WO2015019337A1

WO2015019337A1 - A cloud based semi-utility distribution management and monitoring system

Info

Publication number: WO2015019337A1
Application number: PCT/IB2014/064209
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jaganmohan REDDY; G.suresh REDDY
Original assignee: Reddy Jaganmohan
Priority date: 2013-08-03
Filing date: 2014-09-03
Publication date: 2015-02-12

Abstract

Exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is directed towards a cloud based semi-utility distribution management and monitoring system. The system comprising at least one sensor module configured in one or more measurement end points to detect a semi-utility data requested by an authenticated user, a virtual server in communication with the one or more measurement end points configured to collect the detected; processed; configured; stored; and computed semi-utility data through a data communication network and one or more client devices in communication with the virtual server configured to receive the stored semi-utility data through the data communication network for rendering the semi-utility data to the one or more client devices in the form of displays, maps and reports.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001 ] The present disclosure generally relates to the field of utility distribution network. More specifically the present disclosure relates to a cloud based semi-utility distribution management and monitoring system.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Conventionally, utility companies (i.e., water, electricity, and gas) bill a customer by reading meters that are disposed at the customer's premises. In most canal water distribution systems, transformers monitoring system, and city gas distribution system and the like, the utility meters are placed at the outside of the various distribution management systems and these are visually inspected by utility company employees to collect utility usage data., in order to save the costs associated with sending these employees out on monthly meter reading trips, some utility companies estimate charges based on previous consumption. However, this has proven problematic for some customers as they can be charged more during the months when charges are estimated than for actual consumption. Accordingly, there have been proposals to reduce the labour involved in collecting utility usage data. And also the data collected in manual on papers/books is prone to errors and loss or manipulation.

[0003] Typically, to reduce the labour involved in collecting usage data many types of "Automatic Meter Reading" (AMR) and Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) technologies have been proposed to overcome the disadvantages associated with manual meter readings taken by utility company employees. AMR expedients include handheld, mobile and network technologies based on telephony platforms, radio frequency (RF), or power line transmission. This existing system employ various infrastructures for collecting meter data from meters that measure usage of resources, such as gas, water, and electricity. For example, some automated systems obtain data from meters using a fixed wireless network that includes, for example, a central node (e.g., a collection device) that is in communication with a number of endpoint nodes. Mostly these type of "Automatic Meter Reading" (AMR) and Advanced Metering infrastructure (AMI) technologies are applicable in the previously used "Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition" (SCADA) systems. But the application of the SCADA is a costly affair and needs support staff to maintain.

[0004] Other AMI or AMR systems use a mobile collection device to collect meter data. Communications can be conducted between the collection devices through repeaters to meters that

9 can be referred to as endpoint nodes. Data can be extracted from, meters and networks using various communication protocols. At an endpoint node, wireless communication circuitry may be incorporated into the meters themselves. Meters may be interrogated, via wireless communication circuitry, in order to retrieve meter data from the meters. For example, walk-by or drive-by reading systems may use radio communications from a mobile collector device to interrogate meters. Current approaches to interrogating meters lack efficiency. For example, network resources are often misallocated during mobile interrogation. The present technology does not provide an easy way to analyze the past data for future forecasting and planning purposes.

[0005] Typically, in order to provide an easy access of past data large initial capital is requires setting up information and communication system.. The present information and communication system need skilled resources to operate and maintain. But the current systems were designed at the time, when the technology advancements in communication technologies are not yet matured. Thus the utilities industry itself is moving from, large projects to operational optimization. As the size or number of the end devices increase, the amount of processing, memory will also increase. These demands are likely to increase. In order to meet these demands, the utility providers have to substantially increase the investments and infrastructure capacity. The cost, complexity increases multifold to improve the overall system fault tolerance, redundancy, security, disaster recovery, technology upgrades, hardware refresh.

[0006] In the light of aforementioned discussion there exists a need of a cloud based semi-utility distribution management and monitoring system.

