Apparatus for sharing of communication module for AMI modem redundancy and method for operation thereof

Abstract

A remote meter reading system for AMI modem redundancy comprises a plurality of meters housed in a single enclosure that generate meter reading data according to the usage of goods supplied to consumers and are classified into a first meter group and a second meter group; a redundant modem that includes a first modem inserted in the first meter of the first meter group and a second modem inserted in the second meter of the second meter group, and collects and transmits the meter reading data generated by the plurality of meters to the outside; and a communication module sharing device that is mounted on the first terminal meter of the first meter group and connected to the second terminal meter of the second meter group via a shared cable, and transmits the meter reading data of the plurality of meters connected to the failed modem to the modem that is not failed when a failure occurs in either the first modem or the second modem.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a communication module sharing device for redundancy of an AMI modem and a method of operation thereof. Background Technology

[0002] Advanced Metering Infrastructure (hereinafter referred to as 'AMI') is being introduced nationwide to optimize electricity consumption. As a core infrastructure for building the next-generation power grid market, 'smart meters,' which combine electricity meters with bidirectional communication networks, collect information, analyze it, and provide electricity usage patterns tailored to individual consumers.

[0003] AMI is largely composed of an AMI modem, a Data Concentration Unit (DCU), and a Metering Data Management System (MDMS).

[0004] The AMI modem transmits meter reading data from the electricity meter (hereinafter referred to as the 'meter') to a data concentrator and performs the role of transmitting or processing commands from the data concentrator or the meter reading data management system to the meter. Such an AMI modem can be connected to multiple meters using an RS-485 cable.

[0005] Generally, multiple meters are installed in a single enclosure called an aggregate meter box. The multiple meters installed in the aggregate meter box use a single AMI modem to transmit meter reading data to a data concentrator via RS-485 communication.

[0006] However, if an AMI modem fails, the data concentrator cannot acquire meter reading data from multiple meters housed in the failed AMI modem. Therefore, in locations where multiple meters are installed or where acquiring meter reading data is critical, additional AMI modems are installed to distribute the operation of the meters.

[0007] However, even when AMI modems are operated in a distributed manner, if an AMI modem fails, multiple meters are still housed in the failed modem. Therefore, the data concentrator has the disadvantage of being unable to acquire meter reading data from those meters. The problem to be solved

[0008] Accordingly, the present invention provides a communication module sharing device for AMI modem redundancy and a method of operation thereof, which can increase the AMI meter reading success rate by sharing a communication module. means of solving the problem

[0009] A remote meter reading system for AMI modem redundancy, which is one feature of the present invention for achieving the technical objective of the present invention, comprises a plurality of meters classified into a first meter group and a second meter group, which are housed in a single enclosure and generate meter reading data according to the usage of goods supplied to consumers; a redundant modem that includes a first modem inserted into the first meter of the first meter group and a second modem inserted into the second meter of the second meter group, which collects and transmits the meter reading data generated by the plurality of meters to the outside; and a communication module sharing device that is mounted on the first terminal meter of the first meter group and connected to the second terminal meter of the second meter group via a shared cable, and which, when a failure occurs in either the first modem or the second modem, transmits the meter reading data of the plurality of meters connected to the failed modem to the modem that is not failed.

[0010] The communication module sharing device may include an external connection part to which the first terminal instrument and the second terminal instrument are connected, and a main body connected to the external connection part by a sharing cable and detecting signals from the first terminal instrument and the second terminal instrument.

[0011] The above main body may include a processor, a pin header that is inserted into the modem slot of the first modem and receives voltage from the first modem, and a switch implemented inside the processor that maintains an on or off state depending on the presence or absence of the signal.

[0012] The processor detects a first signal transmitted and received by the first terminal device to the first modem and a second signal transmitted and received by the second terminal device to the second modem, and can switch the state of the switch from off to on depending on the presence or absence of at least one of the first signal or the second signal.

[0013] The processor can control the switch to switch from the off state to the on state if either the first signal or the second signal is not detected.

[0014] The above processor can control the transmission of meter reading data from a plurality of meters connected to the modem that has failed to the modem through an external connection connected to the terminal meter of the modem that has not failed.

[0015] The above plurality of instruments, the above redundant modem, and the above shared cable connecting their redundant communication can be installed inside a single enclosure.

[0016] The above shared cable may be composed of an RS485 communication cable.

