KR20020029034A - Wireless telemetering system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A wireless remote inspection system is provided to enable the use of a cheap wireless module by minimizing the wireless radius of each wireless module, and to reduce the labor costs to be paid to a meter man. CONSTITUTION: The wireless remote inspection system is comprised of a remote inspector(10) installed at each house to send inspected data within a predetermined wireless radius; a data collector(12) installed within a desired region for collecting the inspected data from plural remote inspectors; and a server(16) connected to the data collector through a wireless or wireline wide area communication network(14) for processing the inspected data collected by the data collector.

Description

Wireless telemetering system {Wireless telemetering system}

The present invention relates to a wireless remote meter reading system, and more particularly, it is easy to be practical to use a short-range wireless module, wireless meter reading to reduce the labor costs of the meter and the loss of resources consumed by the meter reading is not necessary It's about the system.

In general, the metering system, which has been conventionally performed, has been made by meter readers visiting each household, measuring and recording a meter such as LNG, water, electricity, etc., and collecting and paying the bill again. However, such a meter reading system is not a fixed date due to holidays, and requires a lot of human resources, a new metering system to replace it is urgently required.

In response to these demands, recently, a remote meter reading system for collecting meter reading data by wire and wireless has been proposed in various angles. The proposed remote metering system is largely classified into a wired remote metering system using a LAN line or a power line and a wireless remote metering system using a short range or long range wireless module. Among the wired remote metering system, the installation cost for laying a LAN line or a power line is considerable, and even in the case of a wireless remote metering system using a remote wireless module, the price of the remote wireless module is very high, so the above two remote The metering system has a problem that is difficult to be practical. On the contrary, the wireless remote meter reading system using the short range wireless module is inexpensive, and it is easy to replace the current meter reading system, and in some cases, it has already been put to practical use.

Currently, the wireless remote meter reading system is equipped with a short-range wireless module in each generation meter, and a meter reader goes to each home and receives meter reading data through a portable terminal or a laptop. Therefore, although the moving distance of the meter reader has been considerably reduced, it still needs a meter reader, so that the conventional problem is not completely solved.

The present invention is to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to use a short-range wireless module is easy to practical use, do not need a meter reader, so that it is possible to reduce the labor cost of the meter and the loss of resources consumed by the meter It is to provide a remote meter reading system.

1 is a view showing an example of a wireless remote meter reading system according to the present invention

2 is a view showing another example of a wireless remote meter reading system according to the present invention

3 is a diagram illustrating the flow of a meter upload packet.

4 illustrates the flow of a collector upload packet.

5 is a flowchart showing processing for each packet received at the data collector.

6 is a conceptual diagram showing processing for each packet received by the remote meter

7 is a flowchart showing processing for each packet received by the remote meter

8 is a view showing a link test at the time of installation of the present invention

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

10. Remote meter reader 12. Data collector

14. Wide Area Network 16. Server

18. Master Collector

According to the present invention, the meter reading data is collected from each of the remote meter reader 10 installed in each generation and configured to transmit meter reading data wirelessly within a predetermined radio radius, and installed in a predetermined area and a plurality of remote meter reading devices 10 in the area. And a server 16 connected to the wide area network 14 configured by wire or wirelessly to the data collector 12 to process the meter data of each generation collected by the data collector 12. The data collector 12 transmits a meter upload packet including a meter reading command to the remote meter 10 at the request of the server 16, and the remote meter 10 sends the data when the meter upload packet is received. Collector 12 transmits a meter download packet including meter data, each packet having a next destination address (D), a final destination address (Df), and an initial transmission destination. When a dress (So) is included and a radio radius is secured between the data collector 12 and the remote meter reading device 10, the packet is transmitted by putting the final destination address Df at the next destination address D of each packet. If the wireless transmission and reception is made directly between the original source and the final destination, and the radio radius is not secured between the data collector and the remote meter, the second remote meter 10 capable of relaying to the next destination address (D) of each packet can be relayed. A wireless remote meter reading system is provided, wherein a packet is transmitted by inserting an address so that wireless transmission and reception is performed between the first source and the final destination under the relay of the second remote meter reader 10.