BRE1F SUMMARY

[0007] The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding to the reader. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure and it does not identify key/critical elements of the invention or delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts disclosed herein in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

[0008] A more complete appreciation of the present invention and the scope thereof can be obtained from the accompanying drawings which are briefly summarized below and the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments. [0009] An exemplary objective of the present disclosure is to easily transmit/port data collected by one or more measurement end points from one virtual server to another virtual server depending on the basic architecture of the semi-utility distribution management and monitoring system.

[0010] Another exemplary objective of the present disclosure is to host the semi-utility distribution management and monitoring system in a large public cloud or a small/large private cloud.

[0011 ] Another exemplary objective of the present disclosure is to maintain the performance of the semi-utility distribution management and monitoring system irrespective of the type of the cloud used.

[0012] Further, another exemplary objective of the present disclosure is to provide a solution to a semi-utility of a canal management system through an application.

[0013] Still, another exemplary objective of the present disclosure is to utilize an application based on the shared infrastructure and architected as a software model. The measurement end point included in the architecture is a combination of multiple aspects like sensing, data processing, data logging and communications.

[0014] Yet, another exemplary objective of the present disclosure is to provide a web based configuration and reporting infrastructure.

[0015] Still, another exemplary objective of the present disclosure is to enable the user to save the battery life of the measurement end points and cost of the communication and also to utilize the existing manpower in a meanigful way.

[0016] Exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is directed towards to a cloud based semi- utility distribution management and monitoring system. According to a first aspect, the system includes at least one sensor module configured in one or more measurement end points to detect a semi-utility data requested by an authenticated user. The detected semi-utility data to be processed, configured, stored and computed based on the data required by the user. The one or more measurement end points configured to store the semi-utility data for a specific period of time and to be obliterated in first in and first out basis. Further, the one or more measurement end points embedded with a local display system to display the detected semi-utility data locally. [0017] According to the first aspect, the system, includes a virtual server in communication with the one or more measurement end points configured to collect the detected; processed; configured; stored; and computed semi-utility data through a data communication network. The semi-utility data collected by the virtual server processed and stored. Further, the system includes a gateway comprising a data collection module; a data validation module; and a data aggregation module is in communication with the one or more measurement end points and the one or more data communication networks configured to collect the semi-utility data from the one or more measurement end points and transmitted to the virtual server.

[0018] According to the first aspect, the system includes one or more client devices in communication with the virtual server configured to receive the stored semi-utility data through the data communication network. The received semi-utility data rendered to the one or more client devices in the form of displays, maps and reports to the authenticated user for visualizing the status of the semi-utility data. The one or more client devices comprising a billing management module, sales management module, asset management module and a service module to generate semi-utility data related to billing; sales; and services. The semi-utility data generated related to the billing, sales and services to be rendered to the one or more client devices in the form of displays, reports and maps.

[0019] According to a second aspect, a method for processing a cloud based semi-utility distribution management and monitoring system is disclosed. According to the second aspect, the method includes detecting a semi-utility data corresponding to a request generated by an authenticated user by using a sensor module embedded within one or more measurement end points. The detected semi-utility data to be processed, configured, stored and computed based on the required configuration.

[0020] According to the second aspect, the method includes collecting the semi-utility data detected, processed, configured, stored and computed at the one or more measurement end points by a virtual server in communication with the one or more measurement points through one or more data communication networks.

[0021 ] According to the second aspect, the method includes processing and storing the collected semi-utility data corresponding to the one or more measurement end points in the virtual server and transmitted to an authenticated user depending on a request generated by the user. [002,2] According to the second aspect, the method includes receiving the semi-utility data stored in the virtual server by one or more client devices through the one or more data communication networks.

[0023] According to the second aspect, the method includes rendering the semi-utility data received by the one or more client devices in the form of displays, maps and reports over an interface of the authenticated user for visualizing the status of the semi-utility data.

BREIF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[00241 Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals have been used to designate like elements, and wherein:

[0025] FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting a cloud based semi-utility distribution management and monitoring system..

