DE102007036687A1 - Consumption data reading out system, has communication device designed in such manner that it sends data sent by optical character recognition modules over local data channel to reading position of supplier via supplier data channel - Google Patents

Abstract

The system has optical character recognition (OCR) modules (28), whose dial recording is read out by an optical character recognition. The modules are communicatively connected with an associated remote readable electric meter (18) by a local data channel (30). A communication device (20) e.g. mobile radio device, of the electric meter is designed in such a manner that it sends data sent by the modules over the local data channel to a reading position (33) of a supplier via a supplier data channel. An independent claim is also included for a method for electronic remote reading out of consumption data.

Description

The The present invention relates to a system for electronic remote reading Consumption data according to the preamble of claim 1 and a Method for the electronic remote reading of consumption data The preamble of claim 14. Furthermore, it relates to a remote-readable electricity meter.

One Providers serving a variety of consumer consumer media such as electricity, gas, water and / or district heating, must everyone these consumers individually charge their consumption. These are conventionally consumer-side consumption meters installed, the usual be referred to as "consumption meter" and the individual consumption for the medium in question for that particular Show consumers. To determine the consumption, the provider must at regular intervals one Send employees to the consumer to read the meter reading, or at least to control. This represents for the utilities a considerable effort and considerable cost, ultimately the consumer has to bear.

Around To avoid local reading, remotely readable counters are developed where the count information automatically through electronic data processing and data communication technology transferred to the utility become. The technology of remote-readable meters is often referred to as "AMR" (Automatic Meter Reading).

The Advantages of meter remote reading are obvious: these include on the one hand the savings in that the supplier to the mentioned above Reading or checking of the count on Consumers no longer worry needs. This is all the more important than in the course of market liberalization Consumers are increasingly able and willing to help their consumers switch. A provider operating in a certain regional area has a high market share, reading the counter at To organize consumers relatively efficiently, a new provider, which has only a relatively small market share, is unequaled larger organizational Difficulties and costs.

One another big one Advantage of electronic remote reading is that the supplier In a timely manner, if not in real time, you can see how much a consumption medium requires a particular consumer. Thereby the supplier can better plan the needs of its consumers better understand and align its offer to it.

One especially big Advantage of electronic remote reading can be achieved with electricity meters. For one Electricity supplier would be it is extraordinary advantageous if it is virtually nationwide and timely about would be informed of the current power consumption, because this allows to secure the power supply at all times without unnecessarily large safety reserves to have to be ready. At present becomes is known to generate electricity with a significant overcapacity to the at any time to meet current needs. If you determine the concrete current need promptly and easily could, should be clear less power is generated to the reserve, which makes it very efficient Energy could be saved.

this Advantages, however, are opposed by significant disadvantages the reason for this are that the Remote reading currently not yet widespread. These include primarily the increased equipment and Installation costs. One of the biggest obstacles for one Switching to remote reading is that every currently existing consumer yes already equipped with functioning counters and certainly would not be ready the high cost of retrofitting to bear directly or indirectly, if he possesses a functioning system is.

Of the present invention is based on the object, a system and a method for the electronic remote reading of consumption data to provide, which with very low initial investment costs implement.

These The object is achieved by a system having the features of claim 1, a remote-readable electricity meter according to claim 9 and a method having the features of the claim 14 solved. Advantageous developments are specified in the dependent claims.

The system for the electronic remote reading of consumption data according to the invention comprises a plurality of remotely readable electricity meters, which are provided on the consumer and which are communicatively connected via a supplier data channel to a read-out point of a provider, and which comprise a communication device which is capable of data over the Provider data channel to communicate to the readout point. Here and in the following disclosure, the term "data channel" is to be construed broadly and may denote both a physical data channel, such as an optical or electrical data line, and a logical data channel, such as a frequency band within a radio transmission A plurality of OCR modules that are suitable with gas and / or water and / or district heating and / or other utility meters (eg not remote readable electricity meters) and to read their meter readings by means of optical character recognition, each OCR module being communicatively connected to an associated remote readable electricity meter via a local data channel and the communication means of the electricity meter being suitable for use by an OCR module over the local Data channel sent data via the provider data channel to the provider to send.

