WO2004044862A1

WO2004044862A1 - Automatic meter reading system using satellite communication network

Info

Publication number: WO2004044862A1
Application number: PCT/KR2003/002417
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hong-Won Kim
Original assignee: Bluemax Communication Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2002-11-12
Filing date: 2003-11-11
Publication date: 2004-05-27
Also published as: KR20040042828A; AU2003284714A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an AMR system using a satellite communication network. The AMR system includes: an AMR terminal waken up by meter reading command, reading physical meter reading value, transmitting the meter reading value, and operating in sleep mode; a satellite meter reading concentrator for transmitting the meter reading command to the AMR terminals, storing meter reading data, making a predetermined packet with the stored meter reading data, and transmitting the packet to the AMR server; a satellite communication link for transmitting the meter reading commands or the meter reading data between the satellite meter reading concentrator and an AMR server; and the AMR server for managing customer information, AMR terminal information and satellite meter reading concentrator information, transmitting the meter reading command to the satellite meter reading concentrator, collecting the meter reading data of each AMR terminals, applying a charge, and statistically processing the meter reading data.

Description

AUTOMATIC METER READING SYSTEM USING SATELLITE COMMUNICATION NETWORK

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an automatic meter reading system for automatically measuring various metering values such as power consumption amount, gas consumption amount, water consumption amount, etc. at a remote place, and more particularly, to an automatic meter reading system using a satellite communication network, which can read various meters without being influenced by geographical feature and communication environment.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, "remote meter reading" is a concept including an automatic meter reading (AMR) technology for automatically measuring various metering values such as power consumption amount, gas consumption amount, water consumption amount, etc. used in each home or office without a reader visiting a meter reading place. In general, AMR is implemented by automatic meter reading (AMR) terminal, an automatic meter reading (AMR) server and communication means. The AMR terminal is installed in a home or an office. The AMR server manages the meter reading at a center, automatically applies a charge according to the meter reading amount, and manages the user. The communication means transmits meter reading value of the AMR terminal to the AMR server.

Meanwhile, in the conventional automatic meter reading (AMR) system, the communication networks for transmitting meter reading data from the AMR terminal to the AMR server are operated in different communication environments such as public switched telephone network (PSTN), Internet, radio frequency (RF) wireless communication network, etc according to countries or service regions. According to such a conventional method, since countries or service regions are different from each other in communication environment, concentrators and AMR terminals should be redesigned depending on the communication environment, so that the cost is increased and it is difficult to establish an integrated AMR system.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an automatic meter reading system using a satellite communication network, which substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic meter reading system using a satellite communication network, which can remotely read various meters throughout a wide region without being influenced by geographical feature and communication environment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic meter reading system using satellite communication network, which can be applied to various meters such as a digit representing meter, a needle indicator type meter as well as a digital meter, to read consumption amounts of water, gas, power, etc. integrally.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic meter reading system using a satellite communication network, which can sense metering values of the conventional meters as images, read the metering values by using a pattern recognition technology, and transmit the read code.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims thereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, an automatic meter reading (AMR) system using satellite communication network comprises: an AMR terminal waken up by a meter reading command, reading a physical meter reading value used by a user, transmitting the meter reading value through a wire or wireless communication link, and operating in sleep mode after the meter reading ends; a satellite meter reading concentrator connected to the AMR terminals through the wire or wireless communication link, transmitting the meter reading command to the AMR terminals upon receiving the meter reading command from an AMR server, storing meter reading data upon receiving the meter reading data from the AMR terminal, making a predetermined packet with the stored meter reading data, and transmitting the packet to the AMR server; a satellite communication link constructed by a communication network using satellites, for transmitting the meter reading commands or the meter reading data between the satellite meter reading concentrator and the AMR server; and the AMR server for managing customer information on the user, information on the AMR terminal and information on the satellite meter reading concentrator, transmitting the meter reading command to the satellite meter reading concentrator through the satellite communication link when the meter reading is necessary, collecting the meter reading data of each of the AMR terminals trough the satellite communication link, applying a charge, and statistically processing the meter reading data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a concept of a general automatic meter reading system to which the present invention is applied;

FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of an automatic meter reading system using satellite communication network according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating operation steps of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIGs. 4A and 4B are examples of packets for communicating through the satellite communication link according to the present invention;

FIGs. 5A and 5B are flowcharts illustrating examples of satellite communications according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an example of byte mode communication in the satellite communication according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is another example of byte mode communication in the satellite communication according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 shows a second embodiment of an automatic meter reading system using satellite communication network according to the present invention; and FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating operation procedures of the second embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings.

