DE102006002840A1 - Measuring and delivery device used for consumption unit, has control unit formed from data communication unit and unit receives instructions to disconnect delivery of consumption goods for delivery - Google Patents

Abstract

The measuring and delivery device has a control unit (20) formed from the data communication unit (16). The unit receives instructions to disconnect the delivery of consumption goods for delivery and depending upon this it unlocks the consumption check unit (14) for the delivery of consumption goods. An independent claim is also included for the method for measuring and delivery of consumption unit with measuring and delivery device.

Description

measurement and dispenser for Consumables with remote control functionality The invention relates to a Measuring and dispensing device for Consumable with remote control functionality according to claim 1.

Metering and dispensing devices for consumables are, for example, electricity meters with pre-paid functionality, as in the DE 94 20 924 U1 . DE 295 01 116 U1 and DE 295 04 347 U1 are described. To dispense electrical energy, a data carrier, for example a chip card, is required, with which the electricity meter is switched freely, so that the supply of electrical energy is made possible according to an amount stored on the chip card and paid in advance. The data carrier can be purchased from customers of energy supply companies (RUs) in advance. Among other things, a customer and meter number are stored on the data carrier, which are checked for plausibility when using the data carrier with an electricity meter in the household of the customer. The disadvantage here is that each disk has to be adapted for each particular meter and customer, ie it must be personalized. This restricts the possibility of using the pre-paid functionality.

A The object of the present invention is now to provide a measuring and dispenser for Consumables to create, which does not have the aforementioned restriction having.

These Task is performed by a measuring and dispensing device for consumables with remote control functionality solved with the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments The invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

One The essential idea of the invention is to provide a remote control functionality in one Measuring and dispensing device for To implement consumables such as electrical energy, gas and water, which makes it possible the activation of the delivery of a consumable remotely, for example from the headquarters of a utility company (VU). Thus, the initially described restriction of a counter and Customer-coupled pre-paid functionality eliminated and the opportunity opened, For example, households use electrical energy and gas of any kind In particular, suppliers can obtain by advance payment. In particular, the Use of prepaid cards for the purchase of consumables such as electrical energy or gas simplified.

• – eine Verbrauchsmesseinrichtung,
• – eine steuerbare Verbrauchssperreinrichtung,
• – eine Datenkommunikationseinrichtung, die ausgebildet ist, um über eine Datenverbindung Befehle zum Freischalten der Abgabe eines Verbrauchsmittels zu empfangen, und
• – eine Steuereinrichtung, die ausgebildet ist, von der Datenkommunikationseinrichtung empfangene Befehle zum Freischalten der Abgabe eines Verbrauchsmittels zu verarbeiten und davon abhängig die Verbrauchssperreinrichtung zur Abgabe eines Verbrauchsmittels zu entsperren.

One embodiment of the invention relates to a metering and dispensing device for consumables with remote control functionality, comprising

• A consumption meter,
• - a controllable consumption barrier,
• A data communication device, which is designed to receive commands for enabling the dispensing of a consumable via a data connection, and
• A control device which is designed to process commands received by the data communication device for enabling the dispensing of a consumable and, depending thereon, to unlock the consumption interrupter for dispensing a consumable.

One Advantage of this measuring and dispensing device over conventional measuring and dispensing devices like standard electricity meters consists mainly in the fact that the delivery of a consumable such as electrical energy from a distance, for example from the headquarters of a VU with commands can be controlled.

According to one another embodiment According to the invention, the control device may be further configured via the Data communication device and the data connection data to send a remote station to a command to unlock the To obtain a consumable. This will be a bi-directional Communication link, for example, with a server of a VU for Enables enabling, which creates a particularly high security against abuse. Especially at a pre-paid functionality The measuring and dispensing device can be adjusted before unlocking for example, an unlock code with a secure server of a VU to preclude the use of an invalid unlock code becomes.

Further the control device according to a embodiment of the invention to be from the data communication device to process received commands for querying consumption data, By reading the current consumption data from the consumption meter retrieves and transmits to the data communication device for transmission. For example, a consumption collection point of a VU may have a Command to retrieve consumption data to the measuring and dispensing device Send to receive the current consumption data for evaluation. As a result, it is no longer necessary that the consumption data from a person directly from an indicator on the measuring and dispensing device be read, which saves labor costs on the one hand and on the other hand Reading error avoids. Furthermore the display for displaying the consumption data can be saved.