[0017] A method of operation for a communication module sharing device for AMI modem redundancy, which is another feature of the present invention for achieving the technical problem of the present invention, comprises the steps of: interlocking with a first terminal meter of a first meter group and a second terminal meter of a second meter group through a shared cable; detecting a first signal transmitted and received by the first terminal meter to a first modem included in the first meter group and a second signal transmitted and received by the second terminal meter to a second modem included in the second meter group; receiving meter reading data generated in the first meter group including the first terminal meter if the first signal is not detected; and transmitting the meter reading data to a second modem connected to the second terminal meter.

[0018] The above detection step may include the step of switching a switch in the off state to the on state to detect the presence or absence of the first signal and the second signal within a preset time.

[0019] The step of receiving the above meter reading data may include the step of controlling the switch to be switched on and maintained to connect the first terminal meter and the second terminal meter if the first signal is not detected. Effects of the invention

[0020] According to the present invention, by using a communication module sharing device, meter reading data from all meters connected to each AMI modem can be acquired even if one of the two AMI modems fails.

[0021] In addition, since there is no need to urgently deploy personnel to recover from AMI modem failures, the operational efficiency of AMI facilities can be increased.

[0022] In addition, since cases where data cannot be acquired due to AMI modem failures can be reduced, AMI reliability can also be improved. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0023] Figure 1 is an example diagram of the AMI configuration of a typical assembly instrument box. FIG. 2 is an example diagram of an environment in which a communication module sharing device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIGS. 3 to 6 are exemplary diagrams of a communication module sharing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the operation method of a communication module sharing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0024] The present invention will be described in detail below by explaining embodiments of the invention with reference to the attached drawings. In describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of related known configurations or functions may obscure the essence of the invention, such detailed description will be omitted. Identical reference numerals in each drawing may indicate identical components.

[0025] The terms used herein are used merely to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this specification, terms such as “comprising” or “having” are intended to indicate the existence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described herein, and should be understood as not precluding the existence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0026] Throughout the specification, when a part is described as being "connected" to another part, this includes not only cases where they are "directly connected" but also cases where they are "electrically or mechanically connected" with other components in between.

[0027] Unless otherwise defined, the terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as generally understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant technology, and should not be interpreted in an ideal or overly formal sense unless explicitly defined in this specification.

[0028] Hereinafter, a communication module sharing device for AMI modem redundancy and a method of operation thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Before describing the present invention, a general AMI configuration will be described first.

[0029] Figure 1 is an example diagram of the AMI configuration of a typical assembly instrument box.

[0030] In FIG. 1, a plurality of meters (20) are installed in a collective meter box (10). The case is illustrated in which an AMI modem (30, 40) is inserted into each of two of the plurality of meters (20). The case is explained using an example where each AMI modem (30, 40) is used by multiple meters (20-1, 20-2).

[0031] The AMI modem (30, 40) transmits meter reading data collected by each of the multiple meters (20) to the data concentrator (50) via RS-485 communication. That is, the multiple meters (20-1, 20-2) installed in the aggregate meter box (10) use the AMI modem (30, 40) to transmit meter reading data to the data concentrator via RS-485 communication.

[0032] Additionally, the AMI modem (30, 40) performs the role of transmitting or processing commands from the data concentrator (50) or the meter reading data management system (60) to the meter. This AMI modem can be connected to multiple meters (20) using an RS-485 cable.

[0033] However, if a failure occurs in any one of the AMI modems (40), the data concentrator (50) cannot acquire meter reading data of multiple meters (20-2) housed in the failed AMI modem (40).

[0034] Accordingly, in the embodiment of the present invention, the communication module is shared to maximize the utilization of redundantly installed AMI modems and to increase the AMI meter reading success rate. This is explained with reference to FIG. 2. In the embodiment of the present invention, for convenience of explanation, the collective meter box is referred to as a remote meter reading system (100), but it is not necessarily limited to this.

[0035] FIG. 2 is an example diagram of an environment in which a communication module sharing device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

[0036] As illustrated in FIG. 2, a remote meter reading system (100) according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of meters (110). The plurality of meters (110) are classified into a first meter group (111) sequentially connected to a first modem (120-1) and a second meter group (112) sequentially connected to a second modem (120-2). The number of meters (110) included in one meter group (111, 112) is not limited to any single numerical value.

