Digital metering terminals and digital monitoring systems
By acquiring and processing real-time data from digital meter terminals, the problem of inaccurate monitoring of the operating status of protection equipment has been solved, enabling safe and stable operation of the power system and control over equipment status.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- ZHONGTIAN ELECTRIC POWER OPTICAL CABLES CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-08-14
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-17
AI Technical Summary
In existing technologies, the monitoring of the operating status of protection equipment is not accurate enough, which affects the safe and stable operation of the power system.
A digital meter terminal is provided, comprising a power module, a data acquisition module, a data processing module, a data interaction module, and a status display module, which enables real-time data acquisition, processing, and reporting of protection devices, and allows maintenance personnel to view the operating status and manage the device status through the backend device.
The application of digital meter terminals enables accurate monitoring and control of protection equipment, ensuring the safe and stable operation of the power system and supporting maintenance personnel to promptly detect anomalies and manage equipment status.
Smart Images
Figure CN224520758U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of equipment monitoring technology, and in particular to a digital meter terminal and a digital monitoring system. Background Technology
[0002] As power systems continue to expand in scale, voltage levels increase, and grid structures become increasingly complex, power equipment faces more severe operating environments and higher safety requirements. Protective equipment (e.g., surge arresters), as key devices protecting power equipment from lightning overvoltage and operational overvoltage damage, requires accurate monitoring of its operating status to ensure the safe and stable operation of the power system. Utility Model Content
[0003] To address the problems in the prior art, this application provides a digital metering terminal and a digital monitoring system, which can achieve accurate monitoring and control of protection equipment, thereby ensuring the safe and stable operation of the power system.
[0004] This application provides a digital metering terminal, comprising: a power module, including a main power supply and a backup power supply; a data acquisition module electrically connected to the power module, the data acquisition module also being electrically connected to a protection device, the data acquisition module being used to acquire operating data of the protection device; a data processing module electrically connected to the power module and the data acquisition module, the data processing module being used to process the operating data acquired by the data acquisition module to obtain data processing results, the data processing module also being used to manage the switching between the main power supply and the backup power supply; and a data interaction module electrically connected to the power module and the data processing module, the... The data interaction module is used to establish a communication connection with the backend device. The data interaction module is also used to upload the data processing results to the backend device and to receive control commands issued by the backend device. The data processing module is used to execute control functions corresponding to the control commands, including device status management of the protection device. A status display module, electrically connected to the power supply module and the data processing module, is used to control the status display module to display operating status information, including the operating status of the digital meter terminal and / or the operating status of the protection device.
[0005] The aforementioned digital metering terminal can operate without power supply through both main and backup power sources. It collects real-time operating data from protection devices, processes and reports this data, allowing maintenance personnel to monitor the operating status of protection devices at any time via backend devices, promptly detect anomalies, and thus ensure the safe and stable operation of the power system. Furthermore, it supports maintenance personnel in managing the status of protection devices through backend devices and allows the digital metering terminal to display equipment operating status information.
[0006] In some possible implementations, both the main power supply and the backup power supply include a surge protection circuit and a transient pulse suppression circuit electrically connected to the surge protection circuit. The surge protection circuit is used to provide surge protection for the power module, and the transient pulse suppression circuit is used to provide electrical fast transient / burst protection for the power module.
[0007] In some possible implementations, the data acquisition module includes two types of serial communication protocol interfaces, namely a first serial communication protocol interface and a second serial communication protocol interface. The data acquisition module communicates with the protection device through the first serial communication protocol interface, and the data acquisition module communicates with the data processing module through the second serial communication protocol interface. The second serial communication protocol interface and the data processing module are electrically connected through a first opto-isolation module.
[0008] In some possible implementations, the digital meter terminal further includes multiple serial port connectors and multiple second opto-isolation modules. The data acquisition module communicates with multiple protection devices through the multiple serial port connectors to collect the operating data of the multiple protection devices. The multiple second opto-isolation modules correspond one-to-one with the multiple serial port connectors, and one second opto-isolation module is electrically connected between the data acquisition module and one serial port connector.
