KR102305692B1 - Communication method for meter reading data and server, meter thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

In this specification, a server communicating with the above meters through a network transmits the meter reading period information to the meters and sequentially receives the meter reading data collected according to the meter reading period information from the meters after transmitting the meter reading data request message. Disclosed are a remote meter reading system and a communication method therefor.

Description

Communication method for collecting meter reading data and its server and meter

The present invention relates to a communication method for collecting meter reading data, a server and a meter thereof.

The usage of various utilities (electricity, gas, water, heating, hot water) used in residential buildings is measured by meters installed in each household. For households using individual heating, 3 types of meters (power meter and type 2 equipment meter (gas, water)) are installed, and for households using district heating, 5 types of meters (power meter and type 4 equipment meter (gas)) , water, heating, hot water))) is compulsory. Recently, instead of visiting households by meter reading personnel to check the usage recorded on the meters, the meters installed in each household are connected to the meter reading server of the management office and transmit the usage through communication. A remote meter reading system used for billing is generally applied.

For example, Korean Patent No. 1162741 (Title of the Invention: Remote Meter Reading System Using Real-Time Protocol) discloses a remote meter reading system that remotely reads the usage of a meter (meter) using a real-time protocol in real time. This patent discloses a remote meter reading device that communicates with a plurality of meters, receives meter reading data from a plurality of meters according to a real-time protocol, stores it in its own memory, and transmits the meter reading data of each facility meter at regular time intervals.

However, in the conventional remote meter reading system, when the number of managed households increases, the collection time of meter reading data from each household changes. In general, the meter reading of energy consumption is done for the purpose of billing, and since it only needs to be done at least once a month, even if the time of meter reading data collected from each household is slightly different, there is no big problem in billing according to usage. In the future, when various additional services are provided through comparative analysis using meter reading data beyond simple billing purposes, if the simultaneity of meter reading data collected from each generation cannot be secured, mutual comparison becomes impossible, so data utilization is limited. .

The present embodiments may provide a communication method and apparatus for ensuring the simultaneity of meter reading data for a utility use state by metering meters installed in all households in a collective residence at the same time.

In one aspect, a communication method for collecting meter reading data of a server according to an embodiment is a communication method for collecting meter reading data of a server that communicates with two or more meters through a network, and includes transmitting meter reading period information to the meters. and transmitting the meter reading data request message to the meters and sequentially receiving the meter reading data stored after being read by the meters according to the meter reading period information from the meters after receiving the meter reading data request message.

In another aspect, a communication method for transmitting meter reading data of a meter according to another embodiment includes the steps of receiving meter reading period information from a server, receiving a meter reading data request message from the server, and receiving the meter reading data collected according to the meter reading period information and transmitting the stored meter reading data to the server after receiving the stored meter reading data request message.

In another aspect, a server according to another embodiment communicates with two or more meters through a network, transmits meter reading period information to the meters, receives an inspection period update response from the meters, and transmits a meter reading data request message to the meters A server communication unit that transmits to and receives the meter reading data that is read and stored according to the meter reading period information by the meters, and sequentially receives the meter reading data request message from the meters after transmitting the meter reading data request message, and a server that stores the meter reading data collected from the meters including storage.

In another aspect, the meter according to another embodiment communicates with the server and the network, receives the meter reading period information from the server, receives the meter reading data request message from the server, and collects the collected meter reading data according to the meter reading period information, the meter reading data It includes a meter communication unit that transmits the request message to the server after receiving the request message, a meter reading unit that generates meter reading data according to meter reading period information, and a meter storage unit that stores the generated meter reading data.

In another aspect, the remote meter reading system according to another embodiment may include the above-described server and meters.

In the communication method and apparatus for collecting meter reading data according to the embodiments, meters installed in all households in a collective residence may meter reads at the same time, thereby securing the simultaneity of meter reading data for a utility use state.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a remote meter reading system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 and 3 are diagrams illustrating examples of the network of FIG. 1 in which a wired communication network and a wireless communication network are implemented.
4A to 4C illustrate procedures for requesting and responding to meter reading data of a general remote meter reading system.
5 to 7 are flowcharts of a communication method for meter reading data of a server and a meter according to an embodiment.
8 is a flowchart of a procedure for synchronizing components of a remote meter reading system according to an embodiment.
9 is a block diagram of a server according to another embodiment.
10 is a block diagram of a meter according to another embodiment.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to exemplary drawings. In adding reference numerals to the components of each drawing, it should be noted that the same components are given the same reference numerals as much as possible even though they are indicated on different drawings. In addition, in describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known configuration or function may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In addition, in describing the components of the present invention, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. may be used. These terms are only for distinguishing the components from other components, and the essence, order, or order of the components are not limited by the terms. When it is described that a component is “connected”, “coupled” or “connected” to another component, the component may be directly connected or connected to the other component, but another component is between each component. It should be understood that elements may be “connected,” “coupled,” or “connected.”

