Device for communicating electrical measurement data of a user and associated method

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for communicating data for measuring the electrical consumption and / or production of a user, called a device. The device is arranged to be plugged into a user electricity meter and to be powered solely by said user electricity meter. The device comprises an element arranged to store energy supplied by the user electricity meter, called a storage element, a unit, called a processing unit, very low consumption comprising a first microcontroller: powered by the user electricity meter and arranged to process the user data coming from the user electricity meter. The device comprises a unit, called a communication unit, comprising a second microcontroller: controlled by the processing unit, powered by the user electricity meter and by the storage element, and arranged to transmit the processed user data via a cellular network.The processing unit is arranged to: put the communication unit into standby or stop, and / or activate or start the communication unit. Figure for abstract: FIGURE 1.

Description

Title of the invention: Device for communicating electrical measurement data of a user and associated method Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of user electricity consumption data.

[0002] The invention relates in particular to the remote reading, by individual electricity meters, of user data on electricity consumption / production measurements.

[0003] The invention also relates to the pooling and sharing of individual and aggregated electricity consumption / production data across multiple users. State of the prior art

[0004] The state of the art includes communicating electricity meters installed by electricity distribution network managers (DSOs). These electricity meters allow real-time monitoring of the user's electricity consumption. For example, we know the Linky™ electricity meters installed by the distribution network manager Enedis.

[0005] This type of electric meter includes a specific interface called TIC (“Tele-Information Customer”) intended to be operated either by a wired device having its own energy source or by a wireless device, which is called ERL (“Linky Radio Transmitter”) in the case of Linky™ meters, powered solely by the energy delivered for this purpose by the user electric meter.

[0006] The voltage delivered by state-of-the-art communicating electricity meters is generally insufficient to power a device ensuring the demodulation and storage in volatile memory of the consumption and / or electricity production measurement data provided by such electricity meters while performing wireless transmission of the processed data.

[0007] Wired devices connected to the user's electricity meter are known in the state of the art. These products must have their own power supply, which may require the intervention of an electrician to install them. Such devices are also expensive. In addition, they cannot be installed in cases where the user's electricity meters are installed at the property boundary or on the road.

[0008] Devices powered by the state-of-the-art wireless user data transmission meter require an Internet access gateway implemented by elements for retransmitting user data via a connection to Internet, such as xDSL, Fiber Optic, 4G, Satellite, Ethernet, to upload data to servers. This approach generates an additional cost for the user equipped with such a device.

[0009] Furthermore, some of the state-of-the-art wireless user data transmission devices have a very limited range. They therefore do not allow for the connection to the Internet access gateway in many cases, such as, for example, residential housing in rural areas (where the electricity meter is located at the property boundary near the roadway several tens of meters from the user with numerous obstacles (house walls, boundary wall, vegetation, etc.).

[0010] Furthermore, state-of-the-art wireless user data transmission devices require configuration or pairing steps with the Internet access gateway in order to comply with security and encryption standards. This step is tedious for the user. Furthermore, it induces malfunctions inherent in the various pairing technologies.

[0011] An aim of the invention is to propose a device for communicating data for measuring a user's electricity consumption and / or production: - enabling the problems of state-of-the-art devices to be overcome, and / or

[0012] - wireless, and / or

[0013] - electrically powered only by the user meter, and / or

[0014] - not requiring a radio gateway for the transmission of user data, and / or - not requiring any special configuration or pairing for the transmission of consumption data, and / or

[0015] - transmitting user data without range limit. Presentation of the invention

[0016] For this purpose, a device is proposed for communicating and / or sharing, called a device, data measuring the electrical consumption and / or production of a user, called user data.

[0017] According to the invention, and in the present application, the term "data for measuring a user's electrical consumption and / or production", known as user data, may be understood to mean any electrical quantity / value likely to transit or be recorded, measured, calculated and / or determined by an individual user's electrical meter.

[0018] The user data may include, among other things, an active power consumed and / or produced, a reactive power consumed and / or produced, an intensity consumed and / or produced, a consumption and / or production voltage, a consumption and / or production load curve and / or a consumption and / or production tariff index.

[0019] The pooled user data may be unidirectional, i.e. comprising only a user's electricity consumption data, provided by the user's individual meter, or only electricity production data (e.g. from the user's solar panels) of the user.