The Abbreviation "OCR" denotes a optical character recognition and is based on the English term "Optical Character Recognition ". An OCR module as used in the present invention is a module that can be paired with a conventional meter and its count read by recognizing the characters on the meter's display. Such OCR modules are available, for example, from the company Xemtec and can easy on a conventional one counter be attached (eg glued), that the photosensitive section the OCR module of the meter's display, z. B. a mechanical roller counter, opposite.

One Such OCR module can be produced extremely inexpensively. According to the system of the invention can so all utility meter a consumer can be made remotely readable, and this at investment cost, the only slightly higher lie as the investment costs that accrue, if only a remotely readable electric meter would be installed. Because the already existing additional consumption meters can be simple continue to be used and must only by a cost-effective OCR module added become.

As mentioned in the beginning A remote readable electricity meter has two major advantages. Of the an advantage exists in principle in the reduced operating costs, because the reading is eliminated on the spot, the second is the possibility the actual current one Send demand in a timely manner to be able to. However, the first advantage is therefore only "in principle", because in the Practice the operating costs by the remote-readable electricity meter alone can not yet reduce, because still the other consumption meters, for example for gas, Water or district heating, need to be read on the spot, and this often by the same provider. But if the other consumption meters anyway need to be read on the spot, whether by the same supplier as the electricity supplier or one other suppliers, the electricity meter can also be read at the same time.

One Substantial efficiency gains will only be achieved if all Utility meter remotely readable be designed. The investment costs that would be incurred if the remaining utility meters also by conventional remotely readable consumption meters would be exchanged, However, they are unacceptably high and especially in the case of existing ones functioning system can not be switched.

The On the other hand, the system and method of the present invention allow it for Investment costs that are insignificantly higher than those for the provision a remotely readable electricity meter, all utility meters a consumer or even several consumers remotely readable so that the above-mentioned first advantage of the remotely readable electricity meter, namely the reduced operating costs, not only in principle but also indeed beats to book.

Technically are based on the extremely low additional Investment costs on two aspects. For one, it allows the communication device of the remote readable electricity meter that the same Provider data channel for the electricity consumption data is also used for the remaining consumption data can be. This can be cost compared to a solution with a plurality of parallel Provider data channels reduce.

Of the first aspect, d. H. sharing the utility data channel also for the consumption data of the rest Consumption meter, seats advance that the Consumption data of the remaining consumption meters for Communication device of the electricity meter are transmitted. The obvious Way to accomplish this would be to use existing meter so to modify that Consumption data are electronically deducted from these and on transmit any suitable way to the communication device of the electricity meter become. This would but interfere with the architecture of the other existing meters, the expresses elaborately would be, especially as these other existing counters also for the same consumables are not necessarily identical and therefore not a universal solution possible is and because an intervention in an existing meter also because of the risk of manipulation always is critical. In analog, mechanical meters, many of which are currently in the Operation would be such an electronic data intervention anyway not possible.

Instead, the system of the invention provides to transmit the consumption information from the remaining counters to the electricity meter by way of optical character recognition. The use of OCR technology is the second technical aspect that contributes to the reduced cost. The optical character recognition may seem like a detour at first glance, since the information only is optically detected and then transmitted electronically, but is actually much easier and cheaper than any attempt to deduct the data electronically from the existing meters. We are talking about the control provided by the OCR technology of a "counter reading repetition" or "measured value repetition" according to PTB requirements 50.7, which is completely unobjectionable since no new measured value is formed, but an already existing measured value of a calibrated counter ( Furthermore, the removal of the meter reading by means of the OCR technology is completely free of feedback since it exerts no measuring-technical influence on the measuring accuracy or the measuring stability of the meter. is due to the described property of the "freedom from retroactivity" according to the Verification Ordinance - General Provisions §9 "Additional Equipment" para 1 and para 3 excluded from the calibration requirement, which represents a further economic advantage.

