WO2009101335A1

WO2009101335A1 - Method of displaying a consumption of a resource

Info

Publication number: WO2009101335A1
Application number: PCT/FR2009/050182
Authority: WO
Inventors: Matthieu Plantey; Pierre Violet
Original assignee: Poweo
Priority date: 2008-02-05
Filing date: 2009-02-05
Publication date: 2009-08-20
Also published as: FR2927180A1

Abstract

In the method, a displaying is instructed, in a widget (110), of data relating to a consumption of a resource consumed directly from a distribution network by an installation.

Description

Method for displaying a consumption of a resource

The invention relates to the consumption of a resource such as an energy resource and in particular the dissemination of information concerning this consumption.

The occupant of an installation, for example a dwelling, is regularly informed of the amount of electric current that he has consumed. This information is communicated to him in the invoices he receives, for example every month or every two months. But many occupants want to better control the amount of power they consume. But the receipt of the invoice with such a periodicity does not allow them to carry out a close control on this subject. In particular, if the invoice reveals that a very high amount of current has been consumed over the corresponding period, it is often difficult to find the exact causes. Faced with this problem, sending bills with greater frequency is not a good solution. Indeed, the generation of more invoices is expensive in itself and leads to a greater number of accounting operations, for both the electricity supplier and the occupant. In addition, it does not seem feasible to provide for a sufficiently high billing frequency to allow the occupant to control his consumption very closely.

An object of the invention is to allow the occupant of an installation to better control his consumption of the resource.

For this purpose, a method is provided according to the invention in which a display in a widget of data relating to a consumption of a resource consumed directly from a distribution network by an installation is controlled.

Thus, the widget is easily accessible to the occupant on the screen of a computer or a digital handheld device such as a telephone or a personal assistant. This access can be done from the installation or remote from it through a telecommunications network such as the Internet. The widget is able to display data received at any time by the telecommunication network. The supplier of the resource can therefore inform the occupant of his consumption with a particularly small delay. Therefore, if the occupant finds a rise in consumption, he can easily identify what are the causes, or even act on these causes if they persist to reduce this consumption. The occupant can therefore better control his consumption of the resource.

The method according to the invention may also have at least one of the following characteristics:

the resource is of an energy nature, for example electric current; at least one of the control and the display takes place at a distance from the installation;

the data are controlled, the data concerning, for example, the consumption between two predetermined dates;

the data relate to different time intervals and a grouping of data relating to the same time interval is controlled;

for at least one time interval, a determination of a maximum value of the data relating to the interval is controlled;

for at least one time interval, a determination is made of at least one consumed quantity value of the resource during the interval; and

the display is controlled by distinguishing data relating to time intervals of less than 24 hours and preferably less than six hours;

Preferably, the display is controlled so that it generates at least one graphical zone consisting of parts associated with respective different conditions of supply of the resource, for example tariff conditions.

Thus, it is possible to display for the same period of time, for example for the same day, quantities of resource consumed during ranges corresponding to different rates. This is for example the distinction between peak hours and full hours. It happens that the rate of the resource is modulated according to the time when it is consumed. The display of the quantities corresponding to the different fractions of the same time interval thus allows the consumer to easily know the quantity consumed for each period. It can for example distinguish whether its consumption has been higher in off-peak hours or in peak hours and adjust in return its future consumption.

Advantageously, the display is controlled so that it takes place at least partly in graphic form, in particular by means of bars.

Preferably, a determination of a representation parameter is controlled from at least some of the data or values, including controlling a determination of greater data or values.

Thus, the graphical representation can be suitably adapted to the values intended to appear therein.

Advantageously, beforehand:

a first server controls a data record in linearized form; and

a second server controls obtaining the data from the first server and delinearing them. Thus, the second server can go as frequently as you want the most recent data on the first server to delineate itself. He is therefore little dependent on the first. The data delinearized by the second server can then be exploited without delay to provide recent information to the client. The service provider associated with this server can therefore inform the occupant of its consumption with a particularly small delay.

A method is also provided according to the invention in which an arrangement of data relating to a consumption of a resource consumed directly from a distribution network by an installation, in a form allowing their display in a widget, is controlled.

According to the invention, a server is also provided which comprises means for controlling an arrangement of data relating to a consumption of a resource consumed directly from a distribution network by an installation, in a form allowing their display in a widget. .

Also provided according to the invention a set which comprises at least one server according to the invention and a database.

Still provided according to the invention a method in which is displayed in a widget data relating to a consumption of a resource consumed directly from a distribution network by an installation.

According to the invention, provision is furthermore made for a device which comprises means able to display in a widget data relating to a consumption of a resource consumed directly from a distribution network by an installation.

In addition, the invention provides a widget capable of displaying data relating to a consumption of a resource consumed directly from a distribution network by an installation.

