SK1292002A3 - Method of and apparatus for taking readouts of media consumption measurements - Google Patents

Abstract

The read-out method has the measured data provided by the consumption data monitoring device stored temporarily before transmission via a wireless transmission path, at random or pseudo random transmission points. The mean transmission regularity is varied in defined time intervals. An Independent claim for a read-out device for a consumption data monitoring device is also included.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DATA READING 0 CONSUMPTION FROM DEVICES FOR RECORDING DATA ON CONSUMPTION

Technical field

The invention relates to a method for reading consumption data from consumption data recording devices by wireless transmission, particularly in buildings, in which consumption data is stored in the memory of the data recording apparatus and at transmission times determined randomly or pseudo-randomly from the data recording apparatus broadcast; The invention also relates to a device suitable for this purpose.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently there are various conceived systems for wireless data capture on heating costs, heat and water consumption etc. These radiotelegram systems generally use the SRD free frequency bands located in Europe in the 434 MHz and 868 MHz ranges.

In bidirectional systems, consumption data loggers are always equipped with a radio transmitter and receiver. Consumption data and, where appropriate, historical consumption data (consumption history) shall be transmitted when the radio receiver receives a read request. This usually happens after the end of the billing period and is most often triggered by a portable reader with a radio transmitter and receiver; this unit receives and stores the consumption data from data loggers that are within range of its radio signal. However, bidirectional systems have the disadvantage that each receiver device incurs additional costs for the recipient of the subtraction requirement. This is in addition to the increased cost of batteries, since due to the fact that over a period of time the readout time for a longer period cannot be accurately planned, it must be ensured that the devices are ready for reception and transmission. Another disadvantage of the bidirectional system is that the power history stored in memory and required for later intermediate charging must be transmitted during the required radio data collection. This has the effect of extending the time required to collect the data and thus increasing the cost of reading the data.

In contrast, DC systems (transmission in one direction only) operate on the side of the data acquisition devices. Each has only one radio transmitter that transmits consumption data multiple times a day. This data is received by data collectors (which are usually fixedly installed in doorways or staircases), which store different consumption data during the billing period (usually one year). At periodic, e.g. A full historical overview of the past billing period, for example broken down into months, is then available for each consumption data acquisition device for the yearly reading of the data collectors. This historical overview may be needed for the so-called. intermediate accounts, e.g. in cases where tenants of flats are replaced during the year; such intermediate accounts are then made additionally, i. after the end of the billing period. Ex post evaluation of such inter- mediate values is the rule, the distribution of consumption in a building can usually only be made when the total cost of water, heat, etc. is available. for the whole billing period. These unidirectional reading systems have the disadvantage that, in addition to data loggers, data collectors must be permanently installed in the building. In order to assess the economy of such a system, the cost of all data collectors in the building must be spread over the total number of data recording devices. In any case, such systems are cost-effective in buildings with a large number of data recording devices.

One particular group of unidirectional reading systems works with data recording devices which transmit their consumption data in a very fast rhythm, e.g. every 15 seconds. Here, too, reception is possible with a portable reading device (or with a mobile vehicle receiver) within a reasonably short reading time. While such an system requires neither an additional receiver in the data logger nor the data collectors fixed in the building, this system does not offer any cost benefit either, because the high transmission time also requires more power consumption. With battery-powered data loggers, battery and maintenance costs are increased. The required, long enough operation time of 5 or 10 years without maintenance can not be achieved even at affordable battery costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a wireless consumption data acquisition system in which data collectors do not need to be installed and data recording devices do not need to have radio transmitters, yet provide reliable consumption data collection and sufficiently short reading over a long operating period.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, this object is solved at the outset by the method in which the average time frequency of transmissions can be varied in time periods and these periods can be determined. This solution is based on the fact that the reading of consumption data usually takes place within predetermined periods. Therefore, in such periods, the average time frequency of the broadcasts increases, allowing rapid consumption data collection. However, over the remainder of the time, the frequency of transmissions shall be reduced to such an extent that the average number of transmissions per billing period is reduced to a value acceptable in terms of the available battery capacity and thus achieve a sufficiently long battery life. Nevertheless, even in a period of reduced transmission time, consumption data collection is possible; even when the harvest has been missed at the foreseen time. In such cases, however, harvesting takes a longer time.