According to another feature of the present invention, the meter upload packet and the meter download packet further include a previous destination address (S), so that the devices 10 and 12 receiving each packet are sent to the previous destination address (S). The C-packet is transmitted to confirm receipt of each packet, and the devices 10 and 12 corresponding to the previous transmission source S receive the C-packet to confirm whether the packet is well transmitted. A wireless remote meter reading system is provided.

According to another feature of the present invention, the remote meter reader 10 stores a plurality of next destination addresses Rpu, Rpd, Rtu, and Rtd corresponding to each packet, and transmits a C-packet from the next destination for the transmitted packet. If it is not received, a wireless remote meter reading system is provided which converts the next destination address D of each packet into another next destination address Rpu, Rpd, Rtu, Rtd within the radio radius to retransmit the packet. do.

According to the present invention, the meter reading data is collected from each of the remote meter reader 10 installed in each generation and configured to transmit meter reading data wirelessly within a predetermined radio radius, and installed in a predetermined area and a plurality of remote meter reading devices 10 in the area. A master collector 18 installed in an area higher than the data collector 12 and transmitting a metering command to a plurality of data collectors 12 in the area and collecting metering data of each generation; A server 16 connected to the master collector 18 by a wired or wireless wide area network 14 to process meter reading data of each generation collected by the master collector 18, and the master collector 18. Sends a collector upload packet including a read command to the data collector 12 at the request of the server 16, and the data collector 12 receives a collector upload packet. The meter reader upload packet is transmitted to the remote meter reader 10, and when the meter reader packet is received, the remote meter reader 10 transmits a meter download packet including the meter data to the data collector 12, and the data collector 12. When the meter download packet is received, the transmitter transmits the collector download packet to the master collector 18, and each packet includes a next destination address D, a final destination address Df, and an initial destination address So. When the radio radius is secured between the transmission destination and each device 10, 12, 18 corresponding to the final destination, the packet is transmitted by inserting the final destination address Df in the next destination address D of each packet and transmitting the packet. If the radio transmission and reception is made directly between the terminal and the final destination, and the radio radius between the devices 10, 12, 18 is not secured, the next purpose of each packet The packet is transmitted by inserting the address of the second remote meter reader 10 or the data collector 12 capable of relaying the address D, and the first transmission is performed under the relay of the second remote meter reader 10 or the data collector 12. There is provided a wireless remote meter reading system, characterized in that the wireless transmission and reception between the destination and the final destination.

According to another feature of the present invention, the collector upload packet, the meter upload packet, the meter download packet, and the collector download packet further include a previous destination address S, respectively. ) Transmits a C-packet confirming reception of each packet to the previous source address (S), and the devices 10, 12, and 18 corresponding to the previous source receive the C-packet to receive the packet well. Provided is a wireless remote meter reading system, characterized in that the transmission is possible.

According to still another feature of the present invention, the data collector 12 and the remote meter reader 10 store a plurality of next destination addresses Rpu, Rpd, Rtu, and Rtd corresponding to each packet. If the C-packet is not received from the next destination, the next destination address (D) of each packet is converted to another next destination address (Rpu, Rpd, Rtu, Rtd) within the radio radius to retransmit the packet. A wireless remote meter reading system is provided.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 and 2 show an example of a wireless remote meter reading system according to the present invention, Figures 3 and 4 show the flow of each packet, Figure 5 shows a flowchart of the data collector, Figure 6 and 7 show a conceptual diagram and a flowchart of processing each packet in the remote meter, and FIG. 8 shows a link test when the system is installed.

Referring to this, the wireless remote meter reading system includes a remote meter reader 10 arranged for each generation, a data collector 12 for collecting meter reading data from a plurality of remote meter readers 10 within a zone, and the data collector. A server 16 is connected to the wide area network 14 to process meter reading data for each generation. At this time, the master collector 18 is installed in an upper region including a plurality of data collectors 12 in an area where several generations are concentrated, such as an apartment complex. The master collector 18, the data collector 12, and the remote meter reader 10 are each equipped with a short range wireless module having a predetermined wireless radius, so that each device (within a wireless radius of each device 10, 12, 18) A packet including a metering instruction or metering data is wirelessly transmitted and received at a network address of 10, 12, 18).