Finally, according to the invention, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions able to control the implementation of a method according to the invention, a recording medium comprising such a program and the provision of such a program. for download.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following description of a preferred embodiment given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an overall diagram of a system according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating various stages of collection of consumption data in the method implemented by the system of FIG. 1; -AT-

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating various data processing steps implemented by the method according to the invention in the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates a screen on which the processed data are presented; and

- Figures 5 to 8 are views similar to Figure 3 illustrating other series of steps for the data processing in the method according to the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the system according to the invention. This system makes it possible to process data relating to the consumption of a resource within an installation 4. This resource is here consumed by the installation 4 directly from a distribution network 5. This network is typically a network. regional or national supplying several thousand installations such as installation 4, or even more.

The resource is in this case an energy resource. But it could be a resource of another nature such as a fluid such as water. The network would be a network of running water. It could also be a telecommunication network, the resource being for example a connection or communication time or a quantity of data transiting over the network from the installation 4 or to it.

This installation is in this case a dwelling. But it could be alternately professional premises such as offices or a factory. At the installation 4 is associated a subscriber or customer identifier of the network 5.

In the present example, the electric current constituting the resource is consumed by the installation 4 directly from the network 5. This resource is consumed by the various devices present in the installation 4, for example household appliances (washing machines). laundry, dishwasher, television, computer, heaters, refrigerator, etc.).

As will be seen, this system allows the occupant of the installation 4 to know the details of his power consumption shortly after this consumption has taken place.

Collection of data

The system comprises an electrical sensor 6 which constitutes a first module of the system. This sensor is located in the installation 4 and is connected to a teleinformation port of the electronic electricity meter 8 of the client. This first module 6, known in itself, is able to periodically record the value of an index of consumption on the counter 8. This index is directly dependent on the amount of electric current consumed.

The system comprises a second module formed by a transmitter 10. This transmitter is able to communicate via a wireless link with the first module 6 to obtain the index values recorded by the latter. The transmitter 10 is connected, for example by means of a wired link, to a residential gateway 12 of the installation 4. This gateway is in communication with a telecommunications network which is in this case the Internet network 14. This gateway here is an ADSL gateway. In the absence of a high-speed link to the Internet, the method according to the invention can be implemented by means of a conventional telephone line. The second module 10 can thus transmit to the network 14 the index values obtained by the first module 6 on the counter 8.

The system also comprises a third module 16 constituted by a display. This display is formed by a housing provided with a screen and also able to communicate with the transmitter 10, for example by means of a wireless link. The display 16 can be manipulated and carried in the installation 4 by an occupant thereof. It allows the latter to read data relating to the consumption of the installation on the electricity grid.

The first, second and third modules are all present in the installation 4. They each comprise conventional electronic means allowing them to have the operation indicated here and in particular a central unit, means of communication with the other elements of the system. system, where appropriate, display means, etc.

We will now present with their functions the system components that are outside the facility 4 and typically at a great distance from it. If communication with the installation 4 is made necessary, this communication is done in the present example via the telecommunication network 14.

In the present example, the first module 6 reads an instantaneous value of the index on the electronic counter and sends it to the second module 10 every ten minutes. This period could more generally be between one minute and two hours.

The second module 10 stores the indexes thus collected and groups them into a flat file. The indexes are thus linearized and thus unorganized. The module 10 periodically sends the file thus constituted to a device 18 which is in this case a computer such as a server. We will refer to this server as the "front-end server" in this description. This server is able to communicate with the installation 4 by means of the network 14. The role of this server is in this case to collect the indexes it receives from the second module 10. In the present example, the transmission by the module 10 to the front-end server 18 is done every three hours but it could be expected that it is done with a period less than one hour, and for example from the order of a few minutes, or with a longer period, for example ten or fifteen hours. However, it is advantageous if this period is as short as possible. The front-end server thus receives the files of many installations 4, for example from several thousand of these installations.

The front-end server 18 saves these newly obtained data with those already available because of the previous receptions in a file 38 illustrated in FIG. 2. In this case, it retains only the data relating to the last 15 rolling days, but it would be possible to choose a different duration (for example between one day and one month).

The system further comprises a processing device which is in this case a computer such as a server 20 also connected to the other elements of the system via the network 14. This server has the function of obtaining from the front-end server 18 the indexes collected by the latter and to treat them.

The system also comprises a database 22 which records the indexes previously processed by the server 20 and then sent and processed by the latter to the base via the network 14.

We will now at this stage, with reference to Figure 2, illustrate in detail the progress of these different steps. The steps that will be presented are implemented by the processing server 20.

In a first step 24, the server 20 connects to the database 22. If the connection proves impossible to establish, the server abandons the execution of this step and issues an alarm according to predetermined procedures relating to a situation of error in the system.