[Concept of The Invention]

FIG. 1 illustrates a concept of a general automatic meter reading system to which the present invention is applied. The general automatic meter reading (AMR) system includes AMR terminals

10, an AMR server 30, and a wire communication network (e.g. PSTN or power line communication network) or wireless communication network (e.g. CDMA network) 20. The AMR terminals 10 are attached to meters 12a - 12n, 14a - 14n and 16a - 16n of each home. The AMR server 30 manages the plurality of AMR terminals 10. The wire communication network or wireless communication network 20 transmits data between the AMR terminals 10 and the AMR server 30. Here, power meters 12a - 12n, water meters 14a - 14n and gas meters 16a - 16n are digital meters or mechanical or analog meters installed at each home. These meters display the metering values by an LCD, a number panel, a needle indicator, etc. so that a meter reader reads the metering value by his or her own eyes (this is called manual inspection) to apply a charge according to usage.

The AMR server 30 manages customer information on the customers who have the meters, reads the meter reading value of the AMR 10 and processes a charge according to the usage of customers. The AMR server 30 is realized by a plurality of computer systems equipped with application programs. Sometimes the AMR server 30 is hierarchically configured by widely distributed local servers and a central server for integrating the local servers. The application program executed in the AMR server 30 preferably includes a maintenance and repair function for checking the condition of the AMR terminal 10, a fault alarm function, a manual meter reading informing function, a statistical analysis function for meter reading values of customers and a various reports editing function.

[Embodiment 1]

FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of an automatic meter reading system using satellite communication network according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the AMR system according to the present invention includes an AMR terminal 10 attached to a meter of each home, an' ATM server 30 and a satellite meter reading concentrator 40 for collecting data of the AMR terminal 10 and transmitting the data to the AMR server 30 through a satellite communication link 50. The satellite communication link 50 is provided by a satellite subscriber module 52 of the satellite meter reading concentrator 40, satellite 54, the gateway earth station (GES) 56 and a gateway control center (GCC) 58. The AMR server 30 is connected to the GCC 58 through the communication network 22.

The AMR terminal 10 can be constructed in such a manner attached to a digital meter or an analog meter. The digital meter provides the meter reading values such as consumption power, water, gas, etc. digitally. In the embodiment of the present invention, the AMR terminal 10 is constructed attached to the conventional meter to photograph the meter reading value displayed on a number panel or indicated by a needle indicator as an image, read the meter reading value by using a pattern recognition (or character recognition) technology and transmit the read data to the AMR server 30 through the satellite communication link 50.

A satellite meter reading concentrator 40 receives a control command from the AMR server 30 and transmits the control command to the AMR terminal 10. Then, if the AMR terminal reads the meters according to the instruction, the satellite meter reading concentrator 40 receives the meter reading data from the AMR terminal 10 and transmits the received meter reading data to the AMR server 30. The satellite meter reading concentrator 40 includes an RF module 42 for communicating data with the AMR terminal 10, an MPU 44 for controlling the entire operation, and a satellite subscriber module 52 for interfacing with the satellite 54.

The MPU 44 controls the entire operation, and processes a communication protocol with the AMR server 30 and the AMR terminal 10 and a communication protocol required by the satellite communication link 50. The MPU 44 decomposes the packet received from the AMR server 30 and interprets the command of the packet. If the command is a meter reading command, the MPU 44 generates a packet for instructing the corresponding AMR 10 to read meters and transmits the packet to the AMR terminal 10 through a wireless module of the AMR terminal 10. If the AMR terminal 10 reads the meters automatically and prepares the meter reading data, the satellite meter reading concentrator 40 transmits a data request command to the AMR terminal 10. Also, the satellite meter reading concentrator 40 receives the meter reading data from the AMR terminal 10, collects and temporarily stores the meter reading data. When the satellite meter reading concentrator 40 received a data request command from the AMR server 30, the satellite meter reading concentrator 40 transmits the collected meter reading data to the AMR server 30. Here, the MPU 44 transmits the meter reading data in a message format to the satellite communication link 50 through the satellite subscriber module 52. In the transmission of the meter reading data, the meter reading data is carried on the message format required by the satellite communication link 50. The MPU 44 is provided with a function of communication with a computer 46 for maintenance and repair. Meanwhile, the satellite communication link 50 is a communication link for transmitting the meter reading data and the meter reading command by using a satellite. It can be provided by ORBCOMM system. ORBCOMM is a bidirectional communication network using global satellites. ORBCOMM consists of twenty-eight low earth orbit (LEO) satellites 54, a GES 56, and a GCC 58, and provides subscribers with data communication service through the satellite communication link. Each of the subscribers has a satellite subscriber module 52.

