A method and system for reading and testing power modules

Abstract

The present invention discloses a power module meter reading test method and system, belonging to the field of power communication technology. In a computer operating system, container technology is used to containerize the meter software to implement a container virtual meter that simulates the function of a household electricity meter. The power module is inserted into a pre-designed power module tooling, and each power module communicates with a container virtual meter, and together with a concentrator, it forms a container virtual meter meter reading system, and the power module meter reading test is realized through this container virtual meter meter reading system. The present invention can save space resources, reduce the cost of environment construction, and has flexible scalability, and can conveniently expand the number of virtual meters.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of power communication, and specifically to a power module meter reading test method and system. Background Art

[0002] With the development of the power industry, household electricity meters generally adopt the method of inserting power modules to collect the readings of household electricity meters. After a large number of power modules are produced, batch testing is required. And for the testing of power modules, a set of meter reading test system needs to be built to basically test various protocols of the modules from the system.

[0003] A meter reading test system refers to a system for batch testing power modules. The traditional meter reading test system is built using household electricity meters, and the single-chip microcomputer software needs to be downloaded into the meter hardware device for operation, and the readings are collected and communicated through the insertion of power modules into the meters. A set of meter reading test system consists of several meter devices with inserted power modules and a concentrator. Using the traditional meter reading test system not only occupies a large space but also has a high cost. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical task of the present invention is to provide a power module meter reading test method and system aiming at the above deficiencies, which can save space resources, reduce the cost of environmental construction, and has flexible scalability, and can conveniently expand the number of virtual meters.

[0005] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve its technical problems is:

[0006] A power module meter reading test method uses container technology in a computer operating system to containerize the meter software to implement a container virtual meter that simulates the function of a household electricity meter. The power module is inserted into a pre-designed power module tooling, and each power module communicates with a container virtual meter, and cooperates with a concentrator to form a container virtual meter meter reading system, and the power module meter reading test is realized through this container virtual meter meter reading system.

[0007] Based on the computer system using container technology, this method realizes that the container virtual meter replaces the household electricity meter to build a meter reading test system. A high-performance computer can run hundreds of container virtual meters at the same time, which not only greatly saves the floor area and reduces the system construction cost, but also the virtual meters based on containers can expand and shrink the virtual meter nodes at any time, which is easy to expand and reduce.

[0008] Preferably, the container virtual meter meter reading system includes a computer system, a power module, a power module tooling, a concentrator, a serial port server, and a network switching device. The power module tooling is used to supply power to the power module and transfer the serial port interface in the power module to the serial port server;

[0009] The power module can adopt a broadband carrier module or a micro-power module, which belongs to the device under test;

[0010] The computer system includes a data exchange center, a container scheduler, Docker and a virtual table image.

[0011] The virtual meter image refers to the modification of the household electricity meter software and packaging it with Docker; the container scheduler is used to schedule and control the container virtual table; the data exchange center writes software to provide services and monitors data from the serial port server and the container virtual table at the same time, so as to associate the serial port number address corresponding to the serial port server with the container address.

[0012] Preferably, after the container virtual table is run, the container virtual table will register with the data exchange center and apply for a table number address;

[0013] By inserting the power module into the power module tooling, the power module tooling connects the serial port of the power module with the serial port server;

[0014] The power module sends data through the serial port, and the serial port server forwards it through the network switch to the data exchange center in the computer operating system for processing;

[0015] The data exchange center forwards the data to the container virtual table for processing through an internal query mechanism, and forwards the data returned by the container virtual table to the power module along the original path.

[0016] Preferably, the data exchange center provides a unique table address resource for the container virtual table;

[0017] The data exchange center binds the container port where the container virtual table is located with the serial port address of the serial port server to which the power module is connected, and has a data forwarding function.

[0018] Preferably, the container scheduler is a container management tool, and the container scheduler is used to configure the number of containers and mapped ports to complete the automatic start, stop, and expansion operations of the containers.

[0019] Preferably, the data exchange center can provide table number allocation service for the container virtual table. When the container virtual table initiates registration with the data exchange center, the data exchange center will allocate the table number preset for the container virtual table.

[0020] Preferably, the container virtual table works as follows:

[0021] To run a container virtual table, first use Docker to create a container to run the virtual table image. After the image is run, it becomes a container virtual table.