[0020] The pooled user data may be bidirectional, i.e., comprising a user's electrical consumption data, provided by the user's individual meter, and electrical production data (e.g., from the user's solar panels) of the user.

[0021] The device is arranged to be plugged into a user electricity meter. Preferably, the user electricity meter comprises a socket or a connector. Preferably the device comprises a plug intended to be connected or plugged into the connector of the user electricity meter.

[0022] The device is arranged to be powered solely or exclusively by said user electricity meter. Preferably, the device is arranged to be powered solely via the connector of the user electricity meter.

[0023] The device comprises an element arranged to store energy supplied by the user electricity meter, called a storage element. The storage element may be or may comprise a capacitor, a supercapacitor, an electrical circuit, preferably an electrical circuit comprising a capacitor or a supercapacitor.

[0024] Preferably, the storage element is powered solely or exclusively by the user electricity meter.

[0025] The device comprises a unit, called a processing unit, with very low consumption. The processing unit comprises, or consists of, a first microcontroller.

[0026] The processing unit is powered, preferably powered solely or exclusively, by the user electricity meter.

[0027] Preferably, the processing unit is arranged to be in continuous operation.

[0028] The processing unit is arranged to process user data from the user electricity meter.

[0029] Preferably, the processing unit is arranged to process user data from the user electricity meter continuously.

[0030] The device comprises a unit, called a communication unit. The communication unit comprises, or consists of, a second microcontroller.

[0031] The communication unit is driven and / or controlled by the processing unit. Preferably, the processing unit is arranged to drive and / or control the communication.

[0032] The communication unit is powered by the user electricity meter and by the storage element.

[0033] Preferably, the storage element is arranged to discharge or to supply the stored energy, preferably solely or exclusively, to the communication unit. Preferably, the storage element is arranged to power, preferably solely or exclusively, the communication unit.

[0034] The communication unit is arranged to transmit or emit the processed user data via a cellular network, for example a mobile telephone network.

[0035] Preferably, the communication unit is arranged to transmit or transmit only the processed user data in order to limit the quantity of data transmitted.

[0036] The processing unit is arranged to: • put the communication unit on standby or shut down, preferably to limit energy consumption, and / or • activate or put into operation the communication unit.

[0037] Preferably, the processing unit is arranged to activate the communication unit at defined and / or regular intervals, for example every 30 seconds. Preferably, the processing unit is arranged to activate the communication unit at defined and / or regular intervals so that the communication unit transmits the processed user data at defined and / or regular intervals, for example every 30 seconds.

[0038] Preferably, the processing unit is arranged to control the transmission of the processed user data by activating the communication unit at defined and / or regular intervals, for example every 30 seconds.

[0039] Preferably, the processing unit is arranged to activate the communication unit at defined and / or regular intervals so that the storage element delivers an electrical power necessary for the transmission, by the communication unit, of the user data.

[0040] Preferably, the processing unit is arranged to put the communication unit on standby or stop it for a minimum time interval, predefined or adjustable, for example for 30 seconds.

[0041] Preferably, the processing unit is arranged to put the communication unit on standby or stop it so as to store, in the storage element, a minimum electrical power necessary for the transmission, by the communication unit, of user data.

[0042] Preferably, the processing unit is connected to or arranged to communicate with the storage unit.

[0043] Preferably the processing unit is arranged and / or configured and / or capable of reading, obtaining, measuring, detecting and / or determining, preferably continuously or in real time, the quantity of energy stored in the storage unit.

[0044] Preferably, the processing unit is further arranged to: • activate or put into operation the communication unit when: • an amount of energy stored in the storage element is greater than or equal to an upper threshold amount, and / or • at constant or variable time intervals, and / or • depending on a previous state or a succession of previous states of the communication unit, and / or • put the communication unit on standby or shut down when: • an amount of energy stored in the storage element is less than or equal to a lower limit quantity, or • after transmission of the processed user data, preferably after each transmission of the processed user data, and / or • depending on a previous state or a succession of previous states of the communication unit, and / or.

[0045] The lower limit quantity may be equal to the upper threshold quantity.

[0046] The arrangement of the device, preferably the combination of the processing unit with the storage element and the communication unit, allows: • radio transmission of user data without gateway, • radio transmission of user data without configuration or pairing, and / or • radio transmission of user data without any problems related to the transmission range or without any limit on the transmission range.

