METHOD FOR MANAGING A SMART METER

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for managing battery-powered communicating meters to measure fluid consumption. The communicating meters are connected to a centralized communicating meter management platform, with each communicating meter operating in a given profile. According to the invention, the centralized platform: - receives (E300) information representing the battery charge level of the meter from a communicating meter; - obtains (E301) the age of the meter; - determines (E307) from the information representing the battery charge level and the meter's age whether the charge level is lower or higher than a chart representing the theoretical evolution of a battery charge level over time; - selects (E308) an operating profile for the communicating meter based on this determination.- transfers the selected profile to the meter if the selected level is different from the given operating profile of the meter. Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 3.

Description

Title of the invention: METHOD FOR MANAGING A COMMUNICATING METER technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of battery-powered communicating meters comprising a measuring unit and relates more particularly to the field of managing battery-powered communicating meters to preserve the integrity of measurements when the battery reaches the end of its life. STATE OF PRIOR ART

[0002] As is well known, the Internet of Things (IoT) is rapidly expanding. The Internet of Things represents the extension of the Internet to things and places in the physical world. While the Internet does not usually extend beyond the electronic world, the Internet of Things represents the exchange of information and data from devices in the real world to the Internet, such as the collection of water consumption readings or the remote monitoring of environmental conditions (temperature, pressure, etc.). The Internet of Things is considered the third evolution of the Internet, known as Web 3.0. The Internet of Things has a universal character, referring to connected objects with various uses, for example in the fields of e-health or home automation.

[0003] A first approach adopted for interconnecting objects, called communicating objects ("LoT devices"), within the framework of the Internet of Things, relies on a deployment, controlled by an operator, of collection gateways located at geographically elevated points. Except for maintenance operations, these gateways are fixed and permanent. Examples of this model include NB-IoT (Narrowband Internet of Things) or SigFox (registered trademark) and ThingPark (registered trademark) networks.

[0004] NB-IoT uses the cellular network and was developed by 3GPP.

[0005] For example, in France, the SigFox network (registered trademark) relies on the high points of the TDF (“Télédiffusion De France”) transmission sites.

[0006] These collection gateways communicate with the communicating objects using medium or long-range radio communication systems (e.g., the LoRa system (registered trademark) from Semtech). This approach relies on a limited number of collection gateways (due to the difficulty of deploying new network infrastructures), as well as on reliable and secure uplink access with one or more collection servers.

[0007] A second approach consists of connecting communicating objects via residential gateways. Energy Gateway technology is one example. A system based on Energy Gateway technology comprises two distinct parts: firstly, a residential gateway and peripheral sensors, which are located at the consumer's premises and enable the collection of information, the transmission of this information to a data collection server, and the triggering of various actions (for example, controlling the activation of radiators or the water heater); secondly, the data collection server, which provides the received information and transmits commands for triggering various actions. This data collection server is accessible via the Internet.The radio technologies used to communicate with connected objects according to this second approach are of relatively short range (for example, Zigbee (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark) or Wi-Fi (registered trademark)) to serve a local collection restricted to objects in the home.

[0008] Such communicating objects typically include one or more sensors and are typically powered by batteries. One difficulty lies in preserving battery life, and more specifically in ensuring the operation of the essential functionalities of such communicating objects throughout the battery life.

[0009] It is desirable to overcome these drawbacks of the prior art. In particular, it is desirable to provide a solution that ensures the integrity of the data stored and / or transmitted by these communicating objects when their batteries reach the end of their life, while minimizing the additional hardware cost that such a solution would entail. It should be noted that additional hardware cost generally results in a larger footprint (for example, capacitive elements are more expensive and bulkier than transistors or resistors).

[0010] Thus, it is desirable to provide a method for managing a communicating object that guarantees the supply of electrical energy to the communicating object for a predefined period.

