WO2022238885A1 - System, method and device for time-of-use metering - Google Patents

System, method and device for time-of-use metering Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2022238885A1
WO2022238885A1 PCT/IB2022/054322 IB2022054322W WO2022238885A1 WO 2022238885 A1 WO2022238885 A1 WO 2022238885A1 IB 2022054322 W IB2022054322 W IB 2022054322W WO 2022238885 A1 WO2022238885 A1 WO 2022238885A1
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Prior art keywords
utility
time
utility meter
interface device
back end
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PCT/IB2022/054322
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French (fr)
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WO2022238885A9 (en
Inventor
Ayal ROSENBERG
Pieter VENTER
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Webill (Pty) Limited
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Publication of WO2022238885A1 publication Critical patent/WO2022238885A1/en
Publication of WO2022238885A9 publication Critical patent/WO2022238885A9/en

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q10/00—Administration; Management

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a time-of-use metering system, method and utility meter interface device, more particularly to a time-of-use metering system, method and utility meter interface device for a pre-paid utility.
  • Utility in the present context is to be understood as electricity, water, gas or any municipal service which is supplied to a point of delivery within an area at a per unit charge rate.
  • An area can be understood as any area for which a time-of-use utility tariff scheme of a utility supplier is provided, the time-of- use utility tariff scheme defining per unit charge rates over units of time within a period of time.
  • time-of-use metering refers to the monitoring of utility usage at a point of delivery, as measured by a utility meter, specifically for purposes of establishing consumption over the unit of time for which the time-of-use utility tariff scheme defines a per unit charge rate, and thereby calculating a corresponding charge.
  • electricity demand can fluctuate over a 24-hour period as well as over a year period. Over a 24-hour period, higher electricity demand coincides with when a majority of consumers within the area are using electricity at the same time, such as in the morning and in the evening.
  • time-of-use utility tariff schemes provide for per unit charge rates for a point of delivery varying over a period of time, such as a 24-hour period, increasing the per unit charge rate for a utility within a unit of time, such as an hour, during which there is a higher utility demand in the area.
  • This per unit charge rate can further be dependent on factors including the time of day, the time of year, the area, the availability of the utility and climatic conditions.
  • a pre-paid utility time-of-use metering system comprising: a back end remote from a point of delivery of a utility, the remote back end comprising a business intelligence module for, at unit of time T intervals: establishing a utility unit consumption of the utility over a last unit of time T interval for the point of delivery from output data received by the remote back end, the output data comprising a utility usage measured by a utility meter associated with the point of delivery, calculating a charge for the utility unit consumption from a time-of-use tariff scheme defining a per unit charge rate for the point of delivery over the last unit of time T interval, - attempting to debit from a balance of a digital wallet associated with the point of delivery the charge at the end of the unit of time T interval, and establishing response data comprising a utility connection status instruction, the utility connection status instruction optionally comprising a deactivation command where the balance of the digital wallet is less than a predetermined minimum after the charge is debited; and a
  • a processing module for, at unit of time T intervals: receiving the utility usage from the utility meter, generating output data comprising the utility usage, transmitting via a communication means the output data to the remote back end via a network, receiving via the communication means the response data from the back end via the network, and where the response data comprises the utility connection status instruction as the deactivation command, causing the utility meter to interrupt a supply of the utility to the point of delivery.
  • Interrupting the supply of the utility to the point of delivery in the present context is to be understood as any one of a discontinuation of the supply of the utility and a reduction in an available supply of the utility.
  • the utility meter interface device may be in wired connection with the utility meter.
  • the utility meter interface device may be integrally formed with the utility meter.
  • the utility meter may be an electricity meter, such as a single phase or a three-phase electricity meter.
  • the electricity meter may be a prepaid electricity meter as known in the art.
  • the prepaid electricity meter may comprise a relay for connecting and disconnecting, thereby interrupting, the supply of electricity to the point of delivery.
  • the utility meter may be a water
  • the water meter may be a prepaid water meter as known in the art.
  • the utility meter may be a gas meter.
  • the gas meter may be a prepaid gas meter as known in the art.
  • the utility usage is a measurement of the utility meter converted to indexed units according to which the time-of-use tariff scheme defines per unit charge rates.
  • An indexed unit refers to a unit of measurement, by example kWh, kVArh or kVA for electricity, KL for water and KJ or metric tonnes for gas.
  • the utility unit consumption of the utility over the last unit of time T interval for the point of delivery may be the utility usage received by the utility meter interface device from the utility meter associated with the point of delivery.
  • unit of time T is a unit of time less than or equal to 24 hours.
  • T may be equal to or less than 12 hours, most preferably T may be equal to or less than one hour.
  • the output data may be encrypted by the processing module prior to being transmitted from the utility meter interface device to the remote back end.
  • the remote back end may then decrypt the output data.
  • the response data may be encrypted by the remote back end prior to being transmitted to the utility meter interface device.
  • the utility meter interface device may then decrypt the response data received. Encryption-decryption may use a utility meter interface device-back end key pairing.
  • the network may be a wireless network.
  • the communication means is a wireless communication means.
  • the wireless communication means may be any wireless communication means as known in the art for transmitting data via a wireless network.
  • the wireless network may be a low-power wide-area network (LPWAN).
  • the LPWAN may be a Sigfox network.
  • the output data generated by the processing module may further comprise a unique identifier associated with the utility meter.
  • the utility meter interface device may further comprise a clock, the output data further comprising a datetime stamp of a date and time at which the output data is generated by the processing module, the date and time obtained from the clock.
  • the unique identifier associated with the utility meter may be a numeric or alphanumeric identifier of the utility meter.
  • the output data may further include a checksum as known in the art for verifying the integrity of the output data at the remote back end.
  • the utility meter interface device may, upon transmitting the output data to the remote back end, enter a listening state period during which the wireless communication means can receive response data.
  • the listening state period may be a period greater than 10 seconds, preferably 30 seconds.
  • the wireless communication means may support protocols of a plurality of wireless networks.
  • the wireless network may be one of a default wireless network and an at least one back-up wireless network. Accordingly, the wireless network via which the output data and/or the response data is transmitted/received by the communications means may be selectable from one the default wireless network and the at least one back-up wireless network.
  • n instances of output data are generated by the processing module.
  • the output data may further comprise an output data identifier such that an instance of output data can be identified within the n instances of output data.
  • the system may comprise a plurality of utility meter interface devices.
  • Each of the plurality of utility meter interface devices may be in wired connection with a utility meter associated with a point of delivery, each utility meter interface device receiving a utility usage from the connected utility meter.
  • the output data may further comprise time delay data.
  • the time delay data may comprise a time delay for which transmitting the output data from the utility meter interface device via the network to the remote back end is delayed.
  • the time delay may be in seconds.
  • the time delay may be a pre-set time delay unique to each utility meter interface device of the plurality of utility meter interface devices or to a set of utility meter interface devices of the plurality of utility meter interface devices.
  • the pre-set time delay may be a time within a maximum period of time. The maximum period of time may be 100 seconds.
  • the utility usage received by the utility meter interface device from the utility meter may be a measurement of the utility meter, converted to indexed units at the point of delivery, as measured by the utility meter at the time of the processing module receiving the utility usage.
  • the utility unit consumption may be calculated by the remote back end from the difference between the utility usage of the output data and a utility usage of a directly preceding instance of output data received by the back end.
  • the time-of-use tariff scheme may be retrieved by the remote back end from a utility supplier database.
  • the response data may further comprise a clock time correction.
  • the business intelligence module may, upon receipt of the output data by the remote back end from the utility meter interface device via the network, determine the clock time correction as a time difference between an expected time of receipt of the output data and an actual time of receipt of the output data. The expected
  • time of receipt of the output data may be the time of receipt of a directly preceding instance of output data by the back end plus unit of time T plus the time delay of the output data.
  • the processing module may cause the clock of the utility meter interface device to be adjusted based on the clock time correction.
  • the predetermined threshold may be equal to or greater than 0 seconds.
  • the remote back end may be cloud-based.
  • the digital wallet may be synchronised with an online payment switch through which the digital wallet can be credited by means of a validated payment made into the digital wallet.
  • a plurality of points of delivery, and thereby a plurality of utility meters, may be associated with a digital wallet.
  • the remote back end may further comprise the business intelligence module for: establishing a maximum instantaneous utility demand of the utility over a unit of time t interval in which the unit of time T interval falls for the point of delivery from update data received by the remote back end, the update data comprising an instantaneous utility demand measured by the utility meter associated with the point of delivery, and
  • the utility meter interface device may then further comprise the processing module for: receiving the instantaneous utility demand from the utility meter, comparing the instantaneous utility demand received with a stored maximum instantaneous utility demand for the unit of time t interval and, if the instantaneous utility demand received is greater than the stored maximum instantaneous utility demand: generating the update data comprising the instantaneous utility demand received, and setting the stored maximum instantaneous utility demand as the instantaneous utility demand received; and transmitting via the communication means the update data to the remote back end via the network.