One particular technical advantage of using the OCR modules in that she are universally applicable, so not to the special technique of relevant counter customized Need to become, but only as far as they are with different layouts of the ad to be able to deal with have to, what but technically unproblematic. Also, the existing meters do not have to changed but they can unchanged and stay sealed as they are, without the risk of manipulation.

Consequently The system and method of the invention allow all utility meters one consumer and even several neighboring consumers very moderate costs remotely readable.

preferably, becomes the local data channel between the communication device of the electricity meter and the OCR modules formed by a radio transmission. Thereby The investment costs can be further reduced, because no independent Lines must be laid.

In an advantageous development comprises the communication device the remote readable electricity meter an interface for transferring of data on the low voltage line, about which the consumer is using Power is supplied, and will be at least a section of said Provider data channel formed by the low voltage power line. Such Data transmission over the power network is known per se and is commonly referred to as "Power Line Communication "(PLC) designated. Preferably comprises the utility data channel further comprises a concentrator to which the over the Low-voltage power line sent consumption data of several Consumers are collected. The concentrator is preferably provided in a transformer station.

By the use of PLC technology can be the part of the utility data channel extremely easy up to the concentrator and cost-effective provide, because already existing lines for data transmission be used, and the electricity meter anyway connected to the low voltage power line.

The System as a whole will typically be a variety of concentrators and at least some, preferably all, of the concentrators are preferably provided with a communication device, which is capable of collecting the collected consumption data to a data processing center of the supplier. In a particularly advantageous embodiment this concentrator communication device is powered by a mobile radio device educated. In this embodiment is the hardware overhead for the provision of the provider data channel is minimal, so again the investment costs, especially in comparison to alternative ones options using telephone lines, are extremely cheap.

In In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the electricity meter communication device is through a communication module formed, which structurally from the remaining part of the electricity meter is disconnected. Such communication modules are on electricity meters known, but not in a design that simultaneously the Function of a gateway for the consumption data of the rest counter provides. An advantage of such structurally separate modules is in that she can be replaced or modified without the counter as open such to have to, which always involves a risk of manipulation. In an advantageous Further development, the communication module is detachable, in particular by plug connection with the electricity meter connected.

To the better understanding The present invention is described below in the drawings illustrated preferred embodiment Reference is made to that described by specific terminology is. It should be noted, however, that the scope of the invention not restricted should be, because such changes and further modification to the apparatus and method shown as well as such other uses of the invention as used herein are shown as usual current or future expertise a competent Be considered professional.

The Figures show embodiments of the Invention, namely

1 a schematic representation of a system for electronic remote readout of consumption data; and

2 a block diagram of a remote-readable electricity meter according to a further development of the invention.

In 1 a block diagram of a system for electronic remote readout of consumption data is shown according to a development of the invention. In 1 is with reference number 12 a multi-family house is shown schematically in which, for example, four parties live, which are referred to below as each "consumer".

Three of the consumers have a conventional non-remotely readable electricity meter 14a . 14b respectively. 14c connected to a 0.4 kV low voltage line 16 are connected, and are intended to measure the power consumption of the associated consumer in a conventional manner.

The fourth consumer has a remote-readable electricity meter 18 , which is a communication device 20 which is described in more detail below.

They are also in the house 12 Consumption meters for other consumption media, of which an example of a gas meter 22 , a water meter 24 and a district heating meter 26 are shown. With these consumption meters 22 . 24 . 26 These are conventional meters that can not be remotely read, as they are currently usually installed in households.

The gas meter 22 , the water meter 24 , the remote heat meter 26 and the conventional electricity meter 14c are each with an OCR module 28 provided with the associated counter 14c . 22 . 24 . 26 is coupled and is suitable to read its count by optical character recognition. These OCR modules 28 can be easily attached to conventional counters, for example, be glued to the housing so that the photosensitive part of the OCR module is opposite to the counter display. The OCR modules 28 also have their own power supply by means of battery. Such OCR modules are available, for example, from Xemtec.

