GB2437341A - Data collection and transmission - Google Patents

Data collection and transmission Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2437341A
GB2437341A GB0607722A GB0607722A GB2437341A GB 2437341 A GB2437341 A GB 2437341A GB 0607722 A GB0607722 A GB 0607722A GB 0607722 A GB0607722 A GB 0607722A GB 2437341 A GB2437341 A GB 2437341A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
data
several
messages
communication device
communication devices
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0607722A
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GB0607722D0 (en
Inventor
Mark Robins
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Actaris UK Ltd
Original Assignee
Actaris UK Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Actaris UK Ltd filed Critical Actaris UK Ltd
Priority to GB0607722A priority Critical patent/GB2437341A/en
Publication of GB0607722D0 publication Critical patent/GB0607722D0/en
Publication of GB2437341A publication Critical patent/GB2437341A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
    • G01R22/00—Arrangements for measuring time integral of electric power or current, e.g. electricity meters
    • G01R22/06—Arrangements for measuring time integral of electric power or current, e.g. electricity meters by electronic methods
    • G01R22/10—Arrangements for measuring time integral of electric power or current, e.g. electricity meters by electronic methods using digital techniques
    • 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
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
    • G01F15/00—Details of, or accessories for, apparatus of groups G01F1/00 - G01F13/00 insofar as such details or appliances are not adapted to particular types of such apparatus
    • G01F15/06—Indicating or recording devices
    • G01F15/061—Indicating or recording devices for remote indication
    • G01F15/063—Indicating or recording devices for remote indication using electrical means
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M11/00—Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
    • H04M11/002—Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems with telemetering systems
    • 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
    • G01D2204/00—Indexing scheme relating to details of tariff-metering apparatus
    • G01D2204/40—Networks; Topology
    • G01D2204/45—Utility meters networked together within a single building

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)

Abstract

Data, e.g. utility meter 2, 4a-4d readings, is sent from communication devices 2,3 to a collection point, over a cellular telephone network 5. Use is made of messaging services e.g. SMS in GSM or GPRS to send the data, associated with a source identifier, to an internet server 1. On receipt, the messages are queued before being read out into a database according to the identifier. On correct receipt, an acknowledgement is returned to the source, which if not received within a specified time period causes the data to be re-sent.