[0011] Communicating objects are for example communicating meters and the invention makes it possible to extend the capacity of batteries to supply electrical energy to the communicating meter for a predefined period while ensuring optimal measurements of fluid consumption (gas, water...). Description of the invention

[0012] To this end, according to a first aspect, a method for managing battery-powered communicating meters is proposed, for measuring the consumption of a fluid, the communicating meters being connected to a centralized platform of management of smart meters, the smart meter being in a given operating mode, characterized in that the process comprises the steps, executed by the centralized smart meter management platform of: - reception, from a communicating meter, of information representing the charge level of the communicating meter's battery,

[0013] - obtaining the age of the communicating meter,

[0014] - determination from information representative of the load level of the the battery of the communicating meter and the age of the communicating meter if the charge level is lower or higher than a chart representing a theoretical evolution of a battery's charge level over time,

[0015] - selection of an operating profile of the communicating meter based on determination,

[0016] - transfer of the selected profile to the communicating meter if the selected level is different from the given operating level of the communicating meter.

[0017] The invention also relates to a device for managing battery-powered communicating meters, for measuring fluid consumption, the communicating meters being connected to a centralized communicating meter management platform, the communicating meter being in a given operating mode, characterized in that the management device is included in the centralized communicating meter management platform and comprises: - means for receiving, from a communicating meter, information representative of the charge level of the communicating meter's battery,

[0018] - means for obtaining the age of the communicating meter,

[0019] - means of determining, based on information representative of the level of battery charge of the communicating meter and the age of the communicating meter if the charge level is lower or higher than a chart representing a theoretical evolution of a battery's charge level over time,

[0020] - means for selecting an operating profile of the communicating meter depending on the determination,

[0021] - means for transferring the selected profile to the communicating meter if the The selected level is different from the given operating level of the communicating meter.

[0022] Thus, the present invention makes it possible to adapt the operating profile of communicating meters according to the charge level of the communicating meters' batteries and to increase the lifespan of the communicating meters. Since the invention is implemented via a centralized communicating meter management platform, the battery life of the communicating meters is increased.

[0023] According to a particular mode, the process is iterative and when a selected operating profile is different from the given operating profile of the communicating meter, the process further includes a waiting step for a predetermined duration before executing a new iteration of the process.

[0024] According to a particular mode, the determination, selection and transfer steps are conditional on a dynamic profile of the communicating meter.

[0025] According to a particular mode, at least three different profiles are selectable:

[0026] - a first profile in which the communicating meter is in a mode of nominal operation

[0027] - a second profile in which the communicating meter is in a mode of degraded operation

[0028] - a second profile in which the communicating meter is in a mode of minimal operation.

[0029] According to a particular mode, if the given operating profile is the first profile, the selected profile is the first or second profile, if the given operating profile is the second profile, the selected profile is the first or second or third profile, and if the given operating profile is the third profile, the selected profile is the second or third second profile.

[0030] According to a particular mode, the given operating profile is the second profile, the process prior to the selection of the first profile checks if the charge level is greater than the nomogram representing a theoretical evolution of a battery charge level over time by a predetermined number of percent.

[0031] According to a particular mode, if the charge level is lower than the chart representing a theoretical evolution of a battery charge level over time, the method further comprises the steps of linear interpolation of the electrical energy consumption of the HES communicating meter until the end of the battery life provided by the manufacturer of the communicating meter from the electrical energy consumption of the HES communicating meter over a period of time and of verification whether the extrapolated consumption is less than or equal to the information representing the battery level of the communicating meter and in that the selection of a profile different from the given profile is carried out if the extrapolated consumption is less than or equal to the information representing the battery level of the communicating meter.

[0032] According to another aspect, a non-transient storage medium is proposed on which is stored a computer program comprising program code instructions to execute the management process, when said instructions are read from said non-transient storage medium and executed by a processor. Brief description of the drawings

[0033] The features of the invention mentioned above, as well as others, will become clearer upon reading the following description of at least one exemplary embodiment, said description being made in relation to the accompanying drawings, among which:

[0034] [Fig-1] schematically illustrates an example of the architecture of a collection system data from communicating meters powered by a battery;

[0035] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates an example of the hardware architecture of a centralized platform for managing battery-powered smart meters;

[0036] [Fig.3] is a flowchart of a method for monitoring the lifespan of battery-powered communicating meters;

[0037] [Fig.4] is a flowchart of a method for adapting the operation of battery-powered communicating meters;

[0038] [Fig.5] is an example of the evolution of the electricity consumption of a meter communicating powered by batteries and an abacus used by the present invention.