Every OCR module 28 has a radio transmitter that allows a counter to count the meter and thus the consumption data of the associated meter 14c . 22 . 24 . 26 , as well as possibly further relevant data by radio to the communication device 20 the remote readable electricity meter 18 to send. This wireless connection between the OCR modules 28 and the communication device 20 represents a local data channel 30 ready, which in 1 is shown schematically by a solid line. This data channel is local in that it is on the house 12 is limited. It is also possible that such a local data channel 30 extends over several adjacent houses, depending on the strength of the radio transmitters of the OCR modules 28 , The local data channel 30 however, is local in that the consumption data of the counters associated with it is local 22 . 24 . 26 . 14c can not be transferred to him by the supplier alone.

The communication device 20 the remote readable electricity meter 18 comprises a transmitter / receiver or receiver for receiving the radio signals of the OCR modules 28 and can the consumption data of the counters 14c . 22 . 24 . 26 receive and buffer. The communication device may also include a suitable data processing interface, e.g. B. an M-bus, via which the data received from an external receiver for receiving the radio signals of the OCR modules are read. This external radio receiver would typically be in close proximity to the communication module 20 arranged, z. B. directly next to the remote-readable electricity meter, mounted or plugged into the housing or terminal cover or in the terminal cover. This makes it possible in particular to obtain the electricity supply for the external radio receiver from the remote-readable electricity meter. This consumption data can be the remote-readable electricity meter 18 then using the communication device 20 via a utility data channel 32 to a reading station 33 communicate with a utility. The utility data channel consists of two sections in the embodiment shown. The first paragraph 32a is through the low voltage line 16 formed over which the remotely readable electricity meter 18 both his own consumption data and those of him via the local channel 30 connected counters 14c . 22 . 24 . 26 via Power Line Communication (PLC) to a concentrator 34 which transmits, preferably in a mains transformer station 36 is provided.

Although this in 1 not shown, run in the power transformer station 36 a plurality of low voltage lines similar to the low voltage line 16 together, via which consumption data is transferred in the same way via PLC. These consumption data are in the concentrator 34 stored, and at defined times using a mobile device 38 to the reading desk 33 transmitted by the supplier. Preferably, the mobile radio device transmits 38 under use the GSM standard to a GPRS base station. From the GPRS base station, the consumer data can be sent to the readout point via the Internet 33 be sent. The GSM / GPRS connection between the mobile device 38 and the reading desk 33 the supplier forms the second part in such an embodiment 32b of the utility data channel.

In 2 is the remote readable electricity meter 18 shown in more detail in a schematic block diagram. As in 2 can be seen includes the remotely readable electricity meter 18 in this embodiment, a consumption counter section 40 who connected with the low voltage line 16 connected and intended to determine the power consumption. The consumption counter section 40 is similar to the conventional electricity meters 14a . 14b . 14c , and in particular, it is sealed and not accessible to third parties to prevent manipulation.

Furthermore, the remote-readable electricity meter includes 18 which in connection with 1 mentioned communication device 20 in the in 2 shown embodiment is designed as a module which at a designated location of the remotely readable electricity meter 18 is pluggable. This communication module 20 comprises an electronic data processing unit 42 , a receiver 44 for receiving the radio signals from the OCR modules 28 as well as a PLC interface 46 ,

The data processing unit 42 receives the power consumption data of the remote readable counter 18 via a signal line 48 from the consumption counter section 40 , Furthermore, the electronic data processing unit receives 42 the consumption values of additional meters via the local data channel 30 (please refer 1 ), whose one end is the radio receiver 44 forms. The electronic data processing unit 42 transfers the consumption data via the PLC interface 46 on the low voltage line 16 , and thus to the utility data channel 32 ,

As mentioned above, in an alternative embodiment, an external receiver may be provided which communicates with the communication module via a suitable data processing interface, e.g. As an M-bus communicates. In this implementation, the end of the local data channel would be 30 formed by the external receiver or the said data processing interface.