[0009] In some possible implementations, the digital meter terminal further includes multiple Ethernet interface connectors, through which the data interaction module communicates with the back-end device, including Ethernet interface connectors of a first rate and Ethernet interface connectors of a second rate.
[0010] In some possible implementations, the digital metering terminal further includes a fiber optic interface connector, through which the data interaction module communicates with the back-end device.
[0011] In some possible implementations, the status display module includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) electrically connected to the data processing module, which controls the LEDs to indicate different operating status information in various display states.
[0012] In some possible implementations, the digital meter terminal further includes a metal housing, in which the power module, the data acquisition module, the data processing module, the data interaction module, and the status display module are all housed.
[0013] In some possible implementations, the protection device includes a surge arrester, the backend device includes a server, and the data interaction module is used to upload the data processing results to the backend device based on the IEC61850 protocol.
[0014] This application also provides a digital monitoring system, including a protection device, a back-end device, and the aforementioned digital meter terminal, wherein both the protection device and the back-end device are communicatively connected to the digital meter terminal.
[0015] The aforementioned digital monitoring system enables uninterrupted operation of digital meter terminals through main and backup power supplies. It collects real-time operational data from protection devices via digital meter terminals, processes and reports this data, allowing maintenance personnel to view the operational status of protection devices at any time through access to backend devices, promptly detect anomalies, and thus ensure the safe and stable operation of the power system. Furthermore, it supports maintenance personnel in managing the status of protection devices through backend devices and allows digital meter terminals to display equipment operational status information. Attached Figure Description
[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the module structure of an embodiment of the digital monitoring system of this application.
[0017] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the module structure of an embodiment of the digital metering terminal of this application.
[0018] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the digital metering terminal of this application.
[0019] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the communication link of an embodiment of the digital metering terminal of this application.
[0020] Explanation of main component symbols: Digital monitoring system-100, protection device-10, digital meter terminal-20, back-end device-30, power module-201, main power supply-2011, backup power supply-2012, data acquisition module-202, data processing module-203, data interaction module-204, status display module-205.
[0021] The following detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, will further illustrate this application. Detailed Implementation
[0022] The following description will refer to the accompanying drawings to provide a more complete picture of the present application. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present application. However, the present application may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth herein. These exemplary embodiments are provided to make the present application thorough and complete, and to fully convey the scope of the present application to those skilled in the art. Similar reference numerals denote the same or similar components.
[0023] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular exemplary embodiments only and is not intended to limit the application. As used herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to also include the plural forms. Furthermore, when used herein, “comprising” and / or “including” and / or “having,” integers, steps, operations, components, and / or components, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, regions, integers, steps, operations, components, and / or groups thereof.
[0024] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains. Furthermore, unless expressly defined herein, terms such as those defined in a general dictionary should be interpreted as having the same meaning as they have in the relevant art and in the content of this application, and will not be interpreted as having an idealized or overly formal meaning.
[0025] It is understood that the connection relationships described in this application refer to direct or indirect connections. For example, the connection between A and B can be a direct connection between A and B, or an indirect connection between A and B through one or more other electrical components. For example, A can be directly connected to C, and C can be directly connected to B, thus achieving a connection between A and B through C. It is also understood that the "A connects to B" described in this application can be a direct connection between A and B, or an indirect connection between A and B through one or more other electrical components.
[0026] In the description of this application, the words "first," "second," etc., are used only to distinguish different objects and do not limit the quantity or order of execution, nor do they imply that they must be different. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion.
[0027] The following description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrates exemplary embodiments. It should be noted that components depicted in the drawings are not necessarily shown to scale; and identical or similar components will be designated with the same or similar reference numerals or similar technical terms.
[0028] Please read Figure 1 This application provides a digital monitoring system 100 in one embodiment. The digital monitoring system 100 may include protection devices 10, digital metering terminals 20, and backend devices 30. Both the protection devices 10 and the backend devices 30 are communicatively connected to the digital metering terminal 20. The digital metering terminal 20 is used to monitor and manage the protection devices 10. There may be multiple protection devices 10; for example, the digital metering terminal 20 can collect operating data from each protection device 10 and manage the device status of each protection device 10. The protection devices 10 can be selected according to the actual application scenario, and this application embodiment does not limit this selection. For example, in a power system scenario, the protection device 10 may be a surge arrester.
