A method for synchronizing information between an electric energy meter and a user interface unit

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method for synchronizing information between an electric energy meter and a user interface unit. The present invention can adapt to different versions of user interface units (CIU) by flexibly configuring a liquid crystal truth table stored inside the electric energy meter, thereby ensuring that the electric energy meter can be seamlessly compatible with user interface units of different versions or specifications when used in different market environments, countries and regions. Even if the electric energy meter or the user interface unit changes due to firmware upgrades, data structure changes or display requirements, the system can still renegotiate the liquid crystal truth table through pairing operations to ensure that the information synchronization function between the two devices continues to work normally and achieve compatibility between new and old device versions. This design not only significantly reduces the complexity and difficulty of customers during use and maintenance, and reduces the need for technical training or equipment upgrades for customers, but also reduces the compatibility issues that manufacturers need to consider when designing and maintaining equipment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular, an innovative design is made for the communication method between the electric energy meter and the user interface unit (CIU / UIU). The method aims to transmit various key information in the electric energy meter, such as voltage, current, power, cumulative power consumption, remaining power or balance, etc., to the user interface unit in a reliable and consistent manner through a standardized and unified communication mechanism, so that the user can easily query and obtain this information through the interface unit. This communication method not only improves the efficiency and accuracy of data transmission, but also ensures that the data interaction between the electric energy meter and the user interface unit can still run smoothly in complex application scenarios. Background Art

[0002] At present, the energy meter protocols used in various regions of the world are different. Especially in Africa, prepaid meters are the main form, and the recharge protocol usually adopts the STS protocol. This method requires that each energy meter must be equipped with a user interface unit (UIU / CIU) to interact with the energy meter through communication methods such as PLC (power line communication), MBUS (wired communication) or RF (wireless communication). Users can enter the TOKEN code through the user interface unit to recharge the energy meter, or query the relevant information of the meter by entering a specific short code. For example, users can query the current balance by entering the short code 801. This simple method enables users to easily obtain meter information, which is convenient for management and use.

[0003] At present, the mainstream information synchronization method between the energy meter and the user interface unit is that both parties agree on a set of unified communication rules in advance. This usually includes defining a list of short codes, and only the short codes in the list are allowed to be queried. In addition, for each short code, the energy meter and the user interface unit also need to agree in advance on the relevant data type, data length, display format (such as decimal point position and display unit) and other information. Only in this way can the user interface unit accurately parse and display the data frame received from the energy meter. This method can ensure the accuracy and consistency of communication when the rules of both parties are consistent.

[0004] However, there are many African countries, and the power companies of each country may define their own short code lists. In countries where no unified short code list is defined, different manufacturers often use their own short code lists. This results in the incompatibility of electricity meters and user interface units from different countries or even different manufacturers in the same country. To make matters more complicated, the power company may add or delete short codes according to changes in demand. This results in differences in short code lists between the old and new versions of electricity meters and user interface units, making the devices incompatible and difficult to mix.

[0005] This situation also poses major challenges to manufacturers. The same market may be supplied multiple times due to changes in demand, program optimization or bug fixes. In this process, different batches of equipment may have inconsistent parsing rules between the old version of the energy meter and the new version of the user interface unit or between the new energy meter and the old user interface unit due to slight changes in the data structure. This situation may cause data parsing errors, garbled display, or even the inability to use the equipment normally, causing great trouble to users. More importantly, this also brings huge maintenance challenges to manufacturers, increases the complexity of maintaining and supporting multiple versions of energy meters and user interface units, prolongs the time for troubleshooting and solving problems, and significantly increases maintenance costs.

[0006] In view of this, the present invention is proposed. Summary of the invention

[0007] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art and provide an information synchronization method between an electric energy meter and a user interface unit, thereby solving the problems raised in the above-mentioned background technology.

