KR102450079B1 - Remote metter reading system based on lorawan - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a remote meter reading system based on a LoRaWAN and, more specifically, to a remote meter reading system based on a LoRaWAN, which can selectively back up data according to the communication relay status of a repeater and utilize the backed-up data when the repeater is in a spare traffic condition. To this end, the remote meter reading system comprises: a plurality of meter reading units arranged inside meter boxes, respectively, to individually read a plurality of pieces of metering information, and connected to meters, respectively; a plurality of repeaters for individually converting the plurality of pieces of metering information, received from the plurality of meter reading units, into respective transmission data and relaying the same through a LoRaWAN gateway; and an integrated management server for creating and providing a management list for each meter by classifying the respective transmission data relayed through the LoRaWAN gateway, according to meter identification codes and meter reading time. Each of the plurality of repeaters determines each communication relay state as one of a congested traffic state and a spare traffic state, based on the number of the respective pieces of metering information received from at least one of the plurality of meter reading units, and copies and stores backup data for each transmission data at the time when the communication relay state is determined to be the congested traffic state.

Description

LORAMAN-based remote meter reading system {REMOTE METTER READING SYSTEM BASED ON LORAWAN}

The present invention relates to a LoRa network-based remote meter reading system, and more particularly, to a LoRa network-based remote meter that can selectively back up data according to a communication relay state of a repeater and utilize the backed-up data at a point in time when it is determined as a spare traffic state. It is about the meter reading system.

LoRaWAN is an Internet of Things (IoT) network oriented toward low power wide area networks using 900 MHz frequencies. It is also competing with WiFi of The data communication speed of LoRa is as low as 0.3 kbps to 50 kbp, which enables low power consumption and can be used for inter-object communication that does not require high speed.

LoRaWAN is a low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) specification and is intended for wireless battery-operated things in regional, national or global networks. LoRaWAN is primarily targeted at secure two-way communications and, to date, the Internet of Things (IoT), such as vehicle or local services. It is expected that this standard can provide continuous interoperability between smart devices without complicated installation process, give users freedom, and expand the Internet of Things business-wise.

The architecture of a typical LoRaWAN (LoRaWAN) system is as shown in FIG. 4 , in general, the LoRa network gateway 50-1 includes an end device 10-1 that can be configured as a sensor or an actuator, and a LoRa network of the backend. It is arranged in the form of a transparent star that relays message data between the servers 70-1, and the LoRa data transmitted to the LoRa network server 70-1 is transmitted to the application server 90-1, stored, managed, and analyzed. . The LoRa network gateway 50-1 is connected to the LoRa network server 70-1 through a standard IP connection, and the end device 10-1 is connected to one or more LoRa network gateways 50-1 through a single-hop wireless connection. Communication is performed using communication.

A LoRaWAN system having such a structure and operation has recently been attempted to be applied to various services. Republic of Korea Patent Registration No. 10-1721853 (hereinafter referred to as "prior art literature") proposes a 24 hour safety monitoring system and method for the elderly living alone using LoRa communication. This prior art document enables the remote and efficient monitoring of the elderly living alone using LoRaWAN (LoRaWAN) communication that enables long-distance communication.

However, when the communication state between the end device 10 - 1 and the LoRa network gateway 50 - 1, which may be composed of a sensor or an actuator, is poor, remote monitoring of a monitoring target may not be smooth. In particular, when the terminating device 10-1 is disposed in a place that interferes with radio wave transmission/reception, LoRa communication may not be smooth.

This problem can occur even more seriously when the termination device is placed inside the box. Specifically, when LoRa is applied to a remote meter reading system, the meter reader as an end device that reads the meter value is placed inside the meter box, so if the LoRaWAN system is applied as it is, the meter reader and the meter reader placed inside the meter box Communication between the LoRa network gateways may not be smooth, and this may limit the communication distance.

In particular, when the LoRaWAN system maintains a congested communication traffic state for more than a predetermined time, data transmitted and received between the end device 10 - 1 and the application server 90 - 1 may be exposed to a risk of loss.

Korean Patent Registration 10-1721853

The present invention is to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to facilitate the communication state between the meter reader and the application server, and at the same time, selectively back up data according to the communication relay state of the repeater and the time point at which the idle traffic state is determined This is to provide a LoRa network-based remote meter reading system that can utilize the data backed up in .

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments.