[0029] The backend device 30 is used to facilitate maintenance personnel in checking the operational status of the protection device 10 at any time and promptly detecting any abnormalities. For example, the digital meter terminal 20 can upload monitoring data to the backend device 30, allowing maintenance personnel to check the operational status of the protection device 10 anytime via mobile phones, tablets, personal computers, or other devices. Alternatively, the backend device 30 can be a server, allowing maintenance personnel to check the operational status of the protection device 10 at any time through an application (APP) or webpage installed on the device.
[0030] In some embodiments, the digital meter terminal 20 can also upload its own operating status data to the backend device 30, so that maintenance personnel can check the operating status of the digital meter terminal 20 at any time.
[0031] Please read Figure 2 One embodiment of this application provides a digital metering terminal 20. The digital metering terminal 20 may include a power module 201, a data acquisition module 202, a data processing module 203, a data interaction module 204, and a status display module 205.
[0032] The power module 201 may include a main power supply 2011 and a backup power supply 2012. The main power supply 2011 and the backup power supply 2012 are independent and do not affect each other. Both the main power supply 2011 and the backup power supply 2012 can use 220V / 50Hz AC power as input, or 110V or 220V DC power as input. Both the main power supply 2011 and the backup power supply 2012 may include a voltage conversion circuit to convert the input voltage into a preset voltage to power various modules, such as the data acquisition module 202, the data processing module 203, the data interaction module 204, and the status display module 205. The preset voltage can be set according to actual power supply needs, and this embodiment does not limit this. For example, the preset voltage can be 5V DC voltage or 12V DC voltage. The voltage conversion circuit can use AC-DC circuits or DC-DC circuits described in related technologies, and this embodiment does not limit this. For example, the voltage conversion circuit may include a step-down conversion circuit composed of a fuse, a filter capacitor, a rectifier bridge, and a voltage conversion chip.
[0033] In some embodiments, both the main power supply 2011 and the backup power supply 2012 may include a surge protection circuit and a transient pulse suppression circuit electrically connected to the surge protection circuit. The surge protection circuit provides surge protection for the main power supply 2011 (or backup power supply 2012), and the transient pulse suppression circuit provides electrical fast transient (EFT) protection for the main power supply 2011 (or backup power supply 2012). Both circuits can be composed of circuit elements described in related technologies. For example, the transient pulse suppression circuit may be based on a varistor, a common-mode inductor + X capacitor + Y capacitor, and a transient voltage suppressor diode (TVS). The surge protection circuit may be based on a gas discharge tube, a varistor + a common-mode inductor, and a transient voltage suppressor diode + a filter capacitor.
[0034] In some embodiments, the backup power supply 2012 may also include a battery to power the various modules in the digital meter terminal 20. For example, when the main power supply 2011 is working normally, the battery in the backup power supply 2012 can be charged using the conversion voltage output by the main power supply 2011, so that the digital meter terminal 20 can be kept powered by the battery in the backup power supply 2012 in the event of a power grid outage (220V / 50Hz AC power).
[0035] The data acquisition module 202 is electrically connected to the power supply module 201. The data acquisition module 202 is also electrically connected to the protection device 10 and is used to acquire operating data from the protection device 10. For example, the data acquisition module 202 may include a metering chip or a microcontroller with data acquisition capabilities, and data acquisition is achieved through the metering chip or microcontroller. For example, if the protection device 10 is a surge arrester, the data acquisition module 202 can acquire operating status parameters of the surge arrester such as leakage current, number of actions, action time, and resistive current.