Description

<p>METHOD FOR COLLECTING DATA FROM COMMUNICATION DEVICES OVER A</p>
<p>CELLULAR PHONE NETWORK. AND CORRESPONDING CENTRAL COMMUNICATIONS</p>
<p>SYSTEM</p>
<p>The present invention relates to a method for periodically collecting data from a very large number of communication devices, in particular utility metering devices, over a cellular phone network, for instance over a GSM network.</p>
<p>Until recently, communication to utility meters using GSM technologies was deployed by utilities to commercial and industrial electricity meters, or to data concentrators servicing a number of residential utility meters. Now, three important changes in the commercial environment occur that can enable GSM technology to be used for meter communication to very large numbers of residential utility meters as follows: First, through changes in the utilities' environments, there is now strong demand for communication to residential utility meters in many countries. For example, in Sweden, a change to the reguLatory environment mandates that all residential electricity meters must be read monthly by the utility. Demand for communication systems is primarily for automatic meter reading and remote disconnection/reconnection of supply.</p>
<p>In addition, decreasing costs of GSM modems now mean that GSM communications hardware becomes competitive against other communication technologies.</p>
<p>Furthermore, decreasing costs of GSM communication costs now mean that GSM communications traffic becomes competitive against other network communication costs.</p>
<p>However, even with the use of GSM, it is still essential to minimise the amount of communications traffic on the operators' networks, and also to restrict the communication to times when the operators' networks are relatively quiet.</p>
<p>Meter communication systems over GSM commonly use TCP/IP protocols which establish an open data stream to each meter. Each data stream requires a server process to handle it, which limits the number of meters that can be in communication at any one time. The protocol overhead in using the TCP protocol adds significantly to the amount of GSM bandwidth required for communication.</p>
<p>Such systems are satisfactory for systems managing relatively small numbers of meters (e.g. tens of thousands), as is common in commercial and industrial metering systems. However, they are expensive to scale to communicate with very large numbers of meters (e.g. hundreds of thousands, or millions), and result in significantly high communication costs.</p>
<p>An aim of the invention is to remedy the above drawback by proposing a solution enabling many thousands of meters distributed throughout a GSM-type network to send data simultaneously to a central system, while reducing communication costs and computer hardware costs.</p>
<p>To this aim, an aspect of the present invention is a method for collecting data from several communication devices characterized in that it comprises the following steps: -sending data from each communication device over a cellular telephone network through one or several discrete messages each signed with a unique identifier identifying said communication device; -upon reception of messages from said several communication devices, storing the received messages sequentially in a queue; -sequentially reading the stored messages from said queue, and storing data relating to each of said several communication devices in a database according to said identifier.</p>
<p>Advantageously, said method may comprise a further step of sending an acknowledgement datagram to the respective communication device specifying the identifier of its received message. In this case, the respective communication device may resend its data in case it does not receive an acknowledgement datagram after a given timeout period.</p>
<p>The acknowledgement datagram may also be used to send configuration data to the respective communication device.</p>
<p>A second aspect of the invention is a central communications system central communications system for collecting data from several communication devices, characterized in that it comprises: -means for receiving data sent from said several communication devices, over a cellular telephone network through one or several discrete messages each signed with a unique identifier identifying said communication device; -storage means for storing received messages sequentially in a queue; -processing means for sequential reading the stored messages from said queue; -a database for storage of data relating to each of said several communication devices according to said identifier.</p>
<p>The communications system can perform the method of the previous aspect.</p>
<p>Thus optional features of the method find corresponding optional features in the communications system.</p>
<p>Features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention given by way of non-limiting examples only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: -Figure 1 shows a simplified block diagram illustrating communication of data in a utility meter communications system; -Figure 2 shows different steps involved in the method according to the invention.</p>
<p>Figure 1 shows schematically a global architecture of a communication system enabling exchanges of communication packet data between a central utility meter communications system 1 and several communication devices 2, 3. In the described example, communications are performed over GPRS (acronym for General Packet Radio System) or SMS (acronym for Short Message Service), but other kinds of communication through packet data may be used.</p>
<p>The communication device may be a utility meter device 2 with a built-in GPRS/SMS interface 2a for enabling GPRS/SMS communication.</p>
<p>Alternatively, the communication device may be a utility meter interface unit 3 with a built-in GPRS/SMS interface 3a, which is linked to one or more slave utility meter devices 4a to 4d.</p>
<p>Exchanges of data between central communication system 1 and communication devices 2 or 3 are performed over the air through a cellular telephone network 5. Between cellular telephone network 5 and communication devices 2, 3, communications are performed via wireless links. Between central communication system 1 and cellular telephone network 5, communications are performed over public internet 6 via TCP/IP links 7a,7b either through a mobile communication operator 5a of cellular network 5 in case of GPRS, or through both said operator 5b and a SMS gateway 5b in case of SMS communication.</p>
<p>A method for collecting data from utility meter device 2 or utility meter interface unit 3 according to the invention will now be described in reference with figure 2: In first step A0, utility meter device 2 or utility meter interface unit 3, or more generally each communication device, first initiates a communication over either GPRS or SMS for transferring data to central utility meter communications system 1.</p>
<p>Each communication device sends then its data using either UDP protocol over GPRS or in SMS messages.</p>
<p>In the case of GPRS communications, meter device 2 or interface unit 3 will send said data using TCP/IP protocols. These data are then routed over GPRS from GPRS/SMS interface 2a or 3a through cellular telephone network 5. Mobile communications operator 5a provides a TCP/IP connection 7b from cellular telephone network 5 through to public internet 6. Utility meter communications system 1 is connected to public internet through a public internet service provider, providing direct TCP/IP access 7a.</p>
<p>In the case of SMS communications, data are sent inside one or more SMS messages directed to a utility's SMS account hosted by mobile communications operator 5a. These data are then routed over SMS from GPRS/SMS interface 2a or 3a through cellular telephone network 5. Mobile communications operator 5 provides a TCP/IP connection 7b from SMS Gateway 5b through to public internet 6, and public internet service provider provides direct TCP/IP access 7a to central utility meter communications unit 1.</p>
<p>In both cases, however, data are sent in one or more discrete messages.</p>
<p>Discrete messages are limited to the maximum size of a UDP (acronym for User Datagram Protocol) datagram. When sending by SMS, up to ten SMS messages may be chained together to send a single datagram. Each datagram is assigned a unique identifier which is transmitted with the message for enabling unique identification of the sending communication device. A meter may send any number of datagrams or data packets without waiting for any acknowledgement from the central system 1.</p>
<p>Upon reception of the data packets, central system 1 queues all data packets received from each communication device in a step Al.</p>
<p>In a subsequent step A2, central system 1 reads queued data packets sequentially. An asynchronous process in said central system reads the datagrams one at a time from the queue, stores data relating to a same communication device in a database by using the unique identifier of each message in a step A3, and preferably sends an acknowledgement datagram back to the communication device specifying the identifier of the packet in the message, using the same bearer and the same protocol, in a step A4.</p>
<p>If a given communication device does not receive an acknowledgement after a given timeout period (set up for instance to at least ten minutes), then said communication device may resend the data.</p>
<p>In a preferred embodiment, the acknowledgement message is also used for sending to the corresponding communication device any required configuration data attached to this message.</p>
<p>Thanks to the method, it is possible for many thousands of meters (or more generally any communication devices) distributed throughout a GSM-type network to send data simultaneousLy to a central system. The central system may process all data received one datagram at a time from the input queue, simplifying system design, optimising data management and optimising usage of the GSM-type network. Hence, communications costs and computer hardware costs are reduced.</p>
<p>This method is neither limited to using the GPRS and SMS bearers in a GSM network nor to utility metering applications. It can be readily applied to any communication system to Large numbers of devices.</p>