[0047] The arrangement of the device, preferably the arrangement of the device to be plugged into the user electricity meter, in particular associated with the combination of the processing unit with the storage element and the communication unit, allows, with the sole power supply of the device by the user electricity meter and / or without use of an external power supply, the radio transmission of the user data without gateway, without configuration or pairing and / or without limit of transmission range.

[0048] Preferably, the user electricity meter is arranged to deliver an electrical power of between 90 and 150 mW.

[0049] Preferably, the user electricity meter is arranged to deliver an electrical power less than or equal to 160 mW, preferably 150 mW, more preferably 140 mW and more preferably 130 mW.

[0050] Preferably, the user electricity meter is arranged to deliver an electrical power greater than or equal to 80 mW, preferably 90 mW, more preferably 100 mW, preferably 110 mW and more preferably 120 mW and even more preferably 130 mW.

[0051] Preferably, the processing unit is arranged to consume an instantaneous electrical power less than or equal to 60 mW and / or an average or active electrical power less than or equal to 30 mW.

[0052] Preferably, the energy (or electrical power) consumed by the processing unit comes exclusively from the user electricity meter.

[0053] Preferably, the energy (or electrical power) stored in the storage element comes exclusively from the user electricity meter.

[0054] Preferably, the processing unit is arranged to consume an average electrical power less than or equal to 30 mW, preferably 25 mW, more preferably 20 mW, preferably 15 mW and more preferably 10 mW.

[0055] Preferably, the processing unit is arranged to consume an instantaneous electrical power less than or equal to 80 mW, preferably 70 mW, more preferably 60 mW, preferably 50 mW, more preferably 40 mW and even more preferably 30 mW.

[0056] The processing unit and / or the first microcontroller may be very low power.

[0057] Very low consumption may be understood to mean an instantaneous electrical consumption less than or equal to 80 mW, preferably 70 mW, more preferably 60 mW, preferably 50 mW, more preferably 40 mW and even more preferably 30 mW.

[0058] Very low consumption may be understood to mean an average electrical consumption less than or equal to 30 mW, preferably 25 mW, more preferably 20 mW, preferably 15 mW and more preferably 10 mW.

[0059] Preferably, the processing unit is arranged to process a user data frame originating from the user electricity meter.

[0060] Preferably, the processing unit is arranged to process the user data coming from the user electricity meter at a frequency greater than or equal to 32 MHz.

[0061] Preferably, the processing unit and the communication unit are arranged to communicate with each other synchronously or asynchronously.

[0062] Preferably, the processing unit is arranged to: • keep the communication unit in standby or switched off in the absence of any modification of user data, preferably in order to limit the energy consumption, and / or • activate or put into operation the communication unit during an evolution, modification or change of user data, and / or • process user data by aggregating or averaging it, preferably to limit the amount of data emitted.

[0063] Preferably, the communication unit is arranged to communicate with, and / or transmit user data to, a low-power cellular network.

[0064] Preferably, the communication unit is arranged to transmit the user data: • by an asynchronous sending protocol, preferably without acknowledgment of receipt, of user data, preferably in order to limit energy consumption, and / or • by a data sending protocol without pairing, preferably in order to limit energy consumption.

[0065] Preferably, the communication unit and / or the second microcontroller is a modem.

[0066] Preferably, the user electricity meter is a Linky® electricity meter.

[0067] According to the invention, a method for communicating and / or sharing user data, called a method, is also proposed.

[0068] The method comprises the step of storing energy supplied by the user electricity meter in the storage element.

[0069] The method further comprises the step of processing the user data from the user electricity meter, by means of the processing unit.

[0070] The method further comprises the step of controlling and / or controlling, by means of the processing unit: • a standby or shutdown of a unit, called a communication unit, and / or • activation or operation of the communication unit.

[0071] The method further comprises the step of transmitting the processed user data via a cellular network, by means of the communication unit.

[0072] Preferably, the electrical energy stored in the storage element is, preferably only, restored to, and / or consumed by, the communication unit.

[0073] Preferably, the method further comprises a step: • keeping the communication unit in standby or shutting down, by the processing unit, in the absence of modification of user data, and / or • processing of user data, by means of the processing unit, by average or aggregation, and / or • asynchronous sending without acknowledgement of receipt of user data by the communication unit, and / or • transmission of user data processed without pairing by the communication unit.