  • unit of time t is a unit of time greater than unit of time T.
  • unit of time t is a unit of time less than or equal to a calendar year.
  • unit of time t is equal to a calendar month. Accordingly, the established maximum instantaneous utility demand of the utility over the unit of time t
  • interval is used by the business logic module in calculating the charge for a utility unit consumption over a unit of time T interval occurring within the unit of time t interval.
  • the stored maximum instantaneous utility demand may be stored in a memory arrangement of the utility meter interface device.
  • the memory arrangement may be integrally formed with the processing module.
  • the stored maximum instantaneous utility demand may be set to zero at the start of each unit of time t interval, by example, at the start of each calendar month.
  • the instantaneous utility demand may be measured in VArh, kW or kVA.
  • a method for pre-paid utility time-of-use metering comprising the steps of: establishing, at a back end remote from a point of delivery of a utility, a utility unit consumption of the utility over a unit of time T interval for the point of delivery from a utility usage measured by a utility meter associated with the point of delivery; calculating, at the remote back end, a charge for the utility unit consumption from a time-of-use tariff scheme defining a per unit charge rate for the point of delivery over the unit of time T interval; attempting to debit from a balance of a digital wallet associated with the point of delivery the charge;
  • the step of establishing a utility unit consumption of the utility over the unit of time T interval for the point of delivery may be preceded by a step of the remote back end receiving from the utility meter interface device output data comprising the utility usage via the network.
  • the step of the remote back end receiving from the utility meter interface device output data comprising the utility usage via the network may be preceded by the steps of: receiving at the utility meter interface device the utility usage from the utility meter associated with the point of delivery; generating at the utility meter interface device output data comprising the utility usage; and transmitting from the utility meter interface device to the remote back end the output data via the network, the back end receiving same.
  • the step of receiving at the utility meter interface device utility usage from the utility meter associated with the point of delivery may be preceded by a step of requesting by the utility meter interface device from the utility meter the utility usage.
  • the step of requesting the utility usage may be preceded by a step of checking at the utility meter interface device whether the unit of time T has elapsed since a previous request for utility usage by the utility meter interface device from the utility meter.
  • the step of transmitting from the utility meter interface device to the remote back end the output data via the network may be delayed by a time delay.
  • the step of transmitting from the utility meter interface device to the remote back end the output data via the network may be followed by a step of the utility meter interface device entering a listening state period during which the utility meter interface device can receive the response data from the remote back end.
  • the step of transmitting from the utility meter interface device to the remote back end the output data via the network, the back end receiving same may be followed by the step of calculating, at the remote back end, a time difference between an expected time of receipt of the output data and an actual time of receipt of the output data.
  • the step of calculating the time difference may be followed by a step of determining, at the remote back end, a clock time correction as the time difference.
  • the response data may include the clock time correction.
  • the step of the utility meter interface device receiving the response data may be followed by a step of the utility meter interface device adjusting a clock of the utility meter interface device based on the clock time correction.
  • the step of transmitting from the remote back end to the utility meter interface device the response data, and the utility meter interface device receiving same may be followed by a step of the utility meter interface device causing the utility meter to interrupt a supply of the utility to the point of delivery associated with the utility meter.
  • the steps of the method for utility time-of-use metering according to the present invention may be repeated at unit of time T intervals.
  • the method is initiated by the step of checking at the utility meter interface device whether the unit of time T has elapsed since a previous request for utility usage by the utility meter interface device from the utility meter, the elapse of unit of time T may be determined by the utility meter interface
  • the utility meter interface device may comprise the clock.
  • the clock may be a real-time clock.
  • the step of calculating, at the remote back end, the charge for the utility unit consumption from the time-of-use tariff scheme defining a per unit charge rate for the point of delivery over the unit of time T interval may comprise: establishing a maximum instantaneous utility demand over a unit of time t interval in which the unit of time T interval falls from update data received by the back end from the utility meter interface device, the update data comprising an instantaneous utility demand measured by the utility meter associated with the point of delivery; and calculating the charge for the utility unit consumption from the time- of-use tariff scheme defining a per unit charge rate for the point of delivery over the last unit of time T interval and the maximum instantaneous utility demand over the unit of time t interval.
  • a utility meter interface device comprising: a processing module for, at unit of time T intervals: - receiving a utility usage of a utility from a utility meter associated with a point of delivery, generating output data comprising the utility usage, and
  • the utility meter interface device may further comprise a clock the communication means may be an LPWAN antenna circuit.
  • the communication means may support protocols of a plurality of LPWANs. Where the wireless communication means supports protocols of a plurality of LPWANs, the network may be one of a default LPWAN and an at least one back-up LPWAN. Accordingly, the network via which the output data and/or the response data is transmitted/received by the communication means may be selectable from one of the default LPWAN and the at least one back-up LPWAN.
  • the utility meter interface device may further comprise: - the processing module for: receiving instantaneous utility demand of the utility from the utility meter associated with the point of delivery and, if the
  • 16 instantaneous utility demand received is greater than a maximum instantaneous utility demand stored in a memory arrangement of the utility meter interface device: generating update data comprising the instantaneous utility demand received, and setting the maximum instantaneous utility demand stored in the memory arrangement as the instantaneous utility demand received; and the communication means for: - transmitting the update data to the remote back end via the network.
  • figure 1 is a schematic representation of a pre-paid utility time-of-use metering system
  • figure 2 is a flow diagram representing a method for pre-paid utility time-of-use metering.
  • Figure 1 shows a pre-paid utility time-of-use metering system 10 within a low-power wide-area network (LPWAN), specifically a Sigfox network 100.
  • the system 10 is shown to comprise a plurality of utility meter interface devices 12.1 through 12.n, each utility meter interface device 12 in wired communication with a utility meter 14.1 through 14.n.
  • the utility meters 14 are shown as electricity meters, such as 80A kWh prepaid electricity meters, each installed at a point of delivery (not shown) for a consumer 16.1 through 16.n in an area as known in the art.
  • a processing module 18.1, such as a microcontroller including a memory arrangement, of the utility meter interface device 12.1 is configured to request B (shown in figure 2) a utility usage from the electricity meter 14.1 at hourly intervals (i.e., in this example embodiment an hour being the unit of time T) and receive C (shown in figure 2) the utility usage through the wired connection.
  • the utility meter interface device 12.1 is provided with a real time clock 20.1 which the microcontroller 18.1 prompts A (shown in figure 2) at regular intervals (such as every minute) to establish whether it is on the hour (accordingly, the utility
  • the utility usage received C by the microcontroller 18.1 is the kWh reading as established from a measurement of the electricity meter 14.1 at the time of the microcontroller 18.1 requesting B the kWh reading, this measurement converted by the electricity meter 14.1 to kWh as indexed unit.
  • the microcontroller 18.1 then generates D (shown in figure 2) output data comprising: the kWh reading; - a unique identifier (not shown) associated with the electricity meter
  • the microcontroller 18.1 generates D an instance of output data.
  • the output data identifier for each instance of output data generated D allows for the identification of such an instance of output data in the system 10 from other instances of output data generated D by the same utility meter interface device 12.1.
  • output data is generated D, it is encrypted (using an encryption key of a utility meter interface device-back end key pairing) whereafter a communication means 22.1 , as a Sigfox antenna, then transmits E (shown in figure 2) the encrypted output data to a cloud-hosted back end 24 remote from the point of delivery via the Sigfox network 100.
  • a communication means 22.1 as a Sigfox antenna
  • E shown in figure 2
  • output data transmitted E from the utility meter interface device 12.1 is relayed from a base station 26 to a Sigfox cloud database 28 whereafter is it pushed to the remote back end 24, at which point the remote back end 24 receives F (shown in figure 2) the encrypted output data.
  • encryption allows for the preservation of data security over the Sigfox network 100 and the checksum included in the output data allows the remote back end 24 to verify the integrity of the output data once received.
  • the transmission E of output data from the utility meter interface device 12.1 is delayed by a time delay (stored and accessible to the microcontroller 18.1) unique to the utility meter interface device 12.1.
  • This delayed transmission E acts to avoid an overloading of the network 100 should a large number of utility meter interface devices 12 transmit to a base station 26 in a given area at exactly the same time.
  • the time delay of the utility meter interface device 12.1 For the time delay of the utility meter interface device 12.1 to be unique to the utility meter interface device 12.1 , it is configured, stored in the memory
  • the maximum period of time can be one hundred seconds. Accordingly, the one hundred seconds is divided into two hundred unique time slots such that each utility meter interface device 12 in the area transmits E output data at unique half-second time slots.