If the reading of consumption data in the building is done eg. by means of a portable reader once a year, during a relatively short period of time after the decisive day of the billing period, it is proposed according to the present invention that the average time frequency of transmissions after the decisive day in the first time interval is increased over

If the idea of the invention continues to be developed, another fundamental problem of consumption data collection needs to be resolved. Especially for DC radio communication systems, radiotelegrams must be very short. The reasons are, among others, the following: in buildings with a very large number of consumption data recording devices, radiotelegrams that are too long would cause unacceptably high collisions of radiotelegrams, which in turn would require longer reading times. In addition, there are limitations (in terms of admissibility) of the Duty-Cycle for certain frequency ranges under consideration, e.g. an average of 0.1% per hour. In addition, the capacitor must be charged in the meantime with the charge required to operate the transmitter, since the conventional lithium batteries of the data recording devices cannot themselves supply the current required for transmission. The capacitors available in practice and the leakage currents in the capacitors thus limit the duration of the transmissions.

In addition to the required shortness of radiotelegrams with consumption data (typical duration about 4 ms), there is also a limited data rate (given by commonly used and quality control microcircuits), which is significantly less than 100 kBd. In addition to the overhead bits needed to ensure transmission reliability, e.g. bit-coding without unidirectional component, preamble (i.e. receiver start-up), synchronization sequence and test numbers for error identification, the unique identification number of the respective device must be transmitted in each radio telegram. Under these marginal conditions, it is therefore not possible to transmit more than one or two consumption data in a single broadcast or, where appropriate, the relevant time, which is necessary for calibration reasons. In doing so, the content of the radiotelegram is largely limited to the consumption data from the last decisive day, which is most important for the bill. Transferring the history of consumption data needed for intermediate billing, e.g. if the tenant changes during the year, it is therefore not possible to deduct on the decisive day. The necessary data can only be obtained by subtraction, which in addition requires one or more exits to the building.

It is therefore a further object of the invention to make available in one reading the consumption data and the history of the consumption data which are necessary for inter-invoicing.

This objective is used in the method of reading consumption data and consumption data history from consumption data recording devices by means of radio transmission (in which consumption data together with time identification data are stored in the device memory and transmitted from random or pseudo-random times of the consumption data recorder) by transmitting the consumption data in a predetermined and cyclically repeating order. In doing so, the respective time identification can be displayed upon receipt of the consumption data, so that the reading can be interrupted once the desired selection has already taken place.

It is especially advantageous if, during the cyclical transmission of all consumption data in one run, a certain predetermined number of chronologically arranged consumption data is always skipped and in subsequent courses the default consumption data is always changed to send those consumption data which not broadcast; this continues until all consumption data has been transmitted. Only then is the whole transmission cycle repeated. As soon as a few radiotelegrams with consumption data have been received, a consumption data network (grid) having a certain basic write density is thus created. Therefore, it is not necessary to wait for a complete cycle of repetitions, respectively. transmitting consumption data, and the reader has the option to decide whether to settle for a consumption data set that has a defined lower time density. In doing so, it is indifferent at which point the radio telegrams are received, i.e. where it enters the broadcast cycle.

To shorten the transmission cycle time, consumption data can be combined into packages, with one package containing only part of all consumption data. The number of consumption data per package is limited by the maximum length of radiotelegrams.

Since the consumption data relevant to the bill (ie the date of the decisive day) is always necessary, it is remembered according to the invention that each consumption data package always contains the decisive day and at least one consumption date from the last billing period and (or) consumption data from the current billing period (intermediate). In this case, only intermediate data is transmitted in a cyclically repeating order. The date of the decisive day is transmitted in each broadcast. In this way, this important data is always safely available upon receipt of the radiotelegram. If it is already clear that no reconciliation will be required in the building (eg if users do not change), the duration of the reading may be limited to receiving one radiotelegram.

According to a further preferred modification of the method of the invention, consumption data from certain time intervals are transmitted more frequently than consumption data lying outside these time intervals. Thus, e.g. interim data outside the heating period are recorded in the form of a coarser (i.e., less) structured network, and interim data in the heating period can be entered more quickly in the finer structured network. This option is particularly suitable for buildings where only heat consumption (season-dependent) is captured.

A combination of both methods is particularly preferred. In this case, on the one hand, the average time frequency of transmissions varies over certain time periods that can be determined, and on the other hand, consumption data is transmitted in a predetermined, cyclically repeating order.

Thus, in the period of increased transmission frequency, it is possible to cyclically transmit the consumption data of the last billing period, and in other time periods always send the current consumption data of the current billing period. This will allow subtraction of consumption data when leaving the building at shorter than annual intervals.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, it can be ensured that consumption data recording apparatuses transmit consumption data in one direction to the receivers. The collection of consumption data can be carried out particularly easily with a portable radio receiver.

It has been shown that, in the normal way of charging, it is sufficient to collect consumption data on a regular basis once a year and always store consumption data from the last billing period as monthly data in the memory of the data collection apparatus.

