WO2004070669A1

WO2004070669A1 - Addressable measuring box

Info

Publication number: WO2004070669A1
Application number: PCT/FR2004/000004
Authority: WO
Inventors: Claude Le Gal
Original assignee: Bmaco
Priority date: 2003-01-06
Filing date: 2004-01-06
Publication date: 2004-08-19
Also published as: FR2849739B1; FR2849739A1

Abstract

The inventive addressable box (120) is used for provided a user with a billable source. A male connector (170) comprises an electronic label (175) for identifying said user. The jack (170) of said male connector is used for transmitting the user's identification to the box (120) by means of a socket.

Description

ADDRESSABLE MEASUREMENT BOX

The present invention relates to an addressable measurement unit. It applies, in particular, to the measurement of consumption of electricity, fluids, access time and / or information.

In places with multiple traffic, public places, parking lots, highways, canals, ports, fairs, exhibitions, shopping centers, for example, users want to have sufficient electrical outlets and pay what they consume to an operator with, possibly a detailed monthly billing.

Devices for the occasional distribution of electricity are known, for example for marinas, which allow electricity distribution after payment of a deposit and / or a deposit by switching a supply circuit. These devices are difficult to use because it requires the intervention of an operator to implement them.

Document WO01 / 86536 describes an apparatus for controlling the supply of a product or service to a user from a network.

An interface is provided for controlling the supply of the product or service. This interface receives user-specific information from a host system, which is recognized by a password or an identification card.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for controlling the supply of a product or service to a user, from a network, without the need for an interface which must receive information to authorize the supply of product.

The subject of the invention is an addressable measuring unit comprising: a means of identifying a user, - a means of making resources available according to the identification of the user,

- a means of measuring resource consumption,

- a suitable means of communication to transmit:. user identification information, and

. resource consumption measurement information;

a means of connection with a portable device comprising a memory keeping a user identification code, characterized in that:

- said connection means is a female socket,

- said portable device is a male plug, comprising four plugs or studs,

- Said memory is an electronic label and - one of said four cards or pads is used to communicate the identification of the user.

Thanks to these provisions, when a user wants to have access to a resource, for example a fluid, energy or information, he identifies himself and the resource is automatically accessible to him, his consumption being recorded by a server. remote.

According to particular characteristics, the communication means is adapted to receive information authorizing access to said resource and the box includes a means of making said resource available which makes the resource available when the means of communication receives said access authorization information.

Thanks to these provisions, the box is controlled by the server and fraud is difficult to organize. According to particular characteristics, the addressable measurement unit comprises a means of connection with a portable device comprising a plug. Thanks to these provisions, access to the resource is carried out via said plug, for example a plug, a modem plug or a fluid intake connector.

According to particular characteristics, the means of provision is a switch connecting or interrupting access to the resource.

According to particular characteristics, the communication means is adapted to transmit identification information of the addressable measurement unit.

According to particular characteristics, the resource consumption measurement means comprises a single-phase or three-phase electricity metering circuit. According to particular characteristics, the resource consumption measurement means comprises a pulse counting circuit.

According to particular characteristics, the communication means is adapted to communicate via a radio transmission.

According to particular characteristics, the communication means is adapted to communicate via a carrier current modulation.

According to particular characteristics, the means of communication is adapted to communicate via a dedicated wire line. According to particular characteristics, the means of communication is adapted to communicate with a centralizing station and / or a server.

According to another aspect, the present invention relates to a portable device characterized in that it comprises:

- a means of communication with an addressable measurement unit;

- a memory keeping an identification code of a user;

- a means of access to a resource. According to particular characteristics, the portable device comprises

- an electrical supply plug and

- a memory comprising a non-volatile part keeping a unique identifier. It is recalled that the notion of unique identifier relates to the fact that two portable devices of the same type cannot have the same identifier. Thanks to these provisions, the user plugs his card into the box and automatically has access to the resource.

According to another aspect, the present invention relates to a server, or centralizing station, connected to addressable measurement boxes characterized in that it comprises:

- a means of communication with each box adapted to:. receive identification information from a user, transmit information authorizing access to the resource,

. receive resource consumption measurement information, - a means of accounting for each consumption measure in relation to the identification information.

According to another aspect, the present invention relates to an addressable measurement method characterized in that it comprises: - a step of identifying a user;

- a step of making a resource available as a function of the identification of the user;

- a step of measuring resource consumption; and

- A communication step during which are transmitted: user identification information, and resource consumption measurement information. The advantages, aims and particular characteristics of the portable device, the server and method being similar to those of the box succinctly described above, they are not repeated here.