[0074] Preferably, the method further comprises an instantaneous electrical consumption, by the processing unit, less than or equal to 60 mW and / or an average electrical consumption, by the processing unit, less than or equal to 30 mW.

[0075] According to the invention, there is also provided a computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the latter to implement the method according to the invention.

[0076] According to the invention, there is also provided a computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the latter to implement the method according to the invention.

[0077] Preferably, the method according to the invention is suitable, more preferably is particularly suitable, more preferably is designed and particularly advantageously is specially designed, to be implemented by the device according to the invention.

[0078] The device according to the invention is suitable, more preferably is particularly suitable, more preferably is designed and particularly advantageously is specially designed for implementing the method according to the invention.

[0079] Also, any characteristic of the method according to the invention is directly transposable to the device according to the invention, and vice versa. Description of figures

[0080] Other advantages and particularities of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description of implementations and embodiments which are in no way limiting, and the following appended drawings:

[0081] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] is a schematic representation of a communication device communication of measurement data of consumption and / or electricity production of a user according to the invention,

[0082] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a flowchart illustrating a particular embodiment of the method according to the invention. Description of the embodiments

[0083] The embodiments described below being in no way limiting, it will be possible in particular to consider variants of the invention comprising only a selection of characteristics described, isolated from the other characteristics described (even if this selection is isolated within a sentence comprising these other characteristics), if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the state of the prior art. This selection includes at least one feature, preferably functional without structural details, or with only a part of the structural details if only this part is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the state of the prior art.

[0084] An objective of the invention is to optimize the electrical consumption of users of the electrical network by taking advantage, in real time, of opportunities, that is to say from user data: - local, i.e. coming from the user's own individual electricity meter, such as an intermittent renewable energy production source (photovoltaic panels for example), and / or - on the electricity network locally to the distribution network or remotely, i.e. coming from individual electricity meters located near the user or from individual electricity meters located at a distance from the user, for example by taking advantage of peer-to-peer electricity exchange mechanisms (collective self-consumption for example), and / or - on the electricity network in relation to flexibility mechanisms, sales on the spot market or repurchase by an aggregator, a compulsory buyer or a balance manager or very advantageous withdrawal pricing temporarily or by calendar date.

[0085] The exploitation of these opportunities thanks to the user data uploaded (i.e. communicated or transmitted by the user data communication device, called device 1, according to the invention) in real time can be carried out by: - the user by adapting his behavior and habits, and / or - an energy manager to control consumption or storage sources, and / or - electrical relays and / or any other device allowing the erasure, triggering and / or modulation of an electrical load or the control of energy storage.

[0086] For this purpose, with reference to [Fig. 1], an embodiment of a device for communicating data on the measurement of a user's electrical consumption and / or production is illustrated, called device 1. The data on the measurement of a user's electrical consumption and / or production are called user data. The device 1 is arranged to be plugged, by means of a plug 2, into a user electricity meter 3. The user electricity meter 3 is called meter 3. According to the invention, the device 1 is powered solely by the meter 3. All the elements of the device 1 are powered exclusively by the energy delivered by the meter 3. No other power supply or any other energy source is required according to the invention.

[0087] According to the embodiment, the meter 5 is a Linky® 5 meter supplied, installed and made available to users by the company Enedis®.

[0088] The device 1 comprises an element 4, called storage element 4, arranged to store electrical energy supplied by the meter 3. By way of non-limiting example, the storage element is a supercapacitor 4 according to the embodiment.

[0089] The device comprises a unit 5, called processing unit 5, very low consumption. The processing unit 5 comprises a first microcontroller, denoted MCU1. The processing unit 5 is powered by the counter 3.

[0090] The processing unit 5 is arranged to process the user data from the meter 3. The processing unit 5 is arranged to operate continuously without interruption. Thus, the “raw” user data is processed and analyzed continuously. The processing of the user data has the effect of limiting the quantity of data to be transmitted and therefore the energy required to transmit the user data.

[0091] The processing unit 5 is arranged to receive the frames coming from the counter 3.

[0092] The device 1 also comprises a unit 6, called the communication unit 6. The communication unit 6 comprises a second microcontroller, denoted MCU2. The processing unit 5 is arranged to drive and / or control and / or command the communication unit 6.