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

Referring to FIG. 1 , a remote meter reading system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected to two or more meters 100 and the meter 100 and the network N through a network N to receive meter reading data from the meter 100 . It includes a server 200 that receives the.

The meter 100 is installed in all households and repeatedly reads the usage of equipment used in the household, updates the instantaneous usage value and the accumulated usage value in the storage unit and stores it, and transmits the data to the server 200 upon request from the server. can do. Since the storage unit of the meter 100 stores only the last meter reading value, it does not store past information. A device that measures the amount of electricity supplied in the form of electricity through a power line, such as electricity, or supplied in the form of a fluid through a supply pipe such as water, gas, heating, and hot water. , a gas meter that reads gas consumption, a heating meter that reads heating usage, and a hot water meter that reads hot water usage are collectively called meters.

The server 200 receives the meter reading data from the meter 100, and uses the received meter reading data to check the usage of each household and to charge the corresponding cost. Unlike the handwritten meter reading method in which a conventional meter reading person visits a household, the server 200 and the meter 100 can transmit and receive meter reading data while being connected through a remote meter reading service technology using communication. Communication may be wired communication or wireless communication.

The server 200 requests a meter reading by sending a request message REQ to the meter 100 , and the meter 100 generates a meter reading message RES corresponding to the request message REQ and sends it to the server 200 . can send

2 and 3 are diagrams illustrating examples of the network of FIG. 1 in which a wired communication network and a wireless communication network are implemented.

2 and 3 , the network N is a network that allows communication between the meter 100 and the server 200, and is a PLC, RS-485, PSTN, mobile communication network, M-BUS, LoRa, Sigfox. , Wi-SUN, Bluetooth, Zigbee, WPAN, WLAN, etc. can be implemented in wired and wireless communication networks.

In communication, the repeater 300 or the concentrator 400 may intervene between the server 200 and the meter 100 , and an external display system may intervene. In this case, some sections of communication may be configured as wired communication, and other sections may be configured as wireless communication.

For example, the server 200 may be placed in a management office of a collective residence, such as an apartment complex or a residential officetel, and the repeater 300 may be installed for each dong or line of the collective residence, for example, an apartment complex. Each household is equipped with two or more meters, for example, a power meter, a gas meter, and a water meter in the case of an individual heating MDU, and an electricity meter, a gas meter, a water meter, a heating meter, and a hot water meter in the case of a district heating MDU. can be installed

The server 200 and the repeater 300 and the repeater 300 and the concentrator 400 may be connected through a wired communication network as shown in FIG. 2 or through a wireless communication network as shown in FIG. 3 . In general, the concentrator 400 and each meter 100 are connected through a wired communication network, but may also be connected through a wireless communication network.

As shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C , the server 200 sequentially requests meter reading data from the meters 100 of each household. The meters 100 of each household receiving the request for the meter reading data sequentially transmit the meter reading data in response. That is, a general remote meter reading system remotely monitors the energy usage of the meters of each household in a collective residence in a sequentially request-response manner between the server 200 and the meter 100 in order to do so.

For example, in order to monitor the energy usage of the apartment house of 1000 households, the server 200 transmits a request for the meter reading data to the meters of the first household and transmits the meter reading data in response as shown in FIG. 4B. receive Next, the server 200 repeats the procedure of sequentially transmitting a request for the meter reading data to the meters of the second generation to the 1000th generation and receiving the meter reading data in response thereto.

Since the energy usage of the meters in each household in the collective residence is remotely monitored in a sequential request-response manner, the meter reading time varies according to the meter reading interval of each household. Specifically, the meter reading time interval between the first generation and the 1000th generation is inevitably different from several tens of minutes to several hours. Therefore, when the first generation and the 1000th generation are metered, the energy supply or use status of each generation is different.

Even if the meter reading time interval is different between the households in the collective residence, there is no problem because the meter reading for energy consumption uses the difference between the accumulated usage of the previous month and the current month, but it may not be suitable for condition monitoring. For example, since voltage, pressure, supply temperature, and recovery temperature are state variables that continuously change depending on the time point, it may not be possible to compare state variables such as supply temperature between generations if the measurement times are different.

As described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 , even when the repeater 300 or the concentrator 400 is included as the network N, the repeater 300 for each dong or line provides sequential meter reading data for each household. When a request and a response are made, the concentrator 400 collects the meter reading values of the connected households. When the repeater 300 for each dong sequentially requests the concentrator at every predetermined period for meter reading data, the requested concentrator 400 transmits the meter reading values of the households in response thereto.

