CA2525962A1 - Reliable back-up storage of electrical energy meter reading using writable passive radio-frequency identification (rfid) devices - Google Patents
Reliable back-up storage of electrical energy meter reading using writable passive radio-frequency identification (rfid) devices Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2525962A1 CA2525962A1 CA002525962A CA2525962A CA2525962A1 CA 2525962 A1 CA2525962 A1 CA 2525962A1 CA 002525962 A CA002525962 A CA 002525962A CA 2525962 A CA2525962 A CA 2525962A CA 2525962 A1 CA2525962 A1 CA 2525962A1
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- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- meter
- module
- storage unit
- data
- electrical energy
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Classifications
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01D—MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G01D4/00—Tariff metering apparatus
- G01D4/002—Remote reading of utility meters
- G01D4/004—Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
- Y02B90/00—Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
- Y02B90/20—Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y04—INFORMATION OR COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES HAVING AN IMPACT ON OTHER TECHNOLOGY AREAS
- Y04S—SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS
- Y04S20/00—Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof
- Y04S20/30—Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Arrangements For Transmission Of Measured Signals (AREA)
Abstract
A reliable back-up storage unit to save the reading of an electrical energy meter to be read over a wireless link in an automatic meter reading (AMR) system. An electrical energy meter in an AMR system records the data, representing the total amount of electrical energy consumed, in a back-up storage unit on a periodic basis. The back-up storage unit is physically separated from the main module for energy measurement, but lies within its communication range so that data can be written into the back-up storage unit. The back-up storage unit is implemented using repeatedly writable passive radio-frequency (RFID) technology. By making the RFID device passive and positioning it away from the main measuring module, the reliability of the back-up storage unit is enhanced. While the main measuring module is functioning without fault, the module reports meter readings to an external system on a periodic basis or on a demand-driven basis. On the other hand, when the main measuring module has failed, a separate external data gathering system reads the contents of the back-up storage unit. The objective of having such a reliable data back-up unit in an AMR based electrical energy meter is to facilitate utility companies to read the last meter reading in a failed energy meter. The new invention can also be applied in other AMR systems, for example, for gas and water.
Description
DISCLOSURES
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
[001] The present invention relates to reliable storage of measured data in electrical energy meters. The invention also relates to reliable storage of measured data in digital meters for gas and water consumption.
[002] Automatic meter reading, commonly known as AMR, is an emerging technique for gathering data from a variety of meters such as electrical energy meters, water meters, and gas meters. Generally, such meters have electronic components for measurement and storage of data and a wireless communication subsystem to gather data remotely. The wireless communication capability of a meter is an important part of an AMR system.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
[001] The present invention relates to reliable storage of measured data in electrical energy meters. The invention also relates to reliable storage of measured data in digital meters for gas and water consumption.
[002] Automatic meter reading, commonly known as AMR, is an emerging technique for gathering data from a variety of meters such as electrical energy meters, water meters, and gas meters. Generally, such meters have electronic components for measurement and storage of data and a wireless communication subsystem to gather data remotely. The wireless communication capability of a meter is an important part of an AMR system.
[003] Conventional meters store data using a set of mechanical dials. The mechanical dials provide a mechanism for reliable recording of metered data.
[004] In digital meters, one can store metered data in stable storage elements such as non-volatile memory. With the replacement of electromechanical meters with an AMR system, recording of metered data in stable storage is an important aspect of meter design.
[005] Even though data can be stored in non-volatile memory, there is a risk that a meter fails and it becomes extremely difficult to recover data from its non-volatile memory. Moreover, there is no guarantee that a meter's non-volatile memory does not fail. Thus, when a meter fails, it is important for a utility company to know the exact value of meter reading just before the meter failed so that its loss of revenue is minimized.
[006] Therefore, there is a need for innovation in the design of AMR meters to store metered data, and be able to retrieve the data even if the rest of the meter has failed. Moreover, innovation is needed to design a data recording mechanism with higher reliability.
[007] A conventional recording mechanism using mechanical dials gives a high level of reliability in the face of meter failure due to the robust nature of the dials. However, electronic displays and non-volatile memory may fail more often. Even if a non-volatile memory, such as Flash memory, does not fail, retrieving its contents is an expensive task.
[008] In this invention, a new mechanism for recording metered data has been presented with the following objectives:
- The data recording mechanism is essentially a back-up storage mechanism designed to enhance the reliability of the storage feature of a meter.