In a further embodiment of the Er Furthermore, a data input device can be provided, which is designed to transmit input data to the control device for further processing. As a result, data can also be input directly to the measuring and dispensing device, which allows, for example, the local control, in particular an unlocking or activation by entering a specific code in the data input device of the measuring and dispensing device.

at the data to be entered may be, for example, already mentioned above Activation code for the purchase of a consumable that a user per Telephone, Internet, e-mail, text message to his telephone line, mail or the like. According to one embodiment According to the invention, the control device can therefore be designed based on data received from the data input device, the Consumption locking device for dispensing a consumable too unlock.

One User can enter the data to be entered, in particular via data carriers such as get a chip card, for example, offered by retailers can be. According to one embodiment According to the invention, the data input device can therefore be a chip card reader. A smart card has the advantage of being easy to handle is and to store larger amounts of data can be used. Due to the available storage capacity, a comprehensive data set with data for example to the VU, a prepaid Credit, a credit, certain consumption rates, etc. on the Chip card to be stored by the measuring and dispensing device processed, in particular via the data communication device to an operator of the measuring and dispenser and a utility network for billing of user charges for Utilities transmitted can be.

Around a misuse of the chip card, especially a multiple use in To avoid different measuring and dispensing devices, the control device according to a another embodiment The invention may further be adapted to data comprising a unique Identification of the measuring and dispensing device to the chip card reader for storing on one in the chip card reader to transmit present chip card. For example, you can after reading data stored on the chip card the clear identification of the measuring and dispensing device, in their reader, the smart card introduced is programmed into an OTP (One Time Programmable) memory on the chip card become. This can prevent the chip card in one other measuring and dispensing device is used, if this the OTP memory the chip card reads out and determines that there is already a clear Identification of another measuring and dispensing device is stored.

According to one embodiment According to the invention, the data communication device can be formed be to data over to receive and send a power grid. To implement can for example the Powerline technology be used. For example, in network nodes of the power grid Data transition points be installed by the power grid operators, which via the Power network of measuring and dispensing devices received data via a Forward telecommunication network and vice versa.

alternative or in addition can according to a another embodiment the invention the data communication device also be designed to data over to receive and send a radio connection. For example, can the data communication device a mobile, Bluetooth or WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) module with which they may cause radio communication with a remote station.

According to one embodiment According to the invention, the measuring and dispensing device is an electronic one Electricity meter.

According to one another embodiment The invention relates to a method for measuring and dispensing consumables provided with a measuring and dispensing device according to the invention, wherein a server is a command to unlock the Verbrauchersperreinrichtung for delivering a consumable to the measuring and dispensing device, that of the control device of the measuring and dispensing device in such a way is processed that the consumption lock device for consumption a predetermined amount of consumables is unlocked.

The Data input device can according to a embodiment receive data processed by the controller be such that this command to unlock the Verbrauchersperreinrichtung from the server.

According to one another embodiment invention, the data input device may be a chip card reader, that the data from a chip card inserted into the smart card reader reads and transmits to the controller.

Further advantages and possible applications of the present invention will become apparent the following description in conjunction with the embodiment shown in the single drawing.

In the description, in the claims, in the abstract and in the drawing those in the back cited List of reference symbols used terms and associated reference numerals used.

The only drawing shows a meter and dispenser for consumables a remotely controllable electricity meter 10 , On the input side is the electricity meter 10 with a power grid 24 a power grid operator, such as a municipal utility and the output side with the power grid 26 connected to a household. The electricity meter 10 is not a simple measuring device for the consumption of electrical energy such as conventional electricity meters, but at the same time a remotely controllable circuit breaker, the delivery of electrical energy from the mains 24 to the mains 26 can interrupt (lock function).

The electricity meter 10 has a consumption meter 12 for over the power grid 26 related and consumed electrical energy and a controllable Verbrauchersperreinrichtung 14 in the form of a circuit breaker. The consumption measuring device 12 is on the input side with the power grid 24 and on the output side with the consumption blocking device 14 connected to the output side with the power grid 26 connected is. As soon as the circuit breaker of the Verbrauchersperreinrichtung 14 closed, can be connected to the mains 26 connected electrical consumers electrical energy from the mains 24 Respectively. Consumption is in this case of the consumption measuring device 12 detected.