The satellite subscriber module 52 of the satellite meter reading concentrator 40 is a subscriber communicator (SC) of ORBCOMM that provides low earth orbit communication service, and has a transmission frequency of 148 - 150.05 MHz, a maximum transmission power of 5 W, and a reception frequency of 137 - 138 MHz. The satellite subscriber module 52 interfaces with the MPU 44 in the way of RS232.

The GES 56 is a satellite transceiver for directly connecting to LEO satellites 54 that are locally distributed on the earth. The GCC 58 provides the subscribers with communication link in the optimal path through the communication network 22 with locally distributed gateways. The communication network 22 for connecting to the AMR server 30 to the satellite communication link 50 is a dedicated network, Internet, X.25 packet network or other satellite communication link.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating operation steps of the first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, the AMR server 30 connects to the satellite communication link 50 through the GCC and GES, and transmits a meter reading command to the satellite meter reading concentrator 40 (Sl-1 to SI -3). Here, the AMR server 30 transmits data to the satellite communication link 50 according to the protocol of a general packet communication network, while the satellite communication link 50 transmits data according to a predetermined satellite communication protocol to be described later.

The satellite meter reading concentrator 40 decodes the command received through the satellite communication link 50 and determines the types of the commands. The command transmitted from the AMR server 30 to the satellite meter reading concentrator 40 is in the form of a packet including a header, a phone number, a server phone number, a start address, an end address, information, CRC, etc., and contains information used to distinguish the commands. Subsequently, when receiving a command from the AMR server 30 normally, the satellite meter reading concentrator 40 transmits "ACK" to the AMR server 30 through the satellite communication link 50 (S2-1 - S2-3). However, when finding any error in receiving the command from the AMR server 30, the satellite meter reading concentrator 40 transmits "NAC" to request for retransmission (S2-1 to S2-3). When receiving a meter reading command from the AMR server 30 normally, the satellite meter reading concentrator 40 transmits the meter reading command to the AMR terminals 30 according to the read command (S3). Here, the meter reading command can be transmitted in either designation method or broadcast method. In the designation method, one particular AMR terminal 10 is designated. In the broadcast method, all the AMR terminals 10 receive the meter reading command.

If the wireless module of the corresponding AMR terminal receives the meter reading command, the wireless module controls a switch of a power supply unit to supply power to a character recognition module and an image sensor module and to wake them up. The image sensor module senses a digit image of a meter and transfers the digit image to the character recognition module. The character recognition module extracts necessary parts from the digit image and processes the necessary parts to digit codes by means of the pattern recognition technology.

Then, the satellite meter reading concentrator 40 collects the meter reading data of all the AMR terminals 10 by repeating steps of requesting each of the AMR terminals 10 for the meter reading data and receiving the meter reading data from the AMR terminals 10 (S4-1 to S4-3). Here, after all the AMR terminals 10 complete meter reading, the satellite meter reading concentrator 40 causes the con-esponding AMR terminals 10 to be converted into sleep mode so as to save batteries of the corresponding AMR terminals 10.

When receiving a data request command according to the entire meter reading from the AMR server 30 through the satellite communication link 50 (S5-1 - S5-3), the satellite meter reading concentrator 40 transmits the collected meter reading data to the AMR server 30 through the satellite communication link 50 (S6-1 to S6-3).

Accordingly, the AMR server 30 decomposes the data received from the satellite meter reading concentrator 40. If the meter reading data is normal, the AMR server 30 transmits "ACK" to the satellite meter reading concentrator 40 through the satellite communication link 50 (S7-1 - S7-3). The AMR server 30 processes the meter reading data stored in database to apply a charge or perform statistical analysis.