If the connection could take place, it goes to step 26. During this, the server 20 obtains from the database 22 a list 28 of the customers 4 having subscribed to one of the services associated with the method . This list has been partially illustrated in Figure 2 and includes different lines associated with the respective customers, one per customer. In a first column 30, the list includes a URL address of a storage file 38 to be retrieved, the address beginning with the terms "hÊDllL _..: " • In a second column 32, the list includes the last time stamp of index stored. Recall that a time stamp or "timestamp" is computer time marker for the number of seconds since ^{January 1,} 1970, since in this case a Unix timestamp. For example, the value 1 197116587 corresponds to the date of 08/12/2007 at 12 hours 23 minutes 07 seconds. In a third column 34 entitled "idb", the list includes the identifier of the domestic elements of the system, that is to say in this case modules 6, 10 and 16 of the installation 4. This identifier is constituted by a sequence of alphanumeric characters.

The following steps which will be presented with reference to FIG. 2 each relate to a particular client. These steps are executed for this client, then the process starts again for the next client in list 28.

During a step 36, the processing server 20 consults on the front-end server 18 the index storage file 38 of the client associated with the installation 4. This file is stored in read-only mode on the front-end server 18 in the format http. The processing server 20 reaches this file by the address in the column 30. If the connection to the front-end server is impossible or if the file can not be found, the server 20 abandons the execution of this step for this client and emits an alarm according to the error procedures.

In a next step 40, the processing server 20 proceeds to the complete extraction of the content 42 of this file. If the file is unreadable, the processing server drops the execution of this step and issues an alarm.

In the next step 44, the server 20 proceeds to delineate the data forming this content. It executes for this purpose an "unserialize" function on this content. This is a standard function in PHP. Thus, while the flat file 38 had an unorganized content, the step 44 allows the processing server 20 to organize the data it contains. This data has thus become accessible and readable by the processing server. These data cover the past 15 days. The server therefore selects the data which it did not yet have to update and complete a table 46 relating to the indexes. Table 46 is also entirely associated with the client in question. Each line corresponds to an index value. In a first column 48, is indicated the time stamp and in a second column 50 is indicated the value of the index corresponding to this time stamp. Most of the data in the table were already there because of the previous iteration of the process. The iteration in question here completes the table with the data of the last three hours or with other data that would be missing. If the organization operation fails, the server drops the execution of this step for that client and issues an alarm.

In a next step 52, the processing server 20 connects to the database 22 and accesses the index table associated with the client in question. The server 20 proceeds to the insertion in this table of the time stamps and indexes that come to be organized and for which the time stamp is greater than that indicated in column 32 with reference to step 26. Thus, it does not insert by the couples who are already present in the base 22. If this step of insertion fails, it is aborted and the processing server reports an error.

In a next step 54, the processing server 20 proceeds to the next client of the list 28 and resumes from step 36 the same succession of steps for the next client.

The database 22 may be a database of any type and may be managed by any program. In this case, the database is managed using the program known as "MySQL".

For steps 24 to 54 shown in Figure 2, they are executed for all clients in the list every 30 minutes in this example. Here again, this period could vary between a few minutes and several hours, for example one to five hours. But it is again advantageous that this period be as short as possible. Recall that in this example, the indexes are read every 10 minutes by the module 6 and then once grouped transmitted every 3 hours by the module 10 to the front server 20. The processing server 20 consults the files 38 every thirty minutes and executes with the same period the steps of FIG. 2. The data are thus updated in the base 22 with a delay of only about three and a half hours. We will explain in the following how this data is transmitted and presented to the customer. The further processing is very fast, it follows that the data is presented to the customer with a delay of three hours forty maximum. In other words, the customer is aware of his consumption data only three and a half hours after consumption.

We will now explain how the data is processed and transmitted to the customer for his information. In the present example, several modes of processing and presentation are planned and accumulate in order to allow the customer to become acquainted with different ways of his consumption data.

Display on a widget

We will first explain how the data is processed and presented in order to appear in a widget. We know that a widget is a computer and graphic tool that can obtain information. As illustrated in FIG. 4, it is an interactive object 1 10 comprising a graphic component appearing on a screen 112 of a computer or other digital device, for example in the form of a display application of small format compared to the screen and therefore does not complete the entirety of the latter. In some cases, a widget is separate from a web page. In other cases, a widget forms a web page.

Many environments and operating systems, called widget engines or "widget engine", allow the development and presentation of widgets. This is the case, for example, of the one known as Netvibes. The method according to the invention enables the client to visualize in a widget in graphic form, for example in the form of diagrams or curves, some of its consumption data or the results of a processing of these data.

In this case, three curves are presented:

- the curve of the last 24 hours made from the latest index data collected;

- the curve of the last seven days until the day before the consultation date at midnight and finally

- the curve of the last thirty days also until the day before the consultation at midnight.