[0026] FIG. 2 is a diagram depicting a process of a measurement end point. [0027 ] FIG. 3 is a diagram depicting a process monitored by a virtual server.

[0028] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram depicting a method for processing a cloud based semi-utility distribution management and monitoring system.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION

[0029] It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The present disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0030] The use of "including", "comprising" or "having" and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. The terms "a" and "an" herein do not denote a limitation of quantity but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. Further, the use of terms "first", "second", and "third", and the like, herein do not denote any

[0031 ] Referring to FIG. 1 is a block diagram 100 depicting a cloud based semi-utility distribution management and monitoring system. According to a non limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the cloud based semi-utility distribution management and monitoring system, including the measurement end points 110a, 110b and 110c configured to detect a semi-utility data corresponding to a request generated by an authenticated user by utilizing a sensor module embedded within the measurement end points 110a, 110b and 110c.

[0032] According to a non limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the semi- utility is a. segment used to operate upstream of utilities and downstream, of industries related to generation or processing or storage or exploration which may include but not limited to a water, electricity and gas and the like. In case of water, the semi-utility is the distribution system of canals, in case of electricity, the semi-utility is a segment operated from the substations to the domestic meters which may include but not limited to transformers and the like. In case of gas, the semi- utility is the segment of the business between custody transfer meters to the domestic gas meters. The measurement end point is a device which is a combination of many subsystems in small scale. In traditional industry, there exists a sensor, transmitter, communication equipment and data logger to sense a physical variable, process the signals, manipulate, store and communications etc for remote data collection and transfer. But if the scale of the system is small, then the above said system, is economically infeasible. The end point is a device that is a combination of ail the above in one unit and does the same functions as mentioned above.

[0033] In accordance with a non limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the measurement end points 1 10a, 110b and 110c is powered through a power supply management which may include but not limited to a local power supply, a solar based power supply module, a battery system and the like to collect the semi-utility data by using the telephone, cellular, internet protocol, satellite communication networks and the like. The collected semi-utility data is detected by using the sensor module embedded in the measurement end points 110a, 1 10b and 110c. The detected semi-utility data is processed by a signal processing module and configured in a predetermined manner by using a configuration module embedded in the measurement end points 110a, 110b and 110c. The configured semi-utility data is recorded in a data logging module and transmitted to a virtual server 106 through a data communication network 108. The measurement end points 110a, 110b and 110c are also provided with a local display system to display the configured semi-utility data. The data communication network 108 may include but not limited to a cellular' access, internet access, a gateway and the like.

[0034] According to a non limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the cellular access is used to directly establish a communication between the measurement end points 110a and 110b and the virtual server 106 or indirectly through both the internet access and cellular access. The cellular access is used to establish a communication by utilizing the http based application layer for accessing the semi-utility data requested by the authenticated user. The cellular access may include technologies but not limited to a global system, for mobile communication, general packet radio service, third generation, fourth generation and the like. The semi-utility data collected by the measurement end points 110a, 110b and 110c is provided to the user based on periodic schedule or on demand basis. The collected semi-utility data is stored in the measurement end points 110a, 110b and 110c for a specific period of time irrespective of information being transmitted or not. The information stored in the device gets obliterated after a specific period of time on first in first out basis. Further the measurement end points 110a, 110b and 110c is enabled to communicate with the virtual server 106 through a gateway 1 12 communicating with the internet access.

[0035] In accordance with a non limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the gateway 112 is used as an intermediate system, for collecting semi-utility data from the measurement end points 110a, 110b and 110c through a data collection module included in the gateway 112. The gateway subsystem 112 also includes a data aggregation module, which is used to aggregate the collected semi-utility data and validate the collected semi-utility by the data validation module based on the requested generated by the user. Further the validated data to be sent to the virtual server 106 for processing and storing the semi-utility data.

