KR101125907B1 - Amr system with a communication setting function, and method for setting a communication using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A remote read system including a communication establishment function and communication establishment method using the same are provided to construct a remote read communication network by automatically collecting communication addresses. CONSTITUTION: A remote read system includes an integrated read modem(300) and a meter(400). The integrated read modem gradually increases the communication address within a communication address range and creates a test packet. The integrated read modem transmits the test packet to plural meters and creates an address list by accumulating the communication address of the test packet from the meter. A concentrator collects the meter ID(Identification) of the meters by requesting the meter ID through the communication address included in the address list. The concentrator creates an address table by interlocking the communication address with the collected meter ID.

Description

Remote meter reading system with communication setting function and method for setting communication using same {AMR system with a communication setting function, and method for setting a communication using the same}

The present invention relates to a remote meter reading system having a communication setting function and a communication setting method using the same, and more particularly, to a remote meter reading system having a communication setting function for automatically setting communication between a meter, a remote meter modem, and a concentrator. And a communication setting method using the same. That is, in the present invention, a meter and a collective remote metering modem in an environment where a plurality of electricity meters and one collective type remote metering modem are installed in the same building and connected by a shared communication method such as wired and wireless (RS-485, Zigbee, etc.) The present invention relates to a remote meter reading system having a communication setting function for constructing information for communication between components such as a remote meter reading concentrator and performing a remote meter reading, and a method of setting a communication using the same.

Automatic meter reading (AMR) is a system that allows meter readers to read meter data using a terminal without visiting customers and manage bills as well as demand patterns in connection with computer operating programs.

In general, in the case of a multi-family house or a small mall, a plurality of electricity meters, gas, and water meters (meters) are installed in a single building. At this time, in order to reduce the construction cost, one remote metering modem is installed in each customer (that is, a multi-family house, a small shopping mall, etc.), and a plurality of meters are connected to multiple remote metering systems.

The current communication address of the meter is generally 1 to 2 bytes long and the frame is HDLC or similar frame communication method, and generally uses a wide range of 7 or more numbers or letters to distinguish and manage the meter. It operates by setting a unique serial number that is not duplicated as an ID.

Therefore, the unique ID of the meter is not suitable to use as a communication address, so the address used for communication has a separate system or is determined in association with the unique ID of the meter.

In order to prevent communication conflicts due to duplication of communication addresses of each meter on a shared medium, each meter is designated and operated in the factory at a fixed time in production.

Pre-setting and operating the address information of the meter in advance in the construction of the remote metering system has a problem of much management effort, time and cost in the construction of the remote metering infrastructure.

The present invention has been proposed to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to search the address area of the meter supported by the protocol to automatically collect a plurality of meter information connected to one set remote meter reading modem and to transmit to the upper level An object of the present invention is to provide a remote meter reading system having a communication setting function and a communication setting method using the same. That is, the present invention is provided with a communication setting function for automatically building the address and ID information necessary for remote meter reading by automatically searching the communication address of the meter between a plurality of meters connected to the shared medium, the set meter reading modem and the concentrator An object of the present invention is to provide a remote meter reading system and a communication setting method using the same.

In order to achieve the above object, a telemetering system having a communication setting function according to an embodiment of the present invention transmits a plurality of test packets including a communication address, and a communication address of a test packet in which a response packet is received from a meter. Collective metering modem for accumulating and storing; And a concentrator for collecting a meter ID based on a communication address from the collective metering modem, and generating an address table in association with the communication address and the meter ID.

The aggregate meter reading modem transmits a plurality of test packets whose communication address increases at a set interval within the communication address range.

Collective metering modem generates address list based on accumulated communication address.

The concentrator generates an address table by associating a communication address, a meter ID, a modem MAC (MAC) address of the collective metering modem, and the concentrator ID.

