KR101171435B1 - Device for automatic meter reading data, automatic meter reading system including the same and method for automatic reading thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A remote meter reading system including a meter reading data collection device located between a remote meter reading server and a plurality of remote meter reading terminal devices, wherein the meter reading data set device is selected from the relay mode or the meter reading mode according to an operation control signal from the remote meter reading server. Operate in the operating mode.

Remote meter reading, AMR, AMI

Description

Device for meter reading data, a remote meter reading system including the same and a remote meter reading method using the same {Device for automatic meter reading data, automatic meter reading system including the same and method for automatic reading

The present embodiment relates to a remote meter reading technology, and more particularly, to a remote meter reading system including a meter reading data collection device located between a remote meter reading server and a plurality of remote meter reading terminal devices, and a remote meter reading method using the same.

In general, with the development of science and technology, the phenomenon of automating or performing a machine by humans is becoming common. Among these, the remote meter includes automatic meter reading (AMR) technology for automatically metering the amount of water, electricity, and gas used in each home or office without sending a meter.

Automated meter reading (AMR) is a remote meter reading terminal installed in each home or office, a remote meter reading (AMR) server that manages meter reading centrally and automatically charges and manages customers according to meter reading, and meter reading Communication means for transmitting data to a remote meter reading (AMR) server.

However, in the conventional automatic meter reading technology, since communication is directly performed 1: 1 between the meter reading terminal and the meter reading server, a communication cost increases, and as the number of meter reading terminals increases, a load on the server increases.

An object of the present invention is to provide a meter data collection device located between the meter server and the meter terminal.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a remote meter reading system including a meter reading data collection device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a remote meter reading method of the remote meter reading system.

Meter reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention for solving the above problems, the relay unit and the set to operate in one operation mode of the relay mode or meter reading mode according to the operation control signal input from the remote meter reading server And a storage module configured to store each of the plurality of meter data transmitted from each of the plurality of meter terminal devices according to an operation mode.

The meter reading data collection device connects one meter terminal device among a plurality of meter terminal devices with a remote meter server when the set operation mode is a relay mode, and reads meter data transmitted from one meter terminal device. When the set operation mode is the meter reading mode, the plurality of meter data transmitted from each of the plurality of meter terminal devices is transmitted to the storage module.

The remote meter reading system according to an embodiment of the present invention for solving the other problem is located between the remote meter reading server and the remote meter reading server and each of a plurality of meter reading terminal devices for outputting an operation control signal, output from the remote meter reading server And a meter reading data collection device operating in one of a relay mode and a meter reading mode according to the determined operation control signal.

The remote meter reading method according to an embodiment of the present invention for solving the another problem, the step of setting one operation mode of the relay mode or the meter reading mode in response to the operation control signal transmitted from the remote meter reading server and the set operation According to a mode, one metering terminal selected from a plurality of metering terminal devices is connected to a remote metering server to transfer metering data to a remote metering server, or each of a plurality of metering data transmitted from each of the metering terminal devices It includes the step of storing.

Meter reading data collection device according to the present invention, a remote meter reading system including the same, and a remote meter reading method using the same, the meter reading data collection device located between the meter reading server and a plurality of meter reading terminal devices according to the operation mode selected from the meter reading server By operating in the mode or the relay mode, it is possible to solve the phenomenon of overloading the metering server by a plurality of metering terminal devices, it is possible to improve the transmission efficiency of the metering data and reduce the communication cost.

In order to fully understand the present invention, the operational advantages of the present invention, and the objects achieved by the embodiments of the present invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings that illustrate embodiments of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a remote meter reading system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of one meter data collection device among a plurality of meter data collection devices shown in FIG. 1. It is a block diagram.

Referring to FIG. 1, the remote meter reading system 100 includes a plurality of meter terminal devices 110_1,... 110_N, N is a natural number greater than 1, and a plurality of meter data collection devices 120_1,... Large natural numbers) and the remote meter reading server 130.