To control the circuit breaker of the consumption blocking device 14 is a circuit breaker control device 28 provided, which is designed to generate control signals for opening and closing the circuit breaker. The circuit breaker control device 28 is in turn by a control device 20 which may be implemented, for example, by a microcontroller or processor. The control device 20 serves as a kind of "brain" of the electricity meter and is therefore communicatively connected to almost all important components of the electricity meter, as will be explained in more detail below.

To receive data and commands as well as to send data over the power grid 24 is also a data communication device, a powerline communication module 16 intended. The powerline communication module 16 serves essentially as a communication interface of the control device 20 with remote sites, such as a server of a VUs.

Another unit is the electricity meter 10 as data input device, a chip card reader 22 communicating with the controller 20 connected is. The chip card reader 22 is used for reading and writing of smart cards and this is done by the controller 20 driven.

To supply the units 16 . 20 . 22 and 28 serves a low voltage power supply 30 that is the electrical voltage of the mains 24 transformed into the low voltage range, which is used to power the units 16 . 20 . 22 and 28 serves.

For the purchase of electrical energy from the power grid 24 must, as already explained above, the circuit breaker 14 closed or in other words the Verbrauchersperreinrichtung 14 be unlocked for the delivery of electrical energy. Unlocking or enabling or closing the circuit breaker 14 is from the controller 20 controlled by appropriate commands and possibly additional data.

Commands receives the controller 20 from the powerline communication module 16 which in turn transmits the commands via a data connection 18 over the electricity network 24 receives. The commands are sent, for example, from a server of a VU with an identifier identifying the electricity meter as a kind of address. Once the electricity meter has a command over the mains 24 who receives the electricity meter 10 identifying identifier evaluates the controller 20 executes the command and performs an action corresponding to the command. To prevent abuse, the commands can also be encrypted from the server of the RU to the electricity meter 10 be transmitted.

A command can cause the circuit breaker 14 is closed to receive electrical energy. For this purpose, for example, a power customer can cause an RU to command over the power grid 24 for his electricity meter 10 to send. This can be done, for example, by the electricity customer contacting the VU by telephone, Internet, e-mail or SMS and transmitting an activation code that indicates his entitlement to purchase a specific consumption quantity of electrical energy. The electricity customer can obtain this code, for example, by purchasing a scratch card from a dealer, by querying via SMS via his mobile phone or via the Internet. It is also conceivable that the electricity customer at unlocking terminals, for example, set up at dealers By entering the identifier identifying his electricity meter into the clearing terminal and depositing a certain amount of cash into the terminal, it can enable the receipt of electricity. The terminal then establishes a communication link to the server of a VU that issues the appropriate command to enable or disable the customer's electricity meter.

A particularly high level of security against abuses can be achieved by having the electricity customer purchase a chip card for a certain amount from a dealer who has a credit, for example 10, 20, 50 or 100 euros, for the purchase of electrical energy from a particular RU. This chip card must then be used by the power customer to draw electrical energy into the chip card reader 22 at the electricity meter 10 introduce. The control device 20 reads from the imported chip card a record with information on the RU, the amount of credit and the like. The read data then sends the controller 20 via the powerline communication module 16 to a server of the RU. The server automatically checks the received data for plausibility and, if the data is correct, sends a command to the electricity meter to enable it 10 who then by the control device 20 is released for the corresponding consumption of electrical energy. In addition, the controller writes 20 Data on the activation comprising a unique identifier of the electricity meter in an OTP memory on the smart card, whereby the smart card for the electricity meter 10 is personalized and no longer in other electricity meters 10 is usable.

• – Befehle zum Auslesen von durch die Verbrauchsmesseinrichtung 12 gemessenen Verbrauchsdaten,
• – Befehle zum vollständigen Deaktivieren, d.h. Abschalten des Stromzählers 10 beispielsweise bei einer Überlastung des Stromnetzes 24, bei einer Unterversorgung oder bei einer Gefahrensituation (z.B. Gaszähler, der bei Gasaustritt in einem Haus automatisch abgeschaltet wird),
• – Befehle zum Analysieren des Verbrauchsverhaltens, und
• – Befehle zur Tarifabrechnung (beispielsweise Einstellung von Tag- oder Nachttarif)

vorgesehen sein. Wesentlich ist, dass diese Befehle derart in der Steuereinrichtung 20 implementiert sind, dass die Steuereinrichtung 20 beim Empfangen eines Befehls die anderen Einheiten des Stromzählers 10 entsprechend ansteuert.As more commands to control the electricity meter 10 for example

• - Commands for reading by the consumption meter 12 measured consumption data,
• - commands to completely deactivate, ie switch off the electricity meter 10 For example, in an overload of the power grid 24 , in the event of a shortage of supply or in a dangerous situation (eg gas meter which is automatically switched off in case of gas leakage in a house),
• - commands for analyzing the consumption behavior, and
• - tariff billing orders (eg day or night tariff setting)

be provided. It is essential that these commands in the control device 20 are implemented that the control device 20 when receiving a command the other units of the electricity meter 10 controls accordingly.