  • each utility meter interface device 12 in the area transmits E output data at unique half-second time slots.
  • the allocation of unique time slots can be done by means of e.g., unique serial numbers of each of the plurality of utility meter interface devices 12.1 through 12.n in the given area to ensure uniqueness. This time delay is then provided as the time delay data of the output data.
  • the utility meter interface device 12.1 then enters G (shown in figure 2) a listening state period for 30 seconds, during which time the Sigfox antenna 22.1 can receive response data from the remote back end 24.
  • This limited listening state period is to reduce the power requirement for the utility meter interface device 12.1 , such as from a battery power source (not shown).
  • the remote back end 24 decrypts same (using a decryption key of the utility meter interface device-back end key pairing). After decryption, a business intelligence module (not shown) of the remote back end 24 then utilises the kWh reading of the current instance of output data to calculate H (shown in figure 2) a utility unit consumption, as kWh consumption of the point of delivery associated with the electricity meter 14.1 over the past hour (T).
  • This utility unit consumption is calculated as the kWh difference between the kWh reading of the current instance of output data and the kWh reading of a directly preceding instance of output data received by the remote back end 24 from the same utility meter interface device 12.1 (i.e., the instance of output data received an hour ago).
  • a charge is calculated I (shown in figure 2) for the utility unit consumption. This is done by the remote back end 24 through retrieving a time-of-use tariff scheme from a utility supplier database (not shown) via a wired or wireless connection (not shown) as known in the art, this scheme defining a per kWh charge rate for the point of delivery over the past hour. It is therefore to be appreciated that the system 10 is herewith capable of calculating a charge sensitive to the hour to fluctuations in electricity demand, the time of day, the time of year, the area, the availability of electricity and climatic conditions, but further to any degree through an adjustment of the unit of time T.
  • the business intelligence module attempts J (shown in figure 2) to debit the charge from a balance of a digital wallet 30 associated with the consumer 16.1 (generally depicted in figure 1 with reference to consumer 16.n).
  • this digital wallet 30 can be configured during the initialisation of the consumer 16.1 associated with the point of delivery in the system 100 as known in the art, synchronised with an online payment switch (not shown) through which the digital wallet 30 can be credited by means of validated payments made into the digital wallet 30.
  • the system 10 can provide for a user interface via a computer or similar user device 32 wherethrough the consumer 16.1 can create an account comprising account information, including: the digital wallet 30; and the electricity meter number of the electricity meter 14.1 associated with the consumer 16.1.
  • the system 10 is capable of allocating output data to a specific consumer 16.1 account by virtue of the electricity meter number (as part of the output data) being associated with the consumer 16.1 account and the digital wallet 30 of the account. It is to be appreciated that in this fashion a single digital wallet 30 can also be associated with a plurality of points of delivery and thereby a plurality of electricity meters 14.
  • a utility status instruction can be any data which allows for the direct or indirect identification by a utility meter interface device 12 of a successful or unsuccessful debiting of the charge.
  • the remote back end 24 calculates K (shown in figure 2) a time difference between an expected time of receipt of the current instance of output data and an actual time of receipt of the current instance of output data. Such a difference arises where there has been a time drift on the clock 20.1 of the utility meter interface device 12.1 which results in a lag in the transmission E of output data at hourly (T) intervals from the utility meter interface device 12.1. Should such a calculated time difference be above a certain allowable threshold (this can be any period of time such as 0 seconds), the remote back end 24 then determines L (shown in figure 2) a clock time correction as this difference.
  • K shown in figure 2 a time difference between an expected time of receipt of the current instance of output data and an actual time of receipt of the current instance of output data.
  • the business logic module then establishes M (shown in figure 2) response data which comprises:
  • the utility status instruction as either reflecting a successful debiting of the charge or a deactivation command; and optionally, the clock time correction.
  • the remote back end 24 then transmits N (shown in figure 2) the response data to the utility meter interface device 12.1 , which receives O (shown in figure 2) same via the Sigfox antenna 22.1. It is to be appreciated that this response data can also be encrypted via a back end-utility meter interface device key pairing in a similar fashion as described above with reference to the output data.
  • the utility meter interface device 12.1 receives O the response data, and such response data comprises a utility status instruction as a deactivation command
  • the utility meter interface device 12.1 via the wired connection with the electricity meter 14.1, then causes P (shown in figure 2) the electricity meter 14.1 to interrupt the electricity supply to the point of delivery.
  • This interruption can be affected, by example, by means of a relay (not shown) provided with the prepaid electricity meter 14.1 which can be actuated to discontinue supply of electricity to the associated point of delivery. It is to be appreciated that, in a system 10 where the utility meter 14 is a gas or water meter, discontinuing supply of the utility may not be feasible, and the interruption can comprise reducing the available supply of the utility to the point of delivery, such as lowering the available water pressure.
  • the consumer 16.1 can thereafter credit the digital wallet 30 again, at which point a subsequent instance of response data can comprise a utility status instruction now reflecting a successful debit of the charge, and the utility meter 16.1 can be caused to continue supply of the utility to the point of delivery, such as for a prepaid electricity meter 14.1 with a relay to again actuate the relay, or in the instance where the available supply of the utility was reduced, to reinstate the full available supply of the utility.
  • the microcontroller 18.1 will then adjust Q (shown in figure 2) the clock 20.1 based on the clock time correction.
  • a charge for electricity usage as a function of the total electricity unit (e.g, kWh) consumption over a given billing period (e.g., over a month) and a maximum instantaneous electricity demand reached at the point of delivery over the same billing period.
  • the charge over the billing period can comprise a total electricity (kWh) consumption charge plus a maximum demand (VArh) charge.
  • the microcontroller 18 of the utility meter interface device 12 can be configured to request (such as by means of its wired connection to the meter 14) an instantaneous electricity demand (such as the VArh reading of the meter 14) from the three-phase electricity meter 14 for the point of delivery at a predetermined frequency (by example, every 15 minutes).
  • the microcontroller 18 Upon receiving the instantaneous electricity demand, the microcontroller 18 then compares this instantaneous electricity demand as received with a maximum instantaneous electricity demand over a unit of time t interval, such as a month (monthly billing periods being commonly known in the art), stored in the microcontroller 18 memory arrangement. If the instantaneous electricity demand as received is greater than the stored maximum instantaneous electricity demand, the instantaneous electricity demand as received would constitute a new maximum instantaneous electricity demand for the month, and this instantaneous electricity demand as received would accordingly then be stored in the microcontroller 18 memory arrangement as the maximum instantaneous electricity demand. Conversely, if the instantaneous electricity demand as received at any point is less than the stored maximum instantaneous electricity demand, the microcontroller 18 would just wait to initiate the next request as it would not constitute a new maximum instantaneous electricity demand for the month.
  • a maximum instantaneous electricity demand over a unit of time t interval, such as a month (monthly billing periods
  • the stored maximum instantaneous electricity demand would be reset to 0 VArh at the start of every unit of time t interval (i.e., per the above example, at the start of every month), and, as such, the first instantaneous electricity demand received by the microcontroller 18 in the unit of time t interval greater than 0 VArh would be stored in the memory arrangement as the maximum instantaneous electricity demand, and would subsequently be replaced should a higher instantaneous electricity demand be received by the microcontroller 18 over the course of the unit of time t interval (e.g., over the course of the month).
  • the microcontroller 18 Once an instantaneous electricity demand is received by the microcontroller 18 which is greater than the current maximum instantaneous electricity demand stored in the memory arrangement, the microcontroller 18 generates an instance of update data comprising the instantaneous utility demand as received. Thereafter, the microcontroller 18 causes the communication means 22 to transmit this update data to the back end 24 via the network 100 (in the above example, transmitting the update data through the Sigfox network 100, via a base station 26 and Sigfox cloud database 28 by means of its Sigfox antenna 22 to the cloud-hosted back end 24).
  • update data can further include any combination of a datetime stamp of the date and time at which the update data is generated by the microcontroller 18, a unique identifier (not shown) associated with the three-phase electricity meter 18, an update data identifier and a checksum (for allowing the back end 24 to verify the integrity of the update data received thereby).
  • the update data may accordingly also be encrypted and decrypted by means of the utility meter interface device- back end key pairing as described with reference to the output data.
  • the business intelligence module therewith establishes a maximum instantaneous electricity demand for the unit of time t interval (i.e., the maximum instantaneous electricity demand for the current billing period, such as a month) at the back end 24 and can accordingly use this maximum instantaneous electricity demand to calculate the charge, now applicable to three-phase electricity applications, which includes consideration of both the utility unit consumption and the maximum instantaneous electricity demand. As such, this charge can be calculated after every unit of time T
  • the system 10, method and utility meter interface device 12 enables pre-paid utility time-of-use metering across a broad range of applications, as the present invention allows for secure near-real time time-of-use metering, the desired time intervals of such metering dependent on an adjustable unit of time T and unit of time t (for three-phase electricity applications).
