Wireless utility control device

Abstract

A wireless utility control device CD comprising: a controller C; a memory M coupled to the controller for storing a unique identifier associated with the wireless utility control device and a user; a

Description

Background Electricity, water and gas are known utilities. Each type of utility can be supplied to a user for use for example in a home, workplace or site. Wireless utility control devices are a known way of controlling the supply of utilities to a user, and in some cases also measure the quantity of utility supplied for billing purposes. Wireless utility control devices can include a cutoff module that can be changed between an open state and a closed state to permit or prevent supply of the utility to the user. The cutoff module can be wirelessly controlled by a user via a wireless network. The present inventor has devised a new type of wireless utility control device with improved functionality. Summary In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a wireless utility control device according to claim 1. Thus, the wireless utility control device according to the first aspect includes a second wireless interface module which comprises an NFC or RFID module that enables a user to change the state of the cutoff module in the event of the wireless network failing. As such, the user can for example use an active or passive NFC tag which has the wireless utility control device's unique identifier stored on it to change the cutoff module from the closed state to the open state without using the wireless network. This bypass functionality provides a secure way for a user to quickly bypass the cutoff module, in contrast to the use of a physical key and switch for example. The device according to the first aspect is particularly advantageous when multiple wireless utility control devices are located at a user side, since the user can quickly and easily bypass each of the owned assets using the same NFC tag for example. Optional features of the first aspect are set out in claims 2 to 7. In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method according to claim 8. Optional features of the second aspect are set out in claim 9. In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method according to claim 10. The following features are optional features for the second and third aspects: The control signal can be transmitted to the wireless utility control device from a remote server through the wireless network. The control signal can specify a pairing time period, such as up to 2 hours, following which pairing is no longer active. Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a diagram of a wireless utility control device according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic circuit diagram of some components of the wireless utility control device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic circuit diagram of some components of a wireless utility control device according to another embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method of pairing a user key with a wireless utility control device according to an embodiment of the invention; and Figure 5 is a flow chart illustrating a method of pairing a user key with a wireless utility control device according to an embodiment of the invention. Detailed Description Figure 1 schematically shows a wireless utility control device CD according to an embodiment of the invention. The wireless utility control device CD is arranged to be coupled to a utility supply such as an electricity cable, a gas pipe or a water pipe. The wireless utility control device CD includes a controller C, which can be any suitable computing device, data processor, or an application specific integrated circuit. The wireless utility control device CD also includes a first wireless interface module W1 communicatively coupled to the controller C for enabling the controller C to receive control signals via a wireless network WN and optionally send reporting and / or status signals via the wireless network WN. The first wireless interface module W1 can be considered a primary wireless interface module, as the wireless utility control device CD can be controlled by a user using a device such as a smartphone and / or by an authorised service provider from a remote server RS via the wireless network WN. The first wireless interface module can be used to connect to one or more further wireless utility control devices CDn owned by the user via a mesh and the devices registered with the network can communicate with the remote server via a local internet gateway or network server NS. In the illustrated embodiment the first wireless interface module W1 preferably comprises a Long Range (LoRa) module and the wireless network WN preferably comprises a Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN) with one or more LoRaWan Gateways, with each wireless utility control device CD forming a node of the LoRaWAN. Each Gateway is connected to the internet in a conventional manner by a wired or wireless connection. The wireless utility control device CD also includes computer memory M, such as nonvolatile memory, coupled to the controller C for storing a unique identifier ID associated with the wireless utility control device CD. In the illustrated embodiment, the unique identifier ID is a DevEUI, a 64-bit globally unique identifier. The wireless utility control device CD also includes a cutoff module CM configured to be inserted into the utility supply path P having a utility inlet Pin to the cutoff module CM and a utility outlet Pout from the cutoff module. The utility outlet Pout can for example supply the utility to a utility device such as a power supply at the user site. The cutoff module CM is communicatively coupled to the controller C and operable by signals from the controller C between a closed state in which the cutoff module CM inhibits supply of the utility from the utility inlet Pin to the utility outlet Pout and an open state in which the cutoff module permits supply of the utility from the utility inlet Pin to the utility outlet Pout. Referring additionally to Figure 2, the cutoff module CM can comprise an electronically operable switch, which in this embodiment is a relay R but could alternatively be a transistor or the like. In the illustrated embodiment the utility supply is an electricity supply and the relay R is configured to make or break the electricity supply connection to a device such as a power socket that is controlled by the wireless utility control device CD. The controller C is configured to control switch S to energise and de-energise the relay. The relay is illustrated in a solid line showing the cutoff module CM in the closed state, inhibiting i.e. disabling the supply of electricity, and in dashed line showing the cutoff module CM in the open state, permitting i.e. enabling the supply of electricity. Referring additionally to Figure 3, in other embodiments, the utility supply can instead be a water or gas pipe. In such embodiments, the cutoff module CM can further comprise a valve V configured to close or open the fluid pathway within the pipe, the valve being actuated by an actuator that is driven by the relay R. As such, a user can use a user device such as a smart phone or tablet to communicate with the wireless utility control device CD via the wireless network WN to change the cutoff module CM between open and closed states. The user can for example be a person who owns the wireless utility control device CD. Likewise, an authorised third party such as a supplier can control the wireless utility control device CD from a remote server RS via the wireless network