The plurality of meter terminal devices 110_1, ... 110_N are meters installed in the consumer equipment such as electricity meters, water meters, or gas meters. In step 140, it may be transmitted to one connected meter reading data set device. The plurality of meter reading terminal devices 110_1,... 110_N may be smart meters that may perform meter reading and meter reading data transmission by autonomous or external signals.

Each of the plurality of meter reading data collection devices 120_1, ... 120_M transmits meter data to a remote meter reading server 130 or a client function for connecting, reading, and storing each of the plurality of meter reading terminal devices 110_1, ... 110_N. Can perform server functions.

Each of the plurality of meter reading data collection devices 120_1, ... 120_M operates in one of a metering operation mode for performing a client function or a relay operation mode for performing a server function according to an operation control from the remote meter reading server 130. Can be operated in mode.

For example, the first meter reading data collection device 120_1 connected to the remote meter reading server 130 may operate in the meter reading mode in response to an operation control signal transmitted from the remote meter reading server 130. The meter data request signal may be output to each of the plurality of meter terminal devices 110_1,... 110_N connected through the 140.

The plurality of meter reading terminal devices 110_1,... 110_N perform a meter reading operation in response to a meter reading data request signal from the first meter reading data collection device 120_1, and the meter reading data generated according to the first meter reading is performed. The data collection device 120_1 may transmit the data.

The first meter reading data collection device 120_1 may store each of a plurality of pieces of metering data transmitted. The stored plurality of meter reading data may be transmitted from the first meter reading data collection device 120_1 to the remote meter reading server 130 according to a request of the remote meter reading server 130.

For another example, the first meter reading data collection device 120_1 may operate in a relay operation mode in response to an operation control signal transmitted from the remote meter reading server 130, and a plurality of meter readings connected through the local network 140. One of the terminal devices 110_1,... 110_N may be selected and connected to the remote meter reading server 130.

For example, the first meter reading data collection device 120_1 may connect one metering terminal device selected by the remote metering server 130 among the plurality of metering terminal devices 110_1 to 110_N with the remote metering server 130. have. In addition, the meter reading data output from one metering terminal device may be transferred to the remote meter reading server 130 according to the meter reading data request from the meter reading server 130.

1 and 2, among the plurality of meter reading data collection devices 120_1,... 120_M, the first meter reading data collection device 120_1 includes the storage module 121, the relay unit 123, and the protocol module 125. And a communication port 127.

The storage module 121 may include a plurality of storage units, for example, the zeroth storage unit 121_0 to the N-th storage unit 121_N.

In this case, when the first meter reading data collection device 120_1 operates in the meter reading operation mode, the zero storage unit 121_0 performs a representative device viewed from the remote meter reading server 130, that is, one meter terminal device. An identification number may be stored.

In other words, the 0th storage unit 121_0 may be a logical storage area for allowing the first meter reading data collection device 120_1 to be mapped to all meter terminal devices viewed by the remote meter reading server 130.

The first storage unit 121_1 to the N-th storage unit 121_N of the storage module 121 correspond to each of the plurality of meter terminal devices 110_1,... 110_N connected to the first meter data collection device 120_1. It may be a storage area.

The first storage unit 121_1 to the N-th storage unit 121_N are connected to the first reading data collection device 120_1 through the relay unit 123, the protocol module 125, and the communication port 127 which will be described later. The metering terminal device 110_1 to the N-th metering terminal device 110_N may be matched 1: 1.

Accordingly, the plurality of meter reading data transmitted from the first meter reading terminal device 110_1 to the Nth meter reading terminal device 110_N connected to the first meter reading data collection device 120_1 is stored in the corresponding first storage of the storage module 121. It may be stored in the units 121_1 to the N-th storage unit 121_N, respectively.

The relay unit 123 may control the operation of the first meter reading data collection device 120_1 according to the operation control signal CNT transmitted from the remote meter reading server 130. In some embodiments, the operation control signal CNT may be transmitted to the relay unit 123 through the communication port 127 and the protocol module 125 to be described later.