1 and 2 illustrate an example in which the present invention is applied to an apartment, and a remote meter 10 is installed for each generation of the apartment, and a data collector 12 is installed in each security guard room or basement. In addition, a master collector 18 is installed in the entire complex including a plurality of coppers, and the meter reading data of all generations in the complex collected by the master collector 18 is connected to a wide area network 14 such as a gas construction company or a waterworks office. Is sent to the server 16. When the master collector 18 receives a metering command from each server 16 for each generation, the master collector 18 determines the network address of the corresponding data collector 12 in the complex and uses the data collector 12 as the final destination. Send it. The data collector 12 receiving the meter reading command packet again determines the network address of the remote meter reading device 10 of the corresponding household in the same time, and transmits the meter reading command packet to the remote meter reading 10 as the final destination. When the remote meter reader 10 of the household receives a packet destined for itself as the final destination, it reads the meter, transmits the meter data packet to the consent data collector 12 to which it belongs, and the data collector 12 again. The meter data packet is transmitted to the master collector 18.

At this time, each packet has the following basic structure,

<D> <S> [lng] [type] <So> <Df> [d0] ... [dn] [chk] ······ {1}

Where <D> is the next destination address, <S> is the previous destination address, <So> is the original destination address, and <Df> is the address of the final destination, and [lng] is the length of the data. Byte indicating information, [type] is a byte indicating data type, [d0] ... [dn] is a byte indicating reading request instruction or reading data, etc. [chk] indicates each byte of packet -OR indicates a byte indicating whether there is an error in the packet.

When the packets having the structure {1} as described above are classified by type, the collector upload packet {2} which transmits a metering command from the master collector 18 to the data collector 12, and the master collector at the data collector 12 (18) a collector download packet (3) for delivering meter reading data, a meter upload packet (4) for transferring a meter reading command from the data collector (12) to the remote meter (10), and a data collector for the remote meter (10). (12) is divided into meter reading packet {5} for delivering meter reading data. The data structure of each packet is as follows.

<Rpu> <S> [lng] [10] <So> <Df> [d0] ... [dn] [chk] ······ {2}

<Rpd> <S> [lng] [11] <So> <Df> [d0] ... [dn] [chk] ······ {3}

<Rtu> <S> [lng] [12] <So> <Df> [d0] ... [dn] [chk] ······ {4}

<Rtd> <S> [lng] [13] <So> <Df> [d0] ... [dn] [chk] ······ {5}

Where <Rpu> is the next destination address of the collector upload packet, <Rpd> is the next destination address of the collector download packet, <Rtu> is the next destination address of the meter upload packet, and <Rtd> is the next destination address of the meter download packet. .

In this way, each packet includes a next destination address Rpu, Rpd, Rtu, Rtd, a previous destination address S, an original destination address So, and a final destination address Df. It is possible to minimize the radio radius of each device 10, 12, 18 via at least one next destination to the destination. In addition, each device of the master collector 18, the data collector 12, and the remote meter reader 18, upon receiving a packet destined for itself as the next destination, sends the following C-packet to the previous source address (S). } To stop sending packets at the previous source.

<D> <S> [1] [chk] ······ {6}

In this case, the previous destination address of the received packet is written to the next destination <D>, its address is written to the previous destination <S>, and 1 is written indicating [chk] bytes only in [lng] indicating the length of data. No information such as meter reading command or meter reading data is recorded. Each device (10, 12, 18) receives the C-packet as described above, and confirms that each packet is well transmitted, and stops the transmission of the packet.