These curves are presented in the form of bar charts in this example. The client of the installation 4 accesses this service for example by means of a computer 64 which can be connected to the network 14. This can take place since the installation 4 via the gateway 12.

FIG. 3 shows the various steps for displaying the curve corresponding to the electrical power consumption on the distribution network for the installation 4. These steps are implemented by a device 60 which is in this case a computer such as a server. It too is connected to the network 14. We will designate this server here by the term application server.

In a first step 62, the computer 64 on the client's order connects via the network 14 to the application server 60, which connects to the database 22 via the network 14. An identifier-password pair is sent by the computer to the application server 60, then to the database 22 via the network 14. This sending is done here in a transparent manner for the customer, a registration prior to this service has allowed to set up this procedure.

In a next step 64, the server 60 checks the validity of this identifying pair

- password by comparing them to a login and password saved in advance. If this pair does not correspond to a valid pair or if the connection of the server 60 to the database proves impossible, the server 60 transmits, to the computer 64, an error message instead of the expected image corresponding to the widget.

In the next step 66, the application server 60 obtains from the database 22 the last time stamp recorded for the client 4.

In a next step 68, it designates by "second date" or "date_2" the date indicated by the latter time stamp, and "first date" or "date_1" this date less 24 hours. In other words, the server 60 sets two dates: the most recent, the second, corresponding to the time stamp and the oldest, the first, preceding the second of 24 hours. For example, the first date is 09/10/07 at 12:15 and the second is 10/10/07 at 12:15.

In a subsequent step 70, the application server 60 obtains from the database 22 all the index values of the period between these two dates. These values are given in the form of a table 72 shown in Figure 3. Each column corresponds to a date, the leftmost column being the date_1 and the rightmost column the date_2. The columns between these two dates correspond to the intermediate dates. In the present example, knowing that the first module 6 obtains the index value on the counter 8 every ten minutes, the successive dates are spaced from each other by ten minutes.

In this case, the circumstances of the power supply are taken into account. Here, it is the notion of horosaisonnalité of the index, that is to say according to the contract subscribed by the customer 4, the time at which the consumption of the resource took place. Indeed, in the present example, the electric current is not charged at the same hourly rate according to the time of consumption. In this case, there are three types of rates according to three types of hours: a basic rate that corresponds to the first line of Table 72, a full-time rate corresponding to the second line, and a corresponding off-peak rate. in the third line. Each index belongs to one and only one of these three tariffs. In Table 72, we see that the index of the first date has a value of 10 and corresponds to full hours. In this case, the customer has had the choice to take out a contract in which the billing is done either uniformly with the base rate, or in a way that takes into account off-peak hours. It is this last case which is retained in the following so that the index values for the basic tariff are always at 0.

In a subsequent step 74, the application server 60 obtains from the database 22 a maximum value of each index before the first date. In this case, it obtains a maximum value for each of the horosaisonnalités, that is to say each of the possible tariffs (here in number of three). It operates a selection of these values maximum 80 in a table 76 of the base 22. If no maximum value can be determined, for example if all the indexes are at 0, the maximum value is then set to 0.

In a subsequent step 82, the server 60 performs the division into several successive time slots of the period defined by the two dates. In this case, these tranches each correspond to one hour. It groups together the indexes that are within the same time slot. This processing leads to the production of table 89. Thus, a first column 84 distinguishes the number of the slices thus cut, in a second column 86 the time stamps corresponding to the slice, then in the following columns the respective tariffs with the values of index for each time stamp. It is observed that each slice of the column 84 covers several time stamps, that is to say several lines of the other columns. In the present case, these lines are logically six in each slot, the indexes being read every ten minutes. The first installment thus concerns the index statements that took place on October 9, 2007 from 12:15 pm to 1:05 pm inclusive.

In a subsequent step 88, the application server 60 determines the maximum value of the index in each slot for each rate. In Table 89, these values have been surrounded. It can thus be observed that, for the first tranche, the maximum value of the index in peak hours is 13 and the maximum value of the index in off-peak is 30. For the basic tariff, all the indices being at 0 , the maximum value is 0. Indeed, if all the indexes are at 0 for a certain tariff in a slice, the corresponding maximum value is taken at 0.

In a subsequent step 90, the server 60 proceeds to concatenate the array 89 so as to retain for each slice only the maximum index values. It adds to the concatenated table the maximum index values previously obtained for the period prior to the first date. A table 92 is thus obtained in which the first row corresponds to the maximum values of the indexes before the first date and the following lines correspond to the successive slices. For each line, an index value is shown for the base rate, a value for the peak hour rate and a value for the off-peak rate.