[0036] In some embodiments, the data acquisition module 202 may include two types of serial communication protocol interfaces: a first serial communication protocol interface and a second serial communication protocol interface. The data acquisition module 202 can communicate with the protection device 10 via the first serial communication protocol interface, and the data acquisition module 202 can communicate with the data processing module 203 via the second serial communication protocol interface. The second serial communication protocol interface and the data processing module 203 can also be electrically connected via a first opto-isolation module to achieve electrical isolation between the data acquisition module 202 and the data processing module 203. For example, the first opto-isolation module includes an opto-isolator that supports 3kV DC isolation.
[0037] In some embodiments, the first serial communication protocol interface may be an RS485 communication protocol interface, and the second serial communication protocol interface may be a Controller Area Network (CAN) communication protocol interface. The data acquisition module 202 can be electrically connected to the protection device 10 via a Phoenix terminal.
[0038] The data processing module 203 is electrically connected to the power supply module 201 and the data acquisition module 202. The data processing module 203 is used to process the operating data acquired by the data acquisition module 202 to obtain the data processing results.
[0039] The data processing module 203 is also used to manage the switching between the main power supply 2011 and the backup power supply 2012, providing reliable power supply for the digital meter terminal 20, and ensuring that it can automatically switch to the backup power supply 2012 when the main power supply 2011 fails, so as to maintain the continuous operation of the equipment.
[0040] In some embodiments, the data processing module 203 serves as the control core of the digital meter terminal 20. It may be equipped with a high-performance processing unit capable of preprocessing the collected operating data, such as filtering, parsing, and protocol conversion. The data processing module 203 can also respond to commands issued by the background device 30, perform real-time control of the protection device 10 through the control interface, synchronously manage the status indication information of the status display module 205, and dynamically update the device operating status identifier through the bus protocol. For example, the data processing module 203 may include a processor or microcontroller chip with data processing capabilities; for instance, the data processing module 203 may include a RISC processor architecture based on the ARM Cortex-A8 series.
[0041] The data interaction module 204 is electrically connected to the power supply module 201 and the data processing module 203. The data interaction module 204 is used to establish a communication connection with the background device 30. The data interaction module 204 is also used to upload data processing results to the background device 30, receive control commands from the background device 30, and transmit the control commands to the data processing module 203. The data processing module 203 is used to execute the control function corresponding to the control command. The control function may include managing the device status of the protection device 10 to achieve operational status control of the protection device 10. For example, the digital meter terminal 20 can send control information for managing the device status of the protection device 10 to the protection device 10 via the RS485 communication protocol interface.
[0042] For example, the data interaction module 204 may include an Ethernet communication chip and an Ethernet interface connector (e.g., an RJ45 connector) to build a high-speed Ethernet communication link for data interaction with the back-end device 30, forming a closed-loop communication architecture of "data processing result uplink - control command downlink".
[0043] The status display module 205 is electrically connected to the power supply module 201 and the data processing module 203. The data processing module 203 is also used to control the status display module 205 to display operating status information, which may include the operating status of the digital meter terminal 20 and / or the operating status of the protection device 10.
[0044] For example, the status display module may include multiple light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and LED driver circuits, which are uniformly controlled by the data processing module 203 via a bus protocol. Multiple LEDs can combine states such as on / off and flashing to intuitively reflect key information of the digital meter terminal 20, such as power status (main / backup power status), data communication status (uplink / downlink communication status), and operational anomalies, providing a visual status reference for on-site maintenance. Multiple LEDs can also be used to intuitively reflect key information such as the normal / abnormal operation of the protection device 10. For example, the on / off and / or flashing of multiple LEDs can correspond to multiple display states, with each display state corresponding to a different operational status information, allowing multiple LEDs to indicate different operational status information through various display states.
[0045] In some embodiments, the status display module may also include a display screen to display operating status information.
[0046] In some embodiments, the various functional modules in the digital meter terminal 20 achieve functional decoupling through modular design. Each module has the ability to work independently, and can also achieve deep collaboration through standardized interfaces and protocols, thus possessing high reliability, strong compatibility and convenient operation and maintenance characteristics.