The aggregate meter reading modem includes a communication unit which transmits a test packet and receives a response signal to the test packet; A packet generator for sequentially increasing a communication address within a communication address range at a set interval and generating a test packet; A controller which controls to transmit the test packets generated by the packet generator to a plurality of meters when the meter search request signal is received from the concentrator, and stores and stores the communication addresses of the test packets in which the response packet is received from the meter; And a storage unit for accumulating and storing communication addresses of a test packet in which the response packet is received under the control of the controller.

The concentrator includes: a communication unit configured to transmit and receive data to and from a plurality of aggregated meter reading modems; A controller configured to collect meter IDs of a plurality of meters respectively connected to a plurality of communication addresses included in a communication address list received from the plurality of meter reading modems through a communication unit; And a storage unit storing the communication addresses and the meter IDs in association with each other.

In order to achieve the above object, a communication setting method using a remote meter reading system having a communication setting function according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a plurality of meter reading modems based on response packets to a plurality of test packets. Scanning the communication information for the meter; Collecting, by the concentrator, meter IDs for the plurality of meters based on the communication information; And generating, by the concentrator, the address table based on the communication information and the meter ID and transmitting the generated address table to the remote meter reading server.

The scanning of the communication information may include: transmitting a test packet including a communication address increasing at a predetermined interval within a communication address range; Receiving a response packet from the meter for a test packet; And transmitting an address list generated by accumulating the communication addresses of the test packet in which the response packet is received.

The collecting of the meter ID may include requesting a meter ID of each of the plurality of communication addresses included in the address list collected in the step of scanning the communication information; Receiving a meter ID from a meter connected via a communication address; And storing the communication address, the meter ID, the modem MAC address of the set meter reading modem, and the concentrator ID in association with each other.

In the step of generating the address table and transmitting it to the remote meter reading server, an address table is generated by linking the communication address, the meter ID, the modem MAC address of the set meter reading modem, and the concentrator ID.

According to the present invention has the following advantages compared to the conventional remote meter reading system.

The present invention provides a plurality of homogeneous, gas, water to a collective remote meter reading modem through a shared medium such as RS-485, an ultra-short range wireless modem of a personal area network (PAN) level in an environment in which multiple digital meters are installed in the same building. In the configuration of connecting heterogeneous digital meters such as electricity and electricity, it is possible to construct a remote meter communication network by automatically collecting a communication address using a single set of meter reading remote modems, thereby enabling economic and efficient infrastructure construction.

The present invention is configured to collect only the address of the meter by transmitting a simple test packet in the aggregated metering modem and to perform the actual remote metering in the concentrator, so that the aggregated remote metering modem has a structure that performs only relaying. The effect is to simplify the structure.

The present invention collects the communication addresses for a plurality of meters automatically by using a set-type remote meter modem to build a remote meter communication network, thereby eliminating the need for address management by people required for multiple access. Plug & Play) enables you to drastically reduce manpower, time, and cost for maintenance.

1 is a view for explaining a remote meter reading system having a communication setting function according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a view for explaining the concentrator of FIG.
3 is a view for explaining the set meter reading modem of FIG.
4 to 6 are diagrams for explaining an information configuration form and a communication packet of a meter according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a flowchart illustrating a communication setting method using a remote meter reading system having a communication setting function according to an embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a flow chart for explaining the meter scan step of FIG.

Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art may easily implement the technical idea of the present invention. . First of all, in adding reference numerals to the components of each drawing, it should be noted that the same reference numerals are used as much as possible even if displayed on different drawings. In addition, in describing the present invention, when it is determined that the detailed description of the related well-known configuration or function may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Hereinafter, a remote meter reading system having a communication setting function according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 is a view for explaining a remote meter reading system having a communication setting function according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a view for explaining the concentrator of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a view for explaining the collective metering modem of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 to FIG. And a diagram for explaining a communication packet.

As shown in FIG. 1, the remote meter reading system having a communication setting function includes a remote meter reading server 100, a concentrator 200, a collective meter reading modem 300, and a meter 400. In this case, the remote meter reading server 100 is connected to the plurality of concentrators 200. The concentrator 200 is connected to the plurality of set meter reading modem 300. The set meter reading modem 300 is connected to the plurality of meters 400.