[0093] According to the embodiment, the communication unit 6 is a modem. By way of non-limiting example, the communication unit 6 is a low-power wide area network (LPWAN) type modem.

[0094] The communication unit 6 is advantageously arranged to communicate with a low-power cellular network.

[0095] The communication unit 6 is powered, both, by the counter 3 and by the storage element 4. In particular, and as detailed below, the communication unit 6 is powered continuously by the counter 3 and momentarily by the storage unit 4.

[0096] The communication unit 6 is arranged to transmit the processed user data via a cellular network. Thus, the communication unit 6 transmits only the user data processed by the control unit and not the raw user data coming from the meter 3. By way of non-limiting example, the communication unit 6, and in particular the second microcontroller MCU2, supports or is arranged to communicate via the LTE Cat-M radio protocols for “long term Machine evolution” and / or Nb-IoT for “narrowband internet of things”.

[0097] The processing unit 5 is arranged to put the communication unit 6 on standby or stop it and / or to activate or put the communication unit 6 into operation.

[0098] By putting the communication unit 6 on standby or stopping it, the processing unit 5 indirectly controls the storage of energy in the storage unit 4. When the processing unit 5 puts or keeps the communication unit 6 on standby, the storage unit 4 charges.

[0099] The energy stored in the storage unit 4 can thus be delivered to the communication unit 6 when it is activated by the processing unit 5. The communication unit 6 will therefore consume, per consumption peak, the energy stored in the storage unit 4 during the transmission of the processed user data. After transmission, preferably after each transmission, of the processed user data, the processing unit 5 is arranged to put the communication unit 6 on standby or stop it.

[0100] Putting the communication unit 6 into standby or switching it off and / or activating or putting it into operation makes it possible to transmit user data, also over long distances, by means of a data transmission device 1 powered solely by the user meter 1 (without any external energy source or supply).

[0101] According to the non-limiting embodiment presented, the processing unit 5 and / or the first microcontroller MCU1 comprises a bidirectional communication means, for example of the UART type for “Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter”, noted BCOM1, with the communication unit 6. The communication unit 6 and / or the second microcontroller MCU2 comprises a bidirectional communication means, for example of the UART type, noted BCOM2, with the processing unit 5. The processing unit 5 and the communication unit 6 communicate via the BCOM1 and the BCOM 2. Other bidirectional communication modes / means could be used.

[0102] For example, the processing unit 5 comprises a digital output, denoted SN1, to which the communication unit 6 is connected. Thus, according to the non-limiting embodiment, the processing unit controls the communication unit 6 via the SN1. The power-on / standby control circuit of the communication unit 6 may be either an electronic sub-circuit, specific and distinct from the MCU2, comprising one or more components, or included in MCU2 or a functionality of MCU2, or a combination of the two.

[0103] According to the non-limiting embodiment, the processing unit 5 comprises an analog input EA1 coupled, preferably coupled to an analog-to-digital converter. digital or ADC for “Analog-to-Digital Converter”. The input EA1 is coupled or connected to the storage unit 4. The processing unit 5 is then arranged to measure or determine the quantity of energy stored in the storage unit 4, preferably at any time, for example by measuring a voltage at the terminal of the storage unit 4.

[0104] The meter 1 is arranged to deliver an electrical power of between 90 and 150 mW.

[0105] The processing unit 5 is arranged to consume an instantaneous electrical power less than or equal to 60 mW and / or an average electrical power less than or equal to 30 mW.

[0106] The processing unit 5 is arranged to process the user data coming from the counter 1 at a frequency greater than or equal to 32 MHz.

[0107] According to an improvement of the invention, the processing unit 5 is further arranged to: • activate or put into operation the communication unit 6: • when a quantity of energy stored in the storage element 4 is greater than or equal to an upper threshold quantity, and / or • at constant or variable time intervals, and / or • depending on a previous state or a succession of previous states of the communication unit 6.

[0108] According to an improvement of the invention, the processing unit 5 is further arranged to: • put the communication unit 6 into standby or shut down when: • an amount of energy stored in the storage element 4 is less than or equal to a lower limit quantity, and / or • after transmission of the user data processed by the transmission unit 6, and / or • depending on a previous state or a succession of previous states of the communication unit 6.