[0008] In order to solve the above technical problems, the basic concept of the technical solution adopted by the present invention is:

[0009] A method for synchronizing information between an electric energy meter and a user interface unit comprises the following steps:

[0010] Step S1: configuring a storage space inside the electric energy meter for storing a liquid crystal truth table of a user interface unit;

[0011] Step S2: When the electric energy meter is installed and used for the first time or the user interface unit is replaced, the user interface unit sends its liquid crystal truth table to the electric energy meter through a communication method, and the electric energy meter receives and stores the liquid crystal truth table;

[0012] Step S3: After the user interface unit issues a data request, the electric energy meter calls the corresponding request data according to the stored liquid crystal truth table, and organizes the data structure according to the display rules of the truth table

[0013] Step S4: the electric energy meter converts the data organized according to the liquid crystal truth table into a string of liquid crystal buffer data suitable for display in the user interface unit;

[0014] Step S5: the electric energy meter pushes the liquid crystal cache data to the user interface unit through the communication protocol. After receiving the data, the user interface unit directly fills the data into its display cache area.

[0015] Optionally, the storage space in step S1 stores a liquid crystal truth table configured as a corresponding user interface unit when leaving the factory, and the factory liquid crystal truth table can be configured as a truth table corresponding to the user interface unit through communication.

[0016] Optionally, when the electric energy meter is installed for the first time or the user interface unit is replaced, the electric energy meter automatically enters the pairing mode, detects the connection request of the new user interface unit, and starts communication initialization. Then, the user interface unit sends its liquid crystal truth table to the electric energy meter through the communication protocol. After the electric energy meter receives the liquid crystal truth table sent by the user interface unit, it performs a data integrity check. Then, after completing the data verification, the electric energy meter stores the liquid crystal truth table in its internal reserved storage space, replacing the old liquid crystal truth table or storing it as a new liquid crystal truth table. Then, the electric energy meter sends a confirmation signal to the user interface unit, indicating that the liquid crystal truth table has been successfully received and stored. Subsequently, both parties confirm that the pairing is successful through the communication protocol, and the electric energy meter prepares to perform subsequent data transmission and display synchronization according to the new truth table. Finally, after the pairing is successful, the user interface unit does not need to send the liquid crystal truth table again in the subsequent data request process. The electric energy meter will organize the data according to the latest stored liquid crystal truth table and push it for display.

[0017] Optionally, after the user interface unit issues a data request, the electric energy meter calls the corresponding request data according to the stored liquid crystal truth table, and organizes the data structure according to the display rules of the truth table. The specific steps are:

[0018] When the user interface unit sends a query request, the electric energy meter receives the data request and parses the request content to determine the required data type. Then, the electric energy meter accesses the internally stored liquid crystal truth table according to the received request content and reads the corresponding display rules. Then, the electric energy meter extracts the specific data requested by the user interface unit from the historical records. Finally, according to the display rules in the liquid crystal truth table, the electric energy meter formats the extracted data and converts the data into a format that meets the display requirements of the user interface unit. The expression is F d =T(H d , R d ), where T is the formatting function, F d To meet the display requirements of the user interface unit, H d To extract D from the historical records t The corresponding specific data, R d Access the internally stored LCD truth table for the energy meter.

[0019] Optionally, during the format conversion process, if different units are defined in the LCD truth table, the electric energy meter will convert the units of the data according to the requirements of the truth table, and the display rules include the display format of the data, the decimal point position, the unit conversion and the data precision;

[0020] Optionally, according to the definition of the liquid crystal truth table, the electric energy meter converts the extracted data into a format suitable for the liquid crystal display of the user interface unit, and the electric energy meter packages the converted data into a string of data frames suitable for cache display, and arranges the data frames into a format that meets the liquid crystal display cache requirements, so that the data frames can be directly written into the liquid crystal display cache area of ​​the user interface unit. After the conversion is completed, the electric energy meter verifies the data, and the converted and verified data frames are finally prepared and pushed to the user interface unit.

[0021] Optionally, the electric energy meter pushes the liquid crystal cache data to the user interface unit through a communication protocol, and after receiving the data, the user interface unit directly fills the data into its display cache area.

[0022] The user interface unit receives the data frame from the electric energy meter through the communication module and performs a second check on the data frame. After the data check is completed, the user interface unit directly fills the received data into its LCD display buffer area without parsing the specific data structure and display format. The data will be automatically presented on the LCD screen according to the format transmitted by the electric energy meter. Then, the user interface unit immediately updates the content on the LCD screen according to the data filled into the LCD buffer area.