[0039] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF IMPROVEMENTS

[0040] Fig. 1 schematically illustrates an example of the architecture of a data collection system for communicating meters powered by a battery.

[0041] The collection system includes a centralized HES platform for managing battery-powered communicating meters connected via a secure private SPN network to battery-powered communicating meters CPT1 to CPTN.

[0042] The term “battery” should be understood as a single battery, or a set of batteries jointly providing an autonomous source of electrical energy.

[0043] The present invention is described in a particular embodiment where the communicating object is a fluid meter, that is to say, adapted and configured to measure the consumption of a fluid (water, gas, etc.). The present invention is also applicable to communicating objects such as energy (electricity) measurement systems or temperature, pressure, humidity sensors, etc.

[0044] Each CPT1 to CPTN communicating counter includes in particular a measurement unit for acquiring measurements, a communication unit, a signaling unit for emitting alarm signals, and a control unit not shown in [Fig.1].

[0045] Typically, the unit of measurement can be adapted and configured to measure water consumption, or the consumption of another fluid such as gas.

[0046] The communication unit includes a set of communication organs enabling the transmission of measurements acquired by the measuring unit, for example to a collection gateway or a residential gateway.

[0047] Typically, the communication unit includes communication devices via a telephone network, via the Internet (IP communication protocols, via a LoRa system (registered trademark) from Semtech, via a Wi-Fi system (registered trademark), via a ZigBee type system (registered trademark), via a Bluetooth type system (registered trademark), via a low power wide area network (LPWAN) system, or via a cellular network dedicated to the Internet of Things of type NB-IoT (Narrowband Internet Of Things) or LTE Cat-M (Long Term Evolution - Category Machine).

[0048] The lifespan of a CPT1 to CPTN communicating meter is generally a multiple of ten years. It is difficult to size the battery to absorb all the risks and changes in use cases of a communicating meter over such a long period.

[0049] The energy consumption of a smart meter can be broken down into two categories. The first category includes consumption related to the electronics and software operation. The elements of the first category are inherently deterministic and can be determined during the design and qualification phase of the smart meter. The aging models of the electronic components are also well known and understood.

[0050] A second category concerns the power consumption related to data exchange via a secure private network (SPN). The elements of this second category are inherently non-deterministic because they depend on several factors that can change significantly over the lifespan of the battery and the smart meter. These factors include, for example, cellular network coverage, cell load on the cellular network, and smart meter usage scenarios such as updates and on-demand data reading.

[0051] Non-deterministic energy consumption can be predominant, which poses a problem for guaranteeing the lifespan of the communicating meter.

[0052] The present invention makes it possible to ensure, automatically and by time projection, a minimum lifespan for a battery-powered communicating meter over several years, even though radio environment conditions and use cases can vary significantly over such a long period. Indeed, it is practically impossible to predict the evolution of radio conditions and the evolution of business use cases (in addition to periodic transmissions) triggered by the communicating meter operator, software updates, and on-demand readings and actions.

[0053] Fig. 2 i schematically illustrates an example of hardware architecture of a centralized platform for managing battery-powered communicating meters.

[0054] According to this example, the centralized HES communicating meter management platform comprises, connected by a communication bus 200: a PROC or CPU (“Central Processing Unit”) 201; a RAM (“Random Access Memory”) 202; a ROM (“Read Only Memory”) 203; a storage unit or a storage media reader, such as an SD card reader (“Secure Digital”) 204; a radio interface Res 205 enabling the centralized HES communicating meter management platform to communicate with the CPT1 to CPTN communicating meters.

[0055] The processor 201 is capable of executing instructions loaded into RAM 202 from ROM 203, external memory, storage media, or possibly a communication network. When the centralized HES communicating meter management platform is powered on, the processor 201 is capable of reading instructions from RAM 202 and executing them. These instructions form a computer program causing the processor 201 to implement all or part of the management process described below.

[0056] Thus, all or part of the management process described below can be implemented in software form by executing a set of instructions by a programmable machine, such as a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) or a microcontroller. All or part of the algorithms and steps described herein can also be implemented in hardware form by a dedicated machine or component, such as an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) or an ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit).

