FR3033638A1 - METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RECORDING A CONSUMER COUNTER - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for reading a counter (20) for consumption of a fluid and / or electric current, comprising the following steps: a) reception by a counter reading terminal (40) of the data corresponding to an image (30) the meter reading area (20); b) sending the image data (30) to a survey server (50); c) a processing image processing module performs a processing of cutting said image (30) to isolate firstly a first zone (31) and secondly a second zone (32), d) said image processing module performs a processing of these two zones to identify said counter by an identifier, and recognize at least one sequence of digits corresponding to the consumption record.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a method for reading a consumption meter of a fluid or electricity and a system for carrying out this method of statement. [0002] Companies distributing fluids serving the premises, such as in particular water, gas or electricity, must as part of their services, perform, or have performed by dedicated service providers, regular records of all meters to know the consumption of the fluid in question and thus be able to bill the customer user of this fluid the amount consumed. It is therefore necessary to organize meter reading tours, which requires significant human resources and an associated additional cost. STATE OF THE ART [0003] It is now relatively common to perform, between two actual readings, taking into account the actual consumption by direct reading of the meter, an estimated reading including extrapolating the values of previous readings. Such a procedure makes it possible to reduce the costs but does not exempt from the realization of actual readings. In addition, by this extrapolation, the estimated consumption may be greater than the actual consumption and consequently the corresponding invoice higher than if the actual reading had been made. Users seek to reduce their expenses and therefore receive bills reflecting their actual consumption. The actual survey also allows them to identify more quickly leaks occurred in their private part, and thus allow the implementation of faster corrective measures (repairs). In addition, companies responsible for distributing fluids to users are seeking to reduce the cost of actual readings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] An object of the present invention is to propose a method of reading a consumption counter of a fluid free from the limitations of known collection methods. [0006] Another object of the invention is to propose a method of reading a consumption counter of a fluid which improves the optimization of the agreement between the readings made and the actual consumption. It is also intended to provide a method of reading a consumption meter of a fluid whose reliability is improved. An object of the invention is also to provide a method of reading a fluid consumption meter which adds an incentive dimension to the user of the meter, and more specifically to the recipient of the invoice associated with the survey carried out. According to the invention, these objects are achieved in particular by means of a method of reading a consumption meter of a fluid having means for identifying the meter and means for displaying the consumption of said fluid. , comprising the following 15 steps: a) a user makes a single photograph of the consumption meter of a fluid using a smart computer terminal equipped with shooting means, so that the photograph comprises both a first zone with the image of the identification means and a second zone with the image of the display means; B) said user transmits by said computer terminal said photograph to a server which contains a computer program; c) said computer program in said server or the user performs the cutting of said photograph to isolate firstly said first zone and secondly said second zone; d) said computer program performs a processing of the first zone to identify said counter by an identifier, and said computer program performs a treatment of the second zone to recognize at least one sequence of digits corresponding to the consumption record; said identifier and said sequence of digits forming a proposed statement. It is understood that in this way, the user of the process, which can be the particular user of the fluid whose consumption is measured by the meter or a person in charge of the relief in the building (concierge , union council ....), makes the statement in a very simple way. In the present text, the term "fluid" distributed to the user and whose consumption is to be measured, both a liquid such as water and a gas such as the gas produced from coal, or natural gas distributed to the user or even electricity. By intelligent computer terminal is meant a computer system that allows communication with a computer or server and which may in particular be formed of a computer. In particular, it is a tablet, or a smart phone or "smartphone", preferably with a touch screen. For the implementation of the present invention, the computer terminal comprises means for shooting, that is to say a camera function. Moreover, it is understood that by means of identification of the meter is made to match well the statement with the place of consumption. For this purpose, the identification means comprise at least one of a bar code, a QR code and a sequence of alphanumeric characters. These identification means may be formed of a label or other support bearing an identifier and applied in advance on the front of the meter, near the consumer display area, or an identifier directly. 20 printed or engraved on the front of the meter. Thus, the survey method is implemented by the user, directly on the place of consumption and is a record of the actual consumption. This statement is reliable because it is not dependent on a human error in entering the sequence of numbers or the series of numbers forming the index. In fact, it is by the processing of the first area of the photograph by the computer program that the figures forming the index or indices to be recorded are recognized. This solution has the advantage over the prior art to be able to completely delegate the consumption record to the user without having to involve a dedicated service provider for the next generation. In this way, it is understood that this makes it possible to reduce the costs relating to the realization of these index statements. In order to add an incentive dimension to the user in order to use the method according to the invention to carry out the survey, the fluid dispensing company can provide for the awarding of a reward to