In a subsequent step 94, the server 60 replaces each null index value, if any, by the value of the previous slice. Thus, in Table 92, the index was at 0 for slot 3 in off-peak hours while it was at 33 for slot 2 at the same hourly rate. As a result, there was no power consumption during Unit 3 for this tariff. The index remains in fact unchanged and is thus set to 33. In the next step 96, the server 60 calculates the consumption values for each slot and for each hourly rate. In this case, the consumption for each slice n is equal to the value of the index for that slice minus the index value for the previous slice n-1. This gives a table 97 listing the values of current consumption in kWh for the different hourly rates indicated in columns and for each range indicated online.

In the subsequent step 98, the server 60 calculates the maximum consumption between the two dates defining the period in question for each hourly rate. The calculation of this maximum consumption value will make it possible to adapt the scale of the ordinate axis of the graphical representation in order to make it as clear as possible for its consultation by the customer. For example, one will choose this scale to interrupt the ordinate axis at this maximum value or just above.

Finally, in a step 100, the server 60 proceeds to generate the image by representing in a diagram 102 each slice by a vertical bar. In addition, to take into account the different hourly rates, each bar is subdivided into different fractions stacked corresponding to consumption for different hourly rates. In the diagram 102, 24 bars have thus been displayed successively, the abscissa axis presenting the time divided in 24 hours and the ordinate axis presenting the value of the consumption of electric current. Most of the bars such as the bar 104 are represented with a single color or in one way because they refer to a single hourly rate while other bars such as the bars 106 correspond to the periods during which the hourly rate has changed so that their consumption is fragmented into two parts viewed in a different way. The customer will be able to visualize the amount of current consumed for each rate during this time. This diagram is displayed in the widget 110, itself displayed on the screen 1 12 of the computer 64.

FIG. 5 illustrates the steps implemented by the system for generating in the widget a curve corresponding this time to weekly consumption, that is to say over the last seven days until the day before. midnight compared to the day of the consultation. The steps implemented are identical or similar to those of FIG. 3. Only the steps that vary will be presented hereinafter.

Thus, this time at step 68, the date_1 is chosen to be one week before the second date, date_2, equal to midnight of the previous day.

Table 76 is unchanged from that of Figure 3. In the course of step 82, the division of the period is done this time in daily slices and no longer in time slots. This leads to Table 1 10 similar to Table 89. The first installment covers the time interval between the date of 3/10/07 at 12:15 and 4/10/07 at 12:05. The second installment covers the time interval between 4/10/07 at 12.15 and 5/10/07 at 12.05.

Table 92 is similar to that of Figure 3. The same is true for the following table. At step 96, for the calculation of the consumption by slices, a table 98 similar to that of FIG. 3 is obtained, each slice however being here a daily slice.

Diagram 112 that is obtained is presented in the same way as diagram 102. However, each bar represents here the consumption of a day of the week considered. Each bar can be subdivided into different successive parts stacked one above the other, these different parts referring to consumption obeying different hourly rates.

It can be expected that the consumption curves, rather than being sent to a computer 64, are sent to a portable digital pocket device such as a mobile phone 120 or PDA PDA. This sending can be done via a mobile telephone network by means of at least one antenna 22, this network communicating with the network 14. The device 120 being a handheld device, the customer associated with the installation 4 can be informed its electrical power consumption even if it is in a place far from this installation. This information can be done at the customer's request sent from this phone or on regular dates, the server 60 transmitting to the client on his device 120 spontaneously the aforementioned curves. This sending can be done for example by means of third-generation mobile telephony technology called UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System).

It will be possible to provide data communication by means of a web page other than a widget.

Diffusion by a communicating object

Another aspect of the method according to the invention will be presented with reference to FIG. 6. This time, the consumption information is communicated to the client 4 via an object 122. This is a communicating object of a type known in itself. This object has for example the appearance of a character or an animal. It is without screen. It includes means making it suitable, without the intermediary of a computer, to receive information via the Internet and thus in this case from the network 14 and through the gateway 12. It can in particular connect directly to this gateway by means of a wireless link. Having received this information in the form of a message, he is able to broadcast it in sound form by means of a loudspeaker. It can also send light signals to its immediate environment. It can also have moving parts to simulate gestures. Such an object is for example known as "Nabaztag" in the form of a stylized rabbit capable of shaking the ears. Naturally, the method can be implemented by means of communicating objects other than that of the latter example.

In this aspect of the invention, the system prepares a set of voice messages and the address to the communicating object 122. For this purpose, the manufacturer of this type of object makes available one or more programming interfaces making it possible to exploit the features. These interfaces are known in themselves and will not be described in more detail. For example, two types of messages can be provided. It may be a daily message consisting of a voice announcement by the purpose of the summary of the power consumption of the day before, for example from midnight to midnight. It can also be a weekly message consisting of the verbal announcement by object 122 of the comparison of last week's power consumption (for example the previous seven days) with the power consumption of the previous week (from seven previous fourteen days).