Other advantages, aims and characteristics of the present invention will emerge from the description which follows, given for explanatory purposes and in no way limitative with regard to the appended drawings in which: - Figure I represents, diagrammatically, a particular embodiment of '' a box, a server and a plug conforming to different aspects of the present invention, and

- Figure 2 shows a flow diagram of steps implemented in accordance with a method of the present invention. In the description which follows, we have considered access to a resource consisting of electricity. However, the invention is not limited to access to this single resource but extends, on the contrary, to any resource of fluid, energy, information or access time by example on the telephone or on the Internet, a resource that can be measured in terms of the amount of fluid, energy, time, information transmitted or by connection package.

Throughout the description, the terms client or user are used interchangeably. Throughout the description, the implementation of a server and centralizing stations is explained. However, in variants, the server performs the functions of the centralizing stations or the centralizing stations perform the functions of the server.

In FIG. 1, we observe a server 100, connected to centralizing stations (or multi-socket management boxes) 110, themselves connected to addressable measurement boxes 120.

The server 100 is a computer server of known type, suitable for:

- communicate with each centralizing station, as explained below, for example according to the HTTPS secure communication protocol (HyperText Transfer Protocol Secured, for secure hypertext transfer protocol),

- manage customer-user accounts in order to invoice them for their resource consumption (after re-formatting in XML format (Extended Markup Language, for extended marking language) and

- save all the data that the server receives, processes or calculates.

To this end, the server 100 includes:

a communication module 101 with the centralizing stations 110,

a management module 102 for authorizations and prohibitions of access to the resource, a module for conditioning user billing data 103 and

a customer database 104 in which each male electrical plug identifier (see below) is assigned to an identified user for billing, bill payment, each user possibly having a maximum resource consumption value which is attributed to him.

Each centralizing station 110 is adapted to communicate, on the one hand, with the server 100 and, on the other hand, with each addressable measurement unit 120, as indicated below.

Each addressable measurement unit 120 has the size of a known type circuit breaker. It is incorporated, for example, in a cabinet or an electrical terminal 130, is connected to a DIN rail (not shown) and is connected to an electrical network, It is, for example, supplied by a voltage of 12 Volts which comes a transformer (not shown) positioned on the housing 120 or, as a variant, by an electricity transformer screwed onto the DIN rail and which supplies several housings 120.

Each box 120 controls a relay 140 positioned on the box 120 or, as a variant, installed next to it on the DIN rail, to control, for example, the provision of an electrical supply, on a female socket 153, of the Marshal type, which delivers electrical current when the relay 140 corresponding to the housing is closed. The power supply is, for example, a single-phase power supply of 220 Volts under 16 Amps or a three-phase power supply of 380 Volts under 32 Amps. As a variant, it is the corresponding centralizing station which controls the change of position of the relay 140 linked to an addressable measurement unit. Each box 120 includes:

- a user recognition module 150;

- a current measurement module 151: it is a single-phase or three-phase electricity metering circuit (electronic metering of consumed electricity) of a known type, for example Hall effect (for example, "Technicome" circuit, registered trademark ) conforms to standard IEC 1036 (imposing a measurement accuracy of 2%);

a data management module 152, for example a microprocessor, which ensures the acquisition and management of the data tables of the box by integrating therein measurement information from the current measurement module and by communicating with the recognition modules of the client and data transmission;

an electronic label 154 in the form of an integrated circuit keeping, in non-volatile memory, a unique identifier which is composed of a code identifying the box and, optionally, a code identifying the network manager; - an indicator 156;

an electrical box 157 connected to the socket 153 which delivers the current when the relay 140 corresponding to the housing is closed and

- a data communication module 155 which receives and transmits the data to the corresponding centralizing station, for example by radio communication (in this case, the box includes a radio modem, for example of Coronis brand, registered trademark and a high frequency antenna ), by carrier current or on a dedicated wired link. Transmission takes place in RS485 mode, MOD BUS radio modem protocol. In a variant not shown, one of the "communicating" boxes comprises a communication module with the server and other boxes do not include a communication module with the server but communicate with the "communicating" box. Different portable devices, here consisting of male electrical plugs such as the male electrical plug 170 can be connected to the addressable measurement boxes 120 to access the resource concerned, here electricity. Preferably, the communication of information between the male electrical plug 170 and the data management module 152 is carried out by means of one of the pads, referenced 171, of the male electrical plug 170.

The female socket 153 and the male electrical plug 170 thus comprise four plugs or studs 171 to 174, two for the current, 172 and 173, one for the earth, 174, and the fourth, 171, for communicating the identification information. of the user.

The male electrical plug 170 comprises an electronic label 175 in the form of an integrated circuit keeping, in non-volatile memory, a unique identifier which is composed of a code identifying the male electrical plug 170 and, possibly, a code identifying the manager. network.