Even if the generation concentrator 400 sequentially transmits the requested meter reading values, there is inevitably a time difference between the generations collected by the concentrator 400 . As a result, the time difference is reduced because the repeater 300 is distributed and collected for each building, but a time difference is inevitable between the meter reading values for each building.

As another example, when the household concentrator 400 periodically responds to the request for sequential meter reading data to the lower meter 100 , the concentrator 400 may update the latest meter reading value. Even in this case, since each meter 100 responds sequentially and is collected, a time difference also occurs between meter reading values between the meters 100 within a household.

In conclusion, in a general remote meter reading system, since the meters of each household in a collective residence consisting of hundreds or thousands of households are metered at different times, there is inevitably no simultaneity between meter reading values or meter reading data.

Embodiments of the present invention while maintaining the communication method between the meter 100 and the server 200 included in the remote meter reading system 10, or between the repeater 300 and the concentrator 400 located between them as it is. Provided are a method and an apparatus capable of securing the simultaneity between meter reading values or meter reading data of each household in a collective residence consisting of hundreds or thousands of households.

5 to 7 are flowcharts of a communication method for meter reading data of a server and a meter according to an embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the server 200 may communicate with two or more meters 100 through a network N. The server 200 may acquire the meter reading data of the two or more meters 100 by communicating with the two or more meters 100 through a network.

The network (N) and the repeater (300). It may include a concentrator 400 positioned between the repeater 300 and the meters 100 and communicating with the repeater 300 and the meters 100 .

As shown in FIG. 5 , a communication method for collecting meter reading data by the server 200 includes, by the server 200 , transmitting meter reading period information to the meters 100 . In this step, as shown in FIG. 5, the meter reading period update response to the meter reading period information may be received from the meters 100, but as shown in FIG. 6, the meter reading period update response may not be received from the meter. have.

Similarly, the communication method for transmitting meter reading data of the meter 100 communicating with the server 200 through the network N includes the step of the meter 100 receiving meter reading period information from the server 200 . In this step, as shown in FIG. 5 , the meter reading period update response to the meter reading period information may be transmitted to the server 200 , but as shown in FIG. 6 , the meter reading period update response may not be transmitted to the server 200 . have.

Similarly, in the communication method for transmitting the meter reading data of the meter 100 that communicates with the server 200 through the network N, the meter 100 receives the meter reading data request message from the server 200, and the meter reading period and storing the meter reading data collected according to the information and transmitting the stored meter reading data to the server 200 after receiving the meter reading data request message. The meter reading period information includes a meter reading period in which the meters 100 installed in all households in the collective residence collect meter reading data at the same time.

The server 200 may transmit the meter reading period information to the meters 100 through the repeater 300 and the concentrator 400 . Also, the server 200 may receive the meter reading period update response from the meters 100 through the repeater 300 and the concentrator 400 as shown in FIG. 5 .

The meter 100 may receive the meter reading period information from the server 200 through the repeater 300 and the concentrator 400 . Also, as shown in FIG. 5 , the server 200 may transmit a meter reading period update response to the server 200 through the repeater 300 and the concentrator 400 .

In more detail, the server 200 may transmit the meter reading period information to the repeater 300 ( S510 ) and receive a meter reading period update response from the repeater 300 ( S512 ).

The repeater 300 may transmit the meter reading period information to the concentrator 400 ( S514 ) and receive a meter reading period update response from the concentrator 400 ( S516 ).

The concentrator 400 may transmit the meter reading period information to the meter 1 100a among the meters 100 ( S518 ), and receive a meter reading period update response from the meter 1 100a ( S520 ). The concentrator 400 may transmit the meter reading period information to the second meter 100b among the meters 100 ( S522 ), and receive a meter reading period update response from the second meter 100b ( S524 ). The concentrator 400 may transmit the meter reading period information to the meter 3 100c among the meters 100 ( S526 ), and receive a meter reading period update response from the meter 3 100c ( S528 ). The concentrator 400 may transmit the meter reading period information to the meter 4 100d among the meters 100 ( S530 ), and receive a meter reading period update response from the meter 2 100d ( S532 ). The concentrator 400 may transmit the meter reading period information to the meter 5 100e among the meters 100 ( S534 ), and receive a meter reading period update response from the meter 5 100e ( S536 ).

The meters 100a to 100e may update or reset the meter reading period according to the meter reading period included in the meter reading period information, and may meter-read the amount of equipment used according to the meter reading period.