In order to achieve the above object, a LoRa network-based remote meter reading system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of meter readers that are respectively disposed inside a meter box to individually read a plurality of metering information and are connected one-to-one for each meter; A plurality of repeaters that individually convert a plurality of metering information received from a plurality of meter readers into each transmission data and relay it through the LoRa network gateway, and each transmission data relayed through the LoRa network gateway with a meter identification code and meter reading time and an integrated management server that generates and provides a management list for each meter according to the classification, and each of the plurality of repeaters sets the communication relay state between the congestion traffic state and the margin based on the number of metering information received for a predetermined time. It is determined in any one of the traffic conditions, and when the communication relay state is determined to be a congested traffic state, the backup data for each transmission data converted from the respective metering information is copied and stored.

In an embodiment, the integrated management server is based on each communication relay state for at least one repeater for the plurality of repeaters, using the corresponding backup data stored in the at least one repeater to the management list for each meter. Optionally perform an overwrite operation for

In an embodiment, the integrated management server deletes each backup data based on whether or not an overwrite operation for each backup data stored in the at least one repeater is used.

In an embodiment, any one of the plurality of repeaters is a meter environment information detected through a plurality of detection sensors paired with a preset identification symbol for each meter box through low-power BLE communication and the difference between the preset allowable information Based on the control unit, the operation cycle of the control device paired with the corresponding identification symbol is adjusted, and the plurality of detection sensors include sensors for measuring temperature, humidity, odor and harmful gas concentration, and the control device includes a cooler, a heater and a ventilation fan.

In an embodiment, each of the plurality of repeaters includes a conversion processing unit that converts each metering information from at least one of the plurality of meter readers into each transmission data, and a part selected according to the communication relay state among the transmission data. In order to check whether the backup unit for storing the copied backup data in the memory module and whether each of the transmission data is modulated, the first sample signal is transmitted to the conversion processing unit, and the converted signal is converted between the converted signal and the second sample signal. and a modulation checker to compare whether they are identical, wherein the first and second sample signals are the same preset signals.

In an embodiment, when the modulation check unit is not the same as the second sample signal and the converted signal, it generates a system failure message for the repeater and transmits it through the integrated management server.

In an embodiment, when the second sample signal and the converted signal are the same as the second sample signal, the modulation checking unit is in proportion to the number of measurement information transmitted through the conversion processing unit for a predetermined time, and the conversion for transmitting each of the transmitted data Increase the conversion speed for the processing unit.

In an embodiment, the integrated management server includes an environmental information collection unit that collects hourly meter environment information from the time when the output failure of the repeater occurs until a certain period of time, and a failure probability value according to the failure occurrence time for the hourly meter environment information A data labeling unit for labeling, a data learning unit that learns an artificial intelligence-based disability learning model multiple times by inputting the hourly meter environmental information as an input and outputting a corresponding failure probability value, and an environment sensed in real time through the plurality of detection sensors and a meter reading period adjusting unit that adjusts the meter reading period of the meter reader based on the failure probability value derived by applying the information to the artificial intelligence-based failure learning model.

According to the LoRa network-based remote meter reading system of the present invention, the communication status between the meter reader and the application server is smooth, and at the same time, data is selectively backed up according to the communication relay status of the repeater, and the backed up data is utilized at the time when it is determined that the idle traffic status is , it is possible to prevent in advance the possibility of data loss depending on the congestion traffic condition.

In addition, it is possible to check whether the repeater is forged or not.

1 is a diagram schematically showing a LoRa network-based remote meter reading system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram for specifically explaining the configuration of the first repeater 120_1 of FIG. 1 .
FIG. 3 is a block diagram specifically showing the integrated management server 130 of FIG. 1 .
4 is a configuration diagram of a conventional general LoRaWAN (LoRaWAN) network structure.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments and drawings of the present invention. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that these examples are only presented as examples to explain the present invention in more detail, and that the scope of the present invention is not limited by these examples. .

Further, unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs, and in case of conflict, this specification, including definitions description will take precedence.

In order to clearly explain the invention proposed in the drawings, parts irrelevant to the description are omitted, and similar reference numerals are attached to similar parts throughout the specification. And, when a part "includes" a certain component, this means that other components may be further included, rather than excluding other components, unless otherwise stated. In addition, the "unit" described in the specification means one unit or block that performs a specific function.