[0023] Optionally, the electric energy meter and the user interface unit communicate with each other via one or more of PLC, RF, MBUS, and Bluetooth.

[0024] After adopting the above technical solution, the present invention has the following beneficial effects compared with the prior art. Of course, any product implementing the present invention does not necessarily need to achieve all the advantages described below at the same time:

[0025] The present invention can adapt to different versions of user interface units (CIU) by flexibly configuring the liquid crystal truth table stored inside the electric energy meter, thereby ensuring that the electric energy meter can be seamlessly compatible with different versions or specifications of user interface units when used in different market environments, countries and regions. Even if the electric energy meter or user interface unit changes due to firmware upgrades, data structure changes or display requirements, the system can still renegotiate the liquid crystal truth table through pairing operations to ensure that the information synchronization function between the two devices continues to work normally and achieve compatibility between new and old device versions. This design not only significantly reduces the complexity and difficulty of customers during use and maintenance, and reduces the need for technical training or equipment upgrades for customers, but also reduces the compatibility issues that manufacturers need to consider when designing and maintaining equipment, simplifies the workload of equipment development and subsequent maintenance, and ultimately greatly reduces the design cost and subsequent maintenance cost of the product, and improves the market competitiveness and user satisfaction of the product.

[0026] The specific implementation modes of the present invention are further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The drawings described below are only some embodiments. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work. In the drawings:

[0028] Figure 1 It is an electric energy meter and supporting user interface unit used in a certain country. The electric energy meter and user interface unit can communicate through PLC, RF, MBUS, Bluetooth and other communication methods;

[0029] Figure 2 It is the LCD display content of the user interface unit after the short code is used to query the remaining power;

[0030] Figure 3 is the truth table of the liquid crystal used in this user interface unit;

[0031] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 The display content in Figure 3 The data frame converted from the truth code is 27 bytes in total. The electric energy meter sends the string of data to the user interface unit through a certain communication protocol. The user interface unit intercepts the string of data and fills it into its own display buffer register to display Figure 2 The content shown;

[0032] Figure 5 It is a list of short codes used in a certain country, containing commonly used query information for electricity meters.

[0033] It should be noted that these drawings and textual descriptions are not intended to limit the conceptual scope of the present invention in any way, but are intended to illustrate the concept of the present invention for those skilled in the art by referring to specific embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0035] See also Figure 1-5 As shown, in this embodiment, a method for synchronizing information between an electric energy meter and a user interface unit is provided, which is implemented through interaction between the electric energy meter and the user interface unit, and includes:

[0036] Step S1: configuring a storage space inside the electric energy meter for storing a liquid crystal truth table of a user interface unit;

[0037] Step S2: When the electric energy meter is installed and used for the first time or the user interface unit is replaced, the user interface unit sends its liquid crystal truth table to the electric energy meter through a communication method, and the electric energy meter receives and stores the liquid crystal truth table;

[0038] Step S3: After the user interface unit issues a data request, the electric energy meter calls the corresponding request data according to the stored liquid crystal truth table, and organizes the data structure according to the display rules of the truth table

[0039] Step S4: the electric energy meter converts the data organized according to the liquid crystal truth table into a string of liquid crystal buffer data suitable for display in the user interface unit;

[0040] Step S5: the electric energy meter pushes the liquid crystal cache data to the user interface unit through the communication protocol. After receiving the data, the user interface unit directly fills the data into its display cache area.

[0041] The method of the present invention is highly adaptable and flexible. It can not only support the diverse versions of electric energy meters and user interface units used in different countries or regions, but also specifically solve the problem of how to achieve information synchronization in an environment where new and old versions of equipment coexist. Whether it is a new version of equipment launched due to changes in market demand, or an existing device whose data structure changes during the upgrade process, this method can ensure the compatibility between the electric energy meter and the user interface unit through consistent communication rules and flexible configuration mechanisms. This technical design effectively solves the compatibility issues in equipment upgrades, cross-border use, and version iterations in the power industry in the global market, provides reliable technical guarantees for the interoperability of power equipment in various countries, and greatly reduces the technical complexity and maintenance costs in an environment where multiple versions of equipment are mixed, thereby providing broader support for the promotion and application of power equipment.

