Ami remote metering system using wireless serial adaptor (WSA)

Abstract

The present invention relates to an AMI remote metering system using a WSA and, more specifically, to an AMI remote metering system using a WSA in which metering coverage is expanded in the AMI remote metering system by applying wireless communication technology such as binary CDMA, Wi-Sun, or the like to a method in which watt-hour meters are metered by being connected through RS-485 wired communication, and connecting detached houses through RS-485 wireless communication, and material costs and operation costs required for a metering modem are reduced, thus enabling more economical and efficient remote metering.

Description

AMI remote metering system using WSA (WIRELESS SERIAL ADAPTOR)

[0001] The present invention relates to an AMI remote metering system using a WSA (Wireless Serial Adaptor), and more specifically, to an AMI remote metering system using a WSA that connects an electric power meter with an RS-485 wired communication in an AMI remote metering system and expands metering coverage by connecting even single-family homes with an RS-485 wireless communication by applying wireless communication technologies such as binary CDMA and Wi-Sun, and reduces material costs and operating costs required for a metering modem, thereby enabling more economical and efficient remote metering.

[0002]

[0003] In general, the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system is an intelligent remote metering system that measures the real-time usage of electricity, gas, and water for each household, including buildings, townhouses, multi-family homes, and single-family homes, wirelessly or wired and transmits the data to the metering server of the relevant company.

[0004] The wired metering of the AMI system is composed of a PLC metering modem (101) that transmits metering information of an electric power meter to a data concentrator using power line (PLC) communication, a data concentrator (103) that receives and manages the metering information from the PLC metering modem (101) and transmits it to a metering server (200) located at a remote location, and a metering server (200) that receives metering information from the data concentrator (103) or requests metering information from the data concentrator, and the wireless metering of the AMI system is a method of transmitting metering information read by an LTE metering modem using LTE wireless communication to the metering server.

[0005] Figures 4 and 5 are metering configuration diagrams of a conventional AMI system. Referring to Figure 4, in the wired PLC communication metering configuration diagram, one PLC modem (101) is connected to a power meter (102) installed in each household to perform metering and transmit metering information to a higher server. In the case of multi-family houses other than single-family houses, metering is performed by connecting the power meters (102) and the power meters (102) with a wire using the RS-485 terminal attached to the power meter (102).

[0006] And, in the wireless LTE communication metering configuration diagram shown in FIG. 5, one LTE modem (103) is connected to a power meter (104) for each household to perform metering and transmit the metering information to an upper server such as a base station (106). Similarly to wired metering, metering of multi-family houses other than single-family houses is performed by connecting the power meters (104) to each other by wire using the RS-485 terminal attached to the power meter (104).

[0007] In the wired and wireless metering configuration of the conventional AMI system, the connection between power meters is RS-485 wired connection, so there is no problem in connecting power meters that are gathered in one place at a short distance, but when connecting RS-485 wired connection between power meters installed in a single-family home, if the installation location or the distance between power meters is long or there is a structure such as a road, there is difficulty in RS-485 wired connection, so a PLC modem (101) or LTE modem (103) must be installed for each single-family home, so the installation cost increases due to the purchase of many PLC modems (101) or LTE modems (103). In addition, although the specifications of the PLC modem (101) or LTE modem (103) allow up to 32 power meters to be connected by wire, due to the limitations of the wired connection, the number of power meters that are actually connected to the PLC modem (101) or LTE modem (103) and operated is only 2 on average, so the utilization efficiency of the PLC modem (101) or LTE modem (103) is low. There was a problem that it was becoming low.

[0008] In order to increase the number of power meters that can be read for efficient use of the AMI system currently in use, the number of PLC modems (101) or LTE modems (103) that can be read must be increased. This increases the material cost and operating cost of the PLC modem (101) or LTE modem (103), and also increases mutual interference between the installed PLC modems (101), which causes a decrease in the performance of the system. In addition, there was a problem that, depending on the communication method of the metering modem, there were areas where it was difficult to install due to communication shadow areas or geopolitical issues.