3 and 4 show the actual flow of such four types of packets. First, FIG. 3 shows the flow of a collector upload packet, in which the master collector 18, which has received a read command from the server 16, makes itself an originator, and makes each consent data collector 12 in the complex a final destination. Send the collector upload packet. At this time, when the data collector 12 is within the radio radius of the master collector 18, the final destination address Df is transmitted to the Rpu to directly transmit and receive wirelessly between the master collector 18 and the data collector 12. . On the other hand, when the data collector 12 is out of the radio radius of the master collector 18, the Rpu sends a relayable second device address to the Rpu, and the second device uploads the collector to the final destination or another relay device. Send the packet. At this time, a second data collector 12 or a remote meter reader 10 is used as the relay device of the collector upload packet. Preferably, as the relay device, a remote meter reader 10 that is installed on a high floor in each building of the apartment and easily secures a radio radius is used. The data collector 12 that receives the meter upload packet through such a path transmits the meter upload packet to itself as the first transmission destination and the remote meter 10 installed for each household in the city as the final destination. FIG. 4 illustrates the flow of the meter reading packet. As in the case of the collector upload packet, FIG. 4 transmits the final destination address Df to the Rtu to the remote meter 10 within the radio radius and transmits the radio out of the radio radius. The meter is sent with a second remote meter address that can be relayed to Rtu. At this time, since it is inefficient for the data collector 12 installed in another building to relay the meter reading packet, the data collector 12 is not used as a device for relaying the meter reading packet. Meanwhile, the meter download packet or the collector download packet is transmitted in the reverse direction of the meter upload packet or the meter download packet described above, and may not be the same as the path of each upload packet.

As described above, in order for each packet to be delivered to the final destination via the relay devices 10 and 12, each device 10 and 12 stores a next destination address table corresponding to each packet. The data collector 12 stores the Rpu and Rpd tables, and the remote meter 10 stores the Rpu, Rpd, Rtu and Rtd tables, and each table sequentially stores the final destination of each packet or the next destination address for relay. If the C-packet is not received for the relayed packet, the packet is retransmitted to the next destination address Rpu, Rpd, Rtu, and Rtd.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of processing each packet in the data collector. The data collector 12 determines whether the packet type is 12 once the packet is received. If yes, it means that the meter reading packet transmitted from the other consent data collector 12 is processed. If No, the final destination address Df of the packet is read to determine whether the final destination is itself PM. If yes, the packet is processed normally. That is, when a collector upload packet including a meter reading command is received from the master collector 18, the meter reader upload packet is transmitted by designating a final destination to the corresponding remote meter reader 10, and the meter data is read from each remote meter reader 10 in the same time. In fact, when the meter download packet is received, the final destination is designated as the master collector 18 to transmit the collector download packet. If the final destination is not itself (PM) to play a relay role. The relay role is performed for a type 10 collector upload packet or a type 11 collector download packet, and selects and converts the next destination address (Rpu, Rpd) of each packet from a predetermined Rpu or Rpd table, and then retransmits them. At this time, if the C-packet is not received at the next destination for the retransmitted packet, the next consecutive Rpu or Rpd is sequentially written in the Rpu or Rpd table and then retransmitted. On the other hand, a packet that is not a type 10 or a type 11 means a meter download packet which is a packet type 13 and does not have its own destination (PM). The packet is error-processed.

As described above, while the data collector 12 relays only the collector upload packet and the collector download packet, the remote meter reader 10 may relay all four types of packets, as shown in FIG. 6. The processing of each packet in the remote meter 10 is described in detail in the flowchart of FIG. 7. Referring to this, the remote meter reader 10 first determines whether the final destination is itself TM for the received packet. If the final destination is itself TM, it is determined whether the packet type is 12. If yes, it means that the meter upload packet has its own TM as the final destination, so the packet is processed normally. That is, after reading the metering instruction included in the meter reading packet, the meter is read, and the metered data is loaded into the meter download, and the consent data collector 12 (PM) to which the TM belongs is transmitted as the final destination. On the other hand, if the packet type is not 12 with itself TM being the final destination, it is not a normal packet and error processing is performed. In addition, the remote meter reader 10 plays a role of relaying a packet that does not use itself as its final destination. At the time of relaying, in order to minimize the relay device, first, the final destination address Df is transmitted to the next destination address D of each packet. Then, if the C-packet is received from the final destination within a predetermined time, the transmission of the packet is stopped, and if the C-packet is not received, the process proceeds to the next step. Next, it is determined whether the final destination is the consent data collector PM belonging to the TM, and if yes, the next destination address D is converted to PM and retransmitted. If No, it is again determined whether the packet type is 10. If Yes, the next destination address D is converted to Rpu and retransmitted. If No, it is determined whether the packet type is 11 again. If Yes, the next destination address D is converted to Rpd and retransmitted. If No, it is determined whether the packet type is 12 again. If Yes, the next destination address (D) is converted to Rtu and retransmitted. If No, it means that the meter download packet is transmitted to another copper, and the next destination address D is converted to Rtd and retransmitted. At this time, if the C-packet is not received within a predetermined time at each next destination, the next destination address (Rpu, Rpd, Rtu, Rtd) of the next order in the next destination address (Rpu, Rpd, Rtu, Rtd) table corresponding to each packet Resend to.

