meter-reading data to the remote meter-reading server 110. The operation of the remote meter-reading apparatus using the short message service according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4. The remote meter-reading server 110 searches a database for a wireless modem for which a meter reading will be made through the meter-reading scheduler and selects a mobile communication wireless modem on the part of a gauge for which the meter reading has to be made, if exists as a result of the search. FIG. 4 is a diagram shown to explain the operation of the meter-reading scheduler. Referring to FIG. 4, in a scheduler process 111, a database (DB) is searched at predetermined time intervals to determine whether there is a mobile communication wireless modem on the part of a gauge for which a meter reading will be made exists. If it is determined that there is a mobile communication wireless modem on the part of a gauge for which the meter reading has to be made, the meter-reading process 113 is informed of the mobile communication modem on the part of the gauge for which the meter reading has to be made. In the meter-reading process 113, information on the mobile communication wireless modem 140 on the part of the gauge connected to the gauge 150 is examined, a short message containing its own IP address and port number and an answering number of the selected mobile communication wireless modem 140 on the part of the gauge is written, and the written short message is transmitted to the mobile communication wireless modem 120 on the part of the remote meter-reading server. The mobile communication wireless modem 120 on the part of the remote meter-reading server calls an answering number of the mobile communication wireless modem 140 on the part of the gauge. Upon the calling, the short message service center 130 transmits the short message written in the remote meter-reading server 110 to the mobile communication wireless modem 140 on the part of the gauge. In the above, if the remote meter-reading server 110 is directly connected to the short message service center 130 of the mobile communication network 160, the short message service message can be directly sent to the short message service center 130 without using the mobile communication wireless modem 120 on the part of the remote meter-reading server. The calling signal transmitted via the mobile communication network 160 is answered to the mobile communication wireless modem 140 on the part of the gauge corresponding to the answering number. If the answering is accomplished, the mobile communication wireless modem 140 on the part of the gauge having the short message service answering function and the TCP/IP calling function extracts an IP address and a port number of the remote meter-reading server 110 from the received short message, and performs a TCP/IP calling function by referring to the extracted IP address and port number, thus establishing a TCP/IP communication connection with the remote meter-reading server 110. If the remote meter-reading server 110 and the mobile communication wireless modem 140 on the part of the gauge are connected through the TCP/IP connection, the remote meter-reading server 110 sends a meter-reading request data to the direct gauge 150. The gauge 150 performs a meter reading corresponding to the request and sends the obtained meter-reading data to the mobile communication network 160 through the mobile communication wireless modem 140 on the part of the gauge. The meter-reading data transmitted to the mobile communication network 160 is transmitted to the remote meter-reading server 110 via the data processing system 170 and the data service network 180. In the meter-reading process 113 within the remote meter-reading server 110, the resulting meter-reading data are stored in the database 112. In other words, in the prior art, a mobile communication network is connected according to a special data service option of a mobile communication network upon a remote meter reading using the M to M and TCP/IP packet communication. Thus, there is a shortcoming that the remote meter reading is possible only in predetermined countries (for example, Korea) or a single mobile communication network. In the present^' invention, however, the meter reading is attempted using SMS being a simplex message service. The meter reading data are collected using a full- duplex data service network through the TCP/IP communication. Therefore, according to the present invention, a remote meter reading is possible anywhere in the world if a mobile communication network using the short message service and TCP/IP is provided. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a remote meter- reading method using the short message service according to the present invention. In FIG. 5, a capital letter ^ΛλS" indicates a step. If a meter-reading scheduler of the remote meter- reading server 110 is in a meter-reading time of a certain period, it transmits a Hayes command to the mobile communication wireless modem 120 on the part of the remote meter-reading server to which a short message service message will be sent to determine whether the mobile communication wireless modem 120 on the part of the remote meter-reading server normally operates (S8). If it is determined that the mobile communication wireless modem 120 on the part of the remote meter-reading server normally operates, the meter-reading scheduler writes a short message service message including an IP address and a port number of the remote meter-reading server 110, and the number of a mobile communication wireless modem 140 on the part of a gauge for which an answering will be made. The meter-reading scheduler sets a command for performing the short message service calling for the mobile communication wireless modem 120 on the part of the remote meter-reading server set and notifies the mobile communication wireless modem 120 of it (S9) . Furthermore, the meter-reading scheduler transfers the written short message to the mobile communication wireless modem 120 on the part of the remote meter-reading server along with an answering number of the mobile communication wireless modem 140 on the part of the gauge (S10) . The mobile communication wireless modem 120 on the part of the remote meter-reading server sends the short message to the short message service center 130 which in turn transmits the written short message service message to the mobile communication wireless modem 140 on the part of the gauge (Sll) . The mobile communication wireless modem 140 on the part of the gauge receives the short message through the mobile communication network 160, extracts an IP address and a port number of a remote meter-reading server, which are included in the received short message, and then requests a TCP/IP connection to the remote meter-reading server using the extracted information (S12) . Thereafter, if a communication path is established between the remote meter-reading server 110 and the gauge 150 via the mobile communication wireless modem on the part of the gauge, the remote meter-reading server 110 sends a meter-reading request message to the gauge 150 (S13) . The gauge 150 that received the message sends a response to the meter-reading request to the remote meter-reading server 110 (S14) . In other words, the gauge 150 transmits a response only to the meter-reading request with no need to know whether it is connected to the remote meter-reading server or a modem. The mobile communication wireless modem 140 on the part of the gauge serves to only establish the TCP/IP communication path. The meter reading in steps S13 and S14 is repeated to collect meter-reading information of a specific gauge at a remote place. If the remote meter reading is finished, the remote meter-reading server 110 transmits a call release message to the mobile communication wireless modem 140 on the part of the gauge. Then, the mobile communication wireless modem 140 on the part of the gauge receives the call release message from the remote meter-reading server 110 and releases a call, thereby completing the remote meter reading (S15) .