As shown in FIG. 6 , in the step of transmitting the meter reading period information, the server 200 may unilaterally transmit the meter reading period information to the meters 100 . That is, as described above, the server 200 transmits the meter reading period information to the meters 100 and may not receive a response to the meter reading period update response. That is, the server 200 and the meters 100 may exchange meter-reading period information and the meter-reading period update response, but after the server 200 sequentially transmits the meter-reading period information to the meters 100 , the response The transmission of the meter reading period information may be performed in a manner not described above.

The meters 100a to 100e may update or reset the meter reading period according to the meter reading period information, and may meter-read the amount of equipment used according to the meter reading period.

The meters 100a to 100e measure the amount of equipment used, and store the meter reading value in a separate storage unit or storage space every predetermined meter reading period. When the meter reading data is requested from the household concentrator 400 , the meters 100a to 100e transmit a corresponding meter reading value from a separate storage unit to the household concentrator 400 .

That is, since the user does not know when the meter 100 will use the meter, it is possible to constantly monitor the usage at a very fast cycle, for example, several tens of times per second. The meter 100 internally integrates the monitored meter reading value when a certain amount is reached. The meter 100 stores the internally integrated final meter reading value for each meter reading period in a separate storage space at every meter reading period, for example, 00:15, 00:30, 00:45, and 00:00.

5 and 6, it has been exemplarily described that the number of the meters 100 constituting one generation or the meters 100 connected to one concentrator 400 is five, but the number may be one or two or more. can

As shown in FIG. 7 , in the communication method for collecting the meter reading data of the server 200 , the server 200 transmits a meter reading data request message to the meters 100 and receives the meter reading period information by the meters. and sequentially receiving the meter-reading data stored in accordance with the meter-reading data from the meters 100 after transmitting the meter-reading data request message.

In the step of sequentially receiving the meter reading data from the meters 100 , it has been described that the server 200 receives the meter reading data to the meters after transmitting the meter reading data request message, but the meters 100 read the meter It may be received after receiving the data request message. After the server 200 side transmits the meter reading data request message and the meter 100 side receives the meter reading data request message, the meters 100 sequentially transmit the meter reading data, and the server 200 is to receive this meter reading data.

The server 200 transmits the meter reading data request message to the meters 100 through the repeater 300 and the concentrator 400, and transmits the meter reading data to the meters through the repeater 300 and the concentrator 400. 100) can be received.

The meter 100 receives the meter reading data request message from the server 200 through the repeater 300 and the concentrator 400, and receives the meter reading data from the server 200 through the repeater 300 and the concentrator 400. can be sent to

Specifically, the server 200 may transmit the meter reading data request message to the repeater 300 (S610), and receive the meter reading data from the repeater 300 (S612).

The repeater 300 may transmit the meter reading data request message to the concentrator 400 ( S614 ), and may receive the meter reading data from the concentrator 400 ( S616 ).

The concentrator 400 may transmit the meter reading data request message to the meter 1 100a among the meters 100 (S618), and may receive the meter reading data from the meter 1 100a (S620). The concentrator 400 may transmit a meter reading data request message to the second meter 100b among the meters 100 ( S622 ), and may receive the meter reading data from the second meter 100b ( S624 ). The concentrator 400 may transmit a meter reading data request message to the meter 3 100c among the meters 100 ( S626 ), and may receive the meter reading data from the meter 3 100c ( S628 ). The concentrator 400 may transmit a meter reading data request message to the meter 4 100d among the meters 100 ( S630 ), and may receive the meter reading data from the meter 2 100d ( S632 ). The concentrator 400 may transmit a meter reading data request message to the meter 5 100e among the meters 100 ( S534 ), and may receive the meter reading data from the meter 5 100e ( S636 ).

As will be described later with reference to FIG. 7 , the meter 100 transmits the accumulated final meter reading value stored in a separate storage space when requested by the household concentrator 400 . The repeater 300 for each dong stores the meter reading values collected in the household concentrator 400 and provides them when requested by the server 200 .

In the above example, the household concentrator 400 receives the meter reading value at 00:00 from all the meters 100 between 00:00 and 00:30 and stores it in a separate storage space. The repeater 300 for each dong sequentially requests and collects the values collected by the household concentrator 300 for each household. The server 200 sequentially requests and collects the values collected by the repeater 300 for each dong.

In the communication method for collecting meter reading data between the server and the meter according to an embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 , the meters installed in all households in the collective residence are set at the same time according to the meter reading period included in the meter reading period information. Because the meter reads the meter reading data, it is possible to secure the simultaneity of the meter reading data for the utility usage status.

Hereinafter, in order to enhance the simultaneity of the meter reading data, the steps in which the components of the remote meter reading system, the meters 100 and the server 200, the repeater 300, and the concentrator 400 perform synchronization will be described. .