[0047] In some embodiments, the number of protection devices 10 can be multiple. The digital metering terminal 20 may also include multiple serial port connectors (e.g., RS485 connectors or RS232 connectors) and multiple second opto-isolation modules. The data acquisition module 202 communicates with the multiple protection devices 10 through the multiple serial port connectors to acquire the operating data of the multiple protection devices 10. Each of the multiple second opto-isolation modules corresponds one-to-one with a serial port connector, and one second opto-isolation module is electrically connected between the data acquisition module 202 and one serial port connector. The second opto-isolation modules enable electrical isolation between the data acquisition module 202 and the protection devices 10, improving the operational safety of the digital metering terminal 20. For example, the second opto-isolation module may include an opto-isolator that supports 3kV DC isolation.
[0048] In some embodiments, the digital metering terminal 20 may further include multiple Ethernet interface connectors (e.g., RJ45 connectors). The data interaction module 204 can establish a communication connection with the backend device 30 via multiple Ethernet interface connectors and a network cable. The multiple Ethernet interface connectors may include a first-speed Ethernet interface connector and a second-speed Ethernet interface connector to meet data upload requirements of different data volumes, achieve compatibility with different network devices, and reduce device power consumption. For example, the first-speed Ethernet interface connector may be a gigabit adaptive fast Ethernet connector, and the data interaction module 204 may include a gigabit Ethernet chip connected to the first-speed Ethernet interface connector; the second-speed Ethernet interface connector may be a 100Mbps adaptive fast Ethernet connector, and the data interaction module 204 may include a 100Mbps Ethernet chip connected to the second-speed Ethernet interface connector.
[0049] In some embodiments, the digital metering terminal 20 may further include a fiber optic interface connector. The data interaction module 204 communicates with the back-end device 30 via the fiber optic interface connector and optical fiber. Using optical fiber for signal transmission enables high-voltage insulation isolation. The data interaction module 204 may include a fiber optic communication chip, which is connected to the fiber optic interface connector.
[0050] In some embodiments, the digital metering terminal 20 may also include a USB 2.0 standard HOST interface to meet the functional requirements of the digital metering terminal 20 in scenarios such as debugging, operation and maintenance, and data management (e.g., local data reading and export).
[0051] In some embodiments, the digital meter terminal 20 may further include a metal housing, and the power module 201, data acquisition module 202, data processing module 203, data interaction module 204 and status display module 205 are all disposed inside the metal housing to suppress electromagnetic interference (EMI).
[0052] In some embodiments, to improve EMI suppression, the positions of each module within the digital metering terminal 20 can be optimized. For example... Figure 3 The diagram illustrates a possible structure of a digital metering terminal 20. The internal space of the digital metering terminal 20 is divided into three regions: region 1, region 2, and region 3. The power supply module 201 is located in region 1, the data acquisition module 202, the data processing module 203, and the data interaction module 204 are located in region 2, and the status display module 205 is located in region 3. EMI can be suppressed between the regions through physical isolation and shielding, for example, by using shielding partitions to separate region 1, region 2, and region 3.
[0053] like Figure 4As shown, a highly efficient and stable communication link can be established between the digital metering terminal 20 and the protection terminal 10 via an RS485 interface. The digital metering terminal 20 can realize data acquisition and remote control functions for the protection terminal 10 based on the ModBus protocol.
[0054] The digital meter terminal 20 and the back-end device 30 can use the standardized IEC61850 protocol to build an upper-layer communication link. Based on the IEC61850 protocol, multi-mode data upload capability is realized: (1) active upload based on back-end device commands, that is, the digital meter terminal 20 responds to the instructions issued by the back-end device 30 and feeds back data in real time; (2) periodic upload, that is, the digital meter terminal 20 can automatically complete the data upload at preset time intervals; (3) sudden upload, for example, when the digital meter terminal 20 detects abnormal fluctuations or status changes in the data, it triggers an immediate reporting mechanism. In addition, the back-end device 30 can also issue control commands through the IEC61850 protocol to realize remote parameter configuration and operation management of the digital meter terminal 20, forming a closed-loop intelligent management link of "acquisition-transmission-control". The entire system ensures the integrity, timeliness and accurate execution of control commands through layered protocol design and multi-mode communication mechanism.