WN. There is a need for the cutoff module CM to be secure in nature so that its operational state cannot easily be changed by an unauthorised person. The present inventor has recognised that, in the event of failure of the wireless network WN, it can be challenging to change the state of the cutoff module CM, particularly when the user site contains multiple wireless utility control devices CDn; examples of such a user sites include camp sites, boat mooring sites and the like. The wireless utility control device CD according to embodiments of the invention is provided with a second wireless interface module W2 coupled to the controller and comprising an NFC module or an RFID module. The second wireless interface module W2 can be used to override the wireless utility control device CD in the event of failure of the wireless network WN. More specifically, the user can change the state of the cutoff module CM via the second wireless interface module W2 if the wireless network WN is down. The controller C is configured to change the state of the cutoff module CM when the unique identifier ID is transferred to the controller C via the second wireless interface module W2. The user can be provided with a user key such as an NFC tag or RFID tag T having the unique identifiers associated with wireless utility control devices owned by the user stored on the tag. Any suitable NFC tag can be used such as a Tag 1 Type, Tag 2 Type, Tag 3 Type or Tag 4 Type. As such, the second wireless interface module W2 enables the user to quickly and easily change the state of the cutoff module of each wireless utility control device CD in the event of failure of the wireless network WN. In the illustrated embodiment, the second wireless interface module W2 has optional functionality of both being able to read and write to a coupled tag. As such, downlink control command signals can be sent to devices on the wireless network WN from the remote server to cause each controller to write the unique identifier to the user's tag. This enables newly added wireless utility control devices to easily be provided with bypass functionality using an existing tag. In any embodiment, the default or biased state of the cutoff module CM can be the closed state and the relay R must be energised by the controller C to change the cutoff module CM to the open state. The controller C can be configured with a timer to change the cutoff module CM to the closed state after a time period, such as 24 hours, in the absence of further control commands received via the first or second wireless interface modules Wl, W2. In any embodiment, the components of the wireless utility control device CD can be mounted and electrically coupled via a printed circuit board. In any embodiment, the components of the wireless utility control device CD can be contained within a lockable, weatherproof casing such as an IP65 enclosure. Depending on the utility supply that the wireless utility control device CD is configured to control, the casing can be provided with an interface for coupling the cutoff module to an end module that can be physically coupled to the utility supply; for example, the end module can comprise the actuator and valve V shown in Figure 3. In any embodiment, the wireless utility control device CD can include a utility meter or can interface with a distinct utility meter via a mod bus or an RS-485 connection for example. The controller C can send report signals containing meter readings to a provider for example via the first wireless interface module Wl. While the above description specifies the unique identifier as being is a DevEUI, in other embodiments the unique identifier can comprise any suitable unique device identifier. Moreover, while the above description refers to each device having a unique identifier, in other embodiments the user may be allocated a single unique identifier by the provider, which can be stored in memory on each of the user's devices. In one example, the unique identifier ID can be a unique tag ID which is written to the tag and the tag ID can be transmitted from the remote server in a downlink command which instructs the controller of each wireless utility control device to write the tag ID to the memory M, thereby pairing each wireless utility control device on the wireless network WN with the tag T. While the above description refers to the user key comprising an NFC or RFID tag, it will be appreciated that alternatively or in addition the user key can comprise a device such as a mobile phone or tablet having NFC and / or Bluetooth functionality and memory containing the unique identifier. In embodiments where the user key is a mobile phone or tablet, the user can use a camera on the mobile phone or tablet to scan a barcode such as a QR code located on the wireless utility control device to obtain the unique identifier from a utility provider app or website, subject to authorisation. While the above description refers to the first wireless interface module W1 comprising a LoRa module and the wireless network being a LoRaWAN, in other embodiments WiFi module(s) and a WIFI network can be utilised for example, or a cellular network such as 4g or 5g. Referring to Figure 4, a method of pairing a wireless utility control device according to embodiments of the invention with a user key is shown. At step Al, the method comprises transmitting a control command to the controller to write a unique identifier to the memory. At step A2, the method comprises detecting a user key being electromagnetically coupled to the second wireless interface module. At step A3, the method comprises transmitting the unique identifier from the user key to the wireless utility control device via the second wireless interface module. At step A4, the method comprises saving the unique identifier in the memory. At step A5, the method comprises optional steps of transmitting the unique identifier to one or more further wireless utility control devices communicatively coupled to the wireless network and saving the unique identifier in the memory of each further wireless utility control device. Thus, the method of Figure 4 can be used to assign the unique identifier of a user key to one or more wireless utility control devices connected to the wireless network. Referring to Figure 5, a further method of pairing a wireless utility control device according to embodiments of the invention with a user key is shown. At step Bl, the method comprises transmitting a control command to the controller to write a unique identifier to a user key. At step B2, the method comprises detecting a user key being electromagnetically coupled to the second wireless interface module. At step B3, the method comprises transmitting the unique identifier from the wireless utility control device to the user key via the second wireless interface module. At step B4, the method comprises saving the unique identifier in the user key. Thus, the method of Figure 5 can be used to assign a device specific unique identifier to a user key, enabling a user to easily add a new wireless utility control device to a user site while being able to override it with an existing key configured for override of existing wireless utility control devices at the user site. Although the invention has been described above with reference to one or more preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that various changes or modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The word "comprising" can mean "including" or "consisting of" and therefore does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in any claim or the specification as a whole. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Claims