[0009] In particular, in the case of PLC modems that use power line communication, power line noise generated from various electrical appliances can affect the PLC modem, and due to the nature of PLC communication, the transmission distance is shorter than that of wireless communication, which limits the installation of PLC modems and makes it difficult to use them efficiently.

[0010] Additionally, there was a problem that although there was no mutual interference issue with LTE modems using LTE communication networks, the line usage fee paid per installed LTE modem increased, resulting in a significant increase in system operating costs.

[0011]

[0012] The technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is to solve the above problem by changing the RS-485 method of metering by connecting a plurality of power meters to a single PLC modem or LTE modem by wires to a wireless connection metering method using wireless communication technologies such as binary CDMA and Wi-Sun, so that not only apartment buildings but also single-family homes can be metered using a wireless connection method such as the RS-485 method, thereby drastically reducing the number of PLC metering modems or LTE metering modems used, thereby providing an AMI remote metering system using WSA that is economical and can be used efficiently by allowing a greater number of power meters to be connected to the PLC metering modem or LTE metering modem.

[0013] The technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is, firstly, that the conventional RS-485 communication is a long communication distance by wired method, but in order to read the power meter and the power meter installed in each house, each metering modem must be installed or a wired connection must be made between the power meters, but there is a limit to the wired connection, so in the present invention, a separate PLC metering modem or LTE metering modem is not required through WSA, and metering of a single-family house is possible by installing an inexpensive WSA, so that the installation cost is low and economical, and a large number of power meters can be connected while using the PLC metering modem or LTE metering modem used, and thus it is to be solved efficiently. The technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is, secondly, in the case of PLC metering, the metering coverage is short, so in places exceeding 100m to 200m, a separate data collection unit (DCU) must be installed or the LTE communication method must be changed, and since the metering modems installed in different years are not compatible, the change to the LTE communication method must be made, which incurs line costs. However, the WSA method of the present invention is easily connected to a power meter connected to a PLC metering modem or an LTE metering modem, and reads using a wireless communication technology including RS-485 communication, so there is no problem with compatibility between metering modems, and since there is no communication line cost, it is possible to provide an AMI remote metering system using WSA that is economical and efficient. The technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is, thirdly, the WSA method of the present invention is a multiple access method, so that more than 100 slave wireless dongles can be connected to one master wireless dongle, so the problem of insufficient connection of slave wireless dongles can be easily solved.The technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is, fourthly, that conventional PLC metering modems or LTE metering modems are expensive due to the implementation of high-spec H / W and many functions and complex S / W due to high-spec required functions, and especially, LTE metering modems incur additional line usage fees paid per metering modem, which significantly increases the system operating cost. However, the WSA method of the present invention does not require such high-spec metering modems and does not require line usage fees, so it drastically reduces maintenance costs and enables an AMI remote metering system using WSA that is efficient, inexpensive, and economical.

[0014] The advantages and objects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned objects, and other advantages and objects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description.

[0015]

[0016] The solution to this problem of the present invention is achieved by an AMI remote metering system using a WSA according to the present invention, which includes a metering server using a power line (PLC) communication metering modem, a data concentrator ('DCU') communicating optically with the metering server, a PLC metering modem communicating with the DCU via a power line, a primary power meter communicating with the PLC metering modem via 485, a master wireless dongle communicating with the primary power meter via 485, and a slave wireless dongle communicating wirelessly with the master wireless dongle and wirelessly transmitting the usage amount of the secondary power meter.