The remote meter reading server 100 is connected to the concentrator 200 (DCU) through a network such as a public communication network, and uses remote data consumers (or power consumers 500) by using data transmitted from the concentrator 200. Perform an electric meter reading.

The concentrator 200 may be located around a columnar or ground transformer, is connected to the collective metering modem 300 through wired or wireless communication, and transmits data from the collective metering modem 300 (ie, metering data). ). In this case, as the wireless communication, communication methods such as optical communication, CDMA, GSM, and Wibro may be used. At this time, the concentrator 200 stores the addresses (ie, communication addresses) of the plurality of aggregated meter reading modem 300.

The concentrator 200 accumulates the data received from the set meter reading modem 300, processes the data to meet the designated communication protocol, and transmits the data to the remote meter reading server 100 located at a long distance. At this time, the data transmitted to the remote meter reading server 100 includes information on the energy (eg, electricity) usage of each power consumer and identification information.

The concentrator 200 transmits a meter scan request (command) signal to the plurality of collective metering modems 300 to establish communication of the remote metering system. The concentrator 200 receives an address list including communication addresses for the plurality of meters 400 connected to the plurality of meter reading modems 300, respectively. The concentrator 200 stores the received address list (or communication address).

The concentrator 200 collects the meter ID based on the stored address list (or communication address). That is, the concentrator 200 requests and receives a meter ID from the meter 400 through the communication address included in the address list. At this time, the concentrator 200 collects the meter ID for all the meter 400 by repeating the request and reception of the meter ID by the number of communication addresses included in the address list.

The concentrator 200 generates an address table in association with the communication address and the meter ID. That is, the concentrator 200 stores the communication address and the meter ID received through the corresponding communication address. The concentrator 200 detects a meter ID and a communication address for all the meters 400 and generates an address table. At this time, the concentrator 200 generates an address table by linking the communication address, the meter ID, the modem MAC address of the set meter reading modem 300, and the concentrator 200 ID. Here, the address table generated by the concentrator 200 is set to the overall communication settings of the remote meter reading system composed of the remote metering server 100, the concentrator 200, the collective metering modem 300, the meter 400 This is the corresponding information.

The concentrator 200 transmits the generated address table to the remote meter reading server 100 to construct a complete address table of the concentrator 200, the set meter reading modem 300, and the meter 400, thereby smoothly reading the meter. To lose.

To this end, as shown in FIG. 2, the concentrator 200 includes a communication unit 220 for transmitting and receiving data to and from a plurality of aggregated meter reading modems 300, and a plurality of aggregated meter reading modems through the communication unit 220. Control unit 240 for collecting a plurality of meter IDs of the plurality of meters 400 connected to each of the plurality of communication addresses included in the communication address list received from 300, and the storage to store a plurality of communication addresses and meter IDs in association It is configured to include a unit 260.

Collective metering modem 300 is installed in units of buildings and wireless, shared media communication method with heterogeneous meter 400, such as gas meter 400, water meter 400, electricity meter 400 inside the building (for example For example, RS-485). Of course, the set meter reading modem 300 may be configured with a single modem may be connected to a plurality of homogeneous or heterogeneous meters 400 in a multi-family house. Here, the set meter reading modem 300 performs only a role of relaying the meter packet of the concentrator 200 to be suitable for a shared medium communication method in a building, except for performing a communication setting function.

The aggregated meter reading modem 300 transmits a plurality of test packets including a communication address. At this time, the set meter reading modem 300 transmits a plurality of test packets for increasing the communication address at a set interval within the communication address range. That is, the collective telemetering modem receiving the meter scan request command from the concentrator 200 sequentially increases the communication address of the meter 400 over the predetermined communication address area and transmits a test packet. The set meter reading modem 300 accumulates and stores the communication address of the test packet in which the response packet is received from the meter 400.

The set meter reading modem 300 generates a list of addresses based on the accumulated communication addresses. That is, when the scan of the predetermined communication address area is completed, the set meter reading modem 300 generates an address list including the stored communication address and transmits the generated address list to the concentrator 200.