[0042] In this embodiment, the storage space in step S1 stores a liquid crystal truth table configured as a corresponding user interface unit when leaving the factory, and the liquid crystal truth table leaving the factory can be configured as a truth table corresponding to the user interface unit through communication.

[0043] In this embodiment, when the electric energy meter is installed for the first time or the user interface unit is replaced, the electric energy meter automatically enters the pairing mode, detects the connection request of the new user interface unit, and starts to initialize the communication. Then, the user interface unit sends its liquid crystal truth table to the electric energy meter through the communication protocol. After the electric energy meter receives the liquid crystal truth table sent by the user interface unit, it performs a data integrity check. Then, after completing the data check, the electric energy meter stores the liquid crystal truth table in its internal reserved storage space, replacing the old liquid crystal truth table or storing it as a new liquid crystal truth table. Then, the electric energy meter sends a confirmation signal to the user interface unit, indicating that the liquid crystal truth table has been successfully received and stored. Subsequently, both parties confirm that the pairing is successful through the communication protocol, and the electric energy meter prepares to perform subsequent data transmission and display synchronization according to the new truth table. Finally, after the pairing is successful, the user interface unit does not need to send the liquid crystal truth table again in the subsequent data request process. The electric energy meter will organize the data according to the stored latest liquid crystal truth table and push it for display.

[0044] When the user interface unit is installed for the first time or replaced, the energy meter automatically enters pairing mode, can autonomously detect the connection request of the new user interface unit and initialize communication. This automated design reduces the complexity of manual operation and improves the adaptability of the system.

[0045] After the data transmission is completed, the electric energy meter performs a data integrity check on the received LCD truth table to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the data transmission process and prevent data loss or damage. This technical step enhances the reliability of the method.

[0046] After the pairing is successful, the user interface unit does not need to repeatedly send the LCD truth table, and the electric energy meter can directly perform data transmission and display synchronization based on the stored truth table. This optimization reduces the overhead of repeated communication and improves the system response speed and resource utilization efficiency.

[0047] In this embodiment, after the user interface unit issues a data request, the electric energy meter calls the corresponding request data according to the stored liquid crystal truth table, and organizes the data structure according to the display rules of the truth table. The specific steps are:

[0048] When the user interface unit sends a query request, the electric energy meter receives the data request and parses the request content to determine the required data type. Then, the electric energy meter accesses the internally stored liquid crystal truth table according to the received request content and reads the corresponding display rules. Then, the electric energy meter extracts the specific data requested by the user interface unit from the historical records. Finally, according to the display rules in the liquid crystal truth table, the electric energy meter formats the extracted data and converts the data into a format that meets the display requirements of the user interface unit. The expression is F d =T(H d , R d), where T is the formatting function, F d To meet the display requirements of the user interface unit, H d To extract D from the historical records t The corresponding specific data, R d Access the internally stored LCD truth table for the energy meter.

[0049] When the user interface unit issues a query request, the electric energy meter receives the data request and first parses the request content to determine the required data type, such as voltage, current or power consumption. Then, the electric energy meter accesses the internally stored liquid crystal truth table according to the parsed request content and reads the corresponding data display rules, including key information such as display format, unit and decimal point position. Subsequently, the electric energy meter extracts the specific value corresponding to the user requested data type from its internal history record or real-time measurement module, and formats it according to the display rules in the liquid crystal truth table. Through the formatting function, the electric energy meter converts the extracted data into a format that meets the display requirements of the user interface unit, including adjusting the precision, unit and display format of the value. Finally, the electric energy meter generates a formatted data frame and prepares to send the data frame to the user interface unit through the communication protocol to ensure that the information is correctly displayed on the LCD screen and that the user interface unit can accurately present the status and data of the electric energy meter.