On the other hand, the satellite communication link 50 used in the present invention transmits the meter reading command and the meter reading data according to the protocol defined in the corresponding satellite communication link. The protocol of the satellite communication link used in the embodiment of the present invention is as follows.

FIG. 4A illustrates a format of an incoming message that is transmitted from the AMR server 30 and terminated at the satellite subscriber module 52 of the satellite meter reading concentrator 40 in the satellite communication link used in the present invention. FIG. 4B illustrates a format of a satellite subscriber outgoing message that is transmitted from the satellite subscriber module 52 to the satellite communication link.

Referring to FIG. 4A, the format of the incoming message of the satellite communication link, which is transmitted from the AMR server 30 to the AMR terminal 10, consists of a packet header byte, a packet type, a packet length, retransmission times, an outgoing gateway ID, a message body type, the number of receivers and senders, addresses of the receivers and senders, a payload, a CRC and so forth. The meter reading command is transmitted carried on the payload from the AMR server 30 to the AMR terminal 10.

Referring to 4B, the format of the outgoing message of the satellite communication link, which is transmitted from the AMR terminal 10 to the AMR server 30, consists of a packet header byte, a packet type, a packet length, retransmission times, a destination gateway ID, message priority, a message body type, a concentrator ID, the number of receivers, addresses of the receivers, payload, and CRC. The meter reading data is transmitted from the AMR terminal 10 to the AMR server 30, carried on the payload.

The procedure in which the above-mentioned message is transmitted through the satellite communication link is as shown in FIGS. 5 A and 5B. Referring to FIG. 5 A, the meter reading command transmitted from the AMR server 30 to the GCC 58 through the communication network 22 is carried on the payload of the incoming message format shown in FIG. 4A. The GCC 58 allocates a message session to a satellite 54 and a satellite subscriber module 52. Then, the satellite subscriber module 52 requests the satellite 54 for burst mode slot. When the slot is allocated, the satellite subscriber module 52 informs the GCC 58 via the satellite 54 that the satellite subscriber module 52 is ready to receive. The GCC 58 transmits the message on which the meter reading command is carried, to the satellite subscriber module 52 through the GES 56 and the satellite 54. If the satellite subscriber module 52 receives the message normally, the satellite subscriber module 52 transmits a response message to the GCC 58 and transmits the received message to the MPU 44 of the satellite meter reading concentrator 40. The MPU 44 responds to the message.

Referring to FIG. 5B, first, the outgoing message of the format shown in FIG. 4B on which meter reading message is carried is transmitted to the satellite subscriber module 52. The meter reading message is generated by the MPU 44 of the satellite meter reading concentrator 40. The satellite subscriber module 52 receives the outgoing message, transmits the response of link level to the MPU 44 of the satellite meter reading concentrator, and simultaneously requests the satellite 54 for burst mode slot so that the slot is allocated to the satellite meter reading module 52. Then, if the satellite subscriber module 52 requests the satellite 54 to transmit a subscriber outgoing message, the satellite 54 transmits the subscriber outgoing message to the GCC 58 through the GES 56. The GCC 58 allows the satellite 54 and the satellite subscriber module 52 to transmit a message. Accordingly, the satellite subscriber module 52 transmits the message packet on which the meter reading data is carried. When receiving the packet normally, the GCC 58 transmits the response to the satellite subscriber module 52 through the satellite 54. When the message packet transmission is completed, the session between the satellite subscriber module 52 and the GCC 58 is cleared, and the satellite subscriber module 52 transmits the transmission result to the MPU 44. The GCC 58 decomposes the message on which the received meter reading data is carried, reassembles the packet according to a general packet protocol, and transmits the packet to the AMR server 30 through the communication network 22. FIG. 6 is an example of the case (it is called byte mode) that data is transmitted byte by byte between the MPU 44 of the satellite meter reading concentrator and the satellite subscriber module 52 according to the present invention. In other words, in the byte mode, if the MPU 44 of the satellite meter reading concentrator does not generate a message but transmits data through RS232C byte by byte, the satellite subscriber module 52 generates a message and transmits it to the server. In this byte mode, the load on the MPU 44 is reduced advantageously.

FIG. 6 illustrates an operation process of the case that the first byte is received. FIG. 7 illustrates a byte mode operation process of the case that the start of message (SOM) character is received.