To this end, as shown in FIG. 3, the collective meter reading modem 300 transmits a test packet and receives a response signal for a test packet, and a communication address at a set interval within a communication address range. Are sequentially generated, the packet generator 340 for generating a test packet and the test packet generated by the packet generator 340 is received from the concentrator 200. A control unit 360 for controlling the transmission to the control unit 400 and accumulating and storing the communication addresses of the test packet in which the response packet is received from the meter 400, and the test packet for receiving the response packet under the control of the control unit 360. And a storage unit 380 for accumulating and storing the communication addresses of the packets.

The meter 400 transmits a response packet to the test packet to the set meter reading modem 300. When the meter 400 receives the meter ID request signal from the concentrator 200, the meter 400 detects and transmits the stored meter ID. In this case, the meter 400 includes a gas meter 400, a water meter 400, an electric meter 400, and the like. The meter 400 contains information (see FIG. 4), such as instructions and a meter ID (or serial number), of the corresponding meter 400 in an electronic form (see FIG. 5), and the information is transmitted in a communication method using a shared medium. Can be transmitted using a communication packet. The configuration of the communication packet shown in FIG. 6 shows a general form of meter 400 and data exchange on a shared medium. The transmission and reception communication address is usually implemented with a short information length of about 1-2 bytes, the instructions of the meter 400, the ID of the meter 400, etc., the index of the corresponding information in the "command" field (for example, FIG. 5). In the case of the meter ID refers to "20" to transmit a variety of information inside the meter (400).

Hereinafter, a communication setting method using a remote meter reading system having a communication setting function according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a communication setting method using a remote meter reading system having a communication setting function according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 8 is a flow chart for explaining the meter scanning step of FIG.

First, the concentrator 200 requests a meter scan to the set meter reading modem 300 (S100). Upon receiving the meter scan request from the concentrator 200, the collective meter reading modem 300 transmits a response signal (ie, an Ack signal) to the meter scan request.

The set meter reading modem 300 performs a meter scan step (S200). In this case, the meter scanning step will be described in detail below.

The set meter reading modem 300 generates a test packet having a communication address 01 (S210), and transmits a test packet to the meter 400 through the communication address 01 (S220).

When receiving the response packet to the transmitted test packet (that is, the test packet having the communication address 01) (S230; YES), the set meter reading modem 300 stores the corresponding communication address (ie, the communication address 01) (S240). ).

At this time, if the meter scan for all the communication area is not completed (that is, if the communication area is not finished, S250; No), the set meter reading modem 300 increases the communication address by the set interval, and then the step S220 To repeat step S260. For example, if the communication area is set to 01 to 99, the communication address 01 starts, and the communication address is increased by one to perform a total of 99 meter scans.

When the meter scan for all communication areas is completed (S250; YES), the set meter reading modem 300 generates an address list including all the stored communication addresses and transmits them to the concentrator 200 (S270).

The concentrator 200 collects a meter ID based on the scan result (S300). That is, the concentrator 200 requests a meter ID through a communication address included in the address list received from the set meter reading modem 300 to collect and store the meter ID of the meter 400 connected to the corresponding communication address. At this time, the concentrator 200 collects the meter IDs of all the meter 400 by repeating the number of communication addresses received from the set meter reading modem 300. For example, when the address list includes the communication address 01, the communication address 05, and the communication address 20, the concentrator 200 collects three meter IDs. That is, the concentrator 200 requests and receives a meter ID through communication address 01, requests and receives a meter ID through communication address 05, and requests and receives a meter ID through communication address 20 to receive the meter ID. Complete the collection.

The concentrator 200 generates an address table using the collected meter ID and transmits it to the remote meter reading server 100 (S400). That is, the concentrator 200 generates an address table by linking the communication address, the meter ID, the modem MAC address of the set meter reading modem 300, and the concentrator 200 ID. The concentrator 200 transmits the generated address table to the remote meter reading server 100. Accordingly, the remote meter reading server 100 builds a complete address table of the concentrator 200, the collective metering modem 300, and the meter 400 so that the remote meter reading is smoothly performed.