As described above, the wireless transmission / reception between the devices 10, 12 and 18 may be performed through at least one or more relay devices 10 and 12, and the output of the short range wireless module mounted on each device 10, 12 or 18 may be reduced. Even if it is small, it is possible to send and receive data wirelessly. To enable this, the data collector 12 has a next destination address (Rpu, Rpd) table of the collector upload packet and the collector download packet, and the remote meter 10 has four packets and the next destination of the data collector to which it belongs. The table of addresses (Rpu, Rpd, Rtu, Rtd, PM) must be memorized. This is not determined at the factory, but after the actual system is installed in the apartment, which is determined by a link test based on its relative location. FIG. 8 illustrates such a link test. First, the installer inputs the network address of the remote meter reader 10 installed in each household together with the lake number information to the portable terminal 20. In this case, a wireless transmission and reception test is also performed. When all generations of the lake and the remote meter reading address are input, the mobile terminal 20 and the notebook 22 are connected to the data collector 12 installed in the basement or security room of the apartment, and the portable terminal 20 is inputted. The information of each generation and the address of the remote meter are downloaded to the notebook 22. Then, the notebook 22 is connected to the data collector 12, the link program installed in the notebook 22 is driven to perform a link test on each remote meter reader 10. FIG. The link test finds remote meter readers 10 that can go at a time from the data collector 12 and finds second remote meter readers 10 that will be relayed to the remote meter reader 10 that is outside the radio radius. This test is repeated to find the wireless path between each remote meter 10 and the data collector 12, and then to each device 10 the next destination address (Rpu, Rpd, Rtu, Rtd) that will be responsible for relaying. Memory as a table. At this time, several next destination addresses are sequentially recorded in the table, and when a C-packet is not received, the program is programmed to retransmit each packet to the next destination address in the next order. Therefore, it is possible to secure second and third wireless paths connecting the devices 10 and 12.

As described above, the wireless remote meter reading system according to the present invention has a meter reading command between the master collector 18, the data collector 12, the data collector 12, and the remote meter 10 in response to the meter request signal from the server 16. When wirelessly transmitting / receiving data packets carrying meter reading data, a radio radius of each of the devices 10, 12, and 18 is carried by carrying a next destination address in each packet so as to transmit and receive wirelessly through at least one or more relay devices 10 and 12. Since it can be minimized, the cost of the short-range wireless module can be lowered as much as possible, and thus there is an advantage that the practical use of the wireless remote meter reading system is easy. In addition, by sequentially storing the next destination address (Rpu, Rpd, Rtu, Rtd) to be relayed in response to each packet through the link test at the time of installation, if the C-packet is not received for each packet to be transmitted and received, In the next destination address (Rpu, Rpd, Rtu, Rtd) table, the packet can be retransmitted to the next destination of the next sequence, so that once installed, there is no need for a separate meter reader.

As described above, according to the present invention, by wirelessly transmitting and receiving each packet through at least one data collector or a remote meter, it is possible to minimize the radio radius of the short-range wireless module mounted on each device, significantly reducing the installation cost Accordingly, it is possible to provide a wireless remote meter reading system that is easy to use. In addition, by sequentially storing the relay device corresponding to each packet through a link test at the time of installation, once installed, it is possible to provide a wireless remote meter reading system that does not require a separate meter reader.