[0017] The solution to this problem of the present invention is achieved by an AMI remote metering system using a WSA according to the present invention, which includes a metering server, an LTE communication network, an LTE metering modem that communicates with the metering server through the LTE communication network, a primary power meter that communicates with the LTE metering modem modem via 485, a master wireless dongle that communicates the amount of power collected by the primary power meter, a slave wireless dongle that wirelessly communicates the amount of power to the master wireless dongle, and a secondary power meter that wirelessly communicates the amount of power to the slave wireless dongle via 485.

[0018]

[0019] First, the AMI remote metering system using WSA according to the present invention can expand the connection between single-family homes, which was limited to apartment buildings due to the limitation of the RS-485 wired connection method in the conventional metering system. Second, the AMI remote metering system using WSA according to the present invention can reduce the number of high-spec, high-function metering modems and metering modems that pay line usage fees, thereby constructing a more economical AMI remote metering system. Third, the AMI remote metering system using WSA according to the present invention can overcome the distance limitation of PLC metering modems by expanding the transmission distance (up to 500 m) by applying a wireless communication terminal, thereby constructing an efficient and economical AMI remote metering system. Fourth, in the case of an LTE metering modem, the AMI remote metering system using WSA according to the present invention can increase the number of connections from an average of 2 to 32 to 100 or more when connecting power meters with wireless communication terminals, so that it can be expected to have an economic effect of reducing the line usage fee to less than 1 / 16 of the current one. As described above, the AMI remote metering system using WSA according to the present invention has many relative advantages over the conventional RS-485 wired communication method in terms of various items such as transmission distance, multiple access, etc., according to the WSA method of the present invention, and thus, it is possible to implement a more economical and efficient AMI remote metering system, and this makes it possible to preempt the domestic and overseas AMI remote metering market and create new businesses through various value-added services.

[0020]

[0021] Figures 1 and 2 are conceptual diagrams using a PLC metering modem and a LTE metering modem of an AMI remote metering system using a WSA according to the present invention.

[0022] Figure 3 is a block diagram of a wireless dongle (communication terminal) for RS-485 wired connection connected to a power meter of an AMI remote metering system using a WSA according to the present invention.

[0023] Figures 4 and 5 are a conventional wired PLC communication metering configuration diagram and a wireless LTE communication metering configuration diagram.

[0024]

[0025] The AMI remote metering system (A) using the WSA according to the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 1, uses a power line (PLC) communication metering modem, and includes a metering server (1), a data concentrator (hereinafter referred to as 'DCU', 2) that optically communicates with the metering server (1), a PLC metering modem (3) that communicates with the DCU (2) via a power line, a primary power meter (4) that communicates with the PLC metering modem (3) via 485, a master wireless dongle (5) that communicates with the primary power meter (4) via 485, and a plurality of slave wireless dongles (6) that wirelessly communicate with the master wireless dongle (5) and wirelessly transmit the usage amount of secondary power meters (7).

[0026] The above WSA (Wireless Serial Adaptor) refers to a wireless serial adapter that performs wireless communication technology in a broad sense, including the master wireless dongle (5) and a plurality of slave wireless dongles (6) that wirelessly transmit with the master wireless dongle (5).

[0027] The above metering server (1) may be said to correspond to a handy terminal, a short-range wireless metering device for vehicle response, or the central metering center of the headquarters.

[0028] The above DCU (2) communicates with the PLC metering modem (3) via a power line, collects and stores customer electricity usage information received from the primary power meter (4), receives commands from a system administrator through a communication port (not shown), and provides settings and monitoring functions to the power meter. It also transmits collected power meter information through optical communication with the metering server (1) and provides settings and management functions.

[0029] The above PLC metering modem (3) has a function of transmitting or receiving data to the DCU (2), and also performs power line communication with the primary power meter (4) for high-speed communication as technology of the intelligent power metering system develops.

[0030] The above primary power meter (4) performs the function of transmitting the total meter reading of the secondary power meter (7) of each slave wireless dongle received from the master wireless dongle (5) to the PLC meter reading modem (3) via the 485 communication.