In each step, the identification code (first, second, etc.) is used for convenience of description, and the identification code does not describe the order of each step, and each step does not clearly describe a specific order in context. It may be performed differently from the order specified above. That is, each step may be performed in the same order as specified, may be performed substantially simultaneously, or may be performed in the reverse order.

1 is a diagram schematically showing a LoRa network-based remote meter reading system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 , the LoRa network-based remote meter reading system 100 may include a plurality of meter readers 110_1 to 110_N, a plurality of repeaters 120_1 to 120_N, and an integrated management server 130 .

First, the plurality of meter readers 110_1 to 110_N may be respectively disposed inside each meter box 10_1 to 10_N to individually read a plurality of metering information, and may be connected to each meter 1_1 to 1_N on a one-to-one basis.

Here, the metering information refers to the measurement value for each meter (1_1 to 1_N) that measures water supply, gas and electricity, and includes an identification code for identifying each meter (1_1 to 1_N) and the meter reading time information. can do.

In this case, the metering information may mean data processed according to a non-standard protocol based on LoRaWAN.

In the present invention, the plurality of meter readers 110_1 to 110_N correspond to end devices in the LoRa network network structure of the LoRa network-based remote meter reading system 100, and transmit metering information from the meter 1 through wired (UART) communication. You can read the meter and store it in the internal memory module.

Next, the plurality of repeaters 120_1 to 120_N may individually convert a plurality of metering information received from the plurality of meter readers 110_1 to 110_N into each transmission data and relay it through the LoRa network gateway 50. .

Here, each transmission data may mean data processed according to a standard protocol based on a LoRaWAN (LoRaWAN).

That is, the plurality of repeaters 120_1 to 120_N and the plurality of meter readers 110_1 to 110_N perform data communication according to a non-standard protocol based on LoRaWAN, and are integrated with the plurality of repeaters 120_1 to 120_N. The management server 130 may perform data communication through the LoRa network gateway 50 according to a standard protocol based on a LoRaWAN (LoRaWAN).

The plurality of repeaters 120_1 to 120_N may be disposed in a one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of meter readers 110_1 to 110_N or disposed in a one-to-many manner.

For example, among the repeaters 120_1 to 120_N, the first repeater (eg, 120_1) converts one piece of metering information received from the first meter reader (eg, 110_1) into one transmission data to convert the LoRa network gateway 50 Alternatively, each measurement information transmitted from at least one meter reader (eg, 110_1 to 110_3) may be converted into each transmission data and relayed through the LoRa network gateway 50 .

Meanwhile, each of the plurality of repeaters 120_1 to 120_N may include a display unit such as an LCD to display measurement information received from the plurality of meter readers 110_1 to 110_N.

According to an embodiment, each of the plurality of repeaters 120_1 to 120_N may determine the communication relay state as one of a congested traffic state and a spare traffic state, based on the number of metering information received for a predetermined time. In this case, each of the plurality of repeaters 120_1 to 120_N may copy and store backup data for each transmission data converted from each metering information at a point in time when the communication relay state is determined to be a congested traffic state.

For example, the first repeater (eg, 120_1) among the plurality of repeaters 120_1 to 120_N is transmitted from at least one of the plurality of meter readers 110_1 to 110_N (eg, 110_1 to 110_3) for a predetermined time. Based on the number of metering information, the communication relay state may be determined as either one of a congested traffic state and a spare traffic state. In this case, the first repeater (eg, 120_1) may copy and store the backup data for each transmission data converted from each metering information when the communication relay state is determined to be a congestion traffic state.

According to another embodiment, any one of the repeaters (eg, 120_1) is a meter environment that is detected through a plurality of detection sensors (eg, 7_11 to 7_M1) paired with a preset identification symbol for each meter box through low-power BLE communication. Based on the difference between the information and the preset allowed information, it is possible to adjust the operation period for the first adjusting device (eg, 9_1) paired with the corresponding identification symbol.

Any one of these repeaters (eg, 120_1) is a low-power BLE communication with a plurality of detection sensors (eg, 7_11 to 7_M1) and a first control device (eg, 9_1) provided in one meter box (eg, 10_1) can be paired with the same identifier.

At this time, the plurality of detection sensors (7_11 to 7_M1) includes a plurality of sensors for detecting the meter environmental information including temperature, humidity, odor and harmful gas concentration, and the first control device (eg, 9_1) is the meter environment information It may include a cooler, a heater and a ventilation fan for controlling.