[0057] Fig. 3 is a flowchart of a method for monitoring the lifespan of battery-powered communicating meters.

[0058] The present algorithm is executed by the centralized HES communicating meter management platform for each CPT1 to CPTN communicating meter.

[0059] This algorithm makes it possible to monitor the state of the stack of each communicating counter.

[0060] At step E300, the centralized HES smart meter management platform detects the reception of a frame transmitted by a smart meter. The frame transmitted by the smart meter contains at least a unique identifier of the smart meter and information representing the Lnew stack level of the smart meter.

[0061] The information representing the battery level is, for example, expressed as a percentage relative to the battery's maximum charging capacity. The information representing the battery level can, for example, be expressed in volts.

[0062] In the next step E301, the centralized HES communicating meter management platform obtains from a database denoted E303, information associated with the communicating meter that emitted the data frame.

[0063] The information associated with the communicating meter includes, by means of, information representing the age of the communicating meter, the previously defined profile of the communicating meter, and the previously received battery level of the communicating meter. The information associated with the communicating meter may also include other information such as the number of frames transmitted and received by the communicating meter, information indicating whether the profile of the communicating meter can or cannot be modified (in other words, whether the profile is static or dynamic), and information indicating whether the communicating meter is in an observation period.

[0064] The information indicating whether the smart meter profile can or should not be modified is, for example, defined by the service platform operator. This information can be modified by the fluid supply operator at any time. When the smart meter profile can be modified, it is called a dynamic profile. When the smart meter profile must not be modified, it is called a static profile.

[0065] The observation period is, for example, a period during which, when a change of profile of the communicating meter is made, the profile of the communicating meter is no longer modified in order to avoid changes too rapid between two profiles which penalize the electrical energy consumption of the communicating meter.

[0066] For example, the duration of the observation period is at least one month. The observation period is initialized to zero, representing its inactivation. When activated, a countdown timer of one month is started, which reaches zero at the end of the observation period.

[0067] In the next step E303, the centralized HES communicating meter management platform updates the communicating meter profile with the received frame and the information it contains and commands the storage of the updated profile in the database.

[0068] In the next step E304, the centralized HES communicating meter management platform checks whether the communicating meter profile is static.

[0069] If so, the centralized HES smart meter management platform interrupts the present algorithm.

[0070] If not, the centralized HES smart meter management platform moves to step E305.

[0071] At step E305, the centralized HES communicating meter management platform checks if an observation period is associated with the communicating meter.

[0072] If so, the centralized HES smart meter management platform interrupts the present algorithm.

[0073] If not, the centralized HES smart meter management platform moves to step E306.

[0074] At step E306, the centralized HES communicating meter management platform compares the information representing the Lnew battery level of the communicating meter to a predefined nomogram representing an evolution of the battery level as a function of the age of the meter.

[0075] In the next step E307, the centralized HES communicating meter management platform checks from the age of the communicating meter whether the information representing the battery level Lnew of the communicating meter is greater than the battery level for the age of the meter from the nomogram.

[0076] If yes, the centralized HES smart meter management platform proceeds to step E309. If no, the centralized HES smart meter management platform proceeds to step E308.

[0077] At step E308, the centralized HES communicating meter management platform checks whether the previously defined profile of the communicating meter is equal to 1. If so, the centralized HES communicating meter management platform interrupts the present algorithm.

[0078] If not, the centralized HES smart meter management platform moves to step E308.

[0079] Step E308 consists of launching the algorithm for adapting the operation of battery-powered communicating counters.

[0080] Step E308 is described in more detail with reference to [Fig.4].

[0081] Fig. 4 is a flowchart of a method for adapting the operation of battery-powered communicating counters.

[0082] This algorithm consists of adapting the profile of the communicating meter.

[0083] Each profile, denoted P, contains technical parameters to be applied to the communicating meter. The list of parameters and their values ​​will be determined in advance and chosen to establish a balance between energy consumption and information accuracy.