Finally, the invention also relates to a device for carrying out the described processes by means of a consumption data recording apparatus equipped with a consumption data transmitter and an arithmetic unit with a memory adapted to perform individual operations. The arithmetic unit is a microprocessor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the method of the present invention will be described by way of example of an annual reading of consumption data, in which the relevant day-of-day data and 11 intermediate data are selected as monthly data for billing. Further features and advantages of the method of the present invention are provided which, independently of the features of the claims and their relationship, are part of the present invention.

In a data collection system operating in one direction, the consumption data stored in the memory of the electronic consumption data recording apparatus is transmitted at an average time frequency at random or pseudo-randomly determined times in the form of a radiotelegram. The time of transmission determines the clock and calendar available in the device and serves to store the date of the day and, where appropriate, the intermediate dates in accordance with the relevant date.

When the decisive day comes, the average time period of the broadcasts increases for a certain period programmed in the device. For the remainder of the current billing period, the average time frequency of transmissions is then reduced again, reducing the average number of transmissions per billing period to a value acceptable with respect to the battery capacity available in the devices.

If the average transmission time for 30 days after the reporting day is 120 transmissions per hour and for the remainder of the billing period only 12 transmissions per hour, this results in an average annual time frequency of only 21 transmissions per hour. Thus, after the decisive day, there are 30 days in which radiotelegrams can be transmitted more frequently, with the average annual time frequency being reduced by a factor of 5.7.

Each radiotelegram transmitted contains two consumption data combined into one package. These are consumption data relevant to the bill (consumption data on the decisive day) and always one of the consumption data from the last billing period (intermediate data). Intermediate data in the radiotelegram are identified by a unique distinguishing feature serving as a time identifier, so that inter-data can always be correctly assigned in time. Such a time identifier may be e.g. date or current number during the billing period. The contents of the radiotelegrams are cyclically changed until all relevant data have been transmitted. The cycle is then repeated. Thus, the subtraction worker must eg. with a portable reading device, wait for data of the consumption data recording devices from the decisive day during one average fast transmission interval. In addition, if it wants to accept all N subtotals of the previous subtraction period, the duration of one subtraction is increased to N-fold. If it is subtracted at a time of increased broadcasting time, this duration also lies within acceptable limits.

For time data, it should be taken into account that due to accidental and independent times of transmission from the devices to the consumption data recording, there may be time conflicts of transmissions. This is all the more likely the greater the number of data recording devices within the range of the portable reader. However, by utilizing the so-called Capture effect, it is possible to achieve that a stronger and undisturbed radio signal is always received and received in the event of a signal collision. typically a signal of a spatially closer data recording apparatus. Thus, it can be assumed that the meter reader can gradually include all the nearby data recording devices in his walk around the buildings and thus in an area where interference by signal collision is rarely possible.

At an average time of 120 transmissions per hour over the 30 days following the decisive day, and cyclically transmitting consumption data from the previous eleven months of the last billing period (N = 11 subtotals), the reading of the decisive day will take 30 seconds and decisive day data together 11 hours between 5h minutes.

If, according to another variant of the present method, in addition to the N of data of the previous billing period, the current consumption data of the current billing period (in order to obtain more or less standard data as close as possible) is cyclically transmitted, the average reading duration is extended by 30 seconds.

Since under normal conditions only interim data of the last billing period broadcast in the period of increased broadcasting frequency (ie about 30 days after the decisive day) are necessary for billing, it is sufficient to repeat cycles only cyclically during the period of increased broadcasting frequency, possibly together with current consumption data. On the other hand, in the remaining time with a reduced transmission frequency, only the current consumption data of the current billing period and the relevant day of the previous billing period are always transmitted from the data logger.

Instead of repeating all the data in the chronological order of their historical occurrence, they can be transmitted as a merge scheme. This merging ensures that over time the repetition cycle increases the temporal densities of the intermediate data network. In this way, the reader (who starts to receive data at a random time in the repetition cycle of the data logger) can determine the density of the consumption data history by the duration of the reading. However, it may also determine the necessary duration of the deduction in order to obtain the data at the density required for the bill. Depending on the accuracy required, relatively accurate data can be obtained by extrapolation even at a low density of consumption data.

In the example of the merger scheme, eleven month end data are transmitted as inter-data. These data are identified by numbers from 1 (January) to 11 (November) of the billing period. The decisive settlement date is 31 December. The date of the decisive day is marked with the number 12 and is transmitted in each radio telegram. The following cycle of intermediate values can be used:

1-5-9-2-6-10-3-7-11-4-8

This sequence shall be repeated cyclically and shall be arranged in such a way that, after receiving three telegrams, a group of four consumption data is always presented, with a time span of no more than four months between any two intermediate data. This applies irrespective of where the reader starts the cycle.