It should also be mentioned that instead of the powerline communication module 16 or also in addition a radio module as the communication interface of the electricity meter 10 can be provided. This radio module can, for example, control one or more radio standards for communication with remote stations, for example common mobile radio standards such as GSM or UMTS or near-field radio standards such as Bluetooth or WLAN IEEE 802.11.

As a wired communication interface and a modem can be used, whereby the electricity meter 10 be connected to a telecommunications network and can communicate with this via a remote station.

For reading consumption data from the electricity meter, either a command can be used to control the device 20 for determining and sending the consumption data to a server of a VU, or the consumption data are from the control device 20 stored in a memory that can be read by the server of the VU. Due to the simple and automatable reading of consumption data from the electricity meter 10 It is also possible to inform a customer, for example by e-mail, Internet or text message to the telephone connection on the consumption, for example, monthly.

Even though as an exemplary embodiment the invention, an electricity meter explained was, the invention is just as well suited for other measuring and dispensing devices for consumables, such as gas and water meters.

10

electric meter

12

Consumption measuring device

14

Consumption blocking device

16

Powerline communication module

18

Data Connection

20

control device

22

Smart card reader

24

power grid a power grid operator

26

power grid of a household

28

Leistungsschalteransteuereinrichtung

30

Low voltage power supply

Claims (13)

Measuring and dispensing device ( 10 ) for consumables with remote control functionality, comprising - a consumption meter ( 12 ), - a taxable consumption barrier ( 14 ), - a data communication device ( 16 ), which is designed to be connected via a data connection ( 18 ) Receive commands for enabling the dispensing of a consumable, and - a control device ( 20 ), which is formed by the data communication device ( 16 ) to receive commands received to enable the dispensing of a consumable and depending on the consumption lock device ( 14 ) to release a consumable. Measuring and dispensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control device ( 20 ) is further configured, via the data communication device ( 16 ) and the data connection ( 18 ) To send data to a remote site to receive a command to enable the dispensing of a consumable. Measuring and dispensing device according to claim 2, characterized in that the control device ( 20 ) is further adapted by the data communication device ( 16 ) to receive received consumption data queries by updating the current consumption data from the consumption meter ( 12 ) and to the data communication device ( 16 ) for transmission. Measuring and dispensing device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that further comprises a data input device ( 22 ) is provided which is adapted to input data to the control device ( 20 ) for further processing. Measuring and dispensing device according to claim 4, characterized in that the control device ( 20 ) is further formed, based on the data input device ( 22 ) data received the consumption blocking device ( 14 ) to release a consumable. Measuring and dispensing device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the data input device ( 22 ) is a smart card reader. Measuring and dispensing device according to claim 6, characterized in that the control device ( 20 ) is further formed, data comprising a unique identification of the measuring and dispensing device ( 10 ) to the chip card reader for storing on a chip card reader located in the chip card. Measuring and dispensing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the data communication device ( 16 ) is designed to receive data via a power grid ( 24 ) to receive and send. Measuring and dispensing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the data communication device ( 16 ) is adapted to receive and transmit data via a radio link. Measuring and dispensing device according to one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that it is an electronic electricity meter. Method for measuring and dispensing consumables with a measuring and dispensing device ( 10 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a server has a command for unlocking the consumption blocking device ( 14 ) for dispensing a consumable to the measuring and dispensing device ( 10 ) transmitted by the control device ( 20 ) of the measuring and dispensing device ( 10 ) is processed such that the consumption blocking device ( 14 ) is unlocked for the consumption of a predetermined amount of consumables. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that the data input device ( 22 ) Receives data received from the control device ( 20 ) are processed in such a way that they issue the command for unlocking the consumption blocking device ( 14 ) from the server. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that the data input device ( 22 ) is a chip card reader that reads the data from an inserted into the smart card reader chip card and the control device ( 20 ) transmitted.