8 is a flowchart of a procedure for synchronizing components of a remote meter reading system according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 8 , the server 100 may synchronize its own time with a Network Time Protocol (NTP) server 202 . The NTP server 202 may store the current time generated by the network time protocol provided by NIST, National Institute of Standards, Google, telecommunication company, etc., and provide it to other terminals or devices.

Specifically, the server 200 may transmit the current time request message to the NTP server 202 (S410), and receive the current time response message from the NTP server 202 (S412). The server 200 may synchronize its own time with the current time included in the current time response message.

For example, the Windows-based server 200 synchronizes once a week (once every 604,800 seconds), but the cycle can be arbitrarily adjusted.

In the step of transmitting the synchronization time information described with reference to FIG. 8 , the server 200 may unilaterally transmit the synchronization time information to the meters 100 . That is, the server 200 may transmit synchronization time information to the meters 100 and may not receive a response thereto.

The communication method for the meter reading data of the server according to an embodiment includes: the server 200 transmitting synchronization time information including the synchronization time to the meters 100 through the repeater 300 and the concentrator 400 further includes

The server 200 transmits the synchronization time information including the synchronization time to the repeater 300 (S414), the repeater 300 transmits the synchronization time information to the concentrator 400 (S416), and the concentrator 400 ) may transmit synchronization time information to the connected meters 100 (S418).

For example, the server 200 may perform time synchronization with the repeater 300 for each building through a remote meter reading system program at a predetermined time and number of times during one day. The server 200 may transmit synchronization time information to the meters 100 in the format of User Datagram Protocol (UDP), and may not receive a response thereto.

Since at least one repeater 300 is installed in each building, dozens of repeaters 300 may be installed in the case of 1000 households. Since the server 200 transmits synchronization time information in the format of UDP to the repeater 300 -> concentrator 400 -> meters 100, a plurality of repeaters 300 and a plurality of concentrators 400 at the same time , it is possible to synchronize the time of a plurality of meters 100 .

Conversely, when the server 200 transmits synchronization time information in a transmission-response method, for example, a TCP method, a delay occurs because the response must be sequentially checked, and a plurality of repeaters 300 and a plurality of concentrators 400 ), an error as much as the transmission time may occur in time synchronization of a plurality of meters 100 .

However, since the server 200 transmits synchronization time information in the form of UDP to the repeater 300 -> concentrator 400 -> meters 100, a plurality of repeaters 300 and a plurality of concentrators 400 ), it is possible to completely synchronize the time of a plurality of meters 100, or to minimize the error.

A plurality of repeaters 300, a plurality of concentrators 400, and a plurality of meters 100 synchronize the time of their own timer with the time of the server 200 in consideration of the delayed transmission time occurring in real-time communication for each device. You may. For example, the plurality of repeaters 300 , the plurality of concentrators 400 , and the plurality of meters 100 may adjust the time of their own timers in consideration of the transmission time delayed in the synchronization time received from the server 200 .

In the step of receiving the meter reading data described with reference to FIG. 7 , the server 200 may receive the meter reading data from the meters 100 at the meter reading period according to the synchronization time.

Similarly, in the communication method for the meter reading data of the meter 100 according to an embodiment, the meter 100 transmits synchronization time information including the synchronization time to the server 200 through the repeater 300 and the concentrator 400 . The method further includes receiving from

In the step of transmitting the meter-reading data described with reference to FIG. 7 , the server 200 may transmit the meter-reading data to the server 200 at the meter-reading period according to the synchronization time.

In the step of receiving the synchronization time information described with reference to FIG. 8 , the meter 100 may unilaterally receive the synchronization time information from the server 200 .

The meter reading data of two or more meters 100 connected to one concentrator 400 may be metered at the same time. For example, two or more meters 100 connected to one concentrator 400, for example, five meters 100a to 100e, may be located in one household. In this case, according to the above-described embodiments, it is possible to secure the concurrency between the respective generations and the concurrency between the meters of each generation at the same time.

For example, since simultaneity between generations is secured, it can be determined that a washing machine or a dishwasher is running when water and electricity are used at the same time. When water and hot water are used at the same time, it is possible to determine the temperature of the hot water used by households at the same time. If the temperature of the heating meter rises rapidly even when gas and heating are not used, it is possible to determine whether there is a fire.

For another example, since the simultaneity between the meters of each household is ensured, the power meter can determine whether it is a power outage in a specific area or a power outage in a specific household. In addition, the heating/hot water/water meter can estimate pipe leakage if the pump in the machine room operates while the meter in a specific area is not in use.