the user. This reward can for example take the form of a reduction on one of the invoices which are sent to this user 5 for the consumption of the fluid for which the user makes his own readings via the method according to the invention. Other types of reward may be provided, such as gifts, loyalty bonuses, etc. According to a preferred embodiment, the survey method according to the invention further comprises the following steps: e) said computer program transmits said counter identifier and said sequence of digits to said computer terminal so that said user can view the proposed reading; f) said user enters into the computer terminal a validation or refusal response of the proposed statement. The proposed statement corresponds to the photograph taken and previously transmitted by the computer terminal to the server. In a preferred embodiment of the polling method according to the invention, following a refusal response of the statement proposed by the user, the computer terminal provides the user with a signal inviting him to make a new photograph. counter 20 of fluid consumption. This is for example the case where the photograph is fuzzy or does not show the entire area of the counter comprising both the identification means and the display means. Such a signal is for example an auditory and / or visual signal such as an alarm, an error message. Following this signal, the user is invited to perform again steps a) to d) 25 of the process to obtain a new statement proposed. For this proposed new statement, steps e) and f) are preferably again implemented in order to validate or reject the proposed new statement and allow the user to repeat the process if necessary until a proposed statement that is acceptable to the user. [0021] Also, in a preferred embodiment of the survey method according to the invention, following a validation response by the user of the proposed survey, said computer program creates an actual statement comprising said identifier and said sequence of figures. the proposed statement then transmits said actual statement to said server. In this way, this actual reading is made available within the server, in particular for the fluid dispensing company or any other means for relieving the indexes of said fluid. In this case, according to a preferred variant, the computer terminal provides the user with a signal confirming the finalization of the reading of said counter. Such a signal is for example an auditory and / or visual signal such as a ringtone or a confirmation message. The invention also relates to a computer system for implementing the aforementioned method of reading a consumption counter of a fluid, comprising - at least one computer terminal comprising computer input means, - a server connected to said computer terminal and comprising a database in which at least the identifiers of a group of counters are stored. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES [0024] Examples of implementation of the invention are indicated in the description illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7, in which: FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a first step of the survey method a consumption counter of a fluid according to the invention; FIG. 2 illustrates an example of another step of the method for reading a consumption counter of a fluid according to the invention; FIG. 3 illustrates another possible step of the polling method according to the invention; FIG. 4 illustrates yet another possible step of the method according to the invention; FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic representation of an example of a meter reading system for consuming a fluid and / or electric current according to the invention; FIG. 6 illustrates a functional flowchart of an exemplary method for reading a consumption meter of a fluid and / or of an electric current according to the invention, and FIG. 7 illustrates other possible steps of FIG. meter reading process. Example (s) of Embodiment of the Invention [0025] FIG. 5 represents an exemplary system for reading a consumption counter of a fluid and / or electric current according to the invention, comprising: a plurality of survey terminals 40 comprising an image acquisition module 42, a data exchange module 43, a validation / refusal module 44, a survey image database 45 and a data exchange bus 46. data between the different modules of the terminal 40; a survey server 50 comprising: a module 53 for processing images of counter readings; a module 52 for exchanging data; A module 54 of image data of meter readings; a module 55 of data of identifiers; a module 56 of consumption data; a module 57 of data of validated consumption records; A bus 58 for exchanging data between the different modules of the server 50. As illustrated, the meter reading system furthermore comprises an access to a network 60 enabling data exchanges between said server 50. and said survey terminals 40. [0027] FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a method of reading a meter 40 for consumption of a fluid and / or electrical current according to the invention for a meter comprising a survey zone. wherein a counter identifier symbol 21 and a consumer display 22 are arranged on a surface adapted for simultaneous reading by an imaging module 42, comprising the following steps: a) receiving 100 by a terminal 40 counter reading data corresponding to an image 30 of the reading area of the counter 20 so that the data of the image includes both a first area 31 with the identifier symbol 21 and a second area 32 with the display 22, b) sending 101 of the image data 30 by said survey terminal 40 to a survey server 50 which contains a survey image processing module 53; c) said readout image processing module 53 carries out a processing 102 of cutting said image 30 in order to isolate on the one hand said first zone 31 and on the other hand said second zone 32, d) said module 53 of survey image processing performs a processing 103 of the first area 31 to identify said counter by an identifier, and said survey image processing module 53 performs a processing 104 of the second area 32 to recognize the minus a sequence of digits corresponding to the consumption record, said identifier and said sequence of digits forming a proposed statement. FIG. 7 illustrates an example of steps that can follow: e) said server 50 transmits (step 107) said identifier of the counter 20 and said sequence of digits to said statement terminal 40 which displays these data and a validation module / refusal 44 proposes a validation or refusal menu, f) said validation / refusal module 44 receives (step 108) a validation or refusal response of the proposed statement 15. [0029] Also, following a response