  • This in turn allows for the generating of a near-real time response to measured utility usage, such as interruption, disconnection, reconnection, charging, identification of tampering or any further response which can be derived from measured utility usage.
  • system 10 allows for the implementation of a pre-paid time-of-use utility tariff scheme as charge calculations are done near real time.
  • the system 10 for any application is capable of being deployed in LPWAN networks.
  • the Sigfox network allows only a limited number of uplink messages (the message containing the output data or the update data in the current context) and downlink messages (the message containing the response data in the current
  • each uplink message limited to only 12 bytes and each downlink message limited to 8 bytes.
  • the small packet sizes of the output data, the response data and the update data of the present invention together with adjustable unit of time T (and where application, unit of time t) allows for a prepaid utility time- of-use service using LPWAN.
  • the communication means 22 in the system 10 can easily be configured to support protocols of a plurality of wireless networks, such as by example the protocols for two or more of Sigfox, Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-loT) and LoraWAN (all being LPWANs which can be used due to size of the data packets required to be transmitted in the system 10).
  • protocols of a plurality of wireless networks such as by example the protocols for two or more of Sigfox, Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-loT) and LoraWAN (all being LPWANs which can be used due to size of the data packets required to be transmitted in the system 10).
  • any instance of output data, response data and update data can be transmitted in the system 10 by means of one of these networks as a default network, e.g., in the above embodiment described with reference to figure 1 being the Sigfox network 100, and where the default Sigfox network is unavailable for any reason, the system 10 allows switching to another network for transmitting the instance of output data, response data or update data. In this manner, the system 10, the method employed thereby and the utility meter interface device 12 can continue to function even when there is a no-communication state in a network 100.

Abstract

The invention relates to a time-of-use metering system 10, method and a utility meter interface device 12, more particularly to a time-of-use metering system, method and utility meter interface device for a pre-paid utility, enabling remote, near real-time and secure pre-paid utility time-of-use metering within a low-power wide-area network 100 by means of a back end 24 comprising a business intelligence module for calculating a charge based on utility usage as received from a utility meter interface device 12 in communication with a utility meter 14.

Description

SYSTEM, METHOD AND DEVICE FOR TIME-OF-USE METERING
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
This invention relates to a time-of-use metering system, method and utility meter interface device, more particularly to a time-of-use metering system, method and utility meter interface device for a pre-paid utility.
Utility in the present context is to be understood as electricity, water, gas or any municipal service which is supplied to a point of delivery within an area at a per unit charge rate. An area can be understood as any area for which a time-of-use utility tariff scheme of a utility supplier is provided, the time-of- use utility tariff scheme defining per unit charge rates over units of time within a period of time.
In this context, time-of-use metering refers to the monitoring of utility usage at a point of delivery, as measured by a utility meter, specifically for purposes of establishing consumption over the unit of time for which the time-of-use utility tariff scheme defines a per unit charge rate, and thereby calculating a corresponding charge.
It is known that the demand for a utility within an area can fluctuate over a period of time. By example, electricity demand can fluctuate over a 24-hour period as well as over a year period. Over a 24-hour period, higher electricity demand coincides with when a majority of consumers within the area are using electricity at the same time, such as in the morning and in the evening.
1 Over a year period, higher electricity demand can coincide with when consumer usage behaviour changes for a period of time, such as during winter.
Accordingly, time-of-use utility tariff schemes provide for per unit charge rates for a point of delivery varying over a period of time, such as a 24-hour period, increasing the per unit charge rate for a utility within a unit of time, such as an hour, during which there is a higher utility demand in the area. This per unit charge rate can further be dependent on factors including the time of day, the time of year, the area, the availability of the utility and climatic conditions.
The disadvantage with existing prepaid utility metering systems is that it is restricted to a consumer maintaining a supply of a utility to a point of delivery through the advanced purchase of a known quantity of units of the utility, calculated at the time of purchase based on a fixed per unit charge rate of an indexed unit of the utility as at the date of purchase and at the purchase amount. This paradigm is employed as existing prepaid utility metering systems are not capable of establishing a unit of time interval within a period of time within which an indexed unit or units of the utility will be utilised.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a time-of-use metering system, method and device with which the applicant believes the aforementioned disadvantage is solved.
2 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a pre-paid utility time-of-use metering system comprising: a back end remote from a point of delivery of a utility, the remote back end comprising a business intelligence module for, at unit of time T intervals: establishing a utility unit consumption of the utility over a last unit of time T interval for the point of delivery from output data received by the remote back end, the output data comprising a utility usage measured by a utility meter associated with the point of delivery, calculating a charge for the utility unit consumption from a time-of-use tariff scheme defining a per unit charge rate for the point of delivery over the last unit of time T interval, - attempting to debit from a balance of a digital wallet associated with the point of delivery the charge at the end of the unit of time T interval, and establishing response data comprising a utility connection status instruction, the utility connection status instruction optionally comprising a deactivation command where the balance of the digital wallet is less than a predetermined minimum after the charge is debited; and a utility meter interface device comprising:
3 a processing module for, at unit of time T intervals: receiving the utility usage from the utility meter, generating output data comprising the utility usage, transmitting via a communication means the output data to the remote back end via a network, receiving via the communication means the response data from the back end via the network, and where the response data comprises the utility connection status instruction as the deactivation command, causing the utility meter to interrupt a supply of the utility to the point of delivery.
Interrupting the supply of the utility to the point of delivery in the present context is to be understood as any one of a discontinuation of the supply of the utility and a reduction in an available supply of the utility. The utility meter interface device may be in wired connection with the utility meter. The utility meter interface device may be integrally formed with the utility meter.
The utility meter may be an electricity meter, such as a single phase or a three-phase electricity meter. The electricity meter may be a prepaid electricity meter as known in the art. The prepaid electricity meter may comprise a relay for connecting and disconnecting, thereby interrupting, the supply of electricity to the point of delivery. The utility meter may be a water
4 meter. The water meter may be a prepaid water meter as known in the art. The utility meter may be a gas meter. The gas meter may be a prepaid gas meter as known in the art.
It is to be appreciated that the utility usage is a measurement of the utility meter converted to indexed units according to which the time-of-use tariff scheme defines per unit charge rates. An indexed unit refers to a unit of measurement, by example kWh, kVArh or kVA for electricity, KL for water and KJ or metric tonnes for gas.
The utility unit consumption of the utility over the last unit of time T interval for the point of delivery may be the utility usage received by the utility meter interface device from the utility meter associated with the point of delivery.
It is to be further appreciated that unit of time T is a unit of time less than or equal to 24 hours. Preferably, T may be equal to or less than 12 hours, most preferably T may be equal to or less than one hour. The output data may be encrypted by the processing module prior to being transmitted from the utility meter interface device to the remote back end. The remote back end may then decrypt the output data. The response data may be encrypted by the remote back end prior to being transmitted to the utility meter interface device. The utility meter interface device may then decrypt the response data received. Encryption-decryption may use a utility meter interface device-back end key pairing.
5 The network may be a wireless network. Where the network is a wireless network, the communication means is a wireless communication means. The wireless communication means may be any wireless communication means as known in the art for transmitting data via a wireless network. The wireless network may be a low-power wide-area network (LPWAN). The LPWAN may be a Sigfox network.
The output data generated by the processing module may further comprise a unique identifier associated with the utility meter. The utility meter interface device may further comprise a clock, the output data further comprising a datetime stamp of a date and time at which the output data is generated by the processing module, the date and time obtained from the clock.
The unique identifier associated with the utility meter may be a numeric or alphanumeric identifier of the utility meter. The output data may further include a checksum as known in the art for verifying the integrity of the output data at the remote back end.
Where the wireless network is an LPWAN network, the utility meter interface device may, upon transmitting the output data to the remote back end, enter a listening state period during which the wireless communication means can receive response data. The listening state period may be a period greater than 10 seconds, preferably 30 seconds.
6 The wireless communication means may support protocols of a plurality of wireless networks. Where the wireless communication means supports protocols of a plurality of wireless networks, the wireless network may be one of a default wireless network and an at least one back-up wireless network. Accordingly, the wireless network via which the output data and/or the response data is transmitted/received by the communications means may be selectable from one the default wireless network and the at least one back-up wireless network.
It is to be appreciated that over a period of time T * n, where n is a whole number equal to or greater than 2, n instances of output data are generated by the processing module. The output data may further comprise an output data identifier such that an instance of output data can be identified within the n instances of output data.
The system may comprise a plurality of utility meter interface devices. Each of the plurality of utility meter interface devices may be in wired connection with a utility meter associated with a point of delivery, each utility meter interface device receiving a utility usage from the connected utility meter.