[0022] Each container virtual table has a fixed internal data port within the container. When creating a container through the container scheduler, the ports provided by this container externally need to be specified. Therefore, containers running on the same computer will each have a unique external port, which is open to the data exchange center;

[0023] After the container virtual table runs, it sends a registration request to the data exchange center. At the same time, it receives the table number returned by the data exchange center and records the table number in the software memory. Thereafter, this table number serves as the table address of the container virtual table;

[0024] The working process of the container virtual table is as follows:

[0025] 1) Register with the exchange center;

[0026] 2) Receive and store the table number;

[0027] 3) Wait to receive data;

[0028] 4) Determine whether data has been received.

[0029] If yes, process the data and send it, then return to step 3); if no, directly return to step 3).

[0030] Preferably, the working implementation process of the data exchange center is as follows:

[0031] The data exchange center simultaneously listens for data from the serial server and data from the container virtual table;

[0032] The data exchange center provides two services: a container virtual table registration service, which only opens permissions to the container virtual table; and a data forwarding service, which is publicly available.

[0033] When the data exchange center listens to a registration request from the container virtual table, it records in the memory the port number provided externally by the container where the currently registering container virtual table is located. At the same time, it returns a preset unallocated new table number to the container virtual table; and sets a flag for the newly registered container virtual table to indicate that the serial port address needs to be bound;

[0034] When the data exchange center receives a data forwarding request sent by the container virtual table, it looks up the serial port address corresponding to the current container port and packages and sends this data to the serial server; the container virtual table belongs to the slave mode and will not initiate a data forwarding request actively before the serial port address is bound;

[0035] After the data exchange center receives the data sent by the serial port server, it first determines the serial port address of the data, and queries whether there is a container port bound to the current serial port address through this address. If not, it randomly forwards the data to a container waiting to be bound to the serial port for processing, and at the same time binds the serial port address to this container port; if so, it directly forwards the data to the container virtual table for processing through this container port.

[0036] After inserting the module, the module sends data through the uart to request to read the address of the currently inserted table; the serial port server receives the corresponding data request, and the serial port server sends the current serial port address and the request content to the computer operating system through the network switching device; after receiving the request, the computer operating system hands it over to the data exchange center for initial binding.

[0037] Furthermore, the implementation process of the container virtual table meter reading system is as follows:

[0038] 1). Build a meter reading test system and power on the concentrator and the power module tooling.

[0039] 2). Start the container virtual table through the container scheduler.

[0040] 3). Insert several modules (the number of modules should be less than the number of container virtual tables).

[0041] 4). Wait for a moment until the module networking lights are completed, that is, the module has been networked with the concentrator.

[0042] 5). Request the container virtual table through the computer operating system and set the container virtual table data; for example, set the electricity meter reading of container virtual table n to x degrees.

[0043] 6). The computer operating system sends a meter reading request to the concentrator.

[0044] 7). The computer operating system receives the meter reading result from the concentrator.

[0045] 8). Match the results; if the electricity meter reading of container virtual table n is x degrees, the meter reading test is successful.

[0046] 9). Similar tests are performed for other items.

[0047] The present invention also claims to protect a power module meter reading test system, which implements the above-mentioned power module meter reading test method.

[0048] Compared with the prior art, the power module meter reading test method and system of the present invention have the following beneficial effects:

[0049] This method and system use container technology to implement virtual tables, which can run the container virtual tables across platforms. It does not depend on the version and operating environment of the operating system of the current test computer. As long as Docker is installed, the container virtual tables can be run, truly realizing the function of running virtual tables across operating systems.

[0050] Using container technology, the number of container virtual tables can be quickly expanded or reduced. As long as the computer operating system resources can still meet the running requirements of the container virtual tables, container virtual tables can be created. A high-performance computer operating system can run hundreds or even thousands of container virtual tables simultaneously, with very good scalability.

[0051] Using container virtual table technology, the meter racks and household electricity meters for installing household electricity meters can be discarded, and the equipment replacing the meter racks and household electricity meters is the power module tooling and serial server, which greatly reduces the hardware cost when building a large-scale power module meter reading test system. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0052] Figure 1 It is the architecture diagram of the container virtual table meter reading system for the power module meter reading test method provided by the embodiment of the present invention;

[0053] Figure 2 It is the working flow chart of the container virtual table provided by the embodiment of the present invention;

[0054] Figure 3 It is the working flow chart of the data exchange center provided by the embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Embodiment

[0055] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the drawings and specific embodiments.