from refusal 111 by the user of the proposed statement 15, the validation / refusal module 44 provides the user with a signal inviting him to perform (step 112) a new image 30 of the consumption meter 20. In contrast, following a validation response 109 by the user of the proposed statement 5, said validation module generates (step 110) an actual statement comprising said identifier and said sequence of digits of the proposed statement and then transmits said statement. to the server 50. [0031] According to the invention, the user 200 uses a computer terminal 40, such as a smart phone, and in particular a multimedia telephone that operates using a touch screen 12. On also uses a server (not shown), such as the statement server 50, remote from the computer terminal 40, and comprising a database used for the implementation of the invention as will be described below. The computer terminal 40 and the server are connected to each other in order to exchange information. Such a link can be wired but is preferably wireless, over the air or GSM or a wireless network according to the TCP-IP communication protocol, namely the Internet. [0033] FIG. 1 shows a counter 20 whose facade comprises in particular: identification means, also called identifier symbol 21: it is for example a label carrying symbols or other symbols signs that constitute the identifier of the meter. In this illustrated example, there is both a series of alphanumeric characters formed here of a sequence of digits constituting a counter number (Nr 03 08 28 144875 96) and below a barcode, and - means of printing. display of the consumption still called display 22: it is generally a window through which the index formed by a series of digits is visible (here the counter 20 is an electric meter). To this identifier is associated a set of information relating to the place of consumption, such as, for example, the contract number, the customer number, the detailed address of the place of consumption (counter location information). ), the name and telephone number and / or email address of the user residing at the place, and / or the contact information (name and telephone number and / or email address and / or postal address) of the owner of such place and / or billing information including contact information (name and telephone number and / or email address 3033638 8 and / or mailing address) of the recipient of the invoice for meter reading. This set of information is preferably stored in a database. According to the method of the invention, the user 200 makes a single photograph 30 with its computer terminal 40 (here a smart phone with touch screen 5). This photograph 30 must make it possible to display both the identification means 21 and the display means of the consumption 22. If the user is satisfied with this photograph 30, he proceeds to the next step and transmits via his computer program 40 said photograph 30 to a server, such as server 50, which contains a computer program or survey image processing module 53. [0036] This computer program performs a digital processing of the photograph 30. For that , it first performs the cutting of the photograph 30 in a first area 31 in which are visible the identification means 21 but not the display means of the consumption 22, and in a second area 32 in which the means of 22 but not the means of identification 21. [0037] According to one variant, it is not only the computer program that splits said photograph 30 in order to soler on the one hand said first zone 31 and secondly said second zone 32 of the photograph, but the user participates in this cutting. For this purpose, advantageously, the touch screen 12 displays a rectangular frame (this could be the continuous line frame designating the photograph 30 in Figure 1), and the user places the appropriate portion of the photograph that he has taken in this frame (if necessary by zooming and moving the photograph on the screen), and once the portion is placed correctly in the frame, it validates so that the processing of this portion begins. This portion of the photograph is therefore successively the first area 31 of the photograph and then the second area 32 of the photograph, or vice versa. According to this variant, the reframing of the photograph 30 on the first zone 31 and the second zone 32 is performed after the shooting. In this case, said user transmits by said computer terminal each portion of the photograph (the first area 31 and the second area 32) to the server, such as the server 50, which contains the computer program, and this after the cutting operation above (there is therefore not necessarily transmission of the photograph prior to the cutting operation of the photograph). Then, this computer program or reading image processing module 53 performs the digital processing of the first zone 31 and the second zone 32. The processing of the first zone 32 makes it possible to recognize the identifier of the counter 20 This identifier makes it possible in particular for the computer program, via access to a database which may be on the aforementioned server or another server, to access all the information relating to the place of consumption. The processing of the second zone 32 makes it possible to recognize the sequence of digits forming the index, that is to say the current value of the counter. It is by difference between this index and the index raised the previous time, that one can deduce the consumption of the fluid between these two moments of survey. In one embodiment not shown, the consumption display means 22 and consequently, said second zone 32 comprises a first region with a first sequence of digits for consumption according to a first tariff, and a second region with a second series of figures for consumption according to a second tariff. This situation is for example met for an electricity meter which measures a first consumption (first sequence of figures) for peak hours (first rate) and a second consumption (second series of figures) for off-peak hours (second rate which is often lower than the first tariff). In Figure 2, there is shown what is visible on the screen 12 of the computer terminal 40 after the aforementioned processing, after said server 50 has transmitted said counter identifier and said sequence of digits to said computer terminal 40 of so that said user can view the proposed statement 15 comprising a proposed identifier 16 and a proposed index 17. Then the user validates or refuses this proposed statement 15: in Figure 2, the user validates by pressing a confirmation button visible on the screen 12 (arrow V). In this example, it is the reading of a water meter. In this way, the proposed survey 15 becomes an actual survey (here the index of 5890 