Battery-Powered Measuring Device Installation with LPWAN Preloading
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of installing battery-powered measuring devices at distributed locations is the lengthy process of searching for a suitable Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) connection, which consumes significant time and battery power, especially when using a public cellular communications network that is not controlled by the utility provider.
Innovation Solution
An automatic reading system (ARS) utilizing a mobile installation device to transmit LPWAN connection candidate information via short-range wireless communication to the measuring device, enabling a first-time handshake connection based on received information, thereby reducing installation time and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the measuring device autonomously searches for a suitable LPWAN network using multiple frequency bands, then the reliability of connection is improved, but the installation time increases significantly (15 minutes or longer)
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile installation device performs preliminary actions by searching for available LPWAN networks and obtaining connection candidate information (frequency bands, network identifiers) before the measuring device is installed. This pre-acquired information is then transferred to the measuring device via short-range wireless communication, allowing the measuring device to connect immediately without performing its own time-consuming search.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the measuring device conducts an extended search across multiple frequency bands to find a suitable LPWAN connection, then the adaptability to different networks is improved, but the battery power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile installation device performs the energy-intensive frequency band search and network adaptation tasks before installation, acquiring connection candidate information that includes multiple frequency bands and network parameters. This pre-acquired information is transferred to the measuring device, which then connects using the provided parameters without needing to perform its own extensive search, thereby conserving battery power.
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic reading system (ARS—1) determines values at a plurality of distributed installation locations and communicates data containing said values via a low power wide area Network (LPWAN) to a head-end-system (HES—3). The ARS includes the HES and battery-powered stationary measuring devices (7), configured to be installed at an installation location and to determine said values at the installation location. The measuring devices include an LPWAN connection module to establish a wireless values communication connection via the LPWAN to the HES. A mobile installation device (13) includes a short-range connection module establishing a communication connection (15) and sending candidate information to measuring devices about to be installed at the installation location. The LPWAN connection module attempts to establish for the first time at the one of the installation locations a handshaked LPWAN connection to the LPWAN based on the received LPWAN connection candidate information.