Where the system comprises a plurality of utility meter interface devices, the output data may further comprise time delay data. The time delay data may comprise a time delay for which transmitting the output data from the utility meter interface device via the network to the remote back end is delayed. The time delay may be in seconds.
7 The time delay may be a pre-set time delay unique to each utility meter interface device of the plurality of utility meter interface devices or to a set of utility meter interface devices of the plurality of utility meter interface devices. The pre-set time delay may be a time within a maximum period of time. The maximum period of time may be 100 seconds.
The utility usage received by the utility meter interface device from the utility meter may be a measurement of the utility meter, converted to indexed units at the point of delivery, as measured by the utility meter at the time of the processing module receiving the utility usage. Where the utility usage is the measurement of the utility meter converted to indexed units, the utility unit consumption may be calculated by the remote back end from the difference between the utility usage of the output data and a utility usage of a directly preceding instance of output data received by the back end. The time-of-use tariff scheme may be retrieved by the remote back end from a utility supplier database.
The response data may further comprise a clock time correction. Where the response data comprises the clock time correction, the business intelligence module may, upon receipt of the output data by the remote back end from the utility meter interface device via the network, determine the clock time correction as a time difference between an expected time of receipt of the output data and an actual time of receipt of the output data. The expected
8 time of receipt of the output data may be the time of receipt of a directly preceding instance of output data by the back end plus unit of time T plus the time delay of the output data.
Where the clock time correction of the response data received by the utility meter interface device is greater than a predetermined threshold, the processing module may cause the clock of the utility meter interface device to be adjusted based on the clock time correction. The predetermined threshold may be equal to or greater than 0 seconds.
The remote back end may be cloud-based. The digital wallet may be synchronised with an online payment switch through which the digital wallet can be credited by means of a validated payment made into the digital wallet. A plurality of points of delivery, and thereby a plurality of utility meters, may be associated with a digital wallet.
Where the utility meter is a three-phase electricity meter, the remote back end may further comprise the business intelligence module for: establishing a maximum instantaneous utility demand of the utility over a unit of time t interval in which the unit of time T interval falls for the point of delivery from update data received by the remote back end, the update data comprising an instantaneous utility demand measured by the utility meter associated with the point of delivery, and
9 calculating the charge for the utility unit consumption from the time- of-use tariff scheme defining a per unit charge rate for the point of delivery over the last unit of time T interval and the maximum instantaneous utility demand over the unit of time t interval; and the utility meter interface device may then further comprise the processing module for: receiving the instantaneous utility demand from the utility meter, comparing the instantaneous utility demand received with a stored maximum instantaneous utility demand for the unit of time t interval and, if the instantaneous utility demand received is greater than the stored maximum instantaneous utility demand: generating the update data comprising the instantaneous utility demand received, and setting the stored maximum instantaneous utility demand as the instantaneous utility demand received; and transmitting via the communication means the update data to the remote back end via the network.
It is to be appreciated that unit of time t is a unit of time greater than unit of time T. Preferably, unit of time t is a unit of time less than or equal to a calendar year. Most preferably, where unit of time T is equal to an hour, unit of time t is equal to a calendar month. Accordingly, the established maximum instantaneous utility demand of the utility over the unit of time t
10 interval is used by the business logic module in calculating the charge for a utility unit consumption over a unit of time T interval occurring within the unit of time t interval.
The stored maximum instantaneous utility demand may be stored in a memory arrangement of the utility meter interface device. The memory arrangement may be integrally formed with the processing module.
The stored maximum instantaneous utility demand may be set to zero at the start of each unit of time t interval, by example, at the start of each calendar month. The instantaneous utility demand may be measured in VArh, kW or kVA.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method for pre-paid utility time-of-use metering, the method comprising the steps of: establishing, at a back end remote from a point of delivery of a utility, a utility unit consumption of the utility over a unit of time T interval for the point of delivery from a utility usage measured by a utility meter associated with the point of delivery; calculating, at the remote back end, a charge for the utility unit consumption from a time-of-use tariff scheme defining a per unit charge rate for the point of delivery over the unit of time T interval; attempting to debit from a balance of a digital wallet associated with the point of delivery the charge;
11 establishing, at the remote back end, response data comprising a utility connection status instruction, the utility connection status instruction comprising a deactivation command where the balance of the digital wallet is less than a predetermined minimum after the charge is debited; and transmitting from the remote back end to a utility meter interface device the response data via a network, the utility meter interface device receiving same.
The step of establishing a utility unit consumption of the utility over the unit of time T interval for the point of delivery may be preceded by a step of the remote back end receiving from the utility meter interface device output data comprising the utility usage via the network.
The step of the remote back end receiving from the utility meter interface device output data comprising the utility usage via the network may be preceded by the steps of: receiving at the utility meter interface device the utility usage from the utility meter associated with the point of delivery; generating at the utility meter interface device output data comprising the utility usage; and transmitting from the utility meter interface device to the remote back end the output data via the network, the back end receiving same.
12 The step of receiving at the utility meter interface device utility usage from the utility meter associated with the point of delivery may be preceded by a step of requesting by the utility meter interface device from the utility meter the utility usage. The step of requesting the utility usage may be preceded by a step of checking at the utility meter interface device whether the unit of time T has elapsed since a previous request for utility usage by the utility meter interface device from the utility meter.
The step of transmitting from the utility meter interface device to the remote back end the output data via the network may be delayed by a time delay.
Furthermore, the step of transmitting from the utility meter interface device to the remote back end the output data via the network may be followed by a step of the utility meter interface device entering a listening state period during which the utility meter interface device can receive the response data from the remote back end.
Still furthermore, the step of transmitting from the utility meter interface device to the remote back end the output data via the network, the back end receiving same, may be followed by the step of calculating, at the remote back end, a time difference between an expected time of receipt of the output data and an actual time of receipt of the output data.
13 Where the time difference is greater than a predetermined threshold, the step of calculating the time difference may be followed by a step of determining, at the remote back end, a clock time correction as the time difference. The response data may include the clock time correction. Where the response data includes the clock time correction, the step of the utility meter interface device receiving the response data may be followed by a step of the utility meter interface device adjusting a clock of the utility meter interface device based on the clock time correction.
Where the response data transmitted from the remote back end to the utility meter interface device comprises the utility connection status instruction as a deactivation command, the step of transmitting from the remote back end to the utility meter interface device the response data, and the utility meter interface device receiving same, may be followed by a step of the utility meter interface device causing the utility meter to interrupt a supply of the utility to the point of delivery associated with the utility meter.
The steps of the method for utility time-of-use metering according to the present invention may be repeated at unit of time T intervals. Where the method is initiated by the step of checking at the utility meter interface device whether the unit of time T has elapsed since a previous request for utility usage by the utility meter interface device from the utility meter, the elapse of unit of time T may be determined by the utility meter interface
14 device from a clock. The utility meter interface device may comprise the clock. The clock may be a real-time clock.
Where the utility meter is a three-phase electricity meter, the step of calculating, at the remote back end, the charge for the utility unit consumption from the time-of-use tariff scheme defining a per unit charge rate for the point of delivery over the unit of time T interval may comprise: establishing a maximum instantaneous utility demand over a unit of time t interval in which the unit of time T interval falls from update data received by the back end from the utility meter interface device, the update data comprising an instantaneous utility demand measured by the utility meter associated with the point of delivery; and calculating the charge for the utility unit consumption from the time- of-use tariff scheme defining a per unit charge rate for the point of delivery over the last unit of time T interval and the maximum instantaneous utility demand over the unit of time t interval.
According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a utility meter interface device comprising: a processing module for, at unit of time T intervals: - receiving a utility usage of a utility from a utility meter associated with a point of delivery, generating output data comprising the utility usage, and
15 causing the utility meter to interrupt a supply of the utility based on a deactivation command as a utility connection status instruction of response data received from a remote back end; and - a communication means for: transmitting the output data to the remote back end via a network, and receiving the response data from the remote back end via the network. The utility meter interface device may further comprise a clock the communication means may be an LPWAN antenna circuit. The communication means may support protocols of a plurality of LPWANs. Where the wireless communication means supports protocols of a plurality of LPWANs, the network may be one of a default LPWAN and an at least one back-up LPWAN. Accordingly, the network via which the output data and/or the response data is transmitted/received by the communication means may be selectable from one of the default LPWAN and the at least one back-up LPWAN.