m3 for the survey of a water meter is confirmed). By this method, the information on the consumption associated with the meter 20 is enriched, read after reading. It is then possible to use this cumulative data to establish a consumption graph 18 illustrating on the screen 12 the consumptions noted. as a function of the time elapsed as shown in FIG. 3. Other statistics relating to consumption can also be established. In a not shown embodiment, the method comprises a preliminary step of selecting the type of counter, according to which said computer terminal 40 proposes to the user to choose between several types of counters, in particular as a function of the fluid of which consumption must be measured. Thus, the choice is offered to the user between a meter for gas, for water and for electricity. In a second time, optionally, the choice is also offered to the user to select from a list of counters for the previously selected fluid, for example between a mechanical counter, an electromechanical counter, and a digital display electronic counter. In the case where several counters are present on the place to be controlled, the method according to the present invention can be implemented for each of the counters. Thus, if a reading is made for a first counter, for example an electricity meter, and a second meter, for example a water meter, and a third meter, for example a gas meter, three effective indices are obtained. . In FIG. 4 representing a step of displaying the summary of the readings made, the actual index 19 relating to the consumption of water is visible in a second portion 13b of the screen, while the first portion 13a of the screen indicates the actual reading for power consumption and the third portion 13c of the display indicates the actual reading for gas consumption. According to one embodiment, the use of the method grants a reduction on the amount of the invoice associated with the actual statement. For the implementation of the collection method according to the invention, one can use a computer system also object of the present invention. Such a computer system comprises in particular: at least one computer terminal 40 comprising computer input means that can be used by the user, and a server 50 connected to said computer terminal 40 and comprising a database in which at least the identifiers of a group of counters. In one embodiment, this database further includes counter location information associated with the identifier of each counter. Also, preferably, said database further includes billing information including the recipient's invoice details for the meter reading. Also, advantageously, the computer system further comprises an internet network for exchanging information. between said server and said computer terminal 40 of the user, and preferably also with the computer terminal at the supplier of the fluid corresponding to said counter.

Claims (11)

REVENDICATIONS1. Method for reading a counter (20) for consuming a fluid and / or electric current for a counter comprising a survey zone in which a counter identifier symbol (21) and a consumption display (22) are arranged on a surface adapted for simultaneous reading by an imaging module (42), comprising the following steps: a) reception (100) by a counter reading terminal (40) of the data corresponding to an image ( 30) of the counter reading area (20) so that the image data includes both a first area (31) with the identifier symbol (21) and a second area (32) with the area display (22), b) sending (101) the image data (30) by said survey terminal (40) to a survey server (50) which contains an image processing module (53) of raised; c) said survey image processing module (53) performs a process (102) of cutting said image (30) to isolate said first region (31) and said second region (30); zone (32), d) said survey image processing module (53) performs a processing (103) of the first zone (31) to identify said counter by an identifier, and said image processing module The readout performs a processing (104) of the second area (32) to recognize at least a sequence of digits corresponding to the consumption record, said identifier and said series of digits forming a proposed reading. The method of claim 1, which further comprises the steps of: e) said server (50) transmitting (107) said counter identifier (20) and said sequence of digits to said read terminal (40) displaying said data and a validation / refusal module (44) proposes a validation or refusal menu, f) said validation / refusal module receives (44) a validation or refusal response of the proposed statement (15). The method of claim 2, wherein following a refusal response (111) by the user of the proposed statement (15), the validation / refusal module (44) provides the user with a signal inviting him performing (112) a new image (30) of the consumption counter (20). 4. A method according to claim 2, wherein following a validation response (109) by the user of the proposed statement (15), said validation / refusal module (44) generates (110) an actual record including said identifier and said sequence of digits of the proposed statement (15) then transmits said actual statement to said server. 5. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the validation / refusal module (44) provides the user with a signal confirming the finalization of the reading of said counter (20). The method of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said identifier is associated with location information of the counter (20). 7. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a prior step of selecting the type of counter (20), wherein said survey terminal 10 (40) offers the user to choose between several types of counters (20). The method of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said identifier symbol (21) comprises at least one of a bar code, a QR code, and a sequence of alphanumeric characters. 9. A fluid consumption meter and / or an electric power meter reading system comprising: - a plurality of survey terminals (40) including an image pick-up module (42), a module ( 43) and a validation / refusal module (44); a readout server (50) comprising: a meter reading image processing module (53); A data exchange module (52); a module (54) of meter reading image data; a module (55) of identifier data; a module (56) of consumption data; a module (57) of validated consumption record data. 25 The meter reading system of claim 9, further comprising accessing a network (60) for exchanging data between said server (50) and said polling terminals (40). The meter reading system of claim 9 or 10, wherein said identifier data module (55) includes counter location data associated with the identifier of each counter (20).