If the concurrency between the generations and the concurrency between the meters of each generation is not secured, it may be difficult to draw the same conclusion as described above under the above conditions.

Although the communication methods for the meter reading data between the server and the meter have been described above with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8 , the server and the meter performing communication for the meter reading data will be described below, respectively.

9 is a block diagram of a server according to another embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 9 , the server 200 according to another embodiment communicates with two or more meters through a network. As described above, the network (N) with the repeater (300). It may include a concentrator 400 positioned between the repeater 300 and the meters 100 and communicating with the repeater 300 and the meters 100 .

The server 200 includes a server control unit 214, a server communication unit 216 that communicates with two or more meters 100 shown in FIG. 1 and a network N, and a server storage unit 218 that stores various data. include

The server controller 214 may perform general control of the server 200 . In the following description, an action whose configuration is not specified may be understood as being performed by the server control unit 214 .

As shown in FIG. 5 , the server communication unit 216 transmits meter reading period information to the meters and receives a meter reading period update response to the meter reading period information from the meters. Also, as shown in FIG. 6 , the server communication unit 216 may transmit meter-reading period information to the meters and may not receive a meter-reading period update response from the meters. The server communication unit 216 transmits the meter reading data request message to the meters 100 , and sequentially receives the meter reading data stored after being read according to the meter reading period information from the meters 100 after transmitting the meter reading data request message. do.

The server storage unit 218 stores the meter reading data of the meters 100 collected from the meters 100 .

The server communication unit 216 may transmit the meter reading period information and the meter reading data request message to the meters 100 through the repeater 300 and the concentrator 400 . The server communication unit 216 may receive the meter reading period update response and the meter reading data from the meters 100 through the repeater 300 and the concentrator 400 .

The server 200 may further include a server timer 212 for generating time. The server timer 212 is a component for generating time, and as described with reference to FIG. 7 , the timer and the time of the meters 100 may be synchronized.

The server communication unit 216 may transmit synchronization time information including the synchronization time to the meters 9100 through the repeater 300 and the concentrator 400 . The server communication unit 216 may receive the meter reading data from the meters 100 at a meter reading period according to the synchronization time.

The server communication unit 216 may unilaterally transmit synchronization time information to the meters 100 .

As described above, the meter reading data of two or more meters 100 connected to one concentrator 400 may be metered at the same time.

The server controller 214 may generate various messages to be requested by the meter 100 and may encrypt various messages. The server controller 214 may decrypt the encrypted and received meter reading data and check the meter reading data included in the decrypted meter reading message. As described above, the server controller 214 may transmit the meter reading period information to the meters in the form of a meter reading period message.

The server timer 212 may be referred to as a timer, the server controller 214 may be referred to as a controller, the server communication unit 216 may be referred to as a communication unit, and the server storage unit 218 may be referred to as a storage unit.

10 is a block diagram of a meter according to another embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 10 , the meter 100 according to another embodiment communicates with the server 200 through a network N. As described above, the network (N) with the repeater (300). It may include a concentrator 400 positioned between the repeater 300 and the meters 100 and communicating with the repeater 300 and the meters 100 .

The meter 100 includes a meter control unit 114, a meter communication unit 116 that communicates with the server 200 and the network N, and a meter storage unit 118 that stores various data, and generates meter reading data in accordance with the meter reading period. and a meter reading unit 120 .

The meter control unit 114 may perform general control of the meter 100 . In the following description, an action whose configuration is not specified can be understood as being performed by the meter control unit 114 .

The meter control unit 114 may decrypt various encrypted and received messages, check information included in the decrypted various messages, and perform functions corresponding to such information. Then, the meter control unit 114 may insert the result of performing a function corresponding to this information into the meter reading message and encrypt the meter reading message.

As shown in FIG. 5 , the meter communication unit 116 receives meter-reading period information from the server and transmits a meter-reading period update response to the meter-reading period information to the server 100 . The meter communication unit 116 may not transmit the meter reading period update response to the server 100 as shown in FIG. 6 . The meter communication unit 116 receives the meter reading data request message from the server 100 and transmits the meter reading data measured in the meter reading period included in the meter reading period information to the server 100 after receiving the meter reading data request message.

The meter reading unit 120 is a component that reads the amount of equipment used, and the meter reading amount may have an instantaneous value or an accumulated value. The meter reading unit 120 generates meter reading data by reading the meter reading period included in the meter reading period information.

The meter reading unit 120 may measure not only the amount of equipment used but also the state of the equipment. For example, the meter reading unit 120 may measure a temperature or a flow rate. In addition, the meter reading unit 120 may calculate the amount of heat by using the measured value of the temperature or flow rate. When the amount of heat is a meter reading target, the meter reading unit 120 may meter the heat amount through this process.