[0050] In this embodiment, during the format conversion process, if different units are defined in the liquid crystal truth table, the electric energy meter will convert the data units according to the requirements in the truth table, and the display rules include the display format of the data, the decimal point position, the unit conversion and the data precision;

[0051] In this embodiment, according to the definition of the liquid crystal truth table, the electric energy meter converts the extracted data into a format suitable for the liquid crystal display of the user interface unit, and the electric energy meter packages the converted data into a string of data frames suitable for cache display, and arranges the data frames into a format that meets the requirements of the liquid crystal display cache, so that the data frames can be directly written into the liquid crystal display cache area of ​​the user interface unit. After the conversion is completed, the electric energy meter verifies the data, and the converted and verified data frames are finally prepared and pushed to the user interface unit. According to the definition of the liquid crystal truth table, the electric energy meter first converts the extracted raw data into a format suitable for the liquid crystal display of the user interface unit according to the rules in the truth table, which includes adjusting the display format, unit and decimal point position of the data. After completing the conversion, the electric energy meter packages the processed data into a string of data frames suitable for cache display. Subsequently, these data frames will be accurately arranged into a format that meets the requirements of the liquid crystal display cache area of ​​the user interface unit to ensure that the data can be seamlessly written into the liquid crystal display cache area of ​​the user interface unit. In order to ensure the accuracy of the data, the electric energy meter will verify the data after completing the data conversion to check whether there are errors or missing data. After conversion and verification, the data frames are finally sorted and ready to be pushed to the user interface unit through the communication protocol. In this way, the user interface unit can accurately receive and display the status information of the energy meter, ensuring the accurate presentation of the data on the user interface.

[0052] In this embodiment, the electric energy meter pushes the liquid crystal cache data to the user interface unit through the communication protocol. After receiving the data, the user interface unit directly fills the data into its display cache area.

[0053] The user interface unit receives the data frame from the electric energy meter through the communication module, and performs a second check on the data frame. After the data check is completed, the user interface unit directly fills the received data into its liquid crystal display buffer area, without parsing the specific data structure and display format. The data will be automatically presented on the liquid crystal screen according to the format transmitted by the electric energy meter. Then, the user interface unit immediately updates the content on the liquid crystal display screen according to the data filled into the liquid crystal buffer area. The user interface unit performs a second check on the received data frame to ensure that there is no error or damage to the data during the transmission process. The multiple check mechanism increases the reliability and data integrity of the system, and helps to avoid data loss or transmission errors during transmission. After receiving the data, the user interface unit does not need to parse the specific data structure and display format, and directly fills the data into the liquid crystal display buffer area. This design greatly simplifies the processing logic of the user interface unit, reduces the complexity of parsing data, and improves the operating efficiency of the system. The data will be automatically displayed on the liquid crystal screen of the user interface unit according to the format transmitted by the electric energy meter, without the need for the user interface unit to perform additional format conversion or processing. This ensures the accuracy and consistency of the display and reduces display errors caused by data format mismatch. Finally, by directly filling in data and updating the display immediately, the user interface unit can display the latest data in the shortest time, providing a faster response speed. This design improves the user experience and ensures that users can see the status and data of the energy meter in real time.

[0054] In this embodiment, the electric energy meter and the user interface unit communicate with each other through one or more communication methods including PLC, RF, MBUS, and Bluetooth.

[0055] The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments. Anyone should be aware that any structural changes made under the enlightenment of the present invention, and any technical solutions that are the same or similar to the present invention, fall within the protection scope of the present invention. The technology, shape, and structural parts not described in detail in the present invention are all well-known technologies.