In an advantageous development of the fernauslesbare electricity meter 18 designed for bidirectional communication. The remote-readable electricity meter can do this 18 via the same provider data channel 32 over which he uses consumption data to the readout point 33 sends, also signals from the reading station 33 receive. In this embodiment, the PLC interface would thus be designed for bidirectional communication.

Furthermore, the local data channel can also be used 30 be designed for bidirectional communication. It would have the OCR modules 28 instead of a simple transmitter, a transmitter / receiver and the communication device 44 would have a transmitter / receiver instead of a simple receiver. Through bidirectional communication over the local data channel 30 can then be the individual OCR modules 28 from the outside. In particular, it is possible to have an OCR module in a sleep or sleep mode 28 to be put into an active mode from outside by a "wake-up call", in which it reads out the associated counter reading and to the remote-readable electricity meter 18 communicated. This will be the ones with OCR modules 28 provided in real time remote readable.

As can be seen from the description of the embodiment, the exemplary system 10 for electronic remote readout of consumption data, in the illustrated embodiment of electricity, gas, water and district heating data, easy and inexpensive to implement. A variety of counters 14c . 18 . 22 . 24 . 26 for different consumer media are using the same utility data channel 32 fernauslesbar, in the advantageous development of 1 in turn, with minimal hardware effort is feasible.

The OCR technology makes it possible to include even purely analog or mechanical meters in the remote reading, and this with relatively low investment costs, as the OCR modules 28 relatively easy and inexpensive to produce. In fact, the investment costs are far below those which would be needed if all utility meters were replaced by remotely readable ones. In particular, it is even possible to use conventional electricity meters such as the electricity meter 14c to integrate into the system, including this with an OCR module 28 be provided.

Although in the drawings and the foregoing description a preferred one embodiment shown and described in detail, this should be considered pure exemplary and for the invention as non-limiting be considered. It should be noted that only the preferred embodiment is shown and described and all changes and modifications that currently and in the future are within the scope of the invention, to be protected.

10

system for the electronic remote reading of consumption data

12

Apartment building

14a, 14b, 14c

Not remote-readable electricity meter

16

Low-voltage power line

18

fernauslesbarer electric meter

20

Communication device of the remote readable electricity meter 18

22

gas Meter

24

water meter

26

remote heating

28

OCR module

30

local data channel

32 32a, 32b

Provider data channel

33

reading station

34

concentrator

36

Power transformation station

38

mobile radio device

40

Consumption counter section

42

electronic Data processing unit

44

Radio receiver

46

PLC interface

48

signal line

Claims (17)