Another cycle of intermediate data consists of a combination:

1_4_7_ 10-2-5-8-11- 3-6-9

This sequence shall be repeated cyclically and shall be arranged in such a way that, after receiving four telegrams, a group of five consumption data is always presented, with a time span of no more than three months between any arbitrary data. This applies irrespective of where the reader starts the cycle.

The intermediate values cycle can also be used:

1_3_5_7_g_11- 2-4-6-8-10

This sequence is also repeated cyclically and is arranged so that, after receiving six telegrams, a group of five consumption data is always presented, with a time span of no more than two months between any arbitrary data. This applies irrespective of where the reader starts the cycle.

These schemes always work in reverse order. If they were to be the settlement of heating costs necessary by other data than those received in a few radiotelegrams can be obtained by interpolation, possibly also by taking them into account on a daily basis.

The example of the method described here corresponds to the typical practice of billing heating costs. However, it can also be used to read other consumption data, whereby the number of readings, time periods with greater and lesser transmission time, data collection cycles and other parameters of the method can be adapted to the requirements.

The method of the present invention has the advantage that it combines the economic advantages of conventional one- and two-way radio reading systems without deleting the history of consumption consumption data. These intermediate data can be obtained at the desired time density, and the optimum density of the data and the time cost of reading can be set. This optimization is done beforehand, by selecting the appropriate broadcasting scheme and broadcasting frequency in the period after the decisive day, as well as on-site according to the time required for subtraction, respectively. according to the time available.

If some buildings are known to have no interchange data in certain billing periods, it is possible to transmit the data of the decisive day by receiving only one radiotelegram from each data logger.

During the current billing period, subtractions are also possible, i. in less than one year, but this requires a separate exit to the building. In this case, the time frequency of broadcasts, which is reduced during most of the year, will not be a problem if the broadcast mode is chosen so that, for example, transmitted the current monthly data. Here, the advantage of being up-to-date on consumption readings is associated with the advantage of having full history of consumption data for regular readings.

The consumption data recording apparatuses may be arranged in such a way that the stationary data collectors can also be retrofitted in the building, e.g. for automatic reading via GSM modem. In this case, either by reprogramming the data recording devices, their transmission scheme is switched to a mode optimized for continuous reception, or a transmission mode is already programmed into the data recording devices during installation, which represents an optimum compromise between portable and stationary reception. In this latter case, the additional installation of stationary data collectors does not require access to the apartments.

Claims (12)

PATENT CLAIMS 1. A method of reading consumption data from a consumption data recording apparatus by radio transmission, wherein the consumption data is stored in a data recording apparatus and transmitted at random or pseudo-randomly transmitted times from the consumption data recording apparatus, characterized by: that the average time frequency of transmissions varies over periods that can be determined. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the average time frequency of transmissions after the decisive day of the billing period increases in the first period compared to the following period. A method, in particular according to claim 1 or 2, for reading consumption data and consumption data histories from consumption data recording devices by radio transmission, in which consumption data together with a time identifier are stored in the consumption data recording device and at random or pseudo-randomly determined time transmit moments are transmitted from the data recording apparatus, characterized in that the consumption data is transmitted in a predetermined cyclically repeating order. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that, in cyclical transmission of consumption data in one run, a certain predetermined number of chronologically arranged consumption data is always skipped and in subsequent courses the initial consumption data is always changed so that it is not yet transmitted Consumption data was transmitted until all consumption data was transmitted. Method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the consumption data is combined into packages, wherein one package contains only part of all the consumption data. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that the consumption data package always contains the consumption data that is relevant to the bill (the decisive day data), at least one consumption data from the last billing period and / or the current consumption data consumption of the current accounting period (balance sheet). Method according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the consumption data from certain time intervals are transmitted more frequently than the consumption data outside these time intervals. Method according to the preceding claims, characterized in that in periods with increased transmission frequency, consumption data from the last billing period is cyclically transmitted and in other periods the current consumption data of the current billing period is always transmitted. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the consumption data recording devices transmit consumption data in one direction to the receivers. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a portable radio-receiver is used to collect consumption data. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the consumption data is collected regularly once a year and the consumption data from the last billing period are always stored as monthly data in the consumption data recording apparatus. Device for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, with a consumption data recording apparatus, a consumption data transmission transmitter and an arithmetic unit with a memory adapted to perform individual operations of the method.