Claims (1)

  1. <p>CLAIMS</p>
    <p>1. A method for collecting data from several communication devices (2, 3) characterized in that it comprises the following steps: -sending data from each communication device (2, 3) over a cellular telephone network (5) through one or several discrete messages each signed with a unique identifier identifying said communication device (2, 3); -upon reception of messages from said several communication devices, storing (Al) the received messages sequentially in a queue; -sequentially reading (A2) the stored messages from said queue, and storing (A3) data relating to each of said several communication devices in a database according to said identifier.</p>
    <p>2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a step (A4) of sending an acknowledgement datagram to the respective communication device specifying the identifier of its received message.</p>
    <p>3. A method according to claim 2, characterized in that the respective communication device resends its data in case it does not receive an acknowledgement datagram after a given timeout period.</p>
    <p>4. A method according to anyone of claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said acknowledgement datagram is also used to send configuration data to the respective communication device.</p>
    <p>5. A method according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that said messages are sent using GPRS or SMS.</p>
    <p>6. A method according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is used for collecting data from several utility meters (3) and/or utility meter interface units (3) linked to several utility meters (4a-4d).</p>
    <p>7. A central communications system (1) for collecting data from several communication devices (2, 3), characterized in that it comprises: -means for receiving data sent from said several communication devices, over a cellular telephone network (5) through one or several discrete messages each signed with a unique identifier identifying said communication device (2, 3); -storage means for storing the received messages sequentially in a queue; -processing means for sequential reading of stored messages from said queue; -a database for storage of data reLating to each of said several communication devices according to said identifier.</p>
    <p>8. A central communications system (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that it further comprises means for sending an acknowledgement datagram to the respective communication device specifying the identifier of its received message.</p>
    <p>9. A method for collecting data from several communication devices as any one herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.</p>
    <p>10. A central communications system as any one herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.</p>
GB0607722A 2006-04-19 2006-04-19 Data collection and transmission Withdrawn GB2437341A (en)

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GB2437341A true GB2437341A (en) 2007-10-24

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Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2472977A (en) * 2009-08-24 2011-03-02 Dale Read Monitoring unit for wireless transmission of monitored device data
FR2956788A1 (en) * 2010-02-19 2011-08-26 Ixel Method for exchanging data within transmission chain between computer terminals, involves exchanging data between two computer terminals associated with gateway by wireless connector
GB2482326A (en) * 2010-07-29 2012-02-01 Toshiba Res Europ Ltd Transfer of a utility usage meter reading to a user device associated with the meter and verifying the information received from the device
CN102508082A (en) * 2011-11-21 2012-06-20 山东电力研究院 High-precision multimode low-voltage load power property recording instrument and working method thereof
WO2013021103A1 (en) * 2011-08-11 2013-02-14 Ixel Method for exchanging data within a transmission channel
GB2493688A (en) * 2011-04-27 2013-02-20 Northern Design Electronics Ltd Metering system for detecting a three phase load.
CN106052783A (en) * 2016-07-09 2016-10-26 河北丰源智控科技股份有限公司 GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) remote transmission water meter collector
EP3288236A1 (en) * 2011-02-10 2018-02-28 Trilliant Holdings, Inc. Device and method for facilitating secure communications over a cellular network