[0037] Here, the plurality of instruments (110) included in the first instrument group (111) and the second instrument group (112) may each have an AMI modem (120-1, 120-2) built in. However, for convenience of explanation, the embodiment of the present invention is illustrated with an AMI modem (120-1, 120-2) built in only one of the plurality of instruments (110) included in each instrument group (111, 112), but it is not necessarily limited to this.

[0038] Also, for convenience of explanation in the embodiments of the present invention, the instrument that transmits meter reading data to the data concentrator (200) through the AMI modem (120-1, 120-2) is referred to as a modem-equipped instrument (111-1, 111-2), but is not necessarily limited to this.

[0039] In an embodiment of the present invention, an AMI modem (120-1, 120-2) of a modem-equipped meter (111-1, 111-2) transmits a signal for providing meter reading data to each meter (110). Then, based on the signal transmitted from the AMI modem (120-1, 120-2), each meter (110) transmits meter reading data to the connected AMI modem (120-1, 120-2).

[0040] Multiple meters (110) generate meter reading data based on the usage of goods supplied to individual consumers. Each meter (110) then transmits the meter reading data to a modem (120-1, 120-2) inserted into a data transmission meter (111-1, 111-2) within each meter group (111, 112) using a shared cable (130) connected via a connector (not shown in the drawing).

[0041] The meter (110) according to an embodiment of the present invention is composed of an electronic power meter that measures electricity usage. However, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto, and depending on the application field where the remote metering system is applied, a meter that measures the usage of any one of gas, water, hot water, or heat quantity may be applied.

[0042] Each modem (120-1, 120-2) transmits meter reading data transmitted from each meter (110) to a data concentrator (200) via a shared cable (130). The data concentrator (200) classifies multiple meter reading data transmitted from each modem (130-1, 130-2), deletes duplicate meter reading data, and transmits multiple non-duplicate meter reading data to a remote meter reading server (300). Since the data concentrator (200) can classify multiple meter reading data and delete duplicate meter reading data through various methods, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to any one method.

[0043] In addition, in an embodiment of the present invention, a communication module sharing device (140) is installed in a communication module of a meter belonging to any group of meters among a plurality of meters (110). In an embodiment of the present invention, the communication module sharing device (140) is installed in a meter of a second group of meters (112) as an example, but it is not necessarily limited to this.

[0044] In an embodiment of the present invention, the instrument of the second instrument group (112) equipped with a communication module sharing device (140), and the instrument among the instruments in the first instrument group (111) that is physically connected to the communication module sharing device (140) by a sharing cable (130) are referred to as terminal instruments (150-1, 150-2). In an embodiment of the present invention, for convenience of explanation, the terminal instrument equipped with the communication module sharing device (140) is referred to as the first terminal instrument (150-1), and the terminal instrument not equipped with the communication module sharing device (140) is referred to as the second terminal instrument (150-2).

[0045] The communication module sharing device (140) detects signals transmitted and received between the first terminal instrument (150-1) and the first AMI modem (120-1), and signals transmitted and received between the second terminal instrument (150-2) and the second AMI modem (120-2).

[0046] When signals transmitted and received by multiple instruments (110) to each AMI modem (120-1, 120-2) are input normally to the communication module sharing device (140), the contact of the communication module sharing device (140) to which the terminal instrument (150-1, 150-2) is connected is kept in an OFF state. Here, the contact may correspond to a microcontroller chip of the communication module sharing device (140).

[0047] In addition, in an embodiment of the present invention, terminal instruments (150-1, 150-2) are connected to a communication module sharing device (140) via a sharing cable (130), and a switching function (hereinafter referred to as 'switch' for convenience of explanation) implemented inside the processor of the communication module sharing device (140) is used as an example.

[0048] For example, when a signal from each AMI modem (120-1, 120-2) is input to the channel (CH1, CH2 (142)) of the communication module sharing device (140) connected to the terminal instrument (150-1, 150-2), the switch of the communication module sharing device (140) remains in the OFF state.

[0049] Accordingly, the first meter group (111) up to the terminal meter (150-2) connected to the first AMI modem (120-1), and the second meter group (112) up to the terminal meter (150-1) including the communication module sharing device (140) connected to the second AMI modem (120-2) operate in a physically independent state from each other. That is, the first meter group (111) connected to the first AMI modem (120-1) and the second meter group (112) connected to the second AMI modem (120-2) transmit / receive signals or meter reading data for each group, but communication between the first meter group (111) and the second meter group (112) is impossible.