- The data recording mechanism is passive in the sense that it does not need continuous power to remain active.
- Even if the main storage system of a meter fails, it is easy to retrieve the data stored in the presented scheme.
- A writable, passive radio-frequency identification (RFID) device is used to implement a back-up storage mechanism. Such a device does not need a dedicated power source, such as a battery. Rather, when there is a need to write into or read from the device, the device is energized from the external reader/writer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[100] The present invention is a new one because at this moment there is no AMR system to measure the consumed quantities of electrical energy, water, or gas, and store the metered data in a back-up storage unit that has higher reliability than the main meter.
[ 101 ] The higher level of reliability of the back-up storage unit is achieved by implementing the storage unit in a writable, passive RFID device. The passive RFID unit does not require an external dedicated power source for its operation. Rather, the passive RFID
device is energized from the same external device that is used to write into and read from the RFID device.
FIGURES
[200] The invention will now be described with reference to Figure 1.
[201 ] Figure 1 illustrates the relationship between a module for measuring electrical energy and a module for storing the measured data in a separate back-up module.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[250] The invention introduces an innovative design for storing metered data in a back-up system that is more reliable than the main measurement system. The additional reliability of the back-up storage system comes from its being passive. By a passive system it is meant that the system does not draw power from a dedicated power source on a continuous basis.
Rather, the system gets power from an external communication module as and when the external communication module wants to communicate with the system. Because the system is passive for most of the time and is not consuming any power, its reliability level is much higher than a similar system continuously running on power.
[251] The back-up storage system described in paragraph [250] resides away from the main measuring module that runs almost continuously.
[252] The main measuring module and the back-up storage module communicate over a wireless link. That is, the main measuring module can write data on the back-up storage module by communicating over a wireless link.
[253] Data stored in the back-up storage module can be read over a second wireless link from an external reader.
[254] Because of the separation of the main measuring module and the back-up storage module, and the fact that the back-up storage module is passive, data stored in the back-up module can be retrieved even when the main measuring module fails.
[255] Figure 1 illustrates the context of operation of a wireless electrical energy meter that has been equipped with a back-up storage system in the form of a writable passive radio-frequency identification (RFID) unit. In Figure 1, the idea of using a passive RFID as a reliable back-up storage system has been shown for an electrical energy meter. However, the same configuration can be easily applied to other meters, such as gas and water meters.
[256] Referring to Figure 1, element 100 represents an electrical energy meter with wireless communication capability and a back-up storage facility to hold metered data.
An external reader can read the contents of the back-up storage unit. The electrical power consumed by a subscriber is represented as electrical input 101. Element 102 measures the quantity of electrical energy consumed. Element 102 has a wireless interface over which measured data is generally read in normal circumstances. Element 102 writes its measured data into the back-up storage represented by element 105. Element 102 and element 105 communicate over a unidirectional wireless link represented by element 103 through antenna element 107 attached to element 102 and antenna element 106 attached to element 105.
[257] Element 102 in Figure 1 stores a copy of all data written into element 105 so that the said data can be read over a bidirectional wireless link through the antenna element 104. In normal circumstances, data generated by element 102 are read through antenna element 104.
[258] The back-up storage unit represented by element 105 does not require a dedicated power source for its operation. Therefore, it can stay away from the main measuring element 102. Since element 105 does not have an on-board power supply, it stays passive for most of the time.
Consequently, element 105 is not subject to internal thermal constraints.
Therefore, the reliability of the back-up storage element 105 is more than that of the main measuring element 102.
[259] When the main measuring element 102 fails, it is still possible to read the data stored from the back-up storage element 105 over its bidirectional wireless link through the antenna element 106. The back-up storage element 105 can function even when the main measuring element 102 has failed because of the physical separation of element entities 102 and 105 and the higher reliability of element 105.
[260] While the main measurement unit 102 is operating in a fault-free manner, its measurement data are read over a wireless link established through antenna element 104.
Element 102 periodically saves a copy of the metered data in the back-up storage unit denoted by element 105.
[261] The back-up storage unit denoted by element 105 lies within the wireless communication range of element 102 so that element 102 can write data into element 105.
[262] For an external reading device to read data from element 105, it has to be within the communication range of element 105 so that the two devices can communicate over a wireless link established through antenna element 106.