The meter storage unit 118 stores the generated meter reading data.

The meter communication unit 116 receives the meter reading period information and the meter reading data request message from the server 200 through the repeater 300 and the concentrator 400 , and concentrates the meter reading period update response and the meter reading data with the repeater 300 . It can be transmitted to the server 200 through the device (400).

The meter 100 may further include a meter timer 112 for generating time and synchronizing the time with a timer of the server.

The meter communication unit 116 may receive synchronization time information including the synchronization time from the server 200 through the repeater 300 and the concentrator 400 . The meter timer 112 adjusts the time according to the synchronization time included in the synchronization time information received from the server 200 . Hereinafter, the time stored according to the synchronization time is referred to as a synchronization time.

The meter reading unit 120 may generate meter reading data by performing meter reading at a meter reading period according to a synchronization time. The meter storage unit 118 may store the meter reading data by performing meter reading at a meter reading period according to the synchronization time. The meter communication unit 116 may transmit the meter reading data read by the meter reading unit 120 to the server.

The meter communication unit 116 may unilaterally receive synchronization time information from the server 200 . .

The meter timer 112 is called a timer, the meter control unit 114 is called a control unit, the meter communication unit 116 is called a communication unit, the meter storage unit 118 is called a storage unit, and the meter reading unit 120 ) may be called a meter reading unit.

The remote meter reading system 10 described with reference to FIG. 1 includes the server 200 described with reference to FIG. 9 and the meters 100 described with reference to FIG. It can be monitored by the server 200 .

The communication method and the apparatus for collecting meter reading data according to the embodiments may secure the simultaneity of meter reading data for utility usage status because mitts installed in all households in a collective residence read the meter at the same time. Accordingly, the communication method and the apparatus for collecting meter reading data according to the embodiments may facilitate monitoring and analysis of the supply status based on the simultaneity of the meter reading data.

In addition, when using the communication method and device for collecting meter reading data according to the embodiments, it takes only time for a plurality of concentrators for each building to communicate with the server. You can also get a castle.

In the above, the communication method for collecting the meter reading data between the server and the meter according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described as being performed with the same procedure as in FIGS. 5 to 8, but this is only for convenience of explanation, and is essential Within the scope not departing from the concept, the execution procedure of each step may be changed, two or more steps may be integrated, or one step may be performed separately into two or more steps depending on the implementation method.

In the above, even though all the components constituting the embodiment of the present invention are described as being combined or operating in combination, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this embodiment. That is, within the scope of the object of the present invention, all the components may operate by selectively combining one or more. In addition, although all of the components may be implemented as one independent hardware, some or all of the components are selectively combined to perform some or all functions of the combined hardware in one or a plurality of hardware program modules It may be implemented as a computer program having Codes and code segments constituting the computer program can be easily deduced by those skilled in the art of the present invention. Such a computer program is stored in a computer readable storage medium (Computer Readable Media), read and executed by the computer, thereby implementing the embodiment of the present invention. The storage medium of the computer program may include a magnetic recording medium, an optical recording medium, and the like.

The above description is merely illustrative of the technical spirit of the present invention, and various modifications and variations will be possible without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are not intended to limit the technical spirit of the present invention, but to explain, and the scope of the technical spirit of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. The protection scope of the present invention should be construed by the following claims, and all technical ideas within the equivalent range should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention.

Claims (24)