[0050] On the other hand, when no signal is detected being transmitted or received by each AMI modem (120-1, 120-2) and terminal meter (150-1, 150-2) through either channel (CH1, CH2 (142)) of the communication module sharing device (140), the switch is switched from OFF to ON. When the switch is switched ON, each terminal meter (150-1, 150-2) and the communication module sharing device (140) are connected.

[0051] Accordingly, the AMI modem (120-1 or 120-2) that has not failed becomes capable of receiving signals or meter reading data from terminal meters (150-1, 150-2) through the communication module sharing device (140). That is, when the switch changes to the ON state, communication becomes possible between the first meter group (111) connected to the first AMI modem (120-1) and the second meter group (112) connected to the second AMI modem (120-2). Accordingly, the meter reading data is transmitted to the data concentrator (200) using the AMI modem (120-1 or 120-2) that has not failed.

[0052] As such, in an embodiment of the present invention, in order for the communication module sharing device (140) to detect a signal from each terminal instrument (150-1, 150-2), the communication module sharing device (140) may switch the state of the switch from OFF to ON according to a signal detection time preset by the processor. At this time, the signal received by the communication module sharing device (140) from the terminal instrument (150-1, 150-2) is described as an example of an RS-485 communication signal.

[0053] It is assumed that while the communication module sharing device (140) remains in the OFF state, it did not receive a signal from any of the terminal meters (150-1, 150-2) during the signal detection time. Then, the switch of the communication module sharing device (140) is switched to the ON state, and the communication module sharing device (140) and each terminal meter (150-1, 150-2) become connected. Accordingly, meter reading data is received from each meter (110) located in the meter group (111 or 112) that did not receive a signal.

[0054] For example, assume that a failure occurs in the first AMI modem (120-1) and the switch of the communication module sharing device (140) is switched to the ON state. The meters (110) connected to the first AMI modem (120-1) transmit meter reading data toward the communication module sharing device (140). Then, the communication module sharing device (140) transmits the meter reading data received from the meters (110) connected to the first AMI modem (120-1) based on a signal from the second AMI modem (120-2).

[0055] The second AMI modem (120-2) can transmit not only the meter reading data collected by the meters included in the second meter group (112), but also the meter reading data of the meters included in the first meter group (111) to the data concentrator (200).

[0056] Accordingly, in an embodiment of the present invention, even if one of the two AMI modems (120-1, 120-2) fails based on the communication module sharing device (140), the data concentrator (200) can acquire meter reading data from all meters.

[0057] An example of such a communication module sharing device (140) is described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6.

[0058] FIGS. 3 to 6 are exemplary diagrams of a communication module sharing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0059] FIG. 3(a) is an example diagram showing the exterior of a terminal instrument (150) in which a communication module sharing device (140) is installed, and FIG. 3(b) is an example diagram showing the interior of a terminal instrument (150) in which a communication module sharing device (140) is installed.

[0060] The communication module sharing device (140) is structured to be plugged into the slot of the AMI modem of the terminal instrument (150) and receives power from the terminal instrument (150). Additionally, on one side of the communication module sharing device (140), there are RJ-11 terminals (142) for RS-485 communication that are connected to the terminal instruments (150) via a sharing cable. In the embodiment of the present invention, since two terminal instruments (130) are implemented, the RJ-11 terminals (142) are also provided with two terminals, and this is explained as an example.

[0061] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the terminal instruments (150) of the first instrument group (111) and the second instrument group (112) are connected to the communication module sharing device (140). In an embodiment of the present invention, the communication module sharing device (140) is further added to the first terminal instrument (150-1), which is one of the terminal instruments (150), and this is explained as an example.

[0062] The communication module sharing device (140) is implemented in a structure that can be inserted into an AMI modem slot inside the first terminal instrument (150-1). That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the interface of the communication module sharing device (140) is implemented using a pin connection method. In an embodiment of the present invention, 16 pin terminals are used to form the interface of the communication module sharing device (140) as an example. The configuration of each pin at this time is as shown in Table 1 below.

[0063] Pin No ① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ ⑧ composition RS485A(+) RS485A(-) 12V DC GND - - - - Pin No ⑨ ⑩ ⑪ ⑫ ⑬ ⑭ ⑮ composition L-shaped L-shaped - - - - N phase N phase

[0064] For example, through the first terminal (①) and the second terminal (②), the communication module sharing device (140) receives RS-485 signals from the terminal instruments (130). And, through the third terminal (③), the communication module sharing device (140) can receive power from the first terminal instrument (150-1).