[2611 The back-up storage module, denoted by element 105, is implemented as a passive radio-frequency identification (RFID) device. When element 102 writes new data into element 105, the previous data stored in element 105 is overwritten.
[262] The back-up storage unit 105 is meant to store the cumulative meter reading generated by element 102. Thus, in case of a failure of element 102, the cumulative metered reading that was generated the last time by element 102 is still accessible from element 105 through antenna element 106.
[263] Antenna elements 104 and 107 can be one antenna or two different antennae elements.
- The data recording mechanism is essentially a back-up storage mechanism designed to enhance the reliability of the storage feature of a meter.
- The data recording mechanism is passive in the sense that it does not need continuous power to remain active.
- Even if the main storage system of a meter fails, it is easy to retrieve the data stored in the presented scheme.
- A writable, passive radio-frequency identification (RFID) device is used to implement a back-up storage mechanism. Such a device does not need a dedicated power source, such as a battery. Rather, when there is a need to write into or read from the device, the device is energized from the external reader/writer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[100] The present invention is a new one because at this moment there is no AMR system to measure the consumed quantities of electrical energy, water, or gas, and store the metered data in a back-up storage unit that has higher reliability than the main meter.
[ 101 ] The higher level of reliability of the back-up storage unit is achieved by implementing the storage unit in a writable, passive RFID device. The passive RFID unit does not require an external dedicated power source for its operation. Rather, the passive RFID
device is energized from the same external device that is used to write into and read from the RFID device.
FIGURES
[200] The invention will now be described with reference to Figure 1.
[201 ] Figure 1 illustrates the relationship between a module for measuring electrical energy and a module for storing the measured data in a separate back-up module.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[250] The invention introduces an innovative design for storing metered data in a back-up system that is more reliable than the main measurement system. The additional reliability of the back-up storage system comes from its being passive. By a passive system it is meant that the system does not draw power from a dedicated power source on a continuous basis.
Rather, the system gets power from an external communication module as and when the external communication module wants to communicate with the system. Because the system is passive for most of the time and is not consuming any power, its reliability level is much higher than a similar system continuously running on power.
[251] The back-up storage system described in paragraph [250] resides away from the main measuring module that runs almost continuously.
[252] The main measuring module and the back-up storage module communicate over a wireless link. That is, the main measuring module can write data on the back-up storage module by communicating over a wireless link.
[253] Data stored in the back-up storage module can be read over a second wireless link from an external reader.
[254] Because of the separation of the main measuring module and the back-up storage module, and the fact that the back-up storage module is passive, data stored in the back-up module can be retrieved even when the main measuring module fails.
[255] Figure 1 illustrates the context of operation of a wireless electrical energy meter that has been equipped with a back-up storage system in the form of a writable passive radio-frequency identification (RFID) unit. In Figure 1, the idea of using a passive RFID as a reliable back-up storage system has been shown for an electrical energy meter. However, the same configuration can be easily applied to other meters, such as gas and water meters.
[256] Referring to Figure 1, element 100 represents an electrical energy meter with wireless communication capability and a back-up storage facility to hold metered data.
An external reader can read the contents of the back-up storage unit. The electrical power consumed by a subscriber is represented as electrical input 101. Element 102 measures the quantity of electrical energy consumed. Element 102 has a wireless interface over which measured data is generally read in normal circumstances. Element 102 writes its measured data into the back-up storage represented by element 105. Element 102 and element 105 communicate over a unidirectional wireless link represented by element 103 through antenna element 107 attached to element 102 and antenna element 106 attached to element 105.
[257] Element 102 in Figure 1 stores a copy of all data written into element 105 so that the said data can be read over a bidirectional wireless link through the antenna element 104. In normal circumstances, data generated by element 102 are read through antenna element 104.
[258] The back-up storage unit represented by element 105 does not require a dedicated power source for its operation. Therefore, it can stay away from the main measuring element 102. Since element 105 does not have an on-board power supply, it stays passive for most of the time.
Consequently, element 105 is not subject to internal thermal constraints.
Therefore, the reliability of the back-up storage element 105 is more than that of the main measuring element 102.
[259] When the main measuring element 102 fails, it is still possible to read the data stored from the back-up storage element 105 over its bidirectional wireless link through the antenna element 106. The back-up storage element 105 can function even when the main measuring element 102 has failed because of the physical separation of element entities 102 and 105 and the higher reliability of element 105.