[0084] Profile 1 is a normal profile offering an optimal balance as defined during the design of the communicating meter. Profile 1 is applied by default when a communicating meter is put into service. The higher the profile number, the lower the accuracy of the information, in favor of an increased battery life. The number of profiles is therefore not limited, but in the example such as Three profiles are defined. Profile 1 corresponds to normal operation, profile 2 corresponds to degraded operation, and profile 3 corresponds to extreme operation.

[0085] Each profile contains a set of technical parameters that are configured in the communicating meter during its installation. The list of technical parameters depends on the capabilities offered by the communicating meter's data model and its specifications. For example, the period for sending the useful counting data, and the depth of the data buffer sent in each period. Indeed, it is common to implement an error recovery feature in the communicating meter, so that if the communicating meter fails to transmit data during a period, it will resend the data in the following period in combination with the data that would normally have been sent in the next period, and so on. Limiting this buffer depth therefore limits the communication time, particularly for communicating meters with poor radio coverage.

[0086] The proposed algorithm complies with the following rules:

[0087] The change towards a profile is only made towards the adjacent profile, upwards as well as downwards.

[0088] At step E400, the centralized HES smart meter management platform obtains the smart meter profile from database E303.

[0089] At step E401, the centralized HES communicating meter management platform checks from the age of the communicating meter whether the information representing the battery level Lnew of the communicating meter is greater than the battery level for the age of the meter from the nomogram.

[0090] If not, the centralized HES smart meter management platform moves to step E402.

[0091] If so, the centralized HES smart meter management platform moves to step E405.

[0092] In step E402, the centralized HES smart meter management platform interprets the smart meter's electrical energy consumption. Based on the smart meter's electrical energy consumption over a specific time period, the HES smart meter performs a linear extrapolation of its electrical energy consumption until the battery's end of life, as determined by the smart meter manufacturer. This time period is, for example, equal to the observation period, typically one month.

[0093] At step E403, the centralized HES smart meter management platform checks whether the extrapolated consumption is less than or equal to the information representative of the Lnew stack level of the communicating meter. If negative, the centralized HES communicating meter management platform proceeds to step E404. If positive, the centralized HES communicating meter management platform interrupts the current algorithm.

[0094] At step E404, the centralized HES communicating meter management platform increments the meter profile by one unit, i.e., if the current Pour profile of the communicating meter is profile 1, the new profile Pnew is profile 2 and if the current Pour profile of the communicating meter is profile 2, the new profile Pnew is profile 3.

[0095] As the present invention is described in a three-profile example, if the profile of the communicating meter was profile 3, the new profile remains profile 3.

[0096] Once this operation is completed, the centralized HES smart meter management platform moves to step E408.

[0097] At step E405, the centralized HES smart meter management platform checks if the current Pour profile of the smart meter is profile 2.

[0098] If so, the centralized HES smart meter management platform moves to step E406.

[0099] If not, the centralized HES smart meter management platform moves to step E409.

[0100] At step E409, the centralized HES smart meter management platform sets the new profile Pnew to profile 2 to then proceed to step E408.

[0101] At step E406, the centralized HES communicating meter management platform checks whether the information representing the Lnew stack level of the communicating meter is higher by a predetermined percentage, for example 2%, than the stack level for the corresponding communicating meter age in the nomogram.

[0102] If so, the centralized HES smart meter management platform moves to step E407.

[0103] If not, the centralized HES smart meter management platform interrupts the present algorithm.

[0104] At step E407, the centralized HES communicating meter management platform sets the new profile Pnew to profile 1 to then proceed to step E408.

[0105] At step E408, the centralized HES communicating meter management platform triggers a Pobs observation period and commands, if the selected profile is different from the given operating profile of the communicating meter, the transfer of a message to the communicating meter indicating the new Pnew profile to be applied.

[0106] Fig. 5 is an example of the evolution of the electrical consumption of a battery-powered communicating meter and a nomogram used by the present invention.

[0107] On the x-axis is represented time and on the y-axis is represented on the left the charge level of the stack or the charge level of the abacus and on the right the level of the profile: 1 for profile 1, 2 for profile 2 and 3 for profile 3.

[0108] The abacus is determined, for example, following endurance and accelerated aging tests in the laboratory.