For sending the daily message, the steps implemented are illustrated in Figure 6.

In step 124, the application server 60 connects to the database 22. If this connection is impossible, the server issues an error message to the system operators.

In the subsequent step 126, the server 60 retrieves from the database the list 128 of the customers having subscribed to the daily messaging service by this type of object as well as the data concerning them. These data are grouped together in the different columns of the table 128. Thus, in the first column 130, the identifier of the object 122, in the second column 132 the desired time for the voice announcement, and in the column 134 the desired days for this voice announcement. The time and days will have been previously chosen by the client 4 concerned. This shows that the customer associated with the object of the first line wants a voice announcement at 10 am every day from Monday to Sunday. The customer associated with the subject of the second line wishes a voice announcement at 9:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday only. The customer associated with the third line wants a voice announcement at 7 am from Monday to Friday only. Knowing that the same customer 4 can hold multiple objects 122, several rows of table 128 may relate to the same client 4.

In a subsequent step 136, the server 60 checks a row of the array 128 if the current day and time correspond to the day and time configured for the announcement. If not, which will be the most common case, the server 60 goes to the next line and performs the same check. Once the array 128 has been traversed in this way, the server goes back to the first line of the table. The subsequent step 138 therefore only concerns the case where it has been found that the current date and time correspond to those configured for the announcement.

In this next step 138, the server 60 determines the two deadlines between which the indexes will be retrieved. It associates with the date_2 the date of the current day at midnight and the first date the date_2 minus 24 hours. The first date then precedes 24 hours the second. In this example, the date_1 is October 9, 2007 at midnight and the date_2 is October 10, 2007 at midnight.

In the subsequent step 140, the server 60 obtains from the base 22 the maximum index values of each hourly rate for the time interval between these two dates. Thus, Table 142 shows that the maximum index value is 0 for the base rate, 38 for the peak hour rate and 47 for the off-peak rate. This obtaining of the maximum values is done in the same way as in step 74 of FIG.

In the subsequent step 144, the server 60 obtains from the database 22 the maximum value of the indexes for each hourly rate before the first date. Here, in Table 146 consulted for this purpose, the maximum for the full-time rate is 14 and the maximum for the off-peak rate is 18, the maximum being 0 for the basic rate.

In the subsequent step 148, the server 60 calculates a consumption value for each tariff. For this, for each tariff, it subtracts from the maximum index value of the period the maximum index value before the period. Thus, in Table 150, the index remains at 0 for the base rate. The maximum 14 in Table 146 is removed from maximum 38 of Table 142 to give a consumption value of 24 kWh for the peak hour rate. Similarly, a consumption value of 29 kWh is obtained for the off-peak tariff.

In the subsequent step 152, the server 60 proceeds to form the sound message to be sent to the communicating object, in particular by making the sum of the consumptions for the three tariffs, which corresponds here to 53 kWh. The prepared message is here "Yesterday, you consumed 53 kWh".

In a subsequent step 154, the application server 60 sends via the network 14 this message to a server 158 managing the communication with the communicating objects. 122 and dedicated to them. This server is usually controlled by the manufacturer of these objects. The sending takes place with the identification data of the object 122 of the customer. This sending takes here the form of a request of type http.

In a subsequent step 156, and in practice immediately after the server 158 addresses, via the network 14, a response to the server 60 indicating that this shipment has been properly received by the server. If, on the other hand, no acknowledgment is received by the server 60 or if a message indicating an erroneous reception is received, the application server generates an error message for the operators of the system.

The message appropriately received by the server 158 is then broadcast by the latter via the network 14 to the installation 4. Arriving at the gateway 12, it is sent to the object 122 to be broadcast in sound form within installation 4 to its occupants.

In a subsequent step 158, the application server 60 records the sending date of this message.

Finally, in step 160, the server 60 returns to step 136 and executes the latter by going to the next line of table 128.

FIG. 7 illustrates the stages of the implementation of the method in the case where the announcement made by the communicating object 122 corresponds to the weekly consumption. The steps are similar and only those that differ from that of Figure 6 will be stated. Thus, this time, in the step 162 which follows step 124, the application server 60 retrieves from the database 22 the list 123 of the customers having subscribed to the weekly message service rather than the list 128 of those subscribing to the daily message service. The table 163 therefore comprises, after the first column 164 devoted to the identifier of the communicating object, a second column 166 relating to the time provided for the broadcast of the message and a third column 168 indicating the desired day for the broadcast of the message. message. Thus, as regards the first line, it is expected that the message is sent to the object 122 of the installation 4 every Monday at 10 am.

The step 136 is unchanged with respect to that of FIG. 6. In the step 170 that follows it, the application server 60 determines the three dates between which the data will be recovered, namely the first, second and third dates. The third date is the current day at midnight. The second date precedes the third of seven days and the first date precedes the second of seven days. So, in the present example, the DATE_1 is set at ¹ October 2007 at midnight, the Date_2 is 8 October 2007 midnight and Time_3 is 15 October 2007 at midnight.