For example, when the temperature sensed through the first plurality of detection sensors (eg, 7_11 to 7_M1) is higher than the preset allowable temperature by a certain value or more, the first repeater (eg, 120_1) is a first control device (eg, , 9_1) can be adjusted to be shorter. On the other hand, when the temperature sensed through the second plurality of detection sensors (eg, 7_12 to 7_M2) is lower than the preset allowable temperature or less than a predetermined value, the first repeater (eg, 120_1) is a second control device (eg, The operation cycle for 9_2) can be adjusted to be longer.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 2 , the LoRa network-based remote meter reading system 100 includes a plurality of first to Nth detection sensors 7_11 to 7_MN and a plurality of control devices 9_1 to 9_N provided for each meter box. ) may be further included.

Next, the integrated management server 130 classifies the plurality of transmission data relayed from the plurality of repeaters 120_1 to 120_N connected through the LoRa network gateway 50 according to the meter identification code and the meter reading time. A star management list may be created, registered in the storage DB 200, and provided through a website.

For example, the integrated management server 130 may correspond to a device including the LoRa network server and the LoRa integrated management server in the LoRa network network structure of the LoRa network-based remote meter reading system 100 .

According to an embodiment, the integrated management server 130 is based on each communication relay state for at least one repeater (eg, 120_1 to 120_3) among the plurality of repeaters 120_1 to 120_N, at least one repeater (eg, , 120_1 to 120_3) can be used to selectively overwrite the management list for each meter by using the corresponding backup data.

Specifically, the integrated management server 130 uses the backup data backed up through the at least one repeater (eg, 120_1 to 120_3) at the point in time when at least one repeater (eg, 120_1 to 120_3) is determined to be in a free traffic state. Thus, it is possible to overwrite the management list for each meter registered in the storage DB 200 .

Meanwhile, the integrated management server 130 may stop the overwriting operation on the management list for each meter when at least one relay (eg, 120_1 to 120_3) is determined to be in a congested traffic state.

According to another embodiment, the integrated management server 130 may delete the corresponding backup data based on whether or not the overwrite operation for the backup data stored in at least one repeater (eg, 120_1 to 120_3) is used.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for specifically explaining the configuration of the first repeater 120_1 of FIG. 1 .

1 and 2 , the first repeater 120_1 may include a conversion processing unit 121_1 , a backup unit 122_1 , and a modulation checking unit 123_1 .

First, the conversion processing unit 121_1 may convert each measurement information received from at least one of the plurality of meter readers 110_1 to 110_N (eg, 110_1 to 110_3) into each transmission data.

Next, the backup unit 122_1 may store, in the memory module, a portion of the copied data selected according to the communication relay state among the transmission data converted through the conversion processing unit 121_1 .

Next, the modulation check unit 123_1 transmits the first sample signal to the conversion processing unit 121_1 to check whether each transmission data is modulated, and compares whether the converted signal and the second sample signal are identical. can

Here, the first and second sample signals are preset as the modulation checker 123_1 randomly generates for the modulation check, and may be the same signal.

According to an embodiment, the modulation check unit 123_1 generates a system failure message for the first repeater 120_1 when the converted signal and the second sample signal are not identical to each other, and the manager terminal through the integrated management server 130 (not shown) can be transmitted.

According to another embodiment, when the conversion signal and the second sample signal are identical to each other, the modulation inspection unit 123_1 converts each transmitted data in proportion to the number of each measurement information received for a predetermined time through the conversion processing unit 121_1. can increase the conversion speed for

FIG. 3 is a block diagram specifically showing the integrated management server 130 of FIG. 1 .

1 and 3 , the integrated management server 130 may include an information collection unit 131 , a data classification unit 132 , a learning unit 133 , and a cycle control unit 134 .

First, the information collection unit 131 transmits the meter environment information measured through the first to Nth plurality of detection sensors 7_11 to 7_MN every predetermined time before the time when the output failure history occurs to the plurality of repeaters 120_1 to 120_N) can be collected.

Next, the data classification unit 132 may classify the environmental information of the meter collected through the information collection unit 131 for each meter according to temperature, humidity, odor and harmful gas concentration.