[0056] The existing meter reading test system mainly inserts power modules into real household electricity meters and forms a meter reading test system by networking with concentrators, etc. It mainly includes user electricity meters, data collectors, data transmission channels, computer management systems, etc. The user electricity meter is built with a multi-functional electric controller and has the function of wireless transceiver. A user electricity meter is connected to the data collector through a wireless mesh network, the data collector is connected to the data concentrator through a wireless mesh method, and the concentrator is connected to the computer management system. Then, the meter reading software runs in the computer management system to complete the collection of the readings of the household electricity meters.

[0057] The main purpose of the meter reading test system is to test power modules. The multi-functional controller with wireless transceiver function in the above solution is actually the power module mentioned. When conducting large-scale tests on power modules, a large number of household electricity meters are required, so meter racks are needed to install the household electricity meters, which takes up a lot of space, is relatively expensive, and the entire test system is not flexible enough and not easy to expand.

[0058] In view of this problem, an embodiment of the present invention provides a power module meter reading test method. In a computer operating system, container technology is used to containerize the meter software to implement a container virtual meter that simulates the functions of a household electricity meter. The power module is inserted into a pre-designed power module tooling. Each power module communicates with a container virtual meter, and together with a concentrator, it forms a container virtual meter meter reading system. The power module meter reading test is realized through this container virtual meter meter reading system. Using the container virtual meter not only saves space resources and reduces the cost of environment construction, but also has flexible scalability. The number of virtual meters can be conveniently expanded, and it can be widely applied to the power module meter reading test.

[0059] The hardware composition of the container virtual meter meter reading system includes: a computer system, a power module, a power module tooling, a concentrator, a serial port server, and a network switching device.

[0060] The power module tooling is used to supply power to the power module and transfer the serial port interface in the power module to the serial port server. Therefore, the power module tooling needs to have the ability to supply power to the power module and at the same time have the ability to transfer the serial port interface in the power module to the serial port server; the power module tooling is a customized device, and its function is to provide 220v power to the module, and at the same time lead out the transceiver data lines of the module and convert them into an interface type that can be docked with the serial port server.

[0061] Among them, the power module can adopt a broadband carrier module or a micro-power module, which belongs to the device to be tested.

[0062] All other hardware devices belong to general equipment.

[0063] The computer system includes a data exchange center, a container scheduler, Docker, and a virtual meter image.

[0064] The virtual meter image refers to the household electricity meter software that has been modified and then packaged using Docker. For the packaged image, its running condition only requires Docker to be installed in the computer operating system. Whether the operating system of the computer itself is Linux or Windows does not affect.

[0065] Docker is an open-source application container engine that allows developers to package their applications and dependent packages into a portable image, and then publish it to any machine with a popular Linux or Windows operating system, and virtualization can also be achieved. Containers use a completely sandbox mechanism and there will be no interfaces between each other.

[0066] The container scheduler is a container management tool. By using the container scheduler to configure the number of containers and map ports, etc., operations such as automatic startup, stop, and expansion of containers can be completed. In the meter reading test system, the container scheduler is equivalent to the scheduling control of the container virtual table.

[0067] The data exchange center is equivalent to a data forwarding station. Software needs to be written to provide services, and at the same time, it listens to data from the serial server and data from the container virtual table. Its main function is to associate the serial port address corresponding to the serial server with the container address. For example, Serial Port 1 in the serial server corresponds to Container 1, which is equivalent to associating with Container Virtual Table 1. Therefore, the power module inserted into Serial Port 1 can communicate with Container Virtual Table 1. In addition, the data exchange center can provide table number allocation services for the container virtual table. When the container virtual table initiates registration to the data exchange center, the data exchange center will allocate the pre-set table number of the container virtual table.

[0068] After running the container virtual table, the container virtual table will register with the data exchange center and obtain a table number address; the data exchange center will provide a unique table address resource for the container virtual table;

[0069] The data exchange center binds the container port where the container virtual table is located to the serial port address of the serial server accessed by the power module and has the data forwarding function; by inserting the power module into the power module tooling, the power module tooling connects the serial port of the power module to the serial server;

[0070] The power module sends data through the serial port, and the serial server forwards it to the data exchange center in the computer operating system through the network switch for processing;

[0071] The data exchange center forwards it to the container virtual table for processing through an internal query mechanism; and forwards the data returned by the container virtual table back to the power module along the original path.