Referring to FIG. 6, a satellite subscriber outgoing message, a satellite subscriber report message, and GlobalGram message can be generated as the message type in byte mode according to the value of byte mode message type (bmode_msg_type).

First, in the byte mode, the first byte is received and it is ascertained whether the length of the received byte is the byte mode length (b_mode_lgth). Then, if the length of the received byte is not the byte mode length (b_mode_lgth), it is determined whether the byte mode timeout (bmode_timeout) time elapses (601 - 603). If the byte mode timeout (bmode_timeout) time does not elapse, the process is repeated. If the byte mode timeout (bmode_timeout) time elapses or the length of the received byte is longer than the byte mode length (b_mode_lgth) at the step 602, it is ascertained whether the byte mode message type is zero at the step 604. If the byte mode message type (bmode_msg_type) is 0, the satellite subscriber outgoing message is transmitted at the step 605 and the operation process ends. If the byte mode message type (bmode_msg_type) is 1, the satellite subscriber outgoing message is transmitted at the step 607, and if all bytes are transmitted, the operation process ends at the step 608. If the byte mode message type (bmode_msg_type) is 2, the GlobalGram message is transmitted at the step 610, and if all bytes are transmitted, the operation process ends at the step 611.

Referring to FIG. 7, in the byte mode, if start of message (SOM) character is received (701), it is ascertained whether an end of message (EOM) character is received. If the received bytes are not the EOM character and the length of the received bytes is less than the byte length or timeout does not elapse, the receiving process is repeated (702 and 703). If the EOM character is received, it is determined whether the byte mode type (bmode_msg_type) is 0. If the byte mode type (bmode_msg_type) is 0, the satellite subscriber outgoing message is transmitted at the step 705 (704 and 705). If the byte mode message type (bmode_msg_type) is 1, the satellite subscriber outgoing message is transmitted at the step 707. If all bytes are transmitted, the operation process ends (706 - 708).

If the byte mode message type (bmode_msg_type) is 2, the GlobalGram message is transmitted at the step 710 and if all bytes are transmitted, the operation process ends (709 - 711).

As described above, the AMR system according to the present invention can read the meters without using a meter reader, so that personnel expenses can be reduced. Also, since communication environments that are different depending on countries can be unified to be a satellite communication network, the satellite meter reading concentrators or the AMR terminals do not have to be redesigned, and an integrated system can be established. Even in the regions having a difficulty in communication, such as islands, remote and secluded places in the mountains, information can be transmitted to the widespread receivers at the same time.

[Embodiment 2]

FIG. 8 shows a second embodiment of an automatic meter reading system using satellite communication network according to the present invention. In the second embodiment, the meter reading data is collected by a primary satellite meter reading concentrator 810 and collected again by a secondary satellite meter reading concentrator 820. Then, the collected meter reading data is transmitted through the satellite communication link 50. In other words, the primary satellite meter reading concentrator 810 is connected to the AMR terminal 10 through wiring or wirelessly to collect the meter reading data. The second satellite meter reading concentrator 820 collects the meter reading data from the primary satellite meter reading concentrator 810 and transmits the collected meter reading data to the AMR server 30 through the satellite communication link 50. Thus, when the satellite meter reading concentrators are installed in a multistage, since the meter reading data of more AMR terminals are multiplexed and can be transmitted through one satellite communication link, the costs caused by use of the satellite communication link can be reduced much. Referring to FIG. 8, the AMR system according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes the AMR terminal 10, the' ATM server 30, the primary satellite meter reading concentrator 810 for collecting data of the AMR terminal 10, the secondary satellite meter reading concentrator 820 for collecting data of the primary satellite meter reading concentrator 810 and transmitting the collected data to the AMR server 30 through the satellite communication link 50. The satellite communication link 50 is provided by the satellite subscriber module 52 of the secondary satellite meter reading concentrator 820, the satellite 54, the GES 56 and the GCC 58. The AMR server 30 is connected to the GCC 58 through communication network 22.