[0036] According to a non limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the semi- utility data transmitted from the measurement end points 110a, 110b and 110c to the virtual server 106 is collected by the data collection module included in the virtual server 106. The collected data is processed through a data processing module embedded in the virtual server 106 and stored in. a database. The virtual server 106 also includes a configuration module to configure the collected data, data aggregation module to aggregate the collected semi-utility data and validate the collected semi-utility data by using the data validation module based on the requested generated by the user.

The virtual server 106 further includes an alarm management module to generate an alarm for an excessive usage of semi-utility than the planned usage, a display module to display the processed semi-utility data locally and a calculation module to calculate the received semi-utility data in a predetermined configuration.

[0037] in accordance with a non limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the virtual server 106 also includes an event management module to report the event updated in the system, a report management module used to support the user in generating reports on the semi- utility data and maps management module to generate maps corresponding to the semi-utility data required by the user. The distribution management system integrated with the third party system to collect the information and render to the users for timely help. For example, in the case of water management the information of the weather is very important arid becomes a key decision making pointer. The weather information in general is available in the internet and each of the measurement end points is mapped to the location information and configured to be displayed along with the end point parameters.

[0038] According to a non limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the semi- utility data stored in the virtual server 106 is collected by the client devices 102a, 102b, 102c and 102d based on the request generated by the user though a data communication network 104. The data communication network 104 also may include but not limited to a cellular access, internet access, a gateway subsystem and the like. The client device 102a communicating with the virtual server 106 through the data communication network 104 may be referred as an internet access. The client device 102a is used by the advanced users, which includes the features of thin client additional features meant for sales, services and maintenance functions. The client device 102a including a billing management module to bill the business operations, a sales management module to provide information related to sales, an asset management module to provide information of downstream utilities like assets related to state of motors, pumps, gates and the like for the water management system and a service module to generate data related to the services provided by the down stream utilities. The semi-utility data generated related to bills, sales and services in the client device is rendered in the form of displays, maps, reports and the like over a user interface.

[0039] In accordance with a non limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the client device 1.02a, 102b and !.02c includes one or more processors and memory and applications used to render the semi-utility data over a user interface to present some or all of the processed data on a display of the corresponding client device. The client device 102b is an internet browser based client device used for providing the information such as reports, displays and maps and the like of the semi-utility from any computer with internet connectivity with a supported browser. Access to such information is subjected to successful authentication of the user and the information is rendered as displays, graphics, reports and maps. The data requested or related to the client device 102c is provided to the authenticated user from the virtual server 106 through a cellular' access of the data communication network 104. The client device 102c may include but not limited to a mobile, tablet, computing device and the like provided with a loaded mobile application of an open/ proprietary source based mobile operating system. The applications developed for the corresponding mobile operating system may include but not limited to an android and the like are used for providing the information.

[0040] According to a non limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the information provided is rendered in the form of displays, maps, graphs and reports and the like. Further the data requested or related to the client device 102d stored in the virtual server 106 is rendered to a user with mobile, tablet, some other computing device and the like with proprietary mobile applications. The mobile applications can be apple IOS where in the application developed will be uploaded to render the information in the form of displays, maps, graphs, reports and the like. For example, in case the semi-utility data requested by the user is water, then the semi-utility data rendered may include the geographical map of the physical location of the corresponding measurement end points 110a, 110b and 110c. Also the semi-utility data rendered in the form of report may include the options to select location of the corresponding measurement end point, time scale, a group of measurement end points 110a, 110b and 110c and the like, if the semi-utility data rendered in the form of graphics may include but not limited to colours and parameter displays/values and the like.

[0041 ] in accordance with a non limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the features included in the cloud based semi-utility distribution management and monitoring system are capable of working by the support of the system or administrator end. The data available on virtual server 106 has the ability of being stored and recovered based on need basis and can be ported on other virtual cluster with ease and is also capable of recovering from disaster. The client devices 102a, 102b, 102c and 102d to be integrated with a portable application to view the semi- utility data related to water distribution, weather information, power distribution, gas distribution and the like. The administrator also should have the capability to integrate with and view DAM monitoring system, weather monitoring system, device health state, canal water level, water quality, Major crops in a given area, total area under cultivation and the like. Further a feedback to be provided to the administrator regarding semi-utility distribution which may include but not limited to a recommended water supply to a specific area and the like. These recommendations are mainly based on type of crops cultivated, total area under cultivation, ground water reserves in a specific area, rainfall in the given area over a period and the like. Thus based on the privileges of above clients, the users are able to access the data.