As described above, the present invention is a set-type remote metering modem through a shared medium such as RS-485, PAN (ultra-short range wireless modem) in an environment where a plurality of digital meters 400 are installed in the same building. It is possible to construct a remote metering communication network by automatically collecting communication addresses by using a single remote metering modem in a configuration that connects several types of digital meters such as gas, water, electricity, etc. It is effective to build an efficient and efficient infrastructure.

The present invention is configured to collect only the address of the meter 400 by performing a simple test packet in the aggregated meter reading modem 300, and to perform the actual remote metering in the concentrator 200, the aggregated remote metering modem only performs relaying Has a structure that has the effect of simplifying the structure of the set-type meter reading modem 300.

The present invention automatically collects communication addresses for a plurality of meters 400 by using a set-type telemetering modem to build a telemetering communication network, thereby eliminating the need for address management by persons required for multiple access. Plug & Play allows you to dramatically reduce the manpower, time and cost of maintenance.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but many variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It will be understood that the invention may be practiced.

100: remote meter reading server 200: concentrator
220: communication unit 240: control unit
260: storage 300: a set of meter reading modem
320: communication unit 340: packet generation unit
360: control unit 380: storage unit
400: meter 500: customer

Claims (10)

Collective meter reading that sequentially increases the communication address at the set interval within the communication address range, generates test packets and transmits them to a plurality of meters, and accumulates the communication addresses of the test packets in which response packets are received from the meter to generate an address list. modem; And
A concentrator for requesting a meter ID through communication addresses included in the address list from the set meter reading modem, collecting meter IDs of the plurality of meters, and generating an address table by linking the communication address and the collected meter IDs. Remote meter reading system having a communication setting function comprising a. delete delete The method according to claim 1,
The concentrator is
Remote meter reading system having a communication setting function characterized in that to generate an address table by linking the communication address, the meter ID, the modem MAC address of the collective metering modem, the concentrator ID. The method according to claim 1,
The set meter reading modem,
A communication unit which transmits a test packet and receives a response signal to the test packet;
A packet generator for sequentially increasing a communication address within a communication address range at a set interval and generating a test packet;
When the meter search request signal is received from the concentrator, the control unit transmits the test packets generated by the packet generator to the plurality of meters, and controls to accumulate and store communication addresses of the test packets in which the response packets are received from the meter. Control unit; And
And a storage unit for accumulating and storing a communication address of a test packet in which a response packet is received under the control of the controller. The method according to claim 1,
The concentrator is
Communication unit for transmitting and receiving data with a plurality of set meter reading modem;
A controller configured to collect meter IDs of a plurality of meters respectively connected to a plurality of communication addresses included in a communication address list received from the plurality of set meter reading modems through the communication unit; And
And a storage unit for storing the plurality of communication addresses and meter IDs in association with each other. Transmitting, by the aggregate meter reading modem, a test packet including a communication address increasing at a set interval within a communication address range;
Receiving, by the aggregate meter reading modem, a response packet to the test packet from a meter; And
Transmitting, by the aggregation meter reading modem, an address list generated by accumulating communication addresses of test packets in which the response packet is received;
Requesting, by a concentrator, a meter ID of each of a plurality of communication addresses included in the address list collected in the step of scanning the communication information;
Receiving, by the concentrator, a meter ID from a meter connected via the communication address; And
Storing, by the concentrator, a communication address, a meter ID, a modem MAC address of a set meter reading modem, and a concentrator ID; And
And generating, by the concentrator, an address table based on the communication information and the meter ID and transmitting the generated address table to a remote meter reading server. delete delete The method according to claim 7,
In the step of generating the address table and transmitting to the remote meter reading server,
A communication setting method using a remote meter reading system having a communication setting function characterized by generating an address table by linking a communication address, a meter ID, a modem MAC address of a set meter reading modem and a concentrator ID.

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