[0065] At this time, the RS-485 signals of the communication module sharing device (140) and the first terminal instrument (150-1) must not loop with each other. Accordingly, the communication module sharing device (140) has a structure in which it is not electrically or circuitously connected to other terminals, except for the third terminal (③) and the fourth terminal (④) that receive power from the AMI modem slot mounted on the first terminal instrument (150-1).

[0066] The structure of such a communication module sharing device (140) is as shown in FIG. 6.

[0067] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the communication module sharing device (140) consists of a main body (141), an external connection part (142) to which terminal instruments (150-1, 150-2) are connected via a sharing cable (130), and a pin header (143) that is inserted into an AMI modem slot (not shown in the drawing) inside the instrument (110).

[0068] A pin header (143) is formed on one side of the main body (141) and supplies a 12V voltage transmitted from the first terminal instrument (150-1) to the DC-DC connector (145) of the communication module sharing device (140). The DC-DC connector (145) lowers the supplied 12V voltage to 3.3V and provides it to the processor (144). In the embodiment of the present invention, the use of a 3.3V voltage in the processor (144) is described as an example, but it is not necessarily limited to this.

[0069] The external connection part (142) is connected to the communication module (146) provided in the main body (141) via a shared cable (130). Signals or meter reading data transmitted from terminal instruments (150-1, 150-2) connected to the external connection part (142) are transmitted to the processor through the external connection part (142) and a signal input port (e.g., UART).

[0070] At this time, the switch state inside the processor (144) is switched to OFF or ON depending on whether a signal or meter reading data is present. Here, the switch state basically remains in the OFF state and is switched to the ON state depending on whether a signal or meter reading data is present.

[0071] The processor (144) checks whether a signal is input from terminal instruments (150-1, 150-2) within a preset time through the external connection part (142) and the signal input port. To do this, the processor (144) maintains the switch in an OFF state when a signal is input from the terminal instruments (150-1, 150-2), and switches the internal switch state to ON state when there is no signal input beyond the preset time.

[0072] If signals are periodically input from terminal instruments (150-1, 150-2), the switch is kept in the OFF state so that the first instrument group (111) and the second instrument group (112) operate independently of each other.

[0073] However, if no signal is input from any one of the terminal meters (150-1, 150-2) for a preset time, the processor (144) switches the switch to the ON state so that the terminal meters (150-1, 150-2) are connected to each other. By doing so, the meter reading data of the group of meters where the AMI modem failure occurred is transmitted to the AMI modem (120) through the external connection line (142) connected while the switch is switched to the ON state.

[0074] Additionally, the processor (144) of the communication module sharing device (140) can emit an LED (Bi-Color LED) when a failure occurs in the AMI modem so that the manager can identify the location of the failed AMI modem.

[0075] The operation method of the communication module sharing device (140) described above will be explained with reference to FIG. 7.

[0076] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the operation method of a communication module sharing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0077] As illustrated in FIG. 7, all instruments included in the first instrument group, including the first terminal instrument (150-1), are connected to the first AMI modem (120-1) (S100). Then, all instruments included in the second instrument group, including the second terminal instrument (150-2), are connected to the second AMI modem (120-2) (S101). The connection procedure between the instruments and the AMI modem is already known and is not limited to any one description in the embodiments of the present invention.

[0078] Additionally, the communication module sharing device (140) interacts with two terminal instruments (150-1, 150-2) (S102, S103). Since the interaction procedure between the communication module sharing device (140) and the terminal instruments (150-1, 150-2) is executed in various ways, a detailed description is omitted in the embodiments of the present invention.

[0079] The first AMI modem (120-1) and the second AMI modem (120-2) each collect meter reading data from all meters included in the first meter group or the second meter group (S104, S105). Then, the first AMI modem (120-1) and the second AMI modem (120-2) transmit the collected meter reading data to the upper data concentrator (200) (S106, S107).

[0080] When the communication module sharing device (140) interacts with the terminal instrument (150-1, 150-2), it operates the switch in various ways to detect whether there is a signal transmitted from the terminal instrument (150-1, 150-2) within a preset time (S108). That is, the processor (144) of the communication module sharing device (140) switches the switch state from the reference state of OFF to ON based on the signal transmitted from each terminal instrument (150-1, 150-2).