[0072] The working principle of the container virtual table is as follows:

[0073] To run a container virtual table, first use Docker to create a container to run the virtual table image. After the image runs, it becomes a container virtual table;

[0074] The internal data port of each container virtual table in the container is fixed. When creating a container through the container scheduler, it is necessary to specify what the port provided by this container to the outside is. Therefore, the containers running on the same computer will all have a unique external port, which is open to the data exchange center (referred to as the container port);

[0075] The working process of the container virtual table is as Figure 2 shown:

[0076] 1), Register with the switching center;

[0077] 2), Receive and store the table number;

[0078] 3), Wait to receive data;

[0079] 4), Determine whether data has been received.

[0080] If yes, process the data and send it, then return to step 3); if no, directly return to step 3).

[0081] After the container virtual table runs, it initiates a registration request to the data switching center. At the same time, it receives the table number returned by the data switching center and records the table number in the software memory. Thereafter, this table number is the table address of the container virtual table.

[0082] The working principle of the data switching center is as follows:

[0083] As Figure 3 shown, it is a schematic diagram of the data switching center work process;

[0084] The data switching center simultaneously monitors data from the serial server and data from the container virtual table;

[0085] The data switching center provides two services: the container virtual table registration service, which only opens permissions to the container virtual table; the data forwarding service, which is publicly available.

[0086] When the data switching center monitors a registration request from the container virtual table, it records the port number provided by the container where the currently registering container virtual table is located in the memory. At the same time, it returns a preset unallocated new table number to the container virtual table; and sets a flag for the newly registered container virtual table to wait for the serial port address to be bound;

[0087] When the data switching center receives a data forwarding request sent by the container virtual table, it searches for the serial port address corresponding to the current container port and packages and sends the data to the serial server; the container virtual table belongs to the slave mode and will not actively initiate a data forwarding request before the serial port address is bound;

[0088] When the data switching center receives data sent by the serial server, it first determines the data serial port address and queries whether there is a container port bound to the current serial port address through this address. If not, it randomly forwards the data to a container waiting for the serial port to be bound for processing, and at the same time binds the serial port address to this container port (this processing is similar to inserting a power module into a household electricity meter, where the power module and the household electricity meter have a one-to-one correspondence); if there is, it directly forwards the data to the container virtual table for processing through this container port.

[0089] After inserting the module, the module sends data via UART to request reading the address of the currently inserted table; the serial server receives the corresponding data request, and the serial server sends the current serial address and the request content to the computer operating system through the network switching device; after receiving the request, the computer operating system hands it over to the data exchange center for processing and performs the first binding.

[0090] Operation instructions for the container virtual table meter reading system:

[0091] 1). Build a meter reading test system and power on the concentrator and the power module tooling;

[0092] 2). Start the container virtual table through the container scheduler;

[0093] 3). Insert several modules (the number of modules should be less than the number of container virtual tables);

[0094] 4). Wait for a moment until the module networking lights are completed, that is, the module has been networked with the concentrator;

[0095] 5). Request the container virtual table through the computer operating system and set the data of the container virtual table; for example, set the electricity meter reading of container virtual table n to x degrees.

[0096] 6). The computer operating system sends a meter reading request to the concentrator;

[0097] 7). The computer operating system receives the meter reading result from the concentrator;

[0098] 8). Match the result; if the electricity meter reading of container virtual table n is x degrees, the meter reading test is successful.

[0099] 9). Tests for other items are similar.

[0100] This method is based on the computer system using container technology to implement a meter reading test system with container virtual tables replacing household electricity meters. Using a high-performance computer, hundreds of container virtual tables can be run simultaneously, which not only greatly saves floor space and reduces the system construction cost, but also the virtual tables based on containers can expand virtual table nodes at any time, making it easy to expand and reduce.

[0101] The embodiment of the present invention also provides a power module meter reading test system, including a computer system, a power module, a power module tooling, a concentrator, a serial server, and a network switching device. This system implements the power module meter reading test method described in the above embodiment of the present invention. It solves the problem that when a large number of power modules are produced nowadays, batch meter reading tests are required, and using real household electricity meters is not only expensive but also occupies a lot of space.