The relay unit 123 may control the first meter reading data collection device 120_1 to operate in one of the metering operation mode and the relay operation mode according to the operation control signal CNT.

The protocol module 125 may control a connection between the first meter reading data collection device 120_1 and the first meter reading terminal device 110_1 or a connection between the first meter reading data collection device 120_1 and the remote meter reading server 130. .

The application layer 124 of the protocol module 125 controls the connection with the first meter reading terminal device 110_1 while the first meter reading data collection device 120_1 operates in the meter reading operation mode, and the first meter reading terminal device 110_1. ) To request meter reading data. To this end, the Companion Specification for Energy Meters (COSEM) protocol may be used in the application layer 124.

The transport layer 126 of the protocol module 125 controls the connection between the first meter reading terminal device 110_1 and the remote meter reading server 130 while the first meter reading data collecting device 120_1 operates in the relay operation mode. In response to a request of the remote meter reading server 130, a function of relaying meter reading data transmitted from the first meter reading terminal device 110_1 may be performed. To this end, the DLMS (Device Language Message Specification) protocol may be used together with the COSEM protocol in the transport layer 126.

In addition, although not shown in the drawings, the transport layer 126 may further include a COSEM wrapper module (not shown) and a TCP / UDP port (not shown) for DLMS / COSEM.

The COSEM wrapper module may allow the storage module 121 of the first meter reading data collection device 120_1 and the storage unit (not shown) of the remote meter reading server 130 to be matched 1: 1. To this end, the COSEM wrapper module may include an identifier for identifying each of the plurality of storage units 121_0, 121_1,... 121_N of the storage module 121.

The communication port 127 may include a first port 128 and a second port 129. The first port 128 may include a logical link control (LLC) and a high-level data link control (HDLC) driver. The first port 128 may connect the first meter reading data collection device 120_1 and the first meter reading terminal device 110_1 to each other. Can be connected. The second port 129 may include an IP and a data link, and may connect the first meter data collection device 120_1 and the remote meter server 130 to each other.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the local network 140 connecting the plurality of meter reading terminal devices 110_1, ... 110_N and the plurality of meter data collecting devices 120_1, ... 120_M to each other uses a wireless or wired communication method. It may be a communication network.

When the local network 140 is wireless, Bluetooth, WLAN, or RF communication may be used, and when wired, power line communication, RS-232C, RS-422 method, or PSTN modem method may be used.

The remote meter reading server 130 may be configured for the user who installed the plurality of meter reading terminal devices 110_1, 110_N from the meter reading data transmitted from the plurality of meter data collecting devices 120_1, ... 120_M connected through the communication network 150. You can do billing or manage consumer information.

The remote meter reading server 130 outputs an operation control signal to each of the plurality of meter data collection devices 120_1 and 120_M so that the plurality of meter data collection devices 120_1 and 120_M perform a relay operation or a meter reading operation. Can be controlled.

The remote meter reading server 130 may be implemented as a computer system equipped with a plurality of application programs, but according to an embodiment, each of the plurality of meter reading data collection devices 120_1, ... 120_M is configured as a locally classified local server. It can also be configured as a central server that integrates them.

As the communication network 150 for connecting the remote meter reading server 130 and the plurality of meter data collection devices 120_1,... 120_M, a wireless, wired, satellite, or Internet network may be used. An example in which TCP or UDP using a wired / wireless internet network is used will be described.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a remote meter reading operation of a remote meter reading system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1 to 4, the remote meter reading server 130 performs a TCP connection with the first meter reading data set device 120_1 (S10) and sets an operation mode to the first meter reading data set device 120_1. The request message 200 including the operation control signal CNT may be transmitted (S20).

As shown in FIG. 4, the request message 200 may be an application association request (AARQ) message output by the remote meter reading server 130, and two bits (not used in one region of the request message 200) may be used. bit) to set the operation mode of the first meter reading data collection device 120_1.