[0042] According to a non limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the client device 102a, 102b and 102c included in the semi-utility distribution management and monitoring system may include but not limited to a mobile, tablet, computing device and the like provided with a loaded mobile application of an open/ proprietary source based mobile operating system or can be installable from the internet. The loaded mobile application is viewed by selecting a predetermined icon and the measurement end points 110a, 110b and 110c are assigned with specified numbers of the mobile users in the virtual server 106 by an administrator. The user can select a specific measurement end point from the list of approved mesurement end points 110a, 110b and 110c with access previlages granted by the administrator. For convenience, system. 100 is discussing three measurement end points 110a, 110b and 110c. However it should be understood that in practise there may be any number of measurement end points as similar as the measurement end points 110a, 110b and 110c which can be included in the system. Therefore the present disclosure is not limited in the number of measurement end points that may be included and/or supported by a semi- utility distribution management and monitoring system consistent with the disclosed embodiments. Thus, the data collected by the measurement end points 110a, 110b and 110c are rendered in the application as a plain text or a table or graph. The initial web page of the application displays the current average of a measurement end point at the time of selection in the form a tree provided with an average hourly data and also the mobile application can display the average of the previous day, upto a week. Further, the loaded mobile application is used to read the data collected by the measurement end points 1.10a, 110b and 110c provided with a short distance communication protocols whcih may include but not limited to Zigbee or RF antennas and the like and upload the collected data to the database hosted in virtual server 106 for rendering the data to the respective mobile application users.

[0043 J According to a non limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, for example, the user is able to only view the details of the parameters such as water level and rainfall data, policy and decision makers should also be capable of view only access, in case of engineers and system integrators, they are able to control sub systems to a limited extent with proper notification to administrator about the action is performed, for example a maintenance being performed in specific area/calibration of a device online. The authenticated user provides the next level of details after navigation through the maps and the client devices are capable of providing a dashboard of critical information for the favourite's devices or units. The client devices renders the overall information in a logical format like a tree structure or unit wise navigation and the changes in the system configuration and changes to the parameter values are recorded. The signal from flumes, weirs of various varieties is collected and the flow rate is calculated and the units for the calculation is automatically converted by the software based calculation engine and the configuration to be provided as type of measurement, coefficients and units of measurements.

[0044] In accordance with a non limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, any change in unit of measurement shall calculate all the old values into current format and the created user names are used to associate the units to the individual items or group of groups. The data associated to the individuals is transmitted as an email in the form of reports from one user to another user. Thus the data obtained from sensors tiirough the measurement end points is distributed over a wide geographical area and then represent over distributed management system, under various graphical displays. The diagnostics of each sensor or measurement end point to be provided online and they should be saved in database as archive for future references and also the user should be able to provide the basic maintenance. Then the user is able to generate event reports on the basis of diagnostics and the geographical location view and actual system view is provided to the corresponding user.

[0045] Referring to FIG 2 is a diagram 200 depicting a process of a measurement end point. According to a non limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the measurement end point is powered through a power supply and management 202 which may include but not limited to a local power supply, a solar based power supply module, a battery system and the like to collect the semi-utility data. The data related to the semi-utility is collected by using a telephone communication 208, cellular communication 204, internet protocol communication 206 and satellite communication 210.

[0046] In accordance with a non limiting exempiaiy embodiment of the present disclosure, the semi-utility is a segment used to operate upstream, of utilities and downstream of industries related to generation or process or exploration which may include but not limited to a water, electricity and gas and the like. The measurement end point configured in the semi-utility management system is software downloaded from the semi-utility automation system and it is also diagnosed remotely from the semi-utility automated system. The measurement end point is representative of a system including one or more processes configured to convert digital communication with each other to memory. The memory stores software or firmware modules which are executed on one or more processes.