[0031] The above master wireless dongle (5) performs the function of receiving information from the slave wireless dongle (6) that has received the usage amount of the above secondary power meter (7) via 485 communication and transmitting it to the above primary power meter (4).

[0032] The above master wireless dongle (5), as illustrated in FIG. 3, includes an RS-485 connection unit (51) for connection with a PLC metering modem (3) or a primary power meter (4), an RS-485 / UART conversion unit (52) for receiving an RS-485 signal transmitted from the RS-485 connection unit (51) and changing it into a UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter) signal or changing a UART signal into an RS-485 signal, a wireless communication module (53) for changing a signal into a packet signal according to the characteristics of a wireless channel and transmitting it, a power supply unit (54) for supplying power to these components, and an antenna (55) for transmitting and receiving signals.

[0033] The above master wireless dongle (5) is connected to the PLC metering modem (3) through the primary power meter (4).

[0034] The above-mentioned plurality of slave wireless dongles (6) perform the function of receiving the usage of the secondary power meter (7) of each house via 485 communication and wirelessly communicating it to the master wireless dongle (5).

[0035] The slave wireless dongle (6), as shown in FIG. 3, includes an RS-485 connection (61) for connection with a secondary power meter (7), an RS-485 / UART conversion unit (62) for receiving an RS-485 signal transmitted from the RS-485 connection (61) and converting it into a UART signal or converting a UART signal into an RS-485 signal, a wireless communication module (63) for converting a signal into a packet signal according to wireless channel characteristics and transmitting it, a power supply unit (64) for supplying power to these components, and an antenna (65) for transmitting and receiving signals.

[0036] The above slave wireless dongle (6) is connected to a secondary power meter (7).

[0037] The above secondary power meter (7) is installed in each household of an apartment, each household of a multi-family house, each household of a two-household house, each household of a two-household house, and each single-family house to display the amount of power used by each household.

[0038] The AMI remote metering system (A) using the WSA according to the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 2, uses an LTE communication metering modem, and includes a metering server (1), an LTE communication network (C), an LTE metering modem (8) that communicates with the metering server through the LTE communication network, a primary power meter (4) that communicates with the LTE metering modem (8) via 485, a master wireless dongle (5) that communicates the amount of power collected by the primary power meter, a slave wireless dongle (6) that wirelessly communicates the amount of power to the master wireless dongle, and a secondary power meter (7) that communicates the amount of power to the slave wireless dongle via 485.

[0039] The above metering server (1) may be said to correspond to a handy terminal, a short-range wireless metering device for vehicle response, or the central metering center of the headquarters.

[0040] The above LTE communication network (C) can refer to the metering-only lines of telecommunication companies such as SKT / LGU / KT, but can also generally be said to refer to base stations.

[0041] The above LTE metering modem (8) performs the function of transmitting and communicating data received through the primary power meter (4) to the metering server (1).

[0042] The primary power meter (4) to the secondary power meter (7) including the above master wireless dongle (5) and slave wireless dongle (6) have the same configuration as that used in the embodiment of the power line (PLC) communication metering modem, so a detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0043] The operation of the AMI remote metering system (A) using the WSA according to the present invention having such a configuration is described in detail below.

[0044] As a common feature, the master dongle (5) connected to the above-mentioned metering modem (3,8) periodically transmits a synchronization signal and network-related information to a surrounding slave dongle (6), and the slave dongle (6) that receives this waits for reception while maintaining synchronization with the master dongle (5).

[0045] The slave dongle (6) that cannot directly receive information from the above master dongle (5) waits to receive and maintains synchronization with the signal relayed through the neighboring slave dongle (6).

[0046] The above master dongle (5) converts the RS-485 signal received from the metering modem (3,8) into a UART signal, receives it, codes it to suit the characteristics of wireless communication, packetizes it with necessary information, and wirelessly transmits it to the slave dongle (6). The slave dongle (6), which receives the transmitted packet signal, decodes the packet signal, and then transmits it to the power meter (7) through the UART to RS-485 conversion unit (62).

[0047] The signal transmitted to the power meter (7) in this way is interpreted by the power meter (7) as DLMS information, and when necessary, the power meter (7) transmits response information as an RS-485 signal.

[0048] The slave dongle (6) connected to the power meter (7) encodes and packetizes the response information received through the RS-485 to UART converter (62) to match the wireless communication channel characteristics and transmits it to the master dongle (5).

[0049] The slave dongle (6) that cannot transmit directly to the master dongle (5) transmits to the master dongle (5) via the neighboring slave dongle (6).

[0050] The above master dongle (5) operates by decoding a packet received from a slave dongle (6) and then transmitting this signal to the metering modem (1) through a UART to RS-485 converter (52).

[0051] First, let's explain the remote metering system (A) using the PLC metering modem (3). As shown in Fig. 1, we will examine metering in three single-family homes (H) located more than 100 m apart from each other. In the single-family homes (H1, H2, H3), expensive PLC metering modems (3) are not installed, but rather inexpensive slave wireless dongles (6). Therefore, they can be installed economically and inexpensively, and since they are not installed with wires, they can be installed simply.

[0052] First, in order to measure the amount of electricity used for one month, the amount of electricity used in the secondary power meter (7) installed in each single-family home (H1, H2, H3) is transmitted to the master wireless dongle (5) via wireless communication through the slave wireless dongle (6), and the amount of electricity used in each secondary power meter (7) is received by the master wireless dongle (5) and transmitted to the primary power meter (4) via 485 communication, and the primary power meter (4) receives the data and transmits it to the PLC metering modem (3) via 485 communication, and the PLC metering modem (3) transmits it to the DCU (2) via PLC communication, and the DCU (2) transmits the concentrated electricity metering data to the metering server (1) via optical communication, so that remote metering is performed.

[0053] In addition, when explaining the remote metering system (A) via LTE communication, we will look at metering in three single-family houses (H) located more than 100 m apart from each other. First, in order to meter the amount of electricity used for one month, the amount of electricity used in the secondary power meters (7) installed in each single-family house (H1, H2, H3) is transmitted wirelessly via the slave wireless dongle (6) to the master wireless dongle (5) through the slave wireless dongle (6). The master wireless dongle (5) receives this and transmits it to the primary power meter (4) via 485 communication. The primary power meter (4) receives this and transmits it to the LTE metering modem (8) via 485 communication. The LTE metering modem (8) transmits the concentrated electricity metering data to the metering server (1) via optical communication via the LTE communication network (C), thereby performing remote metering.

[0054] In this process, the slave wireless dongle (6) receives the amount of power used in the secondary power meter (7) through RS-485 communication through the RS-485 connection (61) of the slave wireless dongle (6), converts the received signal into a UART signal through the RS-485 / UART conversion unit (62), changes the converted UART signal into a packet signal according to the wireless channel characteristics through the wireless communication module (63), and wirelessly transmits the packet signal to the master wireless dongle (5) through the antenna (65), and the master wireless dongle (5) receives this and transmits it to the metering server (1).

[0055] Accordingly, in the embodiment of the present invention, since one PLC metering modem (3) and one LTE metering modem (8) can be wirelessly connected from one to a maximum of 32 power meters in the 485 manner, the connection between neighboring single-family home power meters can be made very easily by using a master wireless dongle (5) and a slave wireless dongle (6), and up to 32 power meters can be connected to each metering modem, thereby maximizing the operational efficiency and economy of the AMI system. In addition, since it is possible to connect and use one metering modem using an inexpensive master wireless dongle (5) and a slave wireless dongle (6), the cost is saved, enabling economical and efficient use.