[0109] These improvements relate to the control of the communication unit 6 by the processing unit 5 and / or to the transmission and reception strategy of the communication unit 6, controlled by the processing unit 5.

[0110] By way of non-limiting example, the arrangement and / or programming and / or configuration of the processing unit 5 for controlling and / or controlling the communication unit 6 may be (embedded) software, for example “firmware” type microprogramming of the processing unit 5 or of the MCU1.

[0111] According to a non-limiting embodiment of the improvement, the processing unit 5 is arranged to control an alternation of activated states and standby states of the communication unit 6. The alternation comprises, for example, a succession of activated states, of defined duration(s), or preferably of duration that can be modulated or adjusted by the processing unit 5, and of standby states, of defined duration(s), or preferably of duration that can be modulated or adjusted by the processing unit 5.

[0112] Preferably, the processing unit 5 is arranged to control the activation and / or standby depending on or in relation to the current state and / or a previous state and / or a succession of previous states of the communication unit 6. The current state may, by way of example, comprise or correspond to an attempt to register on the network or to establish a data connection by a user. In this case, the processing unit 5 is arranged to favor (and therefore proceed with) the registration on the network or the establishment of a connection by a user rather than the transmission of user data processed by the communication unit 6.

[0113] Advantageously, whatever the scenario of the improvement, the processing unit 5 is arranged to control the activation and / or the standby and / or to modulate the activation duration and / or the standby duration as a function of or in relation to the stored energy available in the storage unit 4.

[0114] According to another improvement of the invention, the processing unit 5 is arranged to: • keep the communication unit 6 on standby or off in the absence of modification of the user's consumption and / or electricity production measurement data; preferably, in this case, the processing unit 6 can be used to store, for example in a temporary cache type memory or a database, to allow maintaining (temporary) availability of the non-transmitted user data for third-party equipment (of the computer or telephone type for end subscribers or of the server type for data processing service providers), and / or • process the user's electricity consumption and / or production measurement data by aggregating and / or compressing them, preferably in a binary format, and / or • process the user's electricity consumption and / or production measurement data by averaging them (between two transmissions), and / or • process the user's electricity consumption and / or production measurement data by transmitting only the latest values ​​received.

[0115] This improvement has the effect of limiting the quantity of data to be transmitted and therefore of limiting the quantity of energy required for the transmission, by the communication unit 6, of the user data.

[0116] According to another improvement of the invention, the communication unit 6: • uses an asynchronous sending protocol without data acknowledgment measuring the user's electricity consumption and / or production, and / or • uses a data sending protocol without pairing, and / or • is arranged to transmit user data processed by an internet protocol (or IP for “internet protocol”), for example a user datagram protocol (or UDP for user datagram protocol), preferably offering encryption of the data to be transmitted, and / or • is arranged to transmit user data unidirectionally and / or without acknowledgment.

[0117] This improvement has the effect of limiting the amount of energy required for the transmission, by the communication unit 6, of user data.

[0118] According to the invention, a method for communicating data measuring the consumption and / or electrical production of a user, called a method, is also proposed. The device 1 according to the invention is designed to implement the method according to the invention. Furthermore, the method according to the invention is designed to be implemented by the device 1 according to the invention.

[0119] The method comprises the steps of: • store energy supplied by meter 1 in storage element 4, • process user data from counter 1, by processing unit 5, • control and / or command, using processing unit 5: • a standby or shutdown of the communication unit 6, and / or • activation or operation of the communication unit 6, • transmit the processed user data via a cellular network, by means of the communication unit 6.

[0120] According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the method comprises: • a step of processing user data from counter 1, by processing unit 5, noted step SI, • a step of obtaining a quantity of energy stored in the storage unit 4, noted step S2, • a step of obtaining, by the processing unit 5, a current state and / or a previous state or a succession of previous states of the communication unit 6, noted step S3, • a step of activating the communication unit 6, noted step S4, when or if or provided that: • a quantity of energy stored in the storage unit 4 is greater than or equal to a threshold quantity (result of step S2), • the current state of and / or a previous state or a succession of previous states of the communication unit 6 does not prevent or prohibit the transmission, for example during request(s) or attempt(s) to register on the network or to establish a connection or during failure(s) of previous transmission(s), (result of step S3), for example due to an insufficient amount of energy, in the storage unit 4, for the transmission of the processed user data, • a step of transmitting the processed user data, by the communication unit 5.