For example, the operation control signal CNT transmitted from the remote metering server 130 to the first metering data collection device 120_1 may be a mode selection bit 201 that appears as a combination of two bits included in the request message 200. Can be.

The remote meter reading server 130 may set the bit levels of the mode selection bit 201 to different levels to control the first meter reading data collection device 120_1 to perform the relay operation mode or the meter reading operation mode.

For example, the remote meter reading server 130 configures the mode selection bit 201 in the request message 200 to 2 bits, and sets the most significant bit (MSB) to 0 so that the first meter reading data collection device 120_1 relays. In operation mode, the MSB is set to 1 to control the first meter data collection device 120_1 to operate in the meter reading mode.

For another example, the remote meter reading server 130 configures the mode selection bit 201 in the request message 200 to 2 bits, and sets the least significant bit (LSB) to 1 so that the first meter reading data collection device 120_1 The first reading data collection device 120_1 may operate in the reading operation mode by setting the LSB to 0 and operating in the relay operation mode.

For another example, when the remote meter reading server 130 sets the MSB and LSB of the mode selection bit 201 to be the same, the remote meter reading server 130 does not directly pass through the first meter reading data collection device 120_1. This may mean an operation of connecting to the first meter reading terminal device 110_1, and in this case, the first meter reading data collection device 120_1 may be in a disabled state.

The first meter reading data collection device 120_1 may transmit a response message in response to the received request message 200 to the remote meter reading server 130, wherein the response message includes a mode selection bit included in the request message 200. 201) may be included.

When the first meter reading data set device 120_1 is set to the relay operation mode according to the mode selection bit 201 in the request message 200 transmitted from the remote meter reading server 130 (S20), the first meter reading data set device ( 120_1 transmits a connection request signal to the first meter reading terminal device 110_1 (S30).

The first meter reading terminal device 110_1 may be connected to the first meter reading data collection device 120_1 in response to the access request signal, and may transmit first meter reading data (S40).

The first meter reading data collection device 120_1 may transfer the first meter reading data to the remote meter reading server 130 while controlling the connection between the connected first meter reading terminal device 110_1 and the remote meter reading server 130 (S45). ).

Here, the first meter reading data collection device 120_1 may display the first meter reading data via the first meter reading data set, that is, the first meter reading data set device 120_1 to be transmitted to the remote meter reading server 130.

To this end, the first meter reading data collection device 120_1 may include an identifier composed of predetermined bits in the header area (or other area) of the first meter reading data.

For example, the first meter reading data collection device 120_1 includes an identifier of 1 bit in the header of the first meter reading data and sets the bit level to 1 so that the first meter reading data is set to the first meter reading terminal device 110_1. From the first through the first meter reading data collection device 120_1 may indicate that it is delivered to the remote meter reading server (130).

On the other hand, when the first meter reading data set device 120_1 is set to the meter reading operation mode according to the mode selection bit 201 in the request message 200 transmitted from the remote meter reading server 130 (S21), the first meter reading data set. The device 120_1 may request first meter reading data from the first meter reading terminal device 110_1 (S31).

The first meter reading terminal device 110_1 transmits the first meter reading data to the first meter reading data set device 120_1 according to the data request (S41), and the first meter reading data set device 120_1 stores the storage module 121. It can be stored in the corresponding storage unit of (S51).

Thereafter, the remote meter reading server 130 requests meter reading data stored in the first meter reading data collection device 120_1 (S61), and the first meter reading data collection device 120_1 stores the meter reading data stored in the storage module 121, that is, The first meter reading data may be transmitted to the remote meter reading server 130 (S71).

Although the contents of the present invention have been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, these are merely exemplary and will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible. . Accordingly, the true scope of the present invention should be determined by the technical idea of the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order to better understand the drawings cited in the detailed description of the invention, a brief description of each drawing is provided.