In a subsequent step 172, the server 60 obtains the maximum indexes for each period separated by two successive ones of these dates and for each hourly rate. If there is no maximum index value, it is set to 0. Thus, Table 174 shows that for the period between the first included date and the second included date, the value is 0 for the base rate maximum index, 22 for the peak hour maximum index and 47 for the maximum peak hour index. For the following period from date_2 (excluded) to date_3 (included), these values are 0, 38, and 59, respectively.

In a subsequent step 176, the application server 60 determines the maximum value of the indexes before the first date for each hourly rate. As shown in Table 178, these values are 0, 14 and 18, respectively.

In a subsequent step 180, the server 60 calculates the consumption for each hourly rate for each of the two periods of a week by subtracting the period in question from the previous period by the maximum of that period. Thus, for the consumption during the first period defined by the first and second dates, the full-time rate consumption is obtained by removing 14 of 22, which gives 8. At the off-peak rate, it is obtained by removing 18 of 47, which gives 29. Similarly, for the second period (between dates 2 and 3), consumption at the full-time rate is obtained by removing 22 of 38, which gives 16. At the off-peak rate, it is obtained by removing 47 of 59, which gives 12. For both periods, the consumption is zero for the base rate.

In a subsequent step 182, the server 60 proceeds to form the sound message to be sent to the communicating object by comparing the two values of the consumption sums. This message will for example be of the type "This week, you consumed 9 kWh less than the previous week". This is just an example. One could of course provide a more complete or expanded message giving the detail of each consumption for each period.

The following four steps 154, 156, 158 and 160 are the same as those in FIG.

Sending an alert message

It can also be provided that the system is configured to send an alert message to the client of the installation 4 when the consumption of a predetermined period exceeds a threshold previously chosen by this client. This may be for example the consumption of a day. For this purpose, the method whose steps are illustrated in FIG. 8 is executed periodically, for example every 20 minutes. In this case, it is to send an alert message by SMS (Short Message Service).

During a step 200, the application server 60 connects to the database 22.

During a step 202, it obtains the list of the customers having subscribed to this alert service as well as the data concerning them. He thus obtains a table 204 presenting in successive columns 206 the identity of the customer, 208 his telephone number, 210 the threshold of consumption which, once it is crossed, must be used to trigger an alarm, and 212 the date sending the last message.

The following steps are implemented by the server 60 for each line of the table 204. It will therefore be assumed in the following that the first line is processed.

In step 214, the server identifies the last time stamp recorded for that client.

He then determines in step 216 the two deadlines between which the indexes will have to be obtained, namely the first and second dates. The second date is the last registered time stamp and the earliest date is the one closest to the midnight of the day corresponding to the second date as shown in Diagram 217.

In a subsequent step 218, the server 60 obtains the maximum index values for each hourly rate of the period 219 delimited by the dates 1 and 2. On the table 220, it is seen that these maxima for the base rates , peak and off-peak hours are 0, 38 and 47 kWh, respectively.

In the next step 222, the server 60 determines the maximum values of the indexes for each hourly rate before the first date. These maximum values are here identified respectively at 0, 14 and 18 kWh for the three tariffs.

In the next step 224, the server calculates the consumption for the period considered for each hourly rate. For this, it subtracts the maximum preceding the first date from the maximum for the period. Thus, for the full-time rate, it subtracts 14 from 38, which gives a consumption of 24 kWh. Similarly, for the off-peak rate, it subtracts 18 from 47 for a consumption of 29 kWh. The consumption at the basic rate is here nil.

In the next step 226, the server 60 performs the sum of the consumption for the three tariffs which is here 53 kWh, then proceeds to the comparison of this total with the threshold set. In the next step 228, if the threshold is exceeded and if the last sending date is earlier than the first date, then the server 60 prepares the message to be sent. If not, it returns to step 214 and returns table 204 to the next client.

If a message has been prepared, the server 60, in step 230, sends the message to a server 232 dedicated to the dispatch of this type of message, with the customer's telephone number. Such a server 232 dedicated to the management and sending of SMS type messages is known in itself and connected to the network 14. It is through the latter that the server 60 sends the message to him to send .

In a subsequent step 234, the server 232 sends to the application server 60, via the network 14, an acknowledgment of receipt of the message to the server. If this acknowledgment of good reception is not received by the server 60, it reports an error to the operators of the system.

The server 232 also proceeds to send the message to the digital pocket device 120 of the client 14. This message is sent by means of an antenna 122 of a mobile network connected to the Internet network. As previously, the device 120 is a handheld device that can be consulted by its owner in any location, and in particular at a distance from the installation 4.