[0055] For power system applications, the digital metering terminal 20 of this application can accurately calculate the resistive current component of the surge arrester even in the presence of harmonic interference in the power grid, through the data processing module 203. This avoids misjudgments caused by signal processing errors and improves the diagnostic capability for surge arrester faults. Furthermore, it adheres to the standardized communication protocol IEC61850, resolving the incompatibility issues between communication protocols from different manufacturers. It also complies with substation automation standards, supports MMS (Manufacturing Message Specification) services, and achieves seamless integration with substation automation systems. Data transmission is stable and reliable, effectively reducing data loss and transmission errors.
[0056] The specific embodiments of this application have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes and substitutions can be made to the specific embodiments of this application without departing from the spirit and scope of this application. All such changes and substitutions fall within the scope defined by this application.
Claims
1. A digitalizing meter terminal, characterized by, The digital metering terminal includes: Power supply module, including main power supply and backup power supply; The data acquisition module is electrically connected to the power supply module. The data acquisition module is also electrically connected to the protection device and is used to acquire the operating data of the protection device. The data processing module is electrically connected to the power supply module and the data acquisition module. The data processing module is used to process the operating data acquired by the data acquisition module to obtain the data processing result. The data processing module is also used to manage the switching between the main power supply and the backup power supply. The data interaction module is electrically connected to the power supply module and the data processing module. The data interaction module is used to establish a communication connection with the background device. The data interaction module is also used to upload the data processing result to the background device. The data interaction module is also used to receive control commands issued by the background device. The data processing module is used to execute control functions corresponding to the control commands. The control functions include managing the device status of the protection device. The status display module is electrically connected to the power supply module and the data processing module. The data processing module is also used to control the status display module to display operating status information, which includes the operating status of the digital meter terminal and / or the operating status of the protection device.
2. The digitalizing meter terminal of claim 1, wherein, Both the main power supply and the backup power supply include a surge protection circuit and a transient pulse suppression circuit electrically connected to the surge protection circuit. The surge protection circuit is used to provide surge protection for the power module, and the transient pulse suppression circuit is used to provide electrical fast transient / burst protection for the power module.
3. The digitalizing meter terminal of claim 1, wherein, The data acquisition module includes two types of serial communication protocol interfaces, namely a first serial communication protocol interface and a second serial communication protocol interface. The data acquisition module communicates with the protection device through the first serial communication protocol interface, and the data acquisition module communicates with the data processing module through the second serial communication protocol interface. The second serial communication protocol interface and the data processing module are electrically connected through a first opto-isolation module.
4. The digitalizing meter terminal of claim 1, wherein, The digital meter terminal also includes multiple serial port connectors and multiple second opto-isolation modules. The data acquisition module communicates with multiple protection devices through the multiple serial port connectors to collect the operating data of the multiple protection devices. The multiple second opto-isolation modules correspond one-to-one with the multiple serial port connectors, and one second opto-isolation module is electrically connected between the data acquisition module and one serial port connector.
5. The digital metering terminal as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The digital meter terminal also includes multiple Ethernet interface connectors. The data interaction module communicates with the back-end device through the multiple Ethernet interface connectors. The multiple Ethernet interface connectors include Ethernet interface connectors with a first rate and Ethernet interface connectors with a second rate.
6. The digitalizing meter terminal of claim 1, wherein, The digital meter terminal also includes a fiber optic interface connector, through which the data interaction module communicates with the back-end device.
7. The digitalizing meter terminal of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, The status display module includes multiple light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which are electrically connected to the data processing module. The data processing module controls the LEDs to indicate different operating status information in various display states.
8. The digitalizing meter terminal of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, The digital meter terminal also includes a metal housing, and the power module, the data acquisition module, the data processing module, the data interaction module, and the status display module are all housed within the metal housing.
9. The digitalizing meter terminal of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, The protection device includes a surge arrester, the backend device includes a server, and the data interaction module is used to upload the data processing results to the backend device based on the IEC61850 protocol.
10. A digital monitoring system characterized by, It includes a protection device, a back-end device, and a digital metering terminal as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the protection device and the back-end device are both communicatively connected to the digital metering terminal.