As soon as it is connected, the male electrical plug 170 transmits to the socket 153, and therefore to the housing 120, the unique identifier, via the fourth plug 171 and the common ground reference 174. The power supply electrical circuit is provided by a battery installed in the male plug 170. The electronic labels 154 and 175 are, for example, DALLAS circuits (registered trademark) which each have a unique identifier.

As soon as the male electrical plug 170 is connected to the housing 120, the housing 120 receives, from the male electrical plug 170, the unique identifier of this male electrical plug 170 and transmits it remotely, via the module data communication 155, to a centralizing station 110 which keeps, in memory, a list of unauthorized customers and maximum resource consumption values allocated to the customers, a list which the centralizing station updates periodically in connection with the server 100 .

The centralizing station 110 processes the information to determine whether the identifier of the male electrical plug 170 corresponds to an account for which resource consumption is authorized. If so, the centralizing station 110 transmits, to the box concerned, information authorizing access to the resource.

For example, the authorization information includes:

- an identifier of the box for which the information is intended,

- an authorization code and - an authorized consumption threshold.

Optionally, in the event that the identifier of the male electrical plug 170 corresponds to an account for which no consumption is authorized, the server transmits, to the box concerned, information prohibiting access to the resource. The box controls the relay with which it is associated so that it goes into the open or closed position in order to deliver or not electrical energy to the male electrical plug 170 of the user, depending on the authorization or not. received from server 100. The data lines stored by the data management module 152 of the housing 120 each include the following information:

- operator identifier, - identifier of the socket (or box) concerned,

- user identifier (or male electrical plug),

- session start time (after authorization),

- session end time (removal of the male electrical plug), and

- measurement of resource consumption during the session. The data recorded in the data management module

152 of the housing 120 are sent, on request, to the centralizing station 110. These requests are of two types:

- either automatically, periodically with a period of time less than or equal to one day. In this case, the whole of the active file kept in memory and comprising the list of unauthorized clients and of the maximum resource consumption values assigned to the authorized clients, which the centralizing station periodically updates in connection with the server 100, is transferred.

- either by manual interrogation on the part of the server 100, which must, in this case, give the identifier code of the male electrical plug

170 about which he wants to receive information.

It is observed that transmitted information is not erased in the housing 120 after transmission. The information erasing step is performed only on reception, on the part of the server 100, of a specific request transmitted by the server 100, for example, when the server 100 has indeed received the information considered and has checked their consistency. Other technical data are transmitted by the housing 120, either automatically or on request. They represent:

- the presence or absence of current on the network to which the box 120 is connected (provided that the box has a battery or a battery to operate in the absence of current on the network),

- values of internal indicators of operation of the distribution and power cut devices,

- usage statistics, for maintenance.

Alternatively, the identification and authorization steps are repeated at regular time intervals, after consumption of a predetermined amount of resource. As a variant, the authorization information comprises a value representative of a limit quantity of resource which is accessible to the user and the female socket comprises a counter of consumed resource which triggers a stop of access to the resource when the limit value is reached.

As a variant, the male electrical plug 170 keeps a memorized consumption counter remaining to be consumed, said counter being decremented as and when resource consumption.

When the male electrical plug 170 is connected to the female socket, the box transmits to the server, via the RS 485 bus and the communication module:

- identification of the housing,

- identification of the male electrical plug,

- the initial state of the current counter and / or the pulse counter and

- an operating diagnostic code.

On the unit in question, the light 156 is blinking until the authorization to supply the resource is received by the box, authorization from which the warning light 156 remains permanently on.

The diagnostic code represents either normal 1 operation of the housing, or a malfunction of use of the housing: - no male electrical plug detected and evolution of a measurement counter,

- no current supplying the housing,

- switch relay activated but no current on the female electrical socket (relay fault), - unit malfunction.

When the male electrical plug 170 is disconnected from the female socket, the box deactivates the current switch relay and transmits its identification, that of the user (male electrical plug), the consumption measurement and / or the measurement to the server. pulses (for counting fluids) or, if the counters cannot be reset, their value and an operating diagnostic code.

If a malfunction is detected, the box sends the server a reference code for the detected malfunction.

FIG. 2 shows a step 200 of initializing the server followed by a step 205 of connecting a portable device (for example a male electrical plug) with an addressable measurement box. During a step 210, the box flashes its indicator. During a step 215, the portable device transmits to the addressable measurement unit the identification which is kept in the electronic label of the portable device. During a step 220, the box transmits to the server, via the RS 485 bus and the communication module:

- identification of the housing, - identification of the male electrical plug,

- the initial state of the current counter and / or the pulse counter and

- an operating diagnostic code. During a step 225, the server determines whether access to the resource is authorized for the user identified by the identification of the male electrical plug and transmits to the box, via the centralizing station and the bus RS 485, an access authorization or access prohibition message. If access is refused, during a step 230, the box turns off its indicator and waits for the occurrence of a new step 205. If access to the resource is authorized, during a step 235, the unit controls the closing of the relay associated with it and lights up its indicator continuously. During the following steps, the consumption counter measures resource consumption. Following step 235, the box awaits the occurrence of one of steps 240, 250, 260 or 275.

