KR101766888B1 - Smart meter and method for operating thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The smart meter collects the metering information of the metering device, generates a service data unit that uses the metering information as a payload, converts the service data unit into a packet data unit of the broadband wireless communication network To the central server of the metering service provider.

Description

[0001] SMART METER AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THEREOF [0002]

The present invention relates to a smart meter and a method of operation thereof.

As the importance of environmentally friendly energy use and management around the world grows, the business of Smart Grid is rapidly proceeding.

The Smart Grid is a next-generation intelligent power network technology that maximizes energy efficiency by exchanging real-time information in both directions by combining information and communication technologies with existing power grids and enhancing the stability of power supply and improving the efficiency of energy use Conservation and financial benefits.

As this smart grid business is promoted, smart metering, which is an essential technology of smart grid, is spreading widely. Smart metering is a fusion of embedded intelligence and communications capabilities in existing metering equipment, which periodically collects and aggregates metering information from residential, commercial, and industrial facilities to service providers.

Metering equipment can be classified by type, but the most common metering equipment is a power meter that measures power usage. The power meter measures the power usage and transmits the power usage to the central collection system via the communication function. The central acquisition system collects and manages the power usage transmitted from each power meter.

Operators that provide power services will be servicing national or equivalent large-scale areas due to the nature of the service, and there will be users in the area consuming power for multiple homes, commercial and industrial. In such a nationwide scale, there are a large number of power meters, and in order to collect and manage the large amount of data they provide, a network-based system must be built. However, for operators providing power services, it is not easy to build nationwide network for smart metering. In addition, standardization work for constructing power network becomes necessary, and it takes a considerable time to build smart grid .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a smart meter and an operation method thereof that can reduce the construction cost and time of a power network.

A smart meter according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a smart metering execution unit and a wireless network connection unit. The smart metering execution unit collects metering information of the metering apparatus and generates a service data unit (SDU) in which the metering information is a payload. The wireless network connection unit converts the SDU into a packet data unit (PDU) of the broadband wireless communication network and transmits it to the central server of the metering service provider.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method of operating a smart meter is provided. A method of operating a smart meter includes collecting metering information of a metering device, generating a service data unit (SDU) having the metering information as a payload, and transmitting the SDU to packet data of a broadband wireless communication network Unit (PDU), and transmitting the PDU to a central server of the metering service provider.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to connect to a broadband wireless communication network in which a smart meter is built, and by converting the metering information into a traffic format of a broadband wireless communication method, the broadband wireless communication network can be used for smart metering There is a number. Therefore, it is not necessary to establish a nationwide network for smart metering.

In addition, it is possible to activate the spread of the smart meter by controlling the home communication devices in the smart meter and performing the wireless home gateway function to increase the utilization of the smart meter.

1 is a diagram of a smart meter according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are flowcharts illustrating functions performed by the metering network connection unit shown in FIG. 1, respectively.
4 and 5 are flowcharts illustrating functions performed by the wireless network connection unit shown in FIG. 1, respectively.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily carry out the present invention. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. In order to clearly illustrate the present invention, parts not related to the description are omitted, and similar parts are denoted by like reference characters throughout the specification.

Throughout the specification and claims, when a section is referred to as "including " an element, it is understood that it does not exclude other elements, but may include other elements, unless specifically stated otherwise.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A smart meter and an operation method thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

The smart meter according to the embodiment of the present invention is a power meter for measuring the amount of power energy usage, which can be applied to a meter for measuring the usage amount of gas or water as one embodiment.

1 is a diagram of a smart meter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the smart meter 100 includes a smart metering execution unit 110, a wireless network connection unit 120, and a gateway execution unit 130.

The smart metering execution unit 110 includes a metering unit 112, a metering network connection unit 114, and a metering control unit 116.

The metering unit 112 collects metering information such as the power consumption of the power equipment in the house. The metering unit 112 can collect metering information of the in-house power equipment by receiving the metering information from the power equipment in the house. At this time, the power devices in the house periodically transmit the metering information to the metering unit 112 or receive the request from the metering unit 112, and transmit the metering information to the metering unit 112 in response thereto. The home electric power devices have their own identifiers, and the metering unit 112 can distinguish between the electric power devices and the electric power devices from the identifiers of the electric power devices.

The metering unit 112 periodically transmits the collected metering information to the metering network connection unit 114 and the metering control unit 116. The metering unit 112 may receive a request from the metering network connection 114 and forward the collected metering information to the metering network connection 114 in response thereto.

In addition to the metering function of the existing integrated power meter, the metering unit 112 calculates the power consumption amount per time unit and the monthly power consumption amount statistics using the power consumption amount information of the in-house power equipment, analyzes the power consumption pattern, And can be provided to the user through a display device (not shown).

The metering network connection unit 114 connects the metering information received from the metering unit 112 to a central server (not shown) of the power service provider through the base station 210 of the broadband wireless communication network 200 such as WiMAX ). ≪ / RTI > This metering information has periodicity and the metering network connection unit 114 periodically transmits the metering information transmitted from the metering unit 112 to the smart metering network 400 through the broadband wireless communication network 200. [ The smart metering network 400 collects and processes power related information transmitted from the smart meter 100 of each home, company, and industrial facility, for example, as a network operated by a provider that provides a power service.