Claims (6)

A remote meter 10 installed for each generation and configured to wirelessly transmit meter reading data within a predetermined radio radius; and a data collector 12 installed in a predetermined area and collecting meter data from a plurality of remote meter readers 10 in the area. And a server 16 connected to the data collector 12 by a wide-area network 14 configured by wire or wireless to process meter reading data of each generation collected by the data collector 12, wherein the data collector 12 transmits a meter upload packet including a meter reading command to the remote meter 10 at the request of the server 16, and the remote meter 10 sends a meter upload packet to the data collector 12 when a meter upload packet is received. Transmits meter download packet including meter data, each packet including next destination address (D), final destination address (Df), and original destination address (So). For example, when a radio radius is secured between the data collector 12 and the remote meter reading device 10, the packet is transmitted by inserting the final destination address Df into the next destination address D of each packet and transmitting the packet to the original destination and the final destination. If the radio transmission and reception between the data collector and the remote meter is not secured, the packet is transmitted by inserting the address of the second remote meter 10 that can be relayed in the next destination address (D) of each packet. Thereby, the wireless remote meter reading system characterized in that the wireless transmission and reception is performed between the first transmission destination and the final destination under the relay of the second remote meter reader (10). The method of claim 1, wherein the meter upload packet and the meter download packet further include a previous destination address (S), so that the devices 10 and 12 that receive each packet are sent to the previous destination address (S). The C-packet is transmitted to confirm receipt of the device, and the devices 10 and 12 corresponding to the previous transmission source S receive the C-packet to confirm whether the corresponding packet is well transmitted. Wireless remote meter reading system. 3. The remote meter reader 10 stores a plurality of next destination addresses Rpu, Rpd, Rtu, and Rtd corresponding to each packet, so that the C-packet is not received from the next destination for the transmitted packet. Otherwise retransmit the packet by converting the next destination address (D) of each packet to another next destination address (Rpu, Rpd, Rtu, Rtd) within the radio radius. A remote meter 10 installed for each generation and configured to wirelessly transmit meter reading data within a predetermined radio radius; and a data collector 12 installed in a predetermined area and collecting meter data from a plurality of remote meter readers 10 in the area. And a master collector 18 installed in an area higher than the data collector 12 and transmitting a metering command to a plurality of data collectors 12 in the area and collecting meter data of each generation, and the master collector 18. Is connected to a wide area network (14) configured by wire or wirelessly to process the meter data of each generation collected by the master collector 18, the master collector 18 is a server (16) Send a collector upload packet including a read command to the data collector 12 by request of the data collector 12, and the data collector 12 sends a remote upload meter to the remote meter 10 when the collector upload packet is received. The meter reading packet is transmitted, and the remote meter reading unit 10 transmits a meter reading packet including meter reading data to the data collector 12 when the meter reading packet is received, and the data collector 12 receives the meter reading packet. When the collector download packet is transmitted to the master collector 18, each packet includes a next destination address (D), a final destination address (Df), and an original destination address (So). When a radio radius is secured between each of the corresponding devices 10, 12, and 18, the packet is transmitted by inserting the final destination address Df in the next destination address D of each packet. If a radio radius is not secured between each of the devices 10, 12, and 18, and the device is transmitted to the next destination address D of each packet, By transmitting the packet with the address of the second remote meter 10 or data collector 12 as possible, wireless communication between the first source and the final destination is performed under the relay of the second remote meter 10 or data collector 12. Wireless remote meter reading system characterized in that the transmission and reception is made. The device 10, 12, and 18 of claim 4, wherein the collector upload packet, the meter upload packet, the meter download packet, and the collector download packet further include a previous destination address (S). The C-packet confirms receipt of each packet to the previous source address (S), and the devices (10, 12, 18) corresponding to the previous source receive the C-packet and check whether the packet is transmitted well. Wireless remote meter reading system, characterized in that to be able to check. 6. The data collector (12) and the remote meter (10) store a plurality of next destination addresses (Rpu, Rpd, Rtu, Rtd) corresponding to each packet. If no C-packet is received, the wireless remote meter reading function is configured to retransmit the packet by converting the next destination address (D) of each packet to another next destination address (Rpu, Rpd, Rtu, Rtd) within the radio radius. system.