The same reference numbers will be used in FIG. 8 to refer to the same or like parts as those shown in FIG. 2, and more description over the same parts will be omitted but the other parts will be described in detail. In the second embodiment, the primary satellite meter reading concentrator 810 includes a first wireless module 812, an MPU module 814 and a second wireless module 816. The first wireless module 812 communicates with the AMR terminals 10 by using a wireless LAN at a first radio frequency. The MPU module 814 receives a meter reading command from a second wireless module 806, transmits the meter reading command to the AMR terminals through the first wireless module 812, receives meter reading data from each of the AMR terminals, multiplexes the meter reading data primarily, and transmits the meter reading data through the second wireless module 816. The second wireless module 816 communicates with the secondary satellite meter reading concentrator 820 by using a wireless LAN at a second radio frequency. The secondary satellite meter reading concentrator 820 includes a secondary wireless module 822, an MPU processor module 824 and a satellite subscriber module 52. The secondary wireless module 822 communicates with the second wireless modules 816 of the first satellite meter reading concentrator 810. The MPU processor module 824 receives an incoming message from the satellite subscriber module 52, decomposes and interprets the incoming message, and transmits the incoming message to the primary satellite meter reading concentrator 810 through the second wireless module 822 if the incoming message is a meter reading command transmitted from the AMR server 30. If receiving a meter reading data from the primary satellite meter reading concentrator 810, the MPU processor module 824 generates a predetermined outgoing message, and requests the satellite subscriber module 52 to transmit the generated outgoing message. The satellite subscriber module 52 interfaces with the satellite 54 for communication.

The satellite communication link 50 is configured to include the satellite subscriber module 52 attached to the satellite meter reading concentrator 820, the LES satellite 54, the GES 56 and the GCC 58, to thereby enable the communication by means of a satellite. For example, the satellite communication link provided by ORBCOMM consists of twenty-eight LEO satellites, a GES and a GCC. ORBCOMM provides subscribers with data communication service through the satellite communication link. Each of the subscribers has a satellite subscriber module 52.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating operation steps of the second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, the operation steps of the second embodiment of the present invention are as follows.

The meter reading data is concentrated on the primary satellite meter reading concentrator 810 from the AMR terminals 10, is again concentrated on the secondary satellite meter reading concentrator 820, and then t is transmitted to the AMR server 30 through the satellite communication link 50. The meter reading command transmitted from the AMR server 30 is transmitted first to the secondary satellite meter reading concentrator 820 through the satellite communication link 50, and then transmitted to the primary satellite meter reading concentrator 810. After that, the meter reading command is transmitted from the primary satellite meter reading concentrator 810 to each of the AMR terminals 10. The operation of the second embodiment is almost the same as that of the first embodiment excepting that one more satellite meter reading concentrator 820 is inserted between the satellite meter reading concentrator 810 and the satellite communication link 50. So, more description will be omitted.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY As described above, according to the present invention, since the worldwide common satellite communication network can be used, the satellite meter reading concentrators or the AMR terminals do not have to be redesigned and an integrated system can be established easily. Also, the present invention can be applied to various terminals. In the regions having a difficulty in communication, such as islands, remote and secluded places in the mountains, the remote meter reading can be performed at a cheap cost. Particularly, as the number of the users is increased, the communication cost is increased too. However, when the inventive satellite communication network is used, AMR service can be provided to a multiplicity of users at a low cost by using the satellite meter reading concentrator. The above-description is merely kinds of embodiments of the AMR system according to the present invention. While the present invention has been described and illustrated herein with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention that come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED:

1. An automatic meter reading (AMR) system using a satellite communication network, the system comprising: an AMR terminal waken up by a meter reading command, reading a physical meter reading value used by a user, transmitting the meter reading value through a wire or wireless communication link, and operating in sleep mode after the meter reading ends; a satellite meter reading concentrator connected to the AMR terminals through the wire or wireless communication link, transmitting the meter reading command to the AMR terminals upon receiving the meter reading command from an AMR server, storing meter reading data upon receiving the meter reading data from the AMR terminal, making a predetermined packet with the stored meter reading data, and transmitting the packet to the AMR server; a satellite communication link constructed by a communication network using satellites, for transmitting the meter reading commands or the meter reading data between the satellite meter reading concentrator and the AMR server; and the AMR server for managing customer information on the user, information on the AMR terminal and information on the satellite meter reading concentrator, transmitting the meter reading command to the satellite meter reading concentrator through the satellite communication link when the meter reading is necessary, collecting the meter reading data of each of the AMR terminals trough the satellite communication link, applying a charge, and statistically processing the meter reading data.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the satellite communication link comprises: a plurality of low earth orbit satellites; a satellite subscriber module installed at a subscriber side, for connecting the subscriber to the satellite communication link through the low earth orbit satellite; a gateway earth station for controlling the low earth orbit satellites and maintaining the satellite communication link; and a gateway control center for controlling the gateway earth stations and connecting the satellite communication link to earth network.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the satellite meter reading concentrator comprises: a wireless module for forming a wireless communication link with a plurality of AMR terminals and transmitting data; the satellite subscriber module for communicating with the satellite and connecting the subscriber to the satellite communication link; and a processor module for, when receiving an incoming message from the satellite subscriber module, decomposing and interpreting the incoming message, transmitting the incoming message to each of the AMR terminals through the wireless module if the incoming message is a meter reading command transmitted from the AMR server, and when receiving meter reading data from each of the AMR terminals, generating a predetermined outgoing message, and requesting the satellite subscriber module to transmit the outgoing message.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein, when the satellite meter reading concentrator operates in byte mode, the processor module transmits data to the satellite subscriber module byte by byte, and the satellite subscriber module interprets the data received byte by byte, generates a corresponding outgoing message and transmits the outgoing message to the satellite communication link.