The smart metering network 400 may include a central server (not shown) of the operator providing the power service and the metering information transmitted from the smart meter 100 may be provided to the broadband wireless network 200 and the smart metering network 400 ) To the central server. The central server may request metering information to the smart meter 100 as needed and the smart meter 100 may communicate the metering information collected by the metering unit 112 to the central server in response thereto.

The metering network connection unit 114 classifies the metering information transmitted from the metering unit 112 according to types and generates a service data unit (SDU) having the classified metering information as a payload, ). That is, the metering network connection unit 114 performs a function of converting the metering information into the same format as the general traffic data in the broadband wireless communication network 200. In this way, changes to the broadband wireless communication network 200 for smart metering can be minimized.

The metering control unit 116 may perform basic setting of the smart meter 100, firmware or other software upgrades, and provide the metering information to the in-house user using the display device.

The metering control unit 116 provides a function of adding or deleting an identifier to these power devices when adding new power devices or removing power devices.

The metering control unit 116 may check the on / off state of the power devices supporting smart metering and the status of the current power devices, and provide the information through the broadband wireless communication network 200. [ Therefore, the user can control the power devices in the house from outside and check the status of the power devices. For this function, the metering control unit 116 performs a function of authenticating the user.

The metering control unit 116 may collect billing information according to the amount of power consumption from a central server of the smart metering network 400 and provide the collected information to the user through a display device. For example, assuming that the smart meter 100 is a home, the smart meter 100 transmits the power consumption to the central server through the broadband wireless communication network 200 and the smart metering network 400, It is possible to estimate the electricity rate of the home in real time. The central server transmits the calculated electricity rate to the smart meter 100 of the home in a predetermined cycle through the broadband wireless communication network 200. [ The metering control unit 116 can provide the user with the electric bill transmitted from the central server to the user through the display device, and the user can check the billing information according to the amount of electric power consumption at home in real time and use the broadband wireless communication network You can also check the billing information.

The wireless network connection unit 120 connects the smart metric execution unit 110 and the gateway execution unit 130 to the base station 210 of the broadband wireless communication network 200. The wireless network connection unit 120 performs a terminal function in the broadband wireless communication network 200 and the wireless network connection unit 120 in the smart meter 100 can perform a gateway function.

The wireless network connection unit 120 receives the system information and the uplink / downlink map information in synchronization with the base station 210, allocates uplink / downlink radio resources, and transmits the uplink / downlink Traffic is handled.

Next, the gateway performing unit 130 performs a function of providing internet service to the communication devices in the home or the area where the smart meter 100 is served. That is, the gateway performing unit 130 receives the uplink traffic from the communication devices requesting the Internet service and transmits the uplink traffic to the wireless network connection unit 120, classifies the downlink traffic received from the wireless network connection unit 120, And performs a routing function for delivering it to the communication device.

The gateway performing unit 130 may support a wireless LAN for an interface of a home appliance or a mobile device within a service area of the smart meter 100 and may include a UTP port for wired connection of a communication device have.

In addition, the gateway performing unit 130 may be connected to the wireless network connection unit 120 via Ethernet.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are flowcharts illustrating functions performed by the metering network connection unit shown in FIG. 1, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 2, the metering network connection unit 114 receives metering information from the metering unit 112 (S210), and classifies the metering information by type (S220). The metering information according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include power consumption by various devices, and the metering network connection unit 114 may classify the amount of power used by various devices. Generally, you can see the total power usage at home, but you can not know the power usage by device. The smart meter 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention collects power consumption for various devices, i.e., an air conditioner, a refrigerator, and other electric devices, calculates statistics of accumulated values during a set period, .

The metering network connection unit 114 generates an SDU including the classified metering information (S230).

Then, the metering network connection unit 114 transfers the SDU to the wireless network connection unit 120 (S240).

3, the metering network connection unit 114 receives the downlink packet from the wireless network connection unit 120 (S310), extracts the metering related information included in the downlink packet, and transmits the metering related information to the metering unit 112 (S320 to S330). At this time, the downlink packet received from the wireless network connection unit 120 may include control information for controlling the metering unit 112, information for requesting metering information to the metering unit 112, and billing information.

4 and 5 are flowcharts illustrating functions performed by the wireless network connection unit shown in FIG. 1, respectively.

4, when the uplink traffic is received from the smart metering execution unit 110 or the gateway execution unit 130 in step S410, the wireless network connection unit 120 transmits a ranging procedure and a network entry, And connects to the broadband wireless communication network 200 (S420). At this time, the wireless network connection unit 120 calculates the amount of uplink traffic from the smart metering unit 110 and the amount of uplink traffic from the gateway performing unit 130, and performs bandwidth ranging Bandwidth Ranging) to allocate uplink radio resources.

