Dynamic Transmission Interval for Utility Meter Location
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Solution Overview
Problem
Utility meter endpoints in automatic meter reading systems often have incorrect location records or are tampered with, leading to difficulties in accounting for their location and conserving battery life during data transmission.
Innovation Solution
A data collection unit (DCU) identifies endpoints of interest by comparing received meter data to a list of expected endpoints, increases the transmission frequency of these endpoints to estimate their location quickly, and then returns to the original transmission interval to conserve battery life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the endpoint transmits meter data at preset periodic intervals while in low-power mode, then battery life is conserved, but the ability to quickly locate endpoints of interest deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the transmission interval of endpoints based on their status. Endpoints of interest (missing, tampered, or relocated) transition from long periodic intervals to shorter intervals, allowing faster location while normal endpoints maintain energy-saving long intervals. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by making the transmission interval adaptive rather than static.
Solution Approach 2:
Different transmission intervals are applied to different endpoints based on their individual needs. Endpoints of interest receive enhanced attention with shorter transmission intervals for quick location, while normal endpoints maintain long intervals for battery conservation. This local differentiation allows the system to optimize both energy consumption and location speed simultