GB2455050A - An apparatus and method for monitoring the consumption of a commodity such as gas, electricty or water - Google Patents

An apparatus and method for monitoring the consumption of a commodity such as gas, electricty or water Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2455050A
GB2455050A GB0718217A GB0718217A GB2455050A GB 2455050 A GB2455050 A GB 2455050A GB 0718217 A GB0718217 A GB 0718217A GB 0718217 A GB0718217 A GB 0718217A GB 2455050 A GB2455050 A GB 2455050A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
equipment
monitoring apparatus
monitoring
image
measurement display
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Withdrawn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
GB0718217A
Other versions
GB0718217D0 (en
Inventor
Stephen Anthony Callaghan
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.)
SENICAL Ltd
Original Assignee
SENICAL 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 SENICAL Ltd filed Critical SENICAL Ltd
Priority to GB0718217A priority Critical patent/GB2455050A/en
Publication of GB0718217D0 publication Critical patent/GB0718217D0/en
Publication of GB2455050A publication Critical patent/GB2455050A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • 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
    • G01D4/008—Modifications to installed utility meters to enable remote reading
    • 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
    • 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
    • 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
    • G01D4/006—Remote reading of utility meters to a non-fixed location, i.e. mobile location
    • 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
    • G01D5/00—Mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member; Means for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for converting; Transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable
    • G01D5/26—Mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member; Means for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for converting; Transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable characterised by optical transfer means, i.e. using infrared, visible, or ultraviolet light
    • G01D5/39—Scanning a visible indication of the measured value and reproducing this indication at the remote place, e.g. on the screen of a cathode ray tube
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y04—INFORMATION OR COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES HAVING AN IMPACT ON OTHER TECHNOLOGY AREAS
    • Y04S—SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS
    • Y04S20/00—Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof
    • Y04S20/30—Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

Monitoring apparatus 1 for attachment to measurement display equipment 30, the apparatus comprising image capturing equipment 14 and telecommunications equipment 10, 11, the apparatus being such that, in use, the image capturing equipment is operative to record an image of viewable measurement indicia 31 displayed by the measurement display equipment 30 and transmit data relating to the recorded image to a telecommunications network 35.

Description

MONITORING APPARATUS AND METHOD
Field of Invention
The present invention relates to monitoring apparatus and a method of monitoring, in particular, although not exclusively, in relation to monitoring the consumption of a commodity such as gas, electricity or water.
Summary of the Invention
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided monitoring apparatus for attachment to measurement display equipment, the apparatus comprising image capturing equipment and telecommunications equipment, the apparatus being such that, in use, the image capturing equipment is operative to record an image of viewable measurement indicia displayed by the measurement display equipment and transmit data relating to the recorded image to a telecommunications network.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of monitoring measurement display equipment, the method comprising using monitoring apparatus attached to said measurement display equipment to record an image of viewabte measurement indicia displayed by the utility meter equipment and transmitting data relating to the image to a location remote from the measurement display equipment.
According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a telecommunications network comprising the monitoring apparatus of the first aspect of the invention, and data processing equipment, which is located remotely of the monitoring apparatus, the data processing apparatus being configured to process data received from the monitoring equipment.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Various embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic front elevation of a monitoring apparatus; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus of shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus of Figure 1 in a closed condition; Figure 4 is a side elevation of the apparatus of Figure 1 in an open condition; Figure 5 is a block diagram of the various components of the monitoring apparatus; Figure 6 is a schematic front elevation of a first type of utility meter; Figure 7 is a schematic front elevation of the first type of utility meter of Figure 6 which is provided with the monitoring apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 8 is a schematic representation of a telecommunications network comprising the utility meter and monitoring apparatus of Figure 6; Figure 9 is a schematic front elevation of a second type of utility meter; Figure 10 is a schematic front elevation of the utility meter of Figure 9 which is provided with the monitoring apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 11 is a side view of the arrangement of Figure 10 with the monitoring apparatus in a closed condition; Figure 12 is a side view of the arrangement of Figure 10 with the monitoring apparatus in an open condition; Figure 13 is first view of the displayed measurement indicia, and Figure 14 is a second view of the displayed measurement indicia.
Detailed Description of Exemplary Embodiments
With reference initially to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, there is shown a monitoring apparatus I comprising a housing 2 which is hingedly connected to a frame member 3 by hinge members 4. As will be described below the frame 3 is adapted to be secured to utility meter equipment. The expression utility meter equipment' as used herein should be taken to include equipment which measures consumption of a commodity such as gas, electricity and water.
The housing 2 is essentially of a box-like form and comprises a rear wall 6, two side walls 7 and upper and lower walls 8. The housing accommodates various components of the apparatus 1 as described with reference to Figure 5. An array 14 of light sensitive elements or pixels in combination with a charged coupled device, provides an image capturing device. The array is controlled by a data processor 12. An encoding/decoding device 11 is configured to convert data related to images captured by the array 14 intO signals suitable for onward transmission via the antenna 10. The device 11 is also configured to convert signals received by the antenna 10 into signals suitable for processing by the data processor 12. There is also provided a memory 15 which stores data related to images captured by the array 14.
A timer unit 13 is provided which is connected to the encoding/decoding device 11 which is operative to cause stored image data to be transmitted at predetermined intervals. Not shown in Figure 5 is an electrical power source for the various components which preferably comprises a replaceable battery.
It will be appreciated that the electronic components 11 to 15 are not shown in Figures 1 to 5 for reasons of simplicity.
Returning to Figure 1 the apparatus I comprises a wide angle, or fisheye' lens, 17, which is located in the optical path of light reaching the array 14 of light-sensitive elements. There is further provided two light emitting diodes 18 and 19 which, in use, serve to illuminate a reading displayed by a meter.
Attached to the frame 3 there is provided a tamper inhibiting structure 20 which is made of a solid transparent material and comprises a base portion 20a, an inclined rear wall portion 20b and two end walls 20c.
The structure 20 completely occludes an aperture 5 of the frame 3.
In use the apparatus I operates as follows. A utility meter 30 comprises a viewing window 32 through which a reading 31 of the amount of a commodity (for example electricity) used is shown for manual inspection.
The apparatus 1 is secured to the viewing window 32 by way of a bonding substance which is applied to the peripheral front surface 3a of the frame 3. The apparatus 1 is located in front of the displayed reading so that it is viewable by the lens 17. At predetermined intervals, say every three month period for example, the timer unit issues a signai to the encoding/decoding device 11. In turn a control signal is sent to the processor 12 which further in turn causes the array 14 to capture an image of the reading displayed at that instant. The data of the captured image is then stored in the memory 15 before being sent to the device 11.
Once suitably encoded the data is transmitted via a telecommunications network infrastructure 35 to signal processing equipment 36 of the commodity service provider. The equipment 36 is configured to decode the received signal and send the data to the service provider's customers' accounts system 38 where it is analysed by image recognition software.
The system 38 can then cause the appropriate billing notification to be issued to the customer. A record of each customer's recorded image is stored in a database 39. It will be appreciated that in an alternative embodiment that recorded data of the image of the reading is not stored in memory but is substantially instantaneously transmitted via the telecommunications network infrastructure.
Communication between the apparatus and the service provider equipment 36 is preferably achieving by using an existing telecommunications network infrastructures; such as that used for mobile telephones, and to that end the apparatus 1 is preferably provided with a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card.
The above described arrangement results in significant efficiencies for commodity service providers. In particular installation of the apparatus 1 means that it would no longer, or at least on a significantly reduced basis, be necessary for the service providers to arrange for each customer meter to be inspected manually. Furthermore since the apparatus 1 is a retro-fit device it can easily be installed to existing meter equipment.
The recorded images provide a high degree of proof should a reading be disputed. Advantageously, the tamper inhibiting structure 20 ensures that it is very difficult for a customer to bypass the operation of the apparatus 1 by taking an unauthorised picture of the displayed reading.
This is achieved since in order to place a fake reading between the structure 20 and the actual reading on the meter one must separate the structure 20 and the frame 3 away from the viewing window 32, destroying the adhesion therebetween. The adhesion between the structure 20, the frame 3 and the viewing window 32 is strong and so this is not easily achieved. Furthermore even if a fake image is placed between the structure 20 and the viewing window this does not correspond to the focal length of the lens 17. The out-of-focus image would be recognisable by the image processing software.
A further advantage is that the recorded image of a displayed reading, on which a billed cost is based, can be included in the billing information sent to customers. Yet a further advantage is that apparatus allows the main portion thereof to be pivoted so that a customer can manually inspect a displayed reading. Although the illustrated embodiment shows the housing 2 as being pivotable upwards, the apparatus could be mounted to be downwardly pivotable. Such an alternative embodiment is particularly advantageous if the device is installed at a low level.
Figures 13 and 14 show how the apparatus could be mounted in the two orientations.
Figure 9 shows a second type of utility meter 40 in which the readings are displayed by a plurality of dials 4 through viewing window 42. The apparatus 1 is bonded to the window 42 in a position such that the dials 41 are viewable by the lens 17. The apparatus then operates as described above.
Figures 11 and 12 show side views of the monitoring apparatus 1 attached to viewing window 32' of a utility meter 30' in a closed condition and an open condition respectively.
Whilst the embodiments above have been described in relation to utility meter equipment, it will be appreciated that they could be used with, or adapted for use with, any type of measurement display equipment.

Claims (18)

1. Monitoring apparatus for attachment to measurement display equipment, the apparatus comprising image capturing equipment and telecommunications equipment, the apparatus being such that, in use, the image capturing equipment is operative to record an image of viewable measurement indicia displayed by the measurement display equipment and transmit data relating to the recorded image to a telecommunications network.
2. Monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the telecommunications equipment is adapted to transmit data to the telecommunications network in a wireless manner.
3. Monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 which is configured to record an image at predetermined time intervals.
4. Monitoring apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim which is configured to be capable of being controlled in response to a remote control signal received by the telecommunications equipment.
5. Monitoring apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim which is adapted to be capable of being secured to a window portion of the measurement display equipment.
6. Monitoring apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim which is adapted to be bonded to the measurement display equipment.
7. Monitoring apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim which comprises a fixable part, which is adapted to be secured to the measurement display equipment and a displaceable part, the displaceable part being capable of being moved relative to the fixable part such that, in situ, a line of sight is made available to allow manual viewing of the viewable measurement indicia.
8. Monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which the displaceable part is hingedly connected to the fixable part.
9. Monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8 in which the image capturing equipment and the telecommunication equipment are attached to the displaceable part.
10. Monitoring apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim which comprises a tamper inhibiting arrangement, the arrangement comprising a transparent window portion which is dimensioned to inhibit use of a separate image capturing device to record unauthorised images of the indicia.
11. Monitoring apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim which is configured for use with utility meter equipment.
12. Utility meter equipment comprising the monitoring apparatus of any preceding claim.
13. A method of monitoring measurement display equipment, the method comprising using monitoring apparatus attached to the meter equipment to record an image of viewable measurement indicia displayed by the measurement display equipment and transmitting data relating to the image to a location remote from the measurement display equipment.
14. The method of claim 13 which is a method of monitoring the consumption of a commodity.
15. A telecommunications network comprising the monitoring apparatus of claim 1, and data processing equipment, which is located remotely of the monitoring apparatus, the data processing apparatus being configured to process data received from the monitoring equipment.
16. Monitoring apparatus substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
17. A method of monitoring substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
18. A network substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB0718217A 2007-09-18 2007-09-18 An apparatus and method for monitoring the consumption of a commodity such as gas, electricty or water Withdrawn GB2455050A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0718217A GB2455050A (en) 2007-09-18 2007-09-18 An apparatus and method for monitoring the consumption of a commodity such as gas, electricty or water

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0718217A GB2455050A (en) 2007-09-18 2007-09-18 An apparatus and method for monitoring the consumption of a commodity such as gas, electricty or water

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0718217D0 GB0718217D0 (en) 2007-10-31
GB2455050A true GB2455050A (en) 2009-06-03

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0718217A Withdrawn GB2455050A (en) 2007-09-18 2007-09-18 An apparatus and method for monitoring the consumption of a commodity such as gas, electricty or water

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2455050A (en)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2003331376A (en) * 2002-05-15 2003-11-21 Kajima Corp Server device, state quantity monitoring system, state quantity monitoring method, computer program and recording medium
JP2006338254A (en) * 2005-06-01 2006-12-14 Nippon Water Solution:Kk Water meter reading and water pipe leakage detection system
JP2007011665A (en) * 2005-06-30 2007-01-18 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Meter reading system
JP2008234160A (en) * 2007-03-19 2008-10-02 Meiyu Techno Co Ltd Meter reader for meter inspection, handy terminal, and meter inspection system

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2003331376A (en) * 2002-05-15 2003-11-21 Kajima Corp Server device, state quantity monitoring system, state quantity monitoring method, computer program and recording medium
JP2006338254A (en) * 2005-06-01 2006-12-14 Nippon Water Solution:Kk Water meter reading and water pipe leakage detection system
JP2007011665A (en) * 2005-06-30 2007-01-18 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Meter reading system
JP2008234160A (en) * 2007-03-19 2008-10-02 Meiyu Techno Co Ltd Meter reader for meter inspection, handy terminal, and meter inspection system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0718217D0 (en) 2007-10-31

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