The wireless network connection unit 120 receives the SDU from the smart metric execution unit 110 or the gateway execution unit 130 in the uplink traffic so that the wireless network connection unit 120 transmits the received SDU to the packet of the broadband wireless communication network 200 Into a packet data unit (PDU) (S430).

Next, the wireless network connection unit 120 transmits the PDU to the base station 210 using the allocated uplink radio resource (S440).

Since the metering information indicative of the uplink traffic from the smart metering execution unit 110 is periodically transmitted to the central server, the wireless network connection unit 120 can secure radio resources by periodically allocating the uplink radio resources.

5, the wireless network connection unit 120 may receive the downlink traffic from the base station 210 (S510).

The wireless network connection unit 120 classifies the downlink traffic according to the presence or absence of header information for smart metering of the downlink traffic and transmits the classified downlink traffic to the smart metering execution unit 110 or the gateway execution unit 130 at steps S520 to S530. That is, when the downlink traffic is the metering-related traffic, the wireless network connection unit 120 transmits the downlink traffic to the smart metering unit 110. If the downlink traffic is the general internet traffic, the wireless network connection unit 120 transmits the downlink traffic to the gateway performing unit 130 .

The downlink traffic to be transmitted to the smart metric execution unit 110 includes header information for smart metering. Upon receiving the downlink traffic, the wireless network connection unit 120 can classify the downlink traffic according to the presence or absence of header information for smart metering. That is, if the header information for smart metering is included in the downlink traffic, the wireless network connection unit 120 transmits the downlink traffic to the smart metering unit 110, and if the header information for smart metering is included in the downlink traffic And if not, transmits the downlink traffic to the gateway performing unit 130.

As described above, the smart meter 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention converts the metering information into the traffic type of the broadband wireless communication method, and transmits the metering information to the traffic type of the broadband wireless communication method, so that the broadband wireless communication network can be used for smart metering without further modification. In addition, the smart meter 100 can increase the utilization of the smart meter 100 by controlling the home communication devices and performing the wireless home gateway function.

The embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above-described apparatuses and / or methods, but may be implemented through a program for realizing functions corresponding to the configuration of the embodiment of the present invention or a recording medium on which the program is recorded, Such an embodiment can be readily implemented by those skilled in the art from the description of the embodiments described above.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, It belongs to the scope of right.

Claims (16)

In a smart meter,
A smart metering unit for collecting metering information of each device, classifying the metering information for each device, and generating a service data unit (SDU) in which the metering information classified by the device is a payload,
A wireless network connection unit for converting the SDU into a packet data unit (PDU) of a broadband wireless communication network and transmitting the PDU to a central server of a metering service provider, and
A gateway performing unit for connecting a communication device in a service area of the smart meter to the broadband wireless communication network,
/ RTI >
The wireless network connection unit classifies the received downlink traffic into metering-related traffic and general Internet traffic according to presence or absence of header information for smart metering in downlink traffic received through the broadband wireless communication network, To the smart metering unit, and forwards the traffic corresponding to the normal Internet traffic to the gateway performing unit. delete delete delete The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the smart metering unit comprises:
A metering unit for collecting the metering information, and
The method includes the steps of: classifying the metering information according to the device, generating an SDU including metering information classified by the device, transmitting the generated SDU to the wireless network connection unit, extracting metering related information from the downlink traffic transmitted from the wireless network connection unit, A smart meter that includes a metering network connection that communicates to a metering unit. 6. The method of claim 5,
Wherein the smart metering unit comprises:
The metering information and the metering-related information are provided to a user through a display device, and a metering control unit
Further comprising a smart meter. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the downlink traffic corresponding to the metering-related traffic includes charging information. A method of operating a smart meter,
Collecting metering information of each device,
Classifying metering information for each device,
Generating a service data unit (SDU) having the metering information classified by the device as a payload,
Converting the SDU into a packet data unit (PDU) of a broadband wireless communication network and transmitting the PDU to a central server of a metering service provider,
Receiving downlink traffic through the broadband wireless communication network;
Determining whether header information for smart metering is present in the downlink traffic,
Classifying the received downlink traffic into metering-related traffic if header information for smart metering is present in the received downlink traffic;
If there is no header information for smart metering in the received downlink traffic,
Classifying the received downlink traffic into general internet traffic,
Transmitting downlink traffic corresponding to the general internet traffic to a corresponding communication device in a service area of the smart meter; and
Extracting metering-related information from the downlink traffic corresponding to the metering-related traffic
The method comprising: 9. The method of claim 8,
Wherein the collecting comprises:
And receiving a request for the metering information from the central server. 9. The method of claim 8,
Receiving an Internet service access request from the communication device, and
Connecting the communication device with the broadband wireless communication network
Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > 1, < / RTI > delete delete 9. The method of claim 8,
Wherein the downlink traffic corresponding to the metering-related traffic includes charging information corresponding to the metering information. 9. The method of claim 8,
Wherein the step of transmitting to the central server comprises:
And receiving an uplink radio resource using the uplink map information. delete 15. The method of claim 14,
Wherein the step of allocating comprises:
Receiving the uplink radio resources periodically, and
And periodically transmitting the PDU.

Images