The utility meter interface device may further comprise: - the processing module for: receiving instantaneous utility demand of the utility from the utility meter associated with the point of delivery and, if the
16 instantaneous utility demand received is greater than a maximum instantaneous utility demand stored in a memory arrangement of the utility meter interface device: generating update data comprising the instantaneous utility demand received, and setting the maximum instantaneous utility demand stored in the memory arrangement as the instantaneous utility demand received; and the communication means for: - transmitting the update data to the remote back end via the network.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DIAGRAMS
The invention will now further be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrams wherein: figure 1 is a schematic representation of a pre-paid utility time-of-use metering system; and figure 2 is a flow diagram representing a method for pre-paid utility time-of-use metering.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention described herein is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiments and examples herein disclosed, as the embodiments and
17 examples are intended as illustrative of several aspects of the invention. Any equivalent embodiments are intended to be within the scope of this invention, as they will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the present description. Figure 1 shows a pre-paid utility time-of-use metering system 10 within a low-power wide-area network (LPWAN), specifically a Sigfox network 100. The system 10 is shown to comprise a plurality of utility meter interface devices 12.1 through 12.n, each utility meter interface device 12 in wired communication with a utility meter 14.1 through 14.n. The utility meters 14 are shown as electricity meters, such as 80A kWh prepaid electricity meters, each installed at a point of delivery (not shown) for a consumer 16.1 through 16.n in an area as known in the art.
A processing module 18.1, such as a microcontroller including a memory arrangement, of the utility meter interface device 12.1 is configured to request B (shown in figure 2) a utility usage from the electricity meter 14.1 at hourly intervals (i.e., in this example embodiment an hour being the unit of time T) and receive C (shown in figure 2) the utility usage through the wired connection. In order for the microcontroller 18.1 to do so, the utility meter interface device 12.1 is provided with a real time clock 20.1 which the microcontroller 18.1 prompts A (shown in figure 2) at regular intervals (such as every minute) to establish whether it is on the hour (accordingly, the utility
18 meter interface device 12.1 thereby requests B the utility usage from the electricity meter 14.1 on every hour).
The utility usage received C by the microcontroller 18.1 is the kWh reading as established from a measurement of the electricity meter 14.1 at the time of the microcontroller 18.1 requesting B the kWh reading, this measurement converted by the electricity meter 14.1 to kWh as indexed unit. The microcontroller 18.1 then generates D (shown in figure 2) output data comprising: the kWh reading; - a unique identifier (not shown) associated with the electricity meter
18.1 as the electricity meter number; a datetime stamp of the date and time at which the output data is generated by the microcontroller 18.1 ; time delay data; - an output data identifier; and a checksum.
Accordingly, every hour (T) the microcontroller 18.1 generates D an instance of output data. The output data identifier for each instance of output data generated D allows for the identification of such an instance of output data in the system 10 from other instances of output data generated D by the same utility meter interface device 12.1.
19 Once the current instance of output data is generated D, it is encrypted (using an encryption key of a utility meter interface device-back end key pairing) whereafter a communication means 22.1 , as a Sigfox antenna, then transmits E (shown in figure 2) the encrypted output data to a cloud-hosted back end 24 remote from the point of delivery via the Sigfox network 100. As known in the art, output data transmitted E from the utility meter interface device 12.1 is relayed from a base station 26 to a Sigfox cloud database 28 whereafter is it pushed to the remote back end 24, at which point the remote back end 24 receives F (shown in figure 2) the encrypted output data. Accordingly, encryption allows for the preservation of data security over the Sigfox network 100 and the checksum included in the output data allows the remote back end 24 to verify the integrity of the output data once received.
Given the plurality of utility meter interface devices 12.1 through 12.n within the system 10 which operates within the Sigfox network 100, the transmission E of output data from the utility meter interface device 12.1 is delayed by a time delay (stored and accessible to the microcontroller 18.1) unique to the utility meter interface device 12.1. This delayed transmission E acts to avoid an overloading of the network 100 should a large number of utility meter interface devices 12 transmit to a base station 26 in a given area at exactly the same time.
For the time delay of the utility meter interface device 12.1 to be unique to the utility meter interface device 12.1 , it is configured, stored in the memory
20 arrangement and thereby accessible to the microcontroller 18.1 as a unique pre-set time delay as a time within a maximum period of time. By example, given two hundred utility meter interface devices 12 in the given area, the maximum period of time can be one hundred seconds. Accordingly, the one hundred seconds is divided into two hundred unique time slots such that each utility meter interface device 12 in the area transmits E output data at unique half-second time slots. By example, for an instance of output data generated D by the utility meter interface device 12.1 at 11 :00:00, it will only be transmitted E at 11 :00:00.50, and an instance of output data generated D by the utility meter interface device 12.2 at the same time will only be transmitted E at 11 :00:01.00. The allocation of unique time slots can be done by means of e.g., unique serial numbers of each of the plurality of utility meter interface devices 12.1 through 12.n in the given area to ensure uniqueness. This time delay is then provided as the time delay data of the output data.
Once the current instance of output data has been transmitted E from the utility meter interface device 12.1 , the utility meter interface device 12.1 then enters G (shown in figure 2) a listening state period for 30 seconds, during which time the Sigfox antenna 22.1 can receive response data from the remote back end 24. This limited listening state period is to reduce the power requirement for the utility meter interface device 12.1 , such as from a battery power source (not shown).
21 Once the remote back end 24 receives F the encrypted current instance of output data, the remote back end 24 decrypts same (using a decryption key of the utility meter interface device-back end key pairing). After decryption, a business intelligence module (not shown) of the remote back end 24 then utilises the kWh reading of the current instance of output data to calculate H (shown in figure 2) a utility unit consumption, as kWh consumption of the point of delivery associated with the electricity meter 14.1 over the past hour (T). This utility unit consumption is calculated as the kWh difference between the kWh reading of the current instance of output data and the kWh reading of a directly preceding instance of output data received by the remote back end 24 from the same utility meter interface device 12.1 (i.e., the instance of output data received an hour ago).
Once the utility unit consumption has been calculated H, a charge is calculated I (shown in figure 2) for the utility unit consumption. This is done by the remote back end 24 through retrieving a time-of-use tariff scheme from a utility supplier database (not shown) via a wired or wireless connection (not shown) as known in the art, this scheme defining a per kWh charge rate for the point of delivery over the past hour. It is therefore to be appreciated that the system 10 is herewith capable of calculating a charge sensitive to the hour to fluctuations in electricity demand, the time of day, the time of year, the area, the availability of electricity and climatic conditions, but further to any degree through an adjustment of the unit of time T.
22 Once the charge has been calculated I, the business intelligence module then attempts J (shown in figure 2) to debit the charge from a balance of a digital wallet 30 associated with the consumer 16.1 (generally depicted in figure 1 with reference to consumer 16.n). It is to be appreciated that this digital wallet 30 can be configured during the initialisation of the consumer 16.1 associated with the point of delivery in the system 100 as known in the art, synchronised with an online payment switch (not shown) through which the digital wallet 30 can be credited by means of validated payments made into the digital wallet 30. Accordingly, the system 10 can provide for a user interface via a computer or similar user device 32 wherethrough the consumer 16.1 can create an account comprising account information, including: the digital wallet 30; and the electricity meter number of the electricity meter 14.1 associated with the consumer 16.1.
Therefore, using the account information, the system 10 is capable of allocating output data to a specific consumer 16.1 account by virtue of the electricity meter number (as part of the output data) being associated with the consumer 16.1 account and the digital wallet 30 of the account. It is to be appreciated that in this fashion a single digital wallet 30 can also be associated with a plurality of points of delivery and thereby a plurality of electricity meters 14.
23 Where the balance of the digital wallet 30 reflects sufficient funds over a predetermined minimum (such as a balance greater than zero) after the charge is debited, the charge is successfully debited. However, where the balance of the digital wallet 30 reflects funds below the predetermined minimum after the charge is debited, the business intelligence module would then deem a debit of the charge as unsuccessful and thereby generate a deactivation command as a utility status instruction. It is to be appreciated that a utility status instruction can be any data which allows for the direct or indirect identification by a utility meter interface device 12 of a successful or unsuccessful debiting of the charge.
Further to calculating H the utility unit consumption, the remote back end 24 also calculates K (shown in figure 2) a time difference between an expected time of receipt of the current instance of output data and an actual time of receipt of the current instance of output data. Such a difference arises where there has been a time drift on the clock 20.1 of the utility meter interface device 12.1 which results in a lag in the transmission E of output data at hourly (T) intervals from the utility meter interface device 12.1. Should such a calculated time difference be above a certain allowable threshold (this can be any period of time such as 0 seconds), the remote back end 24 then determines L (shown in figure 2) a clock time correction as this difference.
The business logic module then establishes M (shown in figure 2) response data which comprises:
24 the utility status instruction as either reflecting a successful debiting of the charge or a deactivation command; and optionally, the clock time correction.