During a step 240, the server interrogates the unit (manually or automatically and periodically), via the centralizing station and the RS 485 bus. During a step 245, the interrogated unit transmits to the server, via RS 485 bus and centralizing station

- identification of the housing,

- identification of the male electrical plug,

- the status of the current counter and / or the pulse counter and - an operating diagnostic code.

The box then waits for the occurrence of one of the steps 240, 250, 260 or 275. If, during a step 250, the box detects a malfunction, during a step 255, the box transmits to the server, via the RS 485 bus and the centralizing station: - the identification of the box ,

- identification of the male electrical plug,

- the status of the current counter and / or the pulse counter and

- an operating diagnostic code.

The box then waits for the occurrence of one of the steps 240, 250, 260 or 275.

If, during a step 260, the server determines that access to the resource must be suppressed, for example following the detection of a malfunction of the box or because the resource consumption recorded exceeds a threshold value for the client under consideration, during a step 265, the server transmits to the unit under consideration, via the centralizing station and the RS 485 bus, a request to end access to the resource. During a step 270, the box in question commands the opening of the relay associated with it and extinguishes the indicator light. The box then waits for the occurrence of step 275. When, during a step 275, the user disconnects the portable device, during a step 280, the box transmits to the server, via the RS 485 bus and centralizing station:

- identification of the housing,

- the identification of the male electrical plug, - the state of the current counter and / or the pulse counter and

- an operating diagnostic code.

Following step 280, during a step 285, the server accounts for resource consumption for the client considered and, during a step 290, commands the erasure of the data concerning this client in the box under consideration. The unit then waits for the occurrence of a new step 205. During a step 295, either at the end of step 290, or periodically, for example monthly or bimonthly, the server invoices each client and returns to step 205.

Claims

R E V E N D I C A T I O N S

1. Addressable measuring box (120) comprising:

a means of identifying a user (150) - a means of providing a resource (152) according to the identification of the user,

- a means of measuring resource consumption (151)

- a means of communication (155) adapted to transmit:

. user identification information, and. resource consumption measurement information;

a means of connection with a portable device comprising a memory retaining a user identification code, characterized in that: - said connection means is a female socket (153),

- said portable device is a male plug (170), comprising four plugs or studs (171 to 174),

- said memory is an electronic label (175) and

- one (171) of said four cards or pads is used to communicate the identification of the user.

2. Addressable measurement box according to claim 1, characterized in that the communication means is adapted to receive information authorizing access to said resource and the box comprises means for providing said resource which puts the resource available when the means of communication receives said access authorization information.

3. Addressable measuring box according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a means of connection with a portable device comprising a plug.

4. Addressable measuring box according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the means of provision comprises a switch connecting or interrupting access to the resource.

5. Addressable measurement unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the communication means is adapted to transmit information identifying the addressable measurement unit.

6. Addressable measurement box according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the resource consumption measurement means comprises a single-phase or three-phase electricity metering circuit.

7. Addressable measurement unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the resource consumption measurement means comprises a pulse counting circuit. 8. Addressable measuring box according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the communication means is adapted to communicate via a radio transmission. 9. Addressable measurement unit according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the communication means is adapted to communicate by means of carrier current modulation.

0. Addressable measurement unit according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the communication means is adapted to communicate via a dedicated wire line. 11. Addressable measurement unit according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the communication means is adapted to communicate with a centralizing station and / or a server. 12. Portable device (170) characterized in that it comprises: - a means of communication with an addressable measurement box (171);

- a memory (175) retaining a user identification code; and

- a means of access to a resource (172 to 174). 13. Portable device according to claim 12, characterized in that it comprises:

- an electrical supply plug, and

- a memory comprising a non-volatile part keeping a unique identifier. 14. Server (100) or centralizing station, connected to addressable measurement boxes (120), characterized in that it comprises:

- a means of communication (101) with each box adapted to:

. receive user identification information,. transmit information authorizing access to the resource,

. receive resource consumption measurement information, - a means of accounting (103, 104) for each consumption measure in relation to the identification information.

15. Addressable measurement method, characterized in that it comprises:

- a step of identifying a user (215, 220); - a step of providing a resource (235) according to the identification of the user;

- a step of measuring resource consumption (220, 245, 255, 275); and

- a communication step (245, 255, 275) during which its transmitted:

. user identification information, and

. resource consumption measurement information.