System ( 10 ) for the electronic remote reading of consumption data, comprising a plurality of remotely readable electricity meters ( 18 ), which are provided on the consumer side, via a utility data channel ( 32 ) communicatively with a read-out point ( 33 ) of a supplier and in each case a communication device ( 20 ), which is suitable for transferring data via the supplier data channel to the read-out point ( 33 ), characterized in that the system further comprises a plurality of OCR modules ( 28 ), which are suitable with gas meters ( 22 ) and / or water meters ( 24 ) and / or district heating meters ( 26 ) and / or other consumption meters, in particular other non-remotely readable electricity meters ( 14c ) and to read out their counter readings by means of optical character recognition, whereby each OCR module ( 28 ) via a local data channel ( 30 ) communicatively with an associated remote readable electricity meter ( 18 ), and the communication device ( 20 ) of the remote readable electricity meter ( 18 ), which is provided by an OCR module ( 28 ) via the local data channel ( 30 ) data sent via the utility data channel ( 32 ) to the reading station ( 33 ) of the supplier. System ( 10 ) according to claim 1, wherein the local data channel ( 30 ) by a radio transmission between the OCR module ( 28 ) and the communication device ( 20 ) of the remote readable electricity meter ( 18 ) is formed. System ( 10 ) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the communication device ( 20 ) an interface ( 46 ) for transferring data to the low-voltage line ( 16 ), which supplies the consumer with electricity, and at least one section ( 32a ) of the utility data channel through the low voltage line ( 16 ) is formed. System ( 10 ) according to claim 3, wherein the utility data channel ( 32 ) a concentrator ( 34 ), on which the via the low-voltage line ( 16 ) collected consumption data of several consumers. System ( 10 ) according to claim 4, wherein the concentrator ( 34 ) in a transformer station ( 36 ) is provided. System ( 10 ) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein a plurality of concentrators ( 34 ) and in which at least some of the concentrators ( 34 ) with a communication device ( 38 ) which is suitable for transferring the collected consumption data to the read-out point ( 33 ) of the supplier. System ( 10 ) according to claim 6, wherein the concentrator communication device ( 38 ) is a mobile device. System ( 10 ) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the read-out point ( 33 ) of the supplier is formed by a data processing center of the supplier. Remote readable electricity meter ( 18 ) for use in a system ( 10 ) according to one of claims 1 to 8, with a communication device ( 20 ) suitable for use by the remote readable electricity meter ( 18 ) provided data via a provider data channel ( 32 ) to a utility, the communication equipment ( 20 ) is also suitable for consumption data obtained from at least one further consumption meter ( 14c . 22 . 24 . 26 ), via a local data channel ( 30 ) and via the provider data channel ( 32 ) also to the provider to communicate. Remote readable electricity meter ( 18 ) according to claim 9, wherein the local data channel ( 30 ) is formed by a radio transmission and the electricity meter communication device ( 20 ) at least one radio receiver ( 44 ) for receiving radio signals or a suitable data processing interface for reading the consumption data received from an external radio receiver. Remote readable electricity meter ( 18 ) to An claim 9 or 10, wherein the electricity meter communication device ( 20 ) an interface ( 46 ) for transferring data to the low-voltage line ( 16 ), with which the remote-readable electricity meter ( 18 ), and at least one section ( 32a ) of the utility data channel ( 32 ) through the low voltage line ( 16 ) is formed. System ( 10 ) according to one of claims 1 to 8, or remote-readable electricity meter ( 18 ) according to one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the electricity meter communication device ( 20 ) is formed by a communication module, which structurally from the remainder of the remote-readable electricity meter ( 18 ) is disconnected. System ( 10 ) or remotely readable electricity meter ( 18 ) according to claim 12, wherein the communication module ( 20 ) detachable, in particular by plug-in connection with the fernauslesbaren electricity meter ( 18 ) connected is. Method for the electronic remote reading of consumption data, comprising the following steps: reading meter reading information of at least one consumption meter, in particular a gas meter ( 22 ) and / or a water meter ( 24 ) and / or a district heating meter ( 26 ) and / or a non-remotely readable electricity meter ( 14c ) using an OCR module ( 28 ), Transmitting the meter reading information from the OCR module ( 28 ) via a local data channel ( 30 ) to a communication device ( 20 ) of a remotely readable electricity meter ( 18 ), and transmitting the consumption data of the at least one consumption counter ( 14c . 22 . 24 . 26 ) via the communication device ( 20 ) of the remote readable electricity meter ( 18 ) via a utility data channel ( 32 ) to a reading station ( 33 ) of the supplier. The method of claim 14, wherein the consumption data from the at least one consumption counter ( 14c . 22 . 24 . 26 ) by radio transmission to the communication device ( 20 ) of the remote readable electricity meter ( 18 ) be transmitted. The method of claim 14 or 15, wherein the step of transmitting the meter reading information of the at least one utility meter ( 14c . 22 . 24 . 26 ) to the reading station ( 33 ) of the supplier, a data transmission via a low-voltage line ( 16 ), with which the remote readable electricity meter ( 18 ) is coupled. Method according to Claim 16, in which the meter reading information about the low-voltage line ( 16 ) to a concentrator ( 34 ) transmitted in a power transformer station ( 36 ), and from there via a mobile radio device ( 38 ) to the reading station ( 33 ) of the supplier.