[0102] The present invention has been described in detail above through the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to these disclosed embodiments. Based on the above-mentioned multiple embodiments, those skilled in the art can know that code review means in different embodiments can be combined to obtain more embodiments of the present invention, and these embodiments are also within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for reading and testing an electric power module, characterized in that In a computer operating system, container technology is used to containerize the electricity meter software to implement a container virtual meter that simulates the functions of a household electricity meter. The power module is inserted into a pre-designed power module tooling, enabling each power module to communicate with a container virtual meter. Together with a concentrator, it forms a container virtual meter meter reading system, and the meter reading test of the power module is realized through this container virtual meter meter reading system; The container virtual meter meter reading system includes a computer operating system, a power module, a power module tooling, a concentrator, a serial port server, and a network switching device. The power module tooling is used to supply power to the power module and transfer the serial port interface in the power module to the serial port server; The computer operating system includes a data exchange center, a container scheduler, Docker, and a virtual meter image, Among them, the virtual meter image refers to the modification of the household electricity meter software and then packaging it using Docker; the packaged virtual meter image constitutes the container virtual meter; the container scheduler is used for the scheduling and control of the container virtual meter; the data exchange center is used to write software to provide services, and at the same time listen to the data from the serial port server and the data from the container virtual meter to realize the association between the serial port number corresponding to the serial port server and the container virtual meter; After the container virtual meter runs, it registers with the data exchange center and applies for a container virtual meter table number as the table address; By inserting the power module into the power module tooling, the power module tooling connects the serial port of the power module to the serial port server; the power module sends data through the serial port, and the serial port server forwards it to the data exchange center in the computer operating system through the network switching device for processing; the data exchange center forwards the received power module data to the container virtual meter for processing through an internal query mechanism; and forwards the data returned by the container virtual meter back to the power module along the original path; The working implementation process of the data exchange center is as follows: The data exchange center listens to the data from the serial port server and the data from the container virtual meter at the same time; The data exchange center provides two services: a container virtual meter registration service, which only opens permissions to the container virtual meter; a data forwarding service, which is publicly available; When the data exchange center listens to a request for container virtual meter registration, it records the port number provided externally by the container where the currently registered container virtual meter is located in the memory, and at the same time returns a preset unallocated new table number to the container virtual meter; and sets a flag for the newly registered container virtual meter to indicate the serial port address to be bound; When the data exchange center receives a data forwarding request sent by the container virtual meter, it looks up the serial port address corresponding to the container port where the current container virtual meter is located and packages and sends the data to the serial port server; the container virtual meter belongs to the slave mode and will not actively initiate a data forwarding request before the serial port address is bound; After the data exchange center receives the data sent by the serial port server, it first determines the serial port address of the data, and queries whether there is a container port bound to the current serial port address through this address. If not, it randomly forwards the data to a container waiting to bind the serial port address for processing, and at the same time binds the serial port address to this container port; if so, it directly forwards the data through this container port to the container virtual table for processing; After inserting the power module, the power module sends data through the uart to request to read the container virtual table address corresponding to the currently inserted power module; after the serial port server receives the corresponding data request, it sends the current serial port address and the request content to the computer operating system through the network switching device; after receiving the request, the computer operating system sends it to the data exchange center for processing to perform the first binding of the serial port address of the serial port server accessed by the power module and the container port where the container virtual table is located.

2. The power module meter reading test method according to claim 1, characterized in that The data exchange center provides a unique table address for the container virtual table.

3. A power module meter reading test method according to claim 1, characterized in that The container scheduler is a containerized management tool used to configure the number of containers and mapped ports, and complete the automated start, stop, and expansion operations of the containers.

4. A power module meter reading test method according to claim 1, characterized in that The working implementation process of the container virtual table is as follows: Run a container virtual table: Use Docker to create a container to run the virtual table image, and after the image runs, it is a container virtual table; The data port of each container virtual table inside the container is a fixed port. When creating a container through the container scheduler, specify the port number provided by this container externally. Containers running on the same computer all have a unique external port number, and this port number is open to the data exchange center; After the container virtual table runs, it sends a registration request to the data exchange center, and at the same time receives the table number returned by the data exchange center, and records the table number in the software memory. This table number is the table address of this container virtual table; The working process of the container virtual table is as follows: 1). Register with the data exchange center; 2). Receive and store the table number; 3). Wait to receive data; 4). Judge whether data is received, If yes, process the data and send it, and return to step 3); if no, directly return to step 3).

5. A power module meter reading test method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The implementation process of the container virtual table meter reading system is as follows: 1). Build a container virtual table meter reading system, and power on the concentrator and power module workbenches; 2). Start the container virtual table through the container scheduler; 3). Insert several power modules; 4). Wait for the power module to complete networking with the concentrator; 5). Request the container virtual table through the computer operating system and set the container virtual table data; 6). The computer operating system sends a meter reading request to the concentrator; 7). The computer operating system receives the meter reading result of the concentrator; 8). Match the meter reading result with the container virtual table data. If they are consistent, the meter reading test of the power module is successful.

6. A power module meter reading test system, characterized in that, This system implements the power module meter reading test method described in any one of claims 1-5.

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