The remote back end 24 then transmits N (shown in figure 2) the response data to the utility meter interface device 12.1 , which receives O (shown in figure 2) same via the Sigfox antenna 22.1. It is to be appreciated that this response data can also be encrypted via a back end-utility meter interface device key pairing in a similar fashion as described above with reference to the output data. Once the utility meter interface device 12.1 receives O the response data, and such response data comprises a utility status instruction as a deactivation command, the utility meter interface device 12.1, via the wired connection with the electricity meter 14.1, then causes P (shown in figure 2) the electricity meter 14.1 to interrupt the electricity supply to the point of delivery. This interruption can be affected, by example, by means of a relay (not shown) provided with the prepaid electricity meter 14.1 which can be actuated to discontinue supply of electricity to the associated point of delivery. It is to be appreciated that, in a system 10 where the utility meter 14 is a gas or water meter, discontinuing supply of the utility may not be feasible, and the interruption can comprise reducing the available supply of the utility to the point of delivery, such as lowering the available water pressure.
25 It is to be appreciated that, where the supply of a utility is interrupted as described above, the consumer 16.1 can thereafter credit the digital wallet 30 again, at which point a subsequent instance of response data can comprise a utility status instruction now reflecting a successful debit of the charge, and the utility meter 16.1 can be caused to continue supply of the utility to the point of delivery, such as for a prepaid electricity meter 14.1 with a relay to again actuate the relay, or in the instance where the available supply of the utility was reduced, to reinstate the full available supply of the utility. Furthermore, should the response data as received O by the utility meter interface device 12.1 comprise a clock time correction, the microcontroller 18.1 will then adjust Q (shown in figure 2) the clock 20.1 based on the clock time correction.
Example: Three-phase electricity meter as utility meter 14 in the system 10 In the context of three-phase electricity supply, and thereby three-phase electricity meters, it is common to calculate a charge for electricity usage as a function of the total electricity unit (e.g, kWh) consumption over a given billing period (e.g., over a month) and a maximum instantaneous electricity demand reached at the point of delivery over the same billing period. By example, the charge over the billing period can comprise a total electricity (kWh) consumption charge plus a maximum demand (VArh) charge.
26 In order to allow for the system 10 to be operated within three-phase electricity applications, and thereby allow for time-of-use metering within this context, the microcontroller 18 of the utility meter interface device 12 can be configured to request (such as by means of its wired connection to the meter 14) an instantaneous electricity demand (such as the VArh reading of the meter 14) from the three-phase electricity meter 14 for the point of delivery at a predetermined frequency (by example, every 15 minutes).
Upon receiving the instantaneous electricity demand, the microcontroller 18 then compares this instantaneous electricity demand as received with a maximum instantaneous electricity demand over a unit of time t interval, such as a month (monthly billing periods being commonly known in the art), stored in the microcontroller 18 memory arrangement. If the instantaneous electricity demand as received is greater than the stored maximum instantaneous electricity demand, the instantaneous electricity demand as received would constitute a new maximum instantaneous electricity demand for the month, and this instantaneous electricity demand as received would accordingly then be stored in the microcontroller 18 memory arrangement as the maximum instantaneous electricity demand. Conversely, if the instantaneous electricity demand as received at any point is less than the stored maximum instantaneous electricity demand, the microcontroller 18 would just wait to initiate the next request as it would not constitute a new maximum instantaneous electricity demand for the month.
27 It is to be appreciated that the stored maximum instantaneous electricity demand would be reset to 0 VArh at the start of every unit of time t interval (i.e., per the above example, at the start of every month), and, as such, the first instantaneous electricity demand received by the microcontroller 18 in the unit of time t interval greater than 0 VArh would be stored in the memory arrangement as the maximum instantaneous electricity demand, and would subsequently be replaced should a higher instantaneous electricity demand be received by the microcontroller 18 over the course of the unit of time t interval (e.g., over the course of the month). Once an instantaneous electricity demand is received by the microcontroller 18 which is greater than the current maximum instantaneous electricity demand stored in the memory arrangement, the microcontroller 18 generates an instance of update data comprising the instantaneous utility demand as received. Thereafter, the microcontroller 18 causes the communication means 22 to transmit this update data to the back end 24 via the network 100 (in the above example, transmitting the update data through the Sigfox network 100, via a base station 26 and Sigfox cloud database 28 by means of its Sigfox antenna 22 to the cloud-hosted back end 24). It is to be appreciated that, to allow for use of the system 10 in this manner in an LPWAN in which a limited number of uplink messages is allowed over any given period, the generation of an instance of update data and the transmission of the update data may not occur every time the maximum instantaneous electricity demand over a unit of time t interval is
28 updated, and can rather be configured in the microcontroller 18 to only occur once over a certain predefined timeframe, such as only once a day if necessary.
It is further to be appreciated that, as with the output data described with reference to figure 1 above, update data can further include any combination of a datetime stamp of the date and time at which the update data is generated by the microcontroller 18, a unique identifier (not shown) associated with the three-phase electricity meter 18, an update data identifier and a checksum (for allowing the back end 24 to verify the integrity of the update data received thereby). The update data may accordingly also be encrypted and decrypted by means of the utility meter interface device- back end key pairing as described with reference to the output data.
Once the back end 24 receives the update data comprising the instantaneous utility demand as received by the utility meter interface device 12, the business intelligence module therewith establishes a maximum instantaneous electricity demand for the unit of time t interval (i.e., the maximum instantaneous electricity demand for the current billing period, such as a month) at the back end 24 and can accordingly use this maximum instantaneous electricity demand to calculate the charge, now applicable to three-phase electricity applications, which includes consideration of both the utility unit consumption and the maximum instantaneous electricity demand. As such, this charge can be calculated after every unit of time T
29 interval (e.g., every hour) or every after every unit of time t interval (e.g., every month).
System 10 as a ore-paid utility time-of-use metering system
Given the above description, it is apparent that the system 10, method and utility meter interface device 12 enables pre-paid utility time-of-use metering across a broad range of applications, as the present invention allows for secure near-real time time-of-use metering, the desired time intervals of such metering dependent on an adjustable unit of time T and unit of time t (for three-phase electricity applications). This in turn allows for the generating of a near-real time response to measured utility usage, such as interruption, disconnection, reconnection, charging, identification of tampering or any further response which can be derived from measured utility usage.
Furthermore, the system 10 allows for the implementation of a pre-paid time-of-use utility tariff scheme as charge calculations are done near real time.
Still furthermore, given the composition of the output data, response data and update data packets, the system 10 for any application is capable of being deployed in LPWAN networks. By example, the Sigfox network allows only a limited number of uplink messages (the message containing the output data or the update data in the current context) and downlink messages (the message containing the response data in the current
30 context) to be transmitted over a 24-hour period, each uplink message limited to only 12 bytes and each downlink message limited to 8 bytes.
Accordingly, the small packet sizes of the output data, the response data and the update data of the present invention together with adjustable unit of time T (and where application, unit of time t) allows for a prepaid utility time- of-use service using LPWAN.
Furthermore, the communication means 22 in the system 10 can easily be configured to support protocols of a plurality of wireless networks, such as by example the protocols for two or more of Sigfox, Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-loT) and LoraWAN (all being LPWANs which can be used due to size of the data packets required to be transmitted in the system 10). Where the protocols for such a plurality of wireless networks is configured, any instance of output data, response data and update data can be transmitted in the system 10 by means of one of these networks as a default network, e.g., in the above embodiment described with reference to figure 1 being the Sigfox network 100, and where the default Sigfox network is unavailable for any reason, the system 10 allows switching to another network for transmitting the instance of output data, response data or update data. In this manner, the system 10, the method employed thereby and the utility meter interface device 12 can continue to function even when there is a no-communication state in a network 100.
31

Claims

1. A pre-paid utility time-of-use metering system comprising: a back end remote from a point of delivery of a utility, the back end comprising a business intelligence module for, at unit of time T intervals: establishing a utility unit consumption of the utility over a last unit of time T interval for the point of delivery from output data received by the back end, the output data comprising a utility usage measured by a utility meter associated with the point of delivery, calculating a charge for the utility unit consumption from a time-of-use tariff scheme defining a per unit charge rate for the point of delivery over the last unit of time T interval, - attempting to debit from a balance of a digital wallet associated with the point of delivery the charge at the end of the last unit of time T interval, and establishing response data comprising a utility connection status instruction, the utility connection status instruction optionally comprising a deactivation command where the balance of the digital wallet is less than a predetermined minimum after the charge is debited; and
32 a utility meter interface device comprising a processing module for, at unit of time T intervals: receiving the utility usage from the utility meter, generating output data comprising the utility usage, causing the output data to be transmitted via a communication means to the back end via a network, receiving via the communication means the response data from the back end via the network, and where the response data comprises the utility connection status instruction as the deactivation command, causing the utility meter to interrupt a supply of the utility to the point of delivery. The system of claim 1 , wherein the output data is encrypted by the processing module prior to being transmitted from the utility meter interface device to the back end, the back end decrypting the output data received. The system of claim 2, wherein the response data is encrypted by the back end prior to being transmitted to the utility meter interface device, the utility meter interface device decrypting the response data received.