[0121] If a transmission of the processed user data by the transmission unit 6 is interrupted due to a lack of energy, in particular energy stored in the storage unit 4, the untransmitted processed user data is transmitted during the next transmission. In the event of incomplete transmission or interruption of the transmission of the processed user data, the processing unit 5 is arranged to control the transmission unit to transmit the untransmitted processed user data during the next activation(s) of the transmission unit.

[0122] According to the preferred non-limiting embodiment, the method comprises, for example, the reception, by the processing unit 5, of the frames coming from the counter 1. Only the user data that has changed since the last transmission is stored by the processing unit 5. When the user data is changed or modified, only the last value received is retained, with the exception of the values ​​received in historical mode where all the values ​​received since the previous transmission by the communication unit 6 are stored and an average value is kept up to date / recalculated at each new frame reception. Furthermore, preferably, the processing unit is arranged to keep a timestamp of the last frame received from the counter 1.

[0123] Still according to the preferred non-limiting embodiment, the communication unit 6 is only activated, by the processing unit, when the energy stored in the storage unit is greater than the threshold value. When activating the communication unit 6, the communication unit is arranged to register on a network, preferably a single network of a given frequency. At each new registration attempt, for example at each time interval of 4 to 8 seconds, the communication unit 6 is arranged to attempt to register with a different pair (network, frequency), for example according to a Round Robin strategy: • in the case where the communication unit 6 is registered to the network but without an established connection, a data connection is established with the operator and the communication unit 6 is put on standby by the processing unit 5, • in the case where the communication unit 6 is registered to the network and a connection is already established, the processing unit 5 controls the transmission of user data.

[0124] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described and numerous adjustments can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0125] Thus, in variants which can be combined with each other of the embodiments previously described: • the device 1 comprises a power supply circuit, denoted CA, arranged upstream of the communication unit 6 and downstream of the processing unit 5, and / or • the device 1 comprises an optocoupler, denoted OC, arranged to adapt (for example rectify) the signal emitted by the counter 1, and / or • the processing unit 5 and / or the first microcontroller MCU1: • includes a means of receiving communication compatible with the Linky® 5 meter frame protocol, and / or • two or more digital outputs, marked SN2 and SN3, and / or • a minimum volatile memory (RAM) of 20kB, and / or • a minimum storage memory (flash) of 192kB, and / or • one or more additional digital outputs, and / or • the digital output SN2 is connected to a light-emitting diode, denoted LED, and the processing unit 5 is arranged to control the flashing of the LED, and / or • is arranged to consume an average electrical power less than or equal to 30 mW, preferably 25 mW, more preferably 20 mW, preferably 15 mW and more preferably 10 mW, and / or • is arranged to consume an instantaneous electrical power less than or equal to 80 mW, preferably 70 mW, more preferably 60 mW, preferably 50 mW, more preferably 40 mW and even more preferably 30 mW, and / or • the communication unit 6 and / or the second microcontroller MCU2: • includes a means of bidirectional communication, for example of the UART type, noted BCOM2, with the processing unit 5, and / or • arranged and / or configured to implement hibernation functionalities or to be put into hibernation, for example to implement PSM functionalities for “power saving mode” and / or eDRX for “extended discontinuous reception” of LTE Cat-M and Nb-IoT protocols, and / or • includes a digital input EN1, and / or • has dimensions less than or equal to 18 mm x 18 mm x 18 mm, by example 18 mm in length, 18 mm in width and 18 mm in thickness, and / or comprises a port suitable or arranged to be connected to a smart card reader, for example a subscriber identification module or SIM card, by way of non-limiting example a mini-SIM, micro-SIM, nano-SIM, e-SIM card and / or is arranged to be, autonomously and / or from external commands, for example via digital input EN1, put into standby or stopped and / or to be activated or put into operation, and / or is arranged to be activated or put into operation at regular intervals, for example every 30 seconds, and / or is arranged to be activated or put into operation so as to transmit user data at regular intervals, for example every 30 seconds, and / or is arranged to be put into standby or stopped for a period of time, for example for 30 seconds, and / or is arranged to be put into standby or stopped for a period of time, so as to allow the storage of a minimum electrical energy and / or a minimum electrical power necessary for the transmission of the processed user data, for example for 30 seconds, and / or the data transmission step of the method comprises indicating in a header a unique identifier, for example, the header may comprise the value of the “ADCO” label transmitted in a frame if the Linky® meter is in Historical TIC mode or the value of the “PRM” label if the Linky™ meter is in standard remote customer information (TIC) mode; these values ​​are unique identifiers either of the meter (“ADCO”) or of the electrical delivery point (“PRM”) on the electrical network of the distribution manager Enedis®, thus the values ​​sent back by the device 1 may be stored, for example on servers, in a manner associated with this unique identifier representing the meter 1.