[0081] The communication module sharing device (140) checks whether it has received signals from both terminal instruments (150-1, 150-2) (S111). Then, if all signals have been transmitted, the processor (144) of the communication module sharing device (140) keeps the switch in the OFF state and repeats the procedure after step S108.

[0082] At this time, it is assumed that a failure occurs in the second AMI modem (120-2) (S109). Then, the communication module sharing device (140) receives a signal from the first terminal instrument (150-1) (S110), but does not receive a signal from the second terminal instrument (150-2).

[0083] Here, the communication module sharing device (140) switches the switch to the ON state (S112) to connect the two terminal instruments (150-1, 150-2) through the external connection part (142). This allows the first instrument group (111) and the second instrument group (112) to be connected to each other.

[0084] After the switch is switched to the ON state, the first meter group (111) and the second meter group (112) become connected to each other. Accordingly, the meters of the first meter group (111) and the meters of the second meter group (112) transmit meter reading data to the first AMI modem (120-1) (S113 ~ S115).

[0085] The first AMI modem (120-1), which receives the meter reading data of the first meter group (111) and the meter reading data of the second meter group (112), transmits the meter reading data to the data concentrator (200) (S116).

[0086] Through this method of operation, when using the communication module sharing device (140), even if one of the two AMI modems (120-1, 120-2) fails, meter reading data of all meters can be transmitted to the data concentrator (200).

[0087] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and improvements by those skilled in the art using the basic concept of the present invention as defined in the following claims also fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claim 1 A remote meter reading system for AMI modem redundancy, comprising: a plurality of meters housed in a single enclosure, which generate meter reading data according to the usage of goods supplied to consumers and are classified into a first meter group and a second meter group; a redundant modem that includes a first modem inserted into a first meter of the first meter group and a second modem inserted into a second meter of the second meter group, which collects and transmits the meter reading data generated by the plurality of meters to the outside; and a communication module sharing device that is mounted on a first terminal meter of the first meter group and connected to a second terminal meter of the second meter group via a shared cable, which, when a failure occurs in either the first modem or the second modem, transmits the meter reading data of the plurality of meters connected to the failed modem to a modem that is not failed. Claim 2 A remote meter reading system according to claim 1, wherein the communication module sharing device comprises an external connection part to which the first terminal meter and the second terminal meter are connected, and a main body connected to the external connection part by a sharing cable and detecting signals from the first terminal meter and the second terminal meter. Claim 3 A remote meter reading system according to paragraph 2, wherein the main body comprises a processor and a pin header that is inserted into the modem slot of the first terminal meter and receives voltage from the first modem, and a switch implemented inside the processor that maintains an on state or an off state depending on the presence or absence of the signal. Claim 4 A remote meter reading system according to paragraph 3, wherein the processor detects a first signal transmitted and received by the first terminal instrument to the first modem and a second signal transmitted and received by the second terminal instrument to the second modem, and switches the state of the switch from off to on depending on the presence or absence of at least one of the first signal or the second signal. Claim 5 In paragraph 4, the processor controls the switch to switch from an off state to an on state if either the first signal or the second signal is not detected, in a remote meter reading system. Claim 6 In paragraph 5, the processor controls the remote meter reading system so that meter reading data of a plurality of meters connected to the modem that has failed is transmitted to the modem that has not failed through an external connection connected to the terminal meter of the modem that has not failed. Claim 7 A remote meter reading system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of instruments, the redundant modem, and the shared cable connecting the redundant communication thereof are installed inside a single enclosure. Claim 8 In paragraph 7, the above-mentioned shared cable is a remote meter reading system composed of an RS485 communication cable. Claim 9 A method of operation for a communication module sharing device for AMI modem redundancy, comprising: a step of interlocking with a first terminal meter of a first meter group and a second terminal meter of a second meter group through a shared cable; a step of detecting a first signal transmitted and received by the first terminal meter to a first modem included in the first meter group and a second signal transmitted and received by the second terminal meter to a second modem included in the second meter group; a step of receiving meter reading data generated in the first meter group including the first terminal meter if the first signal is not detected, and a step of transmitting the meter reading data to a second modem connected to the second terminal meter. Claim 10 In claim 9, the detection step comprises the step of switching a switch in an off state to an on state to detect the presence or absence of the first signal and the second signal within a preset time. Claim 11 In claim 10, the step of receiving the meter reading data includes the step of controlling the switch to be switched on and maintained to connect the first terminal meter and the second terminal meter when the first signal is not detected.

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