33
4. The system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the network is a wireless network and the communication means is a wireless communication means.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the wireless network is a low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) and the communication means is a
LPWAN antenna circuit.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the output data generated by the processing module comprises a unique identifier associated with the utility meter and an output data identifier.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the utility meter interface device comprises a clock and the output data comprises a datetime stamp of a date and time at which the output data is generated by the processing module, the date and time obtained from the clock.
8. The system of any one of claims 6 and 7, wherein the output data includes a checksum for verifying the integrity of the output data at the back end.
9. The system of claim 5, wherein the utility meter interface device, upon transmitting the output data to the back end, enters a listening state period during which the communication means can receive response data from the back end.
34
10. The system of claim 5, wherein the communication means supports protocols of a plurality of LPWANs.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the LPWAN is selectable from one of a default LPWAN and an at least one back-up LPWAN.
12. The system of claim 7 comprising a plurality of utility meter interface devices, each of the plurality of utility meter interface devices in wired connection with a utility meter associated with a point of delivery and each of the plurality of utility meter interface devices receiving a utility usage from the connected utility meter.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein output data of each of the plurality of utility meter interface devices comprises time delay data, the time delay data comprising a time delay for which transmitting output data from each of the plurality of utility meter interface devices via the network to the back end is delayed.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein response data received by at least one of the plurality of utility meter interface devices comprises a clock time correction.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the business intelligence module determines the clock time correction as a time difference between an expected time of receipt of output data and an actual time of receipt of output data.
35 The system of claim 15, wherein, if the clock time correction of the response data received by the at least one of the plurality of utility meter interface device is greater than a predetermined threshold, the processing module of the at least one of the plurality of interface devices causes the clock of the utility meter interface device to be adjusted based on the clock time correction. The system of claim 1 , wherein the time-of-use tariff scheme is retrieved by the back end from a utility supplier database. The system of claim 1 , wherein the digital wallet is synchronised with an online payment switch through which the digital wallet can be credited by means of a validated payment made into the digital wallet.
The system of claim 1 , wherein the utility meter is a three-phase electricity meter, the back end comprising the business intelligence module for further: establishing a maximum instantaneous utility demand of the utility over a unit of time t interval in which the unit of time T interval falls for the point of delivery from update data received by the remote back end, the update data comprising an instantaneous utility demand measured by the utility meter associated with the point of delivery, and
36 calculating the charge for the utility unit consumption from the time-of-use tariff scheme defining a per unit charge rate for the point of delivery over the last unit of time T interval and the maximum instantaneous utility demand over the unit of time t interval; and the utility meter interface device comprising the processing module for further: receiving the instantaneous utility demand from the utility meter, - comparing the instantaneous utility demand received with a stored maximum instantaneous utility demand for the unit of time t interval and, if the instantaneous utility demand received is greater than the stored maximum instantaneous utility demand: - generating the update data comprising the instantaneous utility demand received, and setting the stored maximum instantaneous utility demand as the instantaneous utility demand received; and - causing the update data to be transmitted by the communication means to the back end via the network.
37 The system of claim 19, wherein the stored maximum instantaneous utility demand is stored in a memory arrangement of the utility meter interface device. A method for pre-paid utility time-of-use metering, the method comprising the steps of: establishing, at a back end remote from a point of delivery of a utility, a utility unit consumption of the utility over a unit of time T interval for the point of delivery from a utility usage measured by a utility meter associated with the point of delivery; calculating, at the remote back end, a charge for the utility unit consumption from a time-of-use tariff scheme defining a per unit charge rate for the point of delivery over the unit of time T interval; attempting to debit from a balance of a digital wallet associated with the point of delivery the charge; establishing, at the remote back end, response data comprising a utility connection status instruction, the utility connection status instruction comprising a deactivation command where the balance of the digital wallet is less than a predetermined minimum after the charge is debited; and
38 transmitting from the remote back end to a utility meter interface device the response data via a network, the utility meter interface device receiving same. The method of claim 21 , wherein the step of establishing the utility unit consumption of the utility over the unit of time T interval for the point of delivery is preceded by a step of the back end receiving from the utility meter interface device the output data comprising the utility usage via the network.
The method of claim 22, wherein the step of the back end receiving from the utility meter interface device the output data comprising the utility usage via the network is preceded by the steps of: receiving at the utility meter interface device the utility usage from the utility meter associated with the point of delivery; generating at the utility meter interface device the output data comprising the utility usage; and transmitting from the utility meter interface device to the back end the output data via the network, the back end receiving same. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of receiving at the utility meter interface device the utility usage from the utility meter associated with the point of delivery is preceded by a step of
39 requesting by the utility meter interface device from the utility meter the utility usage. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of requesting the utility usage is preceded by a step of checking at the utility meter interface device whether a unit of time T has elapsed since a previous request for utility usage by the utility meter interface device from the utility meter. The method of any one of claims 23 to 25, wherein the step of transmitting from the utility meter interface device to the back end the output data via the network is delayed by a time delay. The method of any one of claims 23 to 26, wherein the step of transmitting from the utility meter interface device to the back end the output data via the network is followed by a step of the utility meter interface device entering a listening state period during which the utility meter interface device can receive the response data from the back end.
The method of any one of claims 23 to 27, wherein the step of transmitting from the utility meter interface device to the back end the output data via the network, the back end receiving same, is followed by a step of calculating, at the back end, a time difference between an expected time of receipt of the output data and an actual time of receipt of the output data.
40 The method of claim 28, wherein, if the time difference is greater than a predetermined threshold, the step of calculating the time difference is followed by a step of determining, at the back end, a clock time correction as the time difference and the response data including the clock time correction. The method of claim 29, wherein, if the response data includes the clock time correction, the step of the utility meter interface device receiving the response data is followed by a step of the utility meter interface device adjusting a clock of the utility meter interface device based on the clock time correction.
The method of any of claims 21 to 30, wherein, if the response data transmitted from the back end to the utility meter interface device comprises the utility connection status instruction as a deactivation command, the step of transmitting from the back end to the utility meter interface device the response data, and the utility meter interface device receiving same, is followed by a step of the utility meter interface device causing the utility meter to interrupt a supply of the utility to the point of delivery associated with the utility meter.
The method of claim 21 , wherein the utility meter is a three-phase electricity meter and the step of calculating, at the back end, the charge for the utility unit consumption from the time-of-use tariff
41 scheme defining a per unit charge rate for the point of delivery over the unit of time T interval comprises the steps of: establishing a maximum instantaneous utility demand over a unit of time t interval in which the unit of time T interval falls from update data received by the back end from the utility meter interface device, the update data comprising an instantaneous utility demand measured by the utility meter associated with the point of delivery; and calculating the charge for the utility unit consumption from the time-of-use tariff scheme defining a per unit charge rate for the point of delivery over the last unit of time T interval and the maximum instantaneous utility demand over the unit of time t interval. A utility meter interface device comprising: - a processing module for, at unit of time T intervals: receiving a utility usage of a utility from a utility meter associated with a point of delivery, generating output data comprising the utility usage, and - causing the utility meter to interrupt a supply of the utility based on a deactivation command as a utility connection status instruction of response data received from a back end; and
42 a communication means for: transmitting the output data to the back end via a network, and receiving the response data from the back end via the network. The utility meter interface device of claim 33 comprising a clock and a memory arrangement. The utility meter interface device of claim 34 comprising: the processing module for further: - receiving an instantaneous utility demand of the utility from the utility meter associated with the point of delivery and, if the instantaneous utility demand received is greater than a maximum instantaneous utility demand stored in the memory arrangement of the utility meter interface device: generating update data comprising the instantaneous utility demand received, and setting the maximum instantaneous utility demand stored in the memory arrangement as the instantaneous utility demand received; and the communication means for:
43 transmitting the update data to the remote back end via the network.
44
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Citations (2)

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EA011113B1 (en) * 2004-10-13 2008-12-30 Иуса С.А. Де К.В. Prepayment system for electric power meters using a contactless smart card with an automatic supply cut-off device
EP2302326A1 (en) * 2004-08-03 2011-03-30 USCL Corporation Integrated metrology system and information and control apparatus for interaction with integrated metrology systems

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2302326A1 (en) * 2004-08-03 2011-03-30 USCL Corporation Integrated metrology system and information and control apparatus for interaction with integrated metrology systems
EA011113B1 (en) * 2004-10-13 2008-12-30 Иуса С.А. Де К.В. Prepayment system for electric power meters using a contactless smart card with an automatic supply cut-off device

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