Industrial Applicability As described above, according to the present invention, a gauge protocol is provided in a remote meter- reading server and a remote meter reading is performed using a short message service message. Therefore, the present invention has an effect that it can perform a meter reading using a CDMA or GSM mobile communication wireless modem at a remote place regardless of the type of a gauge. Furthermore, a gauge protocol is managed in a remote meter-reading server. Therefore, the present invention has an effect that it can solve inconvenience that setting information has to be directly changed at a place where a corresponding gauge is located when changing a protocol or setting information of a gauge. In addition, a remote meter-reading scheme using a short message service is used. Therefore, the present invention has an effect that it allows for a remote meter reading wherever a mobile communication network using the short message is located.

Claims

What Is Claimed Is:

1. A remote meter-reading apparatus of a gauge (an electronic wattmeter, a gasometer, a water meter, a heat meter and the like) using a short message service, comprising: a remote meter-reading server that searches a database for a wireless modem for which a meter reading will be made through a meter-reading scheduler to select a mobile communication wireless modem on the part of a gauge for which a meter reading has to be made, searches information on the mobile communication wireless modem on the part of the gauge connected to a gauge, writes a short message including its own IP address and port number and an answering number of the selected mobile communication wireless modem on the part of the gauge, sends the written short message to the gauge, and collects meter-reading data from the gauge through a TCP/IP communication; a mobile communication wireless modem on the part of a remote meter-reading server, for performing a transmission function of connecting to a mobile communication network; a short message service (SMS) center for transmitting the short message received from the mobile communication wireless modem on the part of the remote meter-reading server to an answering side through the mobile communication network; a mobile communication wireless modem on the part of the gauge having a short message service answering function and a TCP/IP calling function, wherein the mobile communication wireless modem on the part of the gauge establishes the TCP/IP communication with the remote meter- reading server by using the IP address and port number of the remote meter-reading server, which are extracted from the received short message; and a gauge for transmitting the meter-reading data to the remote meter-reading server by the mediation of the mobile communication wireless modem on the part of the gauge.

2. The remote meter-reading apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the meter-reading scheduler comprises: a scheduler process module for searching a database (DB) in a predetermined period to determine whether there is a mobile communication wireless modem on the part of the gauge for which a meter reading has to be made, and if it is determined that there is the mobile communication wireless modem on the part of the gauge for which the meter reading must be made, informing a meter-reading process module of the mobile communication wireless modem on the part of the gauge for which the meter reading has to be made; the meter-reading .process module for searching information on the mobile communication wireless modem on the part of the gauge, which is informed by the scheduler process module, writing a short message including its own IP address and port number and an answering number of the selected mobile communication wireless modem on the part of the gauge, and transmitting the written short message to a mobile communication wireless modem on the part of a remote meter-reading server; and the database (DB) for storing the resulting meter- reading data received from the gauge.

3. The remote meter-reading apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a data processing system connected to the mobile communication network, for processing the meter-reading data received from the gauge; and a data service network connected to the data processing system, for transmitting the meter-reading data to the remote meter-reading server.

4. The remote meter-reading apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the remote meter-reading server comprises a meter-reading protocol of the gauge.

5. A method for remotely meter-reading a gauge (an electronic wattmeter, a gasometer, a water meter, a heat meter and the like) using a short message service, through a remote meter-reading apparatus of the gauge comprising a remote meter-reading server, a mobile communication wireless modem on the part of a remote meter-reading server, a short message service center, a mobile communication wireless modem on the part of a gauge and the gauge, the method comprising the steps of: allowing the remote meter-reading server to write a short message service message by using its own IP address and port number and an answering number of the mobile communication wireless modem on the part of the gauge connected to a gauge for which a meter reading will be made at a predetermined period; setting a command for performing a short message service calling to the mobile communication wireless modem on the part of the remote meter-reading server; allowing the mobile communication wireless modem on the part of the remote meter-reading server to call and at the same time allowing the short message service center to transmit the written short message service message to the mobile communication wireless modem on the part of the gauge; allowing the mobile communication wireless modem on the part of the gauge that received the short message called by the mobile communication wireless modem on the part of the remote meter-reading server, to extract an IP address and a port number of the remote meter-reading server, which are contained in the received short message, and to request a TCP/IP connection to the remote meter- reading server using the extracted information; allowing the remote meter-reading server to transmit a meter-reading request message to the gauge in a state where a TCP/IP communication path is established between the remote meter-reading server and the gauge, and allowing the gauge that received the message to perform the meter reading according to the request and to send the obtained meter-reading data to the remote meter-reading server; and if the remote meter reading is finished, allowing the remote meter-reading server to send a call release message to the mobile communication wireless modem on the part of the gauge, and allowing the mobile communication wireless modem on the part of the gauge that received the message to release the call.