[0109] The curve marked 500 represents the values ​​of the nomogram and the curve 510 represents the evolution of the actual charge level of the battery.

[0110] For example, during the first year 511, the meter consumption is lower than the model. Profile 1 therefore remains applied.

[0111] In the second year, 512, following frequent software updates, the large volume of data exchanges significantly reduced the stack level, causing it to fall below the abacus. Profile 2 is then applied. Profile 2 is subsequently applied for 3 years as long as the stack level remains below the abacus.

[0112] In the fifth year 513, the charge level of the battery passes above the abacus and profile 1 is then applied.

[0113] In the sixth year 514, changing radio conditions (modification of the operator's cellular plan) deplete the battery. Profile 2 is applied, but is insufficient, which then triggers the application of profile 3 in the seventh year 515, and this continues for a period of 3 years. In the tenth year 516, the battery charge level rises above the target, and profile 2 is then applied.

[0114] In the eleventh year 517, the charge level of the battery is above the abacus and profile 1 is then applied.

Claims

Demands

1. A method for managing battery-powered communicating meters to measure fluid consumption, the communicating meters being connected to a centralized communicating meter management platform, the communicating meter being in a given operating profile, characterized in that the method comprises the steps, executed by the centralized communicating meter management platform, of: - receiving (E300) from a communicating meter information representative of the charge level of the communicating meter's battery, - obtaining (E301) the age of the communicating meter, - determining (E307) from the information representative of the charge level of the communicating meter's battery and the age of the communicating meter whether the charge level is lower or higher than a chart representing a theoretical evolution of a battery's charge level over time,- Selection (E308) of an operating profile for the communicating meter based on the determination. - Transfer (E408) of the selected profile to the communicating meter if the selected level differs from the given operating profile of the communicating meter.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the method is iterative and when a selected operating profile is different from the given operating profile of the communicating meter, the method further comprises a waiting step for a predetermined duration before executing a new iteration of the method.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the determination, selection and transfer steps are conditional on a dynamic profile of the communicating meter.

4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least three different profiles are selectable: a first profile in which the communicating meter is in a nominal operating mode, a second profile in which the communicating meter is in a degraded operating mode, a second profile in which the communicating meter is in a minimal operating mode.

5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that if the given operating profile is the first profile, the selected profile is the first or second profile, if the given operating profile is the second profile, the selected profile is the first or second or third profile, and if the given operating profile is the third profile, the selected profile is the second or third second profile.

6. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that if the given operating profile is the second profile, the method prior to the selection of the first profile checks whether the charge level is greater than the nomogram representing a theoretical evolution of a battery charge level over time by a predetermined number of percent.

7. A method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that if the charge level is lower than the chart representing a theoretical evolution of a battery charge level over time, the method further comprises the steps of linear interpolation of the electrical energy consumption of the HES communicating meter until the end of the battery life provided by the manufacturer of the communicating meter from the electrical energy consumption of the HES communicating meter over a period of time and of verification whether the extrapolated consumption is less than or equal to the information representing the battery level of the communicating meter and in that the selection of a profile different from the given profile is carried out if the extrapolated consumption is less than or equal to the information representing the battery level of the communicating meter.

8. A device for managing battery-powered communicating meters, for measuring fluid consumption, the communicating meters being connected to a centralized communicating meter management platform, the communicating meter being in a given operating mode, characterized in that the management device is included in the centralized communicating meter management platform and comprises: - means of receiving information from a communicating meter, representing the charge level of the communicating meter's battery, - means of obtaining the age of the communicating meter, - means of determining, from the information representing the charge level of the communicating meter's battery and the age of the communicating meter, whether the charge level is lower or higher than a nomogram representing a theoretical evolution of a battery's charge level over time, means of selecting an operating profile for the communicating meter based on the determination, - means of transferring the selected profile to the communicating meter if the selected level is different from the given operating level of the communicating meter.

9. Product computer program comprising program code instructions for executing the management process according to any one of claims 1 to 7, when said instructions are executed by a processor.

10. Non-transient storage medium on which is stored a computer program comprising program code instructions to execute the management process according to any one of claims 1 to 7, when said instructions are read from said non-transient storage medium and executed by a processor.

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