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WO1998010299A1 (en) * 1996-09-06 1998-03-12 Innovatec Corporation Electronic electric meter for networked meter reading
US5748104A (en) * 1996-07-11 1998-05-05 Qualcomm Incorporated Wireless remote telemetry system
GB2325589A (en) * 1997-03-27 1998-11-25 David Hellier Electric meter transmitting consumption data via cellular radio
US6014089A (en) * 1996-10-28 2000-01-11 Tracy Corporation Ii Method for transmitting data using a digital control channel of a wireless network
US6154648A (en) * 1994-03-11 2000-11-28 Cellemetry, Llc Methods and apparatus for communicating data via a cellular mobile radiotelephone system
GB2369966A (en) * 2000-12-06 2002-06-12 Roke Manor Research Location-dependent data collection
GB2374760A (en) * 2001-04-17 2002-10-23 Strategic Information Ltd Transmitting utility meter measurements by mobile telephone
US6816480B1 (en) * 1999-09-20 2004-11-09 Intel Corporation Data terminal apparatus
WO2005074430A2 (en) * 2004-02-02 2005-08-18 Numerex Corp. Method and system for refining vending operations based on wireless data

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6154648A (en) * 1994-03-11 2000-11-28 Cellemetry, Llc Methods and apparatus for communicating data via a cellular mobile radiotelephone system
US5748104A (en) * 1996-07-11 1998-05-05 Qualcomm Incorporated Wireless remote telemetry system
WO1998010299A1 (en) * 1996-09-06 1998-03-12 Innovatec Corporation Electronic electric meter for networked meter reading
US6014089A (en) * 1996-10-28 2000-01-11 Tracy Corporation Ii Method for transmitting data using a digital control channel of a wireless network
GB2325589A (en) * 1997-03-27 1998-11-25 David Hellier Electric meter transmitting consumption data via cellular radio
US6816480B1 (en) * 1999-09-20 2004-11-09 Intel Corporation Data terminal apparatus
GB2369966A (en) * 2000-12-06 2002-06-12 Roke Manor Research Location-dependent data collection
GB2374760A (en) * 2001-04-17 2002-10-23 Strategic Information Ltd Transmitting utility meter measurements by mobile telephone
WO2005074430A2 (en) * 2004-02-02 2005-08-18 Numerex Corp. Method and system for refining vending operations based on wireless data

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2472977A (en) * 2009-08-24 2011-03-02 Dale Read Monitoring unit for wireless transmission of monitored device data
GB2472977B (en) * 2009-08-24 2011-12-07 Dale Read A monitoring unit
FR2956788A1 (en) * 2010-02-19 2011-08-26 Ixel Method for exchanging data within transmission chain between computer terminals, involves exchanging data between two computer terminals associated with gateway by wireless connector
GB2482326A (en) * 2010-07-29 2012-02-01 Toshiba Res Europ Ltd Transfer of a utility usage meter reading to a user device associated with the meter and verifying the information received from the device
EP3288236A1 (en) * 2011-02-10 2018-02-28 Trilliant Holdings, Inc. Device and method for facilitating secure communications over a cellular network
US10198257B2 (en) 2011-02-10 2019-02-05 Trilliant Networks, Inc. Device and method for facilitating secure communications over a cellular network
GB2493688A (en) * 2011-04-27 2013-02-20 Northern Design Electronics Ltd Metering system for detecting a three phase load.
GB2493688B (en) * 2011-04-27 2017-09-27 Northern Design (Electronics) Ltd Electrical measurement apparatus and method
WO2013021103A1 (en) * 2011-08-11 2013-02-14 Ixel Method for exchanging data within a transmission channel
CN102508082A (en) * 2011-11-21 2012-06-20 山东电力研究院 High-precision multimode low-voltage load power property recording instrument and working method thereof
CN102508082B (en) * 2011-11-21 2014-03-26 山东电力研究院 High-precision multimode low-voltage load power property recording instrument and working method thereof
CN106052783A (en) * 2016-07-09 2016-10-26 河北丰源智控科技股份有限公司 GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) remote transmission water meter collector

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