1 is a schematic diagram of a remote meter reading system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of one meter data collection device among a plurality of meter data collection devices shown in FIG. 1.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a remote meter reading operation of a remote meter reading system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a diagram schematically illustrating a message type between a remote meter reading server and a meter reading data collection device.

Claims (14)

A meter data collection device located between each of a plurality of meter terminal devices and a remote meter server, A relay unit configured to set an operation mode of the meter reading data collection device among the relay mode or the meter reading mode according to an operation control signal corresponding to a mode selection bit composed of a combination of one or more bits included in the request message transmitted from the remote meter reading server; And A storage module for storing each of a plurality of meter data transmitted from each of the plurality of meter terminal devices according to a set operation mode, When the set operation mode is the relay mode, one of the plurality of meter terminal devices is connected to the meter reading terminal device, and the meter reading data transmitted from the one meter terminal device is read. To, And the meter reading data collection device, when the set operation mode is the meter reading mode, transmitting each of the pieces of the meter reading data transmitted from each of the plurality of meter reading terminal devices to the storage module. delete The method according to claim 1, And the mode select bit is a combination of two bits, and the operation control signal varies each bit level of the mode select bit according to an operation mode. The method according to claim 1, And the relay unit transmits a response message including the mode selection bit to the remote meter reading server in response to the request message. The method according to claim 1, And the relay unit further includes an identifier indicating whether the meter data is transmitted from the one meter reading terminal device to the remote meter reading server. A remote meter reading server outputting an operation control signal; And A meter reading data collection device located between each of a plurality of meter reading terminal devices and the remote meter reading server and operating in one of a relay mode and a meter reading mode according to the operation control signal output from the remote meter reading server, The meter reading data collection device, When operating in the relay mode, one of the plurality of meter terminal devices connected to the meter reading terminal device selected by the remote meter reading server and the meter reading data transmitted from the one meter terminal device; To the remote metering server, When operating in the meter reading mode, and stores each of the plurality of meter data transmitted from each of the plurality of meter terminal devices, And the operation control signal is a mode selection bit composed of a combination of one or more bits included in a request message transmitted from the remote meter reading server to the meter reading data collection device. The method of claim 6, wherein the meter reading data collection device, A relay unit configured to set the meter reading data collection device to operate in one of the relay mode and the meter reading mode according to the operation control signal; And And a storage module for storing each of the plurality of meter data transmitted from each of the plurality of meter terminal devices when the meter data collection device operates in the meter reading mode. delete The method of claim 6, And the meter reading data collection device transmits a response message including the mode selection bit to the remote meter reading server in response to the request message. The method of claim 6, When the meter reading data collection device operates in the relay mode, the meter reading data transmitted from the one meter reading terminal device further includes an identifier indicating whether the meter reading data collection device is passed to the remote meter reading server. Remote meter reading system. A method for remote meter reading by a system including a remote meter reading server, a meter reading data collection device located between each of a plurality of meter reading terminal devices and the remote meter reading server, Setting an operation mode of the meter reading data collection device to a relay mode or a meter reading mode in response to an operation control signal transmitted from the remote meter reading server; And According to an operation mode of the meter reading data collection device, one of the meter reading terminal devices selected from the plurality of meter reading terminal devices is connected to the remote meter reading server to transfer meter reading data to the remote meter reading server, or And storing each of a plurality of meter reading data transmitted from each of the plurality of meter reading terminal devices. The method of claim 11, And the operation control signal is a mode selection bit composed of a combination of one or more bits included in a request message transmitted from the remote meter reading server to the meter reading data collection device. The method of claim 12, wherein the setting of the one operation mode comprises: And transmitting a response message including the mode selection bit to the remote meter reading server in response to the request message. The method of claim 12, wherein the remote meter reading method, The meter reading method further comprises the step of transmitting to the remote meter reading server further comprising an identifier indicating whether or not via the meter reading data transmitted from the one meter reading terminal device.

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