1. A wireless utility control device comprising:a controller;a memory coupled to the controller for storing a unique identifier;a first wireless interface module coupled to the controller for enabling the controller to receive control signals via a wireless network;a cutoff module configured to be inserted into a utility supply path, the cutoff module being coupled to the controller and operable between a closed state in which the cutoff module inhibits supply of the utility and an open state in which the cutoff module permits supply of the utility; anda second wireless interface module comprising an NFC module or an RFID module, the second wireless interface module being coupled to the controller,wherein the controller is configured to change the cutoff module from the closed state to the open state when the unique identifier is transferred to the controller via the second wireless interface module.

2. The wireless utility control device according to claim 1, wherein the first wireless interface module comprises a LoRa module.

3. The wireless utility control device according to claim 2, wherein the unique identifier comprises a DevEUI of the wireless utility control device.

4. The wireless utility control device according to any preceding claim, wherein the controller and / or the second wireless interface module comprises both read and write functionality and the controller is configured to cause the second wireless interface module to write the unique identifier to a user key communicatively wirelessly coupled to the second wireless interface module when a control signal is received via the first wireless interface module.

5. The wireless utility control device according to any preceding claim, wherein the utility is an electricity supply and the cutoff module comprises an electronic switch configured to make or break the electricity supply.

6. The wireless utility control device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the utility is a water or gas pipe and the cutoff module comprises a valve configured to open or close the fluid pathway of the pipe.

7. The wireless utility control device according to any preceding claim, wherein the controller is configured to receive the unique identifier from a user key communicatively wirelessly coupled to the second wireless interface module when a control signal is received via the first wireless interface module and write the unique identifier to the memory.

8. A method of pairing a wireless utility control device according to any preceding claim with a user key, the method comprising:transmitting a control signal to the controller to write a unique identifier to the memory;detecting a user key being electromagnetically coupled to the second wireless interface module;transmitting the unique identifier from the user key to the wireless utility control device via the second wireless interface module; andsaving the unique identifier in the memory.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:transmitting the unique identifier to one or more further wireless utility control devices communicatively coupled to the wireless network; andsaving the unique identifier in the memory of each further wireless utility control device.

10. A method of pairing a wireless utility control device according to any preceding claim, when dependent on claim 4, with a user key, the method comprising:transmitting a control signal to the controller to write a unique identifier to a user key;detecting a user key being electromagnetically coupled to the second wireless interface module;transmitting the unique identifier from the wireless utility control device to the user key via the second wireless interface module; andsaving the unique identifier in the user key.