[260] While the main measurement unit 102 is operating in a fault-free manner, its measurement data are read over a wireless link established through antenna element 104.
Element 102 periodically saves a copy of the metered data in the back-up storage unit denoted by element 105.
[261] The back-up storage unit denoted by element 105 lies within the wireless communication range of element 102 so that element 102 can write data into element 105.
[262] For an external reading device to read data from element 105, it has to be within the communication range of element 105 so that the two devices can communicate over a wireless link established through antenna element 106.
[2611 The back-up storage module, denoted by element 105, is implemented as a passive radio-frequency identification (RFID) device. When element 102 writes new data into element 105, the previous data stored in element 105 is overwritten.
[262] The back-up storage unit 105 is meant to store the cumulative meter reading generated by element 102. Thus, in case of a failure of element 102, the cumulative metered reading that was generated the last time by element 102 is still accessible from element 105 through antenna element 106.
[263] Antenna elements 104 and 107 can be one antenna or two different antennae elements.
Claims (6)
1. A system for storing the data, representing the total amount of electrical energy measured by an energy meter, in a reliable back-up storage module.
2. The back-up storage module of claim 1 is intended to provide a reliable data storage mechanism so that the last reading produced by the energy meter can be accessed even after the main energy meter has failed. For comparison purpose, we refer to a conventional energy meter with mechanical dials for storing metered data. In such a conventional meter, even if the energy measurement module in the meter has failed, the mechanical dials show the last reading produced by a functioning meter. The objective of the back-up storage module of claim I is to provide such a level of reliability of the metered data storage mechanism using electronic components.
3. The back-up storage module of claim 1 is fabricated as a distinct integrated circuit and is physically separated from the main energy measurement and communication module.
The back-up storage module lies within the wireless communication range of the main measurement module.
The back-up storage module lies within the wireless communication range of the main measurement module.
4. The back-up storage module and the main energy measurement and communication module of claim 3 can still be considered to be physically separated even if both the modules are located on the same platform, say, printed circuit board.
5. The back-up storage module of claim I is implemented using writable passive radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology.
6. A back-up storage module of claim 5 can also be implemented in other AMR
systems, such as for gas and water.
systems, such as for gas and water.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002525962A CA2525962A1 (en) | 2005-10-27 | 2005-10-27 | Reliable back-up storage of electrical energy meter reading using writable passive radio-frequency identification (rfid) devices |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002525962A CA2525962A1 (en) | 2005-10-27 | 2005-10-27 | Reliable back-up storage of electrical energy meter reading using writable passive radio-frequency identification (rfid) devices |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2525962A1 true CA2525962A1 (en) | 2007-04-27 |
Family
ID=37965168
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002525962A Abandoned CA2525962A1 (en) | 2005-10-27 | 2005-10-27 | Reliable back-up storage of electrical energy meter reading using writable passive radio-frequency identification (rfid) devices |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2525962A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN102289923A (en) * | 2011-05-06 | 2011-12-21 | 深圳市科陆电子科技股份有限公司 | Electricity meter reading system based on RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology and electricity meter reading method based on RFID technology |
| WO2014144635A1 (en) * | 2013-03-15 | 2014-09-18 | Neptune Technology Group Inc. | Utility device interface |
| WO2015097382A1 (en) | 2013-12-26 | 2015-07-02 | Grdf | Management of the operation of a protected entity |
-
2005
- 2005-10-27 CA CA002525962A patent/CA2525962A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN102289923A (en) * | 2011-05-06 | 2011-12-21 | 深圳市科陆电子科技股份有限公司 | Electricity meter reading system based on RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology and electricity meter reading method based on RFID technology |
| WO2014144635A1 (en) * | 2013-03-15 | 2014-09-18 | Neptune Technology Group Inc. | Utility device interface |
| US9140577B2 (en) | 2013-03-15 | 2015-09-22 | Neptune Technology Group Inc. | Utility device interface |
| WO2015097382A1 (en) | 2013-12-26 | 2015-07-02 | Grdf | Management of the operation of a protected entity |
| FR3016032A1 (en) * | 2013-12-26 | 2015-07-03 | Grdf | MANAGEMENT OF OPERATION OF PROTECTED EQUIPMENT |
| CN106133479A (en) * | 2013-12-26 | 2016-11-16 | Grdf公司 | Management to the work of protected equipment |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Dead |