[0056] In addition, in remote metering through LTE communication, since there is no need to use an LTE communication line, there is no need to pay costs for communication lines to each communication company, and it is possible to transmit and receive power through wireless communication using a master wireless dongle (5) and a slave wireless dongle (6) without paying a separate cost, thereby saving costs and enabling economical and efficient use.

[0057] As described above, the AMI remote metering system (A) using the WSA according to the present invention can connect the number of power meters connected to the PLC communication metering modem and the LTE communication metering modem of the conventional AMI system from 1 by default up to a total of 32 through the RS-485 connection method, but since it is connected by wire, there is a limitation that the power meters must be gathered in one place, and due to this limitation of the wired connection, the number of power meters connected to one metering modem is only about 2 on average nationwide, but by applying the RS-485 wireless dongle that can wirelessly convert the RS-485 wired connection method according to the present invention, it is possible to easily connect power meters through the wireless dongles that are scattered, thereby increasing the number of power meters connected per metering modem from an average of 2 to 32 or more, and also by enabling the connection of the power meters of each consumer scattered in multiple places, it is possible to maximize the efficiency of the AMI system and drastically reduce system operating costs such as material costs and line costs.

[0058]

[0059] The AMI remote metering system (A) using the WSA according to the present invention can be said to be an invention with industrial applicability, as it is possible for manufacturers of general power-intensive remote metering equipment to repeatedly manufacture the same product.

Claims

1. In the AMI remote metering system (A) using WSA, The AMI remote metering system (A) using the above WSA is one that uses a power line (PLC) communication metering modem. Metering server (1), DCU (2) that optically communicates with the above metering server (1), PLC metering modem (3) communicating with the above DCU (2) and power line, The primary power meter (4) that communicates with the above PLC metering modem (3) via 485, The master wireless dongle (5) that communicates with the above primary power meter (4) via 485, An AMI remote metering system using WSA, characterized in that it includes a plurality of slave wireless dongles (6) that wirelessly communicate with the master wireless dongle (5) and wirelessly transmit the usage amount of a secondary power meter (7) to the master wireless dongle (5).

2. In the AMI remote metering system (A) using WSA, The AMI remote metering system (A) using the above WSA uses an LTE communication metering modem. Metering server (1), LTE communication network (C), An LTE metering modem (8) that communicates with the metering server through the LTE communication network; The above LTE metering modem (8) and the primary power meter (4) communicating with 485, A master wireless dongle (5) that communicates the amount of power collected by the above primary power meter, A plurality of slave wireless dongles (6) that wirelessly communicate power to the master wireless dongle, An AMI remote metering system using WSA, characterized in that it includes a plurality of secondary power meters (7) that each communicate power quantity to a plurality of slave wireless dongles via 485.

3. In paragraph 1 or 2, The above master wireless dongle (5) includes an RS-485 connection unit (51) for connection with a PLC metering modem (3) or a primary power meter (4), an RS-485 / UART conversion unit (52) for receiving an RS-485 signal transmitted from the RS-485 connection unit (51) and changing it into a UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter) signal or changing a UART signal into an RS-485 signal, a wireless communication module (53) for changing a signal into a packet signal according to the characteristics of a wireless channel and transmitting it, a power supply unit (54) for supplying power to these components, and an antenna (55) for transmitting and receiving signals. The slave wireless dongle (6) is characterized by including an RS-485 connection part (61) for connection with a secondary power meter (7), an RS-485 / UART conversion part (62) for receiving an RS-485 signal transmitted from the RS-485 connection part (61) and changing it into a UART signal or changing a UART signal into an RS-485 signal, a wireless communication module (63) for changing a signal into a packet signal according to the characteristics of a wireless channel and transmitting it, a power supply part (64) for supplying power to these components, and an antenna (65) for transmitting and receiving signals.

4. In paragraph 1 or 2, An AMI remote metering system using WSA, characterized in that a slave dongle (6) that cannot transmit directly to the master dongle (5) transmits to the master dongle (5) via a neighboring slave dongle (6).

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