A communication method for collecting meter reading data of a server that communicates with two or more meters through a network,
transmitting meter-reading period information to the meters and receiving a meter-reading period update response to the metering period information from the meters;
Synchronizes the time with an NTP (Network Time Protocol) server, and transmits the synchronization time information including the synchronization time to the meters through the repeater and concentrator in the format of UDP (User Datagram Protocol), and does not receive a response step; and
The meter reading data request message is transmitted to the meters, and the meter reading data request message is read and stored at the same time according to the synchronization time included in the synchronization time information according to the meter reading period information by the meters. After transmitting, sequentially receiving from the meters,
In the step of receiving the meter reading data, the meter reading data received from the meters are read at the same time according to the synchronization time included in the synchronization time information to have simultaneity,
The same time according to the synchronization time included in the synchronization time information is a time adjusted in consideration of the delayed transmission time occurring in the communication for each meter at the synchronization time,
The network and the repeater. the concentrator located between the repeater and the meters and in communication with the repeater and the meters;
The server transmits the meter reading period information and the meter reading data request message to the meters through the repeater and the concentrator, and transmits the meter reading period update response and the meter reading data from the meters through the repeater and the concentrator. receive,
A communication method for collecting the meter reading data of a server, wherein the meter reading data is encrypted and received from the meter. delete delete delete delete delete As a communication method for transmitting meter reading data,
receiving meter-reading period information from a server and transmitting a meter-reading period update response to the meter-reading period information to the server;
unilaterally receiving synchronization time information including synchronization time synchronized with an NTP (Network Time Protocol) server from the server through a repeater and a concentrator in a UDP (User Datagram Protocol) format, and not transmitting a response thereto; and
After receiving the meter reading data request message from the server, storing the meter reading data collected at the same time according to the synchronization time included in the synchronization time information according to the meter reading period information, and receiving the meter reading data request message Transmitting the meter reading data stored in the server,
In the step of transmitting the meter reading data, the meter reading data transmitted to the server are read at the same time according to the synchronization time included in the synchronization time information and have simultaneity,
The same time according to the synchronization time included in the synchronization time information is a time adjusted in consideration of the delayed transmission time occurring in the communication for each meter at the synchronization time,
the repeater. In a network comprising the concentrator located between the repeater and the meter and other meters and in communication with the repeater and the meters;
the meter receives the meter reading period information and the meter reading data request message from the server through the repeater and the concentrator, and transmits the meter reading period update response and the meter reading data to the server through the repeater and the concentrator; ,
A communication method for transmitting the meter reading data in which the meter reading data is encrypted and transmitted to the server. delete delete delete delete delete A server communicating over a network with two or more meters,
a server timer that generates time, synchronizes the time with an NTP (Network Time Protocol) server, and synchronizes the time synchronized with the timers of the meters;
Transmitting meter reading period information to the meters, receiving a meter reading period update response to the meter reading period information from the meters, and concentrating synchronization time information including synchronization time with a repeater in a UDP (User Datagram Protocol) format The synchronization time included in the synchronization time information according to the meter reading period information by the meters by transmitting the meter reading data request message to the meters without receiving a response thereto a server communication unit for sequentially receiving meter reading data stored at the same time according to , from the meters after transmitting the meter reading data request message; and
and a server storage unit for storing the meter reading data collected from the meters;
The server communication unit transmits synchronization time information including a synchronization time to the meters through a repeater and a concentrator, and transmits the meter reading data that is metered in the meter reading period according to the synchronization time included in the synchronization time information to the meters. receive from, and unilaterally transmit the synchronization time information to the meters,
The meter reading data received from the meters are read at the same time according to the synchronization time included in the synchronization time information and have simultaneity,
The same time according to the synchronization time included in the synchronization time information is a time adjusted in consideration of the delayed transmission time occurring in the communication for each meter at the synchronization time,
The network and the repeater. the concentrator located between the repeater and the meters and in communication with the repeater and the meters;
The server communication unit transmits the meter reading period information and the meter reading data request message to the meters through the repeater and the concentrator, and transmits the meter reading period update response and the meter reading data to the meters through the repeater and the concentrator. receive from
The meter reading data is encrypted and received from the meter. delete delete delete delete delete A meter that communicates with the server and the network,
a meter timer for generating time and synchronizing the time with a timer of the server;
Receives meter reading period information from the server, transmits a meter reading period update response to the meter reading period information to the server, and transmits synchronization time information including synchronization time synchronized with a Network Time Protocol (NTP) server to UDP (User Datagram) Protocol) in the form of a unilaterally received from the server through a repeater and a concentrator, and without transmitting a response, the meter reading data request message is received from the server, and the synchronization included in the synchronization time information according to the meter reading period information is synchronized. a meter communication unit that transmits the meter reading data collected at the same time according to time to the server after receiving the meter reading data request message;
a meter reading unit generating meter reading data according to the meter reading period information; and
and a meter storage unit for storing the generated meter reading data;
The meter communication unit receives the synchronization time information including the synchronization time from the server through the repeater and the concentrator,
The meter reading unit generates meter reading data by reading the meter reading period according to the synchronization time,
The meter communication unit transmits the meter reading data read by the meter reading unit to the server, and unilaterally receives the synchronization time information from the server,
The meter-reading data read by the meter-reading unit is read at the same time according to the synchronization time included in the synchronization time information, and has simultaneity with the meter-reading data of other meters,
The same time according to the synchronization time included in the synchronization time information is a time adjusted in consideration of the delayed transmission time occurring in the communication for each meter at the synchronization time,
the repeater. In a network comprising the concentrator located between the repeater and the meter and other meters and in communication with the repeater and the meters;
The meter communication unit receives the meter reading period information and the meter reading data request message from the server through the repeater and the concentrator, and transmits the meter reading period update response and the meter reading data to the server through the repeater and the concentrator do,
The meter reading data is encrypted and transmitted to the server. delete delete delete delete delete

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