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing information between an electric energy meter and a user interface unit, implemented through interaction between the electric energy meter and the user interface unit, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: Step S1: configuring a storage space inside the electric energy meter for storing a liquid crystal truth table of a user interface unit; Step S2: When the electric energy meter is installed and used for the first time or the user interface unit is replaced, the user interface unit sends its liquid crystal truth table to the electric energy meter through a communication method, and the electric energy meter receives and stores the liquid crystal truth table; Step S3: After the user interface unit issues a data request, the electric energy meter calls the corresponding request data according to the stored liquid crystal truth table, and organizes the data structure according to the display rules of the truth table; Step S4: the electric energy meter converts the data organized according to the liquid crystal truth table into a string of liquid crystal buffer data suitable for display in the user interface unit; Step S5: the electric energy meter pushes the liquid crystal cache data to the user interface unit through the communication protocol. After receiving the data, the user interface unit directly fills the data into its display cache area; The storage space in step S1 stores a liquid crystal truth table configured as a corresponding user interface unit when shipped from the factory, and the liquid crystal truth table shipped from the factory can be configured as a truth table corresponding to the user interface unit through communication; When the electric energy meter is installed for the first time or the user interface unit is replaced, the electric energy meter automatically enters the pairing mode, detects the connection request of the new user interface unit, and starts to initialize the communication. Then, the user interface unit sends its liquid crystal truth table to the electric energy meter through the communication protocol. After the electric energy meter receives the liquid crystal truth table sent by the user interface unit, it performs a data integrity check. Then, after completing the data check, the electric energy meter stores the liquid crystal truth table in its internal reserved storage space, replacing the old liquid crystal truth table or storing it as a new liquid crystal truth table. Then, the electric energy meter sends a confirmation signal to the user interface unit, indicating that the liquid crystal truth table has been successfully received and stored. Then, both parties confirm the successful pairing through the communication protocol, and the electric energy meter prepares to perform subsequent data transmission and display synchronization according to the new truth table. Finally, after the pairing is successful, the user interface unit does not need to send the liquid crystal truth table again in the subsequent data request process. The electric energy meter will organize the data according to the latest stored liquid crystal truth table and push it for display; After the user interface unit sends a data request, the electric energy meter calls the corresponding request data according to the stored liquid crystal truth table, and organizes the data structure according to the display rules of the truth table. The specific steps are as follows: When the user interface unit sends a query request, the electric energy meter receives the data request and parses the request content to determine the required data type. Then, the electric energy meter accesses the internally stored liquid crystal truth table according to the received request content and reads the corresponding display rules. Then, the electric energy meter extracts the specific data requested by the user interface unit from the historical records. Finally, according to the display rules in the liquid crystal truth table, the electric energy meter formats the extracted data and converts the data into a format that meets the display requirements of the user interface unit. The expression is: ,in, Is the formatting function, To meet the display requirements of the user interface unit, To extract the The corresponding specific data, Access the internally stored LCD truth table for the energy meter.

2. The method for information synchronization between an electric energy meter and a user interface unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: During the format conversion process, if different units are defined in the LCD truth table, the electric energy meter will convert the data units according to the requirements in the truth table. The display rules include the data display format, decimal point position, unit conversion and data accuracy.

3. The method for information synchronization between an electric energy meter and a user interface unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: According to the definition of the liquid crystal truth table, the electric energy meter converts the extracted data into a format suitable for the liquid crystal display of the user interface unit. The electric energy meter packages the converted data into a string of data frames suitable for cache display, and arranges the data frames into a format that meets the liquid crystal display cache requirements, so that the data frames can be directly written into the liquid crystal display cache area of ​​the user interface unit. After the conversion is completed, the electric energy meter verifies the data, and the converted and verified data frames are finally prepared and pushed to the user interface unit.

4. The method for information synchronization between an electric energy meter and a user interface unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: The electric energy meter pushes the LCD cache data to the user interface unit through the communication protocol. After receiving the data, the user interface unit directly fills the data into its display cache area; The user interface unit receives the data frame from the electric energy meter through the communication module and performs a second check on the data frame. After the data check is completed, the user interface unit directly fills the received data into its LCD display buffer area without parsing the specific data structure and display format. The data will be automatically presented on the LCD screen according to the format transmitted by the electric energy meter. Then, the user interface unit immediately updates the content on the LCD screen according to the data filled into the LCD buffer area.

5. The method for information synchronization between an electric energy meter and a user interface unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: The electric energy meter and the user interface unit communicate with each other through one or more communication methods including PLC, RF, MBUS, and Bluetooth.

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