In step 236, the sending server 60 stores in database table 204 the date the message was sent in order to update the corresponding line of the client.

During step 238, server 60 returns to step 214 and enters the next row of table 204.

This sequence of steps is performed for example every 20 minutes by the server 60 but this period could be chosen at any value between one minute and two hours for example. In the present example, if the threshold is exceeded more than once in the day, the message is not sent each time the steps of FIG. 8 are executed.

The method (s) just presented are implemented by the servers and / or devices and devices that have been discussed. These, including servers, include for this purpose means for this implementation such as CPU, clock, memory, sending and receiving data on the network 14, etc. The execution of or processes is controlled by the instructions of a program stored in these servers, devices and / or devices according to the steps implemented. These programs may also be recorded on a conventional recording medium such as a DVD. In addition, provision is made for these programs to be Internet for download, such as downloading an update version, this download may be restricted to be reserved for authorized persons.

Thus, as can be seen, the consumption data, after having been collected and processed, can be communicated to the natural person corresponding to the installation 4 in various forms, whether they are widgets appearing on the computer 64 or on the device 120, sound messages broadcast by the object 122 or alert messages sent to the device 120.

The method makes it possible to get close enough to a true synchronism situation between the reality that is measured (namely the indexes on the counter) and the information actually available in the database 22 then sent to the client associated with installation 4. Naturally, this synchronism is only approached and is not reached to the extent that we must take into account:

the frequency of the reading of the indexes at the electronic counter 8 of the client;

the frequency of collection of these data by the second module 10 for sending them to the front-end server 18;

the frequency of data recovery by the processing server 20; and finally

the frequency of execution of the steps of FIGS. 3 and 5 to 8, as the case may be. However, by cumulating these different frequencies, which are in the present example set respectively at 10 minutes (index reading), 3 hours (collection frequency), 30 minutes (recovery from the front-end server), we obtain according to the mode communication to the customer a delay between 3 hours 40 minutes and 4 hours. The person responsible for the installation 4 is for example informed with a reasonable delay and relatively brief that the consumption threshold has been crossed.

Of course, we can bring to the invention many changes without departing from the scope thereof.

At least some of the data communicated and / or displayed could include amounts of resource amount invoiced, for example in euros, rather than indications of quantity consumed in units, for example in kWh.

Independently of the other characteristics of the method, provision may be made to control the display of the consumption data of a resource so that it generates at least one graphic zone consisting of parts associated with respective different conditions of supply of the resource, by example of tariff conditions.

Claims

1. A method characterized by controlling a display, in a widget (1 10), of data relating to a consumption of a resource consumed directly from a distribution network (5) by an installation (4) .

2. Method according to the preceding claim wherein the resource is of energy nature, for example electric current.

3. Method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one of the control and display takes place at a distance from the installation (4).

4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one controls a data obtaining, the data relating for example the consumption between two predetermined dates.

5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the data relates to different time intervals and controls a grouping of data relating to the same time interval.

6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein for at least one time interval a determination of a maximum value of the data relating to the interval is controlled.

7. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein for at least one time interval, a determination of at least one consumed quantity value of the resource during the interval is controlled.

8. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the display is controlled by distinguishing data relating to time intervals of less than 24 hours and preferably less than six hours.

9. Method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the display is controlled so that it generates at least one graphic zone consisting of parts associated with different respective conditions of supply of the resource, for example tariff conditions.

10. Method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the display is controlled so that it takes place at least partly in graphical form, in particular by means of bars.

A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a determination of a representation parameter is controlled from at least some of the data or values, including controlling a determination of a larger data or data. values.

12. Method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein in advance:

a first server (18) controls a data record in linearized form; and

a second server (20) controls obtaining data from the first server and delinearing them.

13. A method characterized in that controls a data arrangement relating to a consumption of a resource consumed directly from a distribution network (5) by an installation (4), in a form allowing their display in a widget (110).

14. Server (60) characterized in that it comprises means for controlling an arrangement of data relating to a consumption of a resource consumed directly from a distribution network (5) by an installation (4), under a form for displaying them in a widget (110).

15. A set comprising at least one server (60) according to the preceding claim and a database (22).

16. A method characterized in that displays in a widget (1 10) data relating to a consumption of a resource consumed directly from a distribution network (5) by an installation (4).

17. Widget (1 10) characterized in that it is able to display data relating to a consumption of a resource consumed directly from a distribution network (5) by an installation (4).

18. Computer program comprising instructions able to control the implementation of a method according to any one of claims 1 to 13 and 16.

19. Device (64, 120) characterized in that it comprises a program according to claim 18 for displaying in a widget (1 10) data relating to a consumption of a resource consumed directly from a network distribution (5) by an installation (4).

Recording medium comprising a program according to claim 18.

21. Provision of a program according to claim 18 for download.