Next, the learning unit 133 labels the temperature, humidity, odor and harmful gas concentration for each meter as an input value of the artificial neural network for each meter for each measurement time, and sets the failure probability value for each measurement time as an output value of the artificial neural network for each meter. By labeling and learning, a failure diagnosis algorithm for each meter can be derived.

Here, the failure diagnosis algorithm for each meter is an artificial neural network that uses the meter environment information collected for each measurement time as input for each item, and learns the normalized failure probability value from the preset measurement time as an output. Artificial Neural Network , a support vector machine (SVM), a decision tree, and a random forest may be any one algorithm.

Next, the period control unit 134 applies the meter environment information sensed through the first to Nth plurality of detection sensors 7_11 to 7_MN to the failure diagnosis algorithm for each meter based on the failure probability value for each meter. Accordingly, it is possible to collectively control the meter reading cycle speed of the plurality of meter readers 110_1 to 110_N.

In this specification, only a few examples among the various embodiments performed by the present inventors will be described, but the technical spirit of the present invention is not limited or limited thereto, and it is of course that it may be modified and variously implemented by those skilled in the art.

1: meter
10: meter box
50: roramang gateway
100: Loraman-based remote meter reading system
110_1~110_N: multiple meter readers
120_1~120_N: Multiple repeaters
130: integrated management server

Claims (8)

a plurality of meter readers respectively disposed inside the meter box to individually read a plurality of metering information and connected one-to-one for each meter;
a plurality of repeaters that individually convert a plurality of metering information received from the plurality of meter readers into each transmission data and relay it through a LoRa network gateway; and
An integrated management server that generates and provides a management list for each meter according to the classification of each transmission data relayed through the LoRa network gateway according to the meter identification code and the meter reading time,
Each of the plurality of repeaters determines the communication relay state as either one of a congested traffic state and a spare traffic state based on the number of metering information received for a predetermined time, and when the communication relay state is determined to be a congested traffic state , to copy and store the backup data for each transmission data converted from the respective weighing information,
Each of the plurality of repeaters includes a conversion processing unit for converting each metering information read by at least one of the plurality of meter readers into respective transmission data;
a backup unit configured to store, in a memory module, backup data obtained by copying a part selected according to the communication relay state among the transmission data; and
and a modulation checker that compares whether the first sample signal is transmitted to the conversion processing unit and the converted signal and the second sample signal are identical in order to check whether the transmission data is modulated,
The first and second sample signals are preset signals identical to each other, LoRa network-based remote meter reading system. According to claim 1,
The integrated management server performs an overwrite operation on the management list for each meter using the corresponding backup data stored in the at least one repeater based on each communication relay state for at least one repeater for the plurality of repeaters. Optionally, a LoRa network-based remote meter reading system. 3. The method of claim 2,
The integrated management server deletes each backup data based on whether or not an overwrite operation for each backup data stored in the at least one repeater is used, a LoRa network-based remote meter reading system. According to claim 1,
Any one of the plurality of repeaters is based on the difference between the meter environment information and the preset allowable information detected through a plurality of detection sensors paired with a preset identification symbol for each meter box through low-power BLE communication. Control the operation cycle for the control device paired with the identification symbol,
The plurality of detection sensors include sensors for measuring temperature, humidity, odor and harmful gas concentration,
The control device includes a cooler, a heater and a ventilation fan, LoRa network-based remote meter reading system. delete According to claim 1,
If the second sample signal and the converted signal are not identical to each other, the modulation inspection unit generates a system failure message for a corresponding repeater and transmits it through the integrated management server. According to claim 1,
When the second sample signal and the converted signal are identical to each other, the modulation checking unit is proportional to the number of measurement information transmitted through the conversion processing unit for a predetermined time, and a conversion rate for the conversion processing unit for transmitting each of the transmission data. LoRa network-based remote meter reading system to increase 4. The method of claim 3,
The integrated management server includes: an environment information collection unit for collecting hourly meter environment information from the point in time when the output failure of the repeater occurs until a certain period of time;
a data labeling unit for labeling a failure probability value according to a failure occurrence time difference with respect to the hourly meter environment information;
a data learning unit for learning an artificial intelligence-based disability learning model that receives the hourly meter environment information as an input and outputs a corresponding failure probability value a plurality of times; and
and a meter reading period adjusting unit that adjusts the meter reading period for the meter reader based on a failure probability value derived by applying the environment information sensed in real time through the plurality of detection sensors to the AI-based failure learning model. Network-based remote meter reading system.

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