[0047] According to a non limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a senor module 220 included in the measurement end point configured to detect a semi-utility data corresponding to a request generated by an authenticated user. The detected semi-utility data is processed by a signal processing module 218 and configured in a predetermined manner by using a configuration module 216 embedded in the measurement end point. The configured semi-utility data to be recorded in a data logging module 214 and configured to be stored for a specific period of time. The semi-utility data collected by the corresponding measurement end point is provided to the user based on periodic schedule or on demand basis. The collected semi-utility data is stored in the measurement end point for a specific period of time irrespective of information being transported or not. The information stored in the device gets obliterated after a specific period of time on first in first out basis. The collected data is transmitted to a virtual server through a communication module 212, embedded in the measurement end point. Further, the measurement end point is also provided with a local display system to locally display the configured semi-utility data. Thus the collected information to be transmitted to the semi-utility distribution management and monitoring system directly through a general packet radio services, internet protocol and general packet radio services modem local aggregation.

[0048] In accordance with a non limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, for example if the semi-utility is considered as a water, the semi-utility data detected by the sensor module 220 embedded in the measurement end point may include but not limited to a flow, level, temperature of water and the like. In case of electricity, the semi-utility data detected by the sensor module 220 may include but not limited to transmission of power, consumption of power, services, bills and the like. In case of gas, the semi-utility data detected by the sensor module 220 may include but not limited to gas meters, domestic gas meters, custody transfer gas meters, gas volume, gas pressure and temperature, calorific values and the like. Further measurement end point also generates an alarm or sends a notification to the distribution management system for replacing the battery.

[0049] Referring to FIG. 3 is a diagram 300 depicting a process monitored by a virtual server. According to a non limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the semi-utility data transmitted to the virtual server is collected by the data collection module 306 is inbound, outbound, manual and scheduled. The collected data is processed through a data processing module 304 embedded in the virtual server and stored in a database 302. The database 302 of the semi utility distribution management system is backed up and restored in other system for disaster recovery purposes. The virtual server also includes a configuration module 312 to configure the collected data and aggregate the collected semi- utility data through a data aggregation module 310. Further the aggregated data is validated by using the data validation module 308 based on the requested generated by the user.

[0050] In accordance with a non limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the virtual server includes an alarm management module 318 to generate an alert to the users on the certain usage profiles and regulations. For example in case of a water management system, the system can generate an alarm if the flow is more than planned or can force an action if the cumulative usage is more than planned or anticipated. The generated alarms to be reported as per diagnostics and privilege based access should be provided. The virtual server including the display 316 configured to display the information collected from the measurement end points in the form of trends and future forecasts. The trends configured to be representative in different formats and configured colours for the selected end points. The forecasts of the data are displayed based on the analysis from the system using standard forecasting algorithms.

[0051] According to a non limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the calculation module 324 included in the virtual server configured to calculate the parameters and provide a calculation on demand/supply and provides a forecasted demand and supply for the decision makers to plan the distribution after the earlier plans based on the information. The semi-utility data is calculated by using the mathematical formula and store in the form of usable data. The calculated units performed for the calculation are automatically converted by the software based calculation engine and the mathematical calculation of unit conversions and the like are performed through online. The virtual server also includes an event management module 314 to report the event inside the system to the automation system and also the users are enabled to generate event reports on the basis of diagnostics. The report management module 320 included in the virtual server configured to report the scheduled periodic data to the users in the form of short messaging service, email, FTP based file transfer and the like and also the reporting format is customizable as per the need of the report subscriber. The distribution management system can provide the data in the form of reports to the users and general web users. The report generation can be automatic, scheduled or manual or on demand basis and the generated reports are to be mailed from one user to another user. Further the virtual server including a map management module 322 configured to render the geographical map of the physical location of measurement end point through which the semi-utility data is collected. [0052] Referring to FIG. 4 is flow diagram 400 depicting a method for processing a cloud based semi-utility distribution management and monitoring system. According to a non limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the method of processing the cloud based semi- utility distribution management and monitoring system starts at step 402 by detecting a semi-utility data corresponding to a request generated by an authenticated user by using a sensor module embedded within the measurement end points. The detected semi-utility data to be processed, configured, stored and computed based on the required configuration.