Claims

Claims

1. Communication device, called device (1), for measuring data on the consumption and / or electrical production of a user (1), called user data, said device is arranged to be plugged into a user electricity meter (3) and to be powered only by said user electricity meter, said device comprises: • an element arranged to store energy supplied by the user electricity meter, called storage element (4), • a unit, called processing unit (5), very low consumption comprising a first microcontroller: • powered by the user electricity meter, • arranged to process the user data coming from the user electricity meter, • a unit, called communication unit (6), comprising a second microcontroller: • controlled by the processing unit,• powered by the user electricity meter and by the storage element, • arranged to transmit the processed user data via a cellular network; said processing unit is arranged to: • put the communication unit on standby or stop it, and / or • activate or start the communication unit.,

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit (5) is further arranged to: activate or put into operation the communication unit (6): • when a quantity of energy stored in the storage element (4) is greater than or equal to an upper threshold quantity, and / or • at constant or variable time intervals, and / or • depending on a previous state or a succession of previous states of the communication unit, and / or • putting the communication unit on standby or stopping it when: • a quantity of energy stored in the storage element is less than or equal to a lower limit quantity, and / or • after transmission of the processed user data, and / or • depending on a previous state or a succession of previous states of the communication unit.

3. Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, in which: • the user electricity meter (3) is arranged to deliver an electrical power of between 90 and 150 mW, and / or • the processing unit (5) is arranged to consume an instantaneous electrical power of less than or equal to 60 mW and / or an average electrical power of less than or equal to 30 mW.

4. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the processing unit (5) is arranged to process a user data frame from the user electricity meter (3).

5. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the processing unit (5) is arranged to process the user data coming from the user electricity meter (3) at a frequency greater than or equal to 32 MHz.

6. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the processing unit (5) is arranged to: • keeping the communication unit (6) in standby or switched off in the absence of modification of the user data from the user electricity meter (3), and / or • processing the user data by aggregating or averaging them.

7. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the communication unit (6) is arranged to communicate with a low-power cellular network.

8. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the communication unit (6) is arranged to transmit the user data: • by an asynchronous sending protocol without acknowledgment of receipt of user data, and / or • by a data sending protocol without pairing.

9. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the communication unit (6) is a modem (6).

10. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the user electricity meter (3) is a linky® electricity meter.

11. Method for communicating, said method, data measuring the consumption and / or electrical production of a user, said user data, by means of a communication device (1) arranged to be plugged into a user electricity meter (3), said device (1), and to be powered only by said user electricity meter, said method comprises the steps of: • storing energy supplied by the user electricity meter, in a storage element (4) of the device, • processing the user data coming from the user electricity meter, by means of a unit, said processing unit (5), very low consumption, of the device, comprising a first microcontroller, • controlling, by means of the processing unit: • putting a unit, called a communication unit (5) comprising a second microcontroller, on standby or stopping, and / or • activating or starting up the communication unit, • transmitting the processed user data via a cellular network, by means of the communication unit.

12. Method according to the preceding claim comprising a step: • of keeping the communication unit (6) in standby or stopped, by the processing unit (5), in the absence of modification of the user data, and / or • of processing the user data, by means of the processing unit, by average or aggregation, and / or • of asynchronous sending without acknowledgment of receipt of the user data by the communication unit, and / or • of transmission of the processed user data without pairing by the communication unit.

13. Method according to any one of claims 11 or 12, comprising an instantaneous electrical consumption, by the processing unit, less than or equal to 60 mW and / or an average electrical consumption, by the processing unit, less than or equal to 30 mW.

14. A computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to implement the method according to any one of claims 11 to 13.

15. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method of any one of claims 11 to 13.

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