5. The system of claim 3 or 4, wherein the outgoing message consists of a packet header byte, a packet type, a packet length, retransmission times, a destination gateway ID, a message priority, a message body type, a concentrator ID, the number of receivers, addresses of the receivers, a payload, and a CRC, and the payload contains the meter reading data of each terminal carried thereon.

6. The system of claim 3 or 4, wherein the ingoing message consists of a packet header byte, a packet type, a packet length, retransmission times, a sending gateway ID, a message body type, the number of receivers and senders, addresses of the receivers and senders, a payload, and an CRC, and the payload contains the meter reading command carried thereon.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the AMR server is connected to the gateway control center through wire and wireless communication network.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the AMR terminal is implemented using any one selected from the group consisting of a digital meter, an image sensing method and a rotary encoder.

9. An automatic meter reading (AMR) system using satellite communication network, the system comprising: an AMR terminal waken up by a meter reading command, reading a physical meter reading value used by a user, transmitting the meter reading value through a wire or wireless communication link, and operating in sleep mode after the meter reading ends; a primary satellite meter reading concentrator connected to the AMR terminals through the wire or wireless communication link, transmitting the meter reading command to the AMR terminals and concentrating meter reading data of each of the AMR terminals primarily; a secondary satellite meter reading concentrator connected to the primary satellite meter reading concentrators through the wireless communication link, transmitting a meter reading command to the primary satellite meter reading concentrators upon receiving the meter reading command from an AMR server, storing meter reading data upon receiving the meter reading data from the primary satellite meter reading concentrators, making a predetermined packet with the stored meter reading data, and transmitting the packet to the AMR server; a satellite communication link constructed by a communication network using satellites, for transmitting the meter reading commands or the meter reading data between the secondary satellite meter reading concentrator and an AMR server; and the AMR server for managing customer information on the user, information on the AMR terminal and information on the satellite meter reading concentrator, transmitting the meter reading command to the secondary satellite meter reading concentrator through the satellite communication link when the meter reading is necessary, collecting the meter reading data of each of the AMR terminals trough the satellite communication link, applying a charge, and statistically processing the meter reading data.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the primary satellite meter reading concentrator comprises: a first wireless module for wirelessly communicating with the AMR terminals by using a first radio frequency; a second wireless module for wirelessly communicating with the secondary satellite meter reading concentrator by using a second radio frequency; and a processor module for, when receiving the meter reading command from the second wireless module, transmitting the meter reading command to the AMR terminals through the first wireless module, and when receiving meter reading data from each of the AMR terminals, multiplexing the meter reading data primarily, and transmitting the multiplexed meter reading data through the second wireless module.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the secondary satellite meter reading concentrator comprises: a secondary wireless module for forming a wireless communication link with the first wireless modules by a second radio frequency and transmitting data; a satellite subscriber module for communicating with the satellite and connecting a subscriber to the satellite communication link; and a processor module for, when receiving an incoming message from the satellite subscriber module, decomposing and interpreting the incoming message, transmitting the incoming message to the primary satellite meter reading concentrator through the second wireless module if the incoming message is the meter reading command transmitted from the AMR server, and when receiving meter reading data from the primary satellite meter reading concentrator, generating a predetermined outgoing message, and requesting the satellite subscriber module to transmit the outgoing message.