[0053] In accordance with a non limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the detected, processed, configured, stored and computed semi-utility data is collected by a virtual server at step 404. The semi-utility data is collected by the virtual server by communicating with measurement end points through data communication network. At step 406 the collected semi- utility data corresponding to the measurement end points is processed and stored in the virtual server and transmitted to an authenticated user in accordance with the generated request. Next at step 408 the transmitted semi-utility data to be received by the client devices through the data communication network by establishing a communication between the virtual server and the client devices. Further at step 410 the received semi-utility data to be rendered over the corresponding user interfaces of the client devices in the form of displays, maps, graphics and records.

[0054] While specific embodiments of the disclosure have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the inventive principles, it will be understood that the disclosure may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

Claims

hat is claimed is

1. A cloud based semi-utility distribution management and monitoring system, comprising: at least one sensor module configured in one or more measurement end points to detect a semi-utility data requested by an authenticated user, whereby the detected semi-utility data to be processed; configured; stored; and computed based on the required configuration; a virtual server in communication with the one or more measurement end points configured to collect the detected; processed; configured; stored; and computed semi-utility data through a data communication network, whereby the semi-utility data collected by the virtual server processed; and stored; and one or more client devices in communication with the virtual server configured to receive the stored semi-utility data through the data communication network, whereby the received semi-utility data rendered to the one or more client devices in the form, of displays; maps; and reports to the authenticated user for visualizing the status of the semi-utility data.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein a gateway in communication with the one or more measurement end points and the one or more data communication networks configured to collect the semi-utility data from the one or more measurement end points and transmit to the virtual server.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the gateway comprising a data collection module; a data validation module; and a data aggregation module for validating and aggregating the semi- utility data collected from the one or more measurement end points.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more client devices comprising a billing management module; sales management module; asset management module; and a service module to generate semi-utility data related to billing; sales; and services.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the semi-utility data generated related to the billing; sales; and services to be rendered to the one or more client devices in the form of displays; reports; and maps.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more measurement end points configured to store the semi-utility data for a specific period of time and to be obliterated in first in and first out basis.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more measurement end points embedded with a local display to display the detected semi-utility data locally.

8. A method for processing a cloud based semi-utility distribution management and monitoring system, the method comprising: detecting a semi-utility data requested by an authenticated user by using an at least one sensor module configured in one or more measurement end points, whereby the detected semi-utility data to be processed; configured; stored; and computed based on the required configuration; collecting the detected; processed ; configured; stored; and computed semi-utility data by a virtual server in communication with the one or more measurement end points through a data communication network; processing; and storing the collected semi-utility data, corresponding to the one or more measurement end points in the virtual server and transmitted to an authenticated user depending on a request generated by the user; recei ving the stored semi-utility data by one or more client devices in communication with the virtual server through the data communication network; and rendering the semi-utility data received by the one or more client devices in the form of displays; maps; and reports over an interface of the authenticated user for visualizing the status of the semi-utility data.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising a step of rendering the semi-utility data to the one or more client devices based on a predetermined periodic schedule; and on demand basis.

10, The method of claim, 8, further comprising a step of rendering the semi-utility data stored in the virtual server to the one or more client devices authenticated by one or more users depending on the proprietary of one or more mobile applications.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising a step of rendering the semi-utility data associated with a geographical map of the physical location of the one or more measurement end points.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising a step of rendering the semi-utility data in the form of a report includes the options to select the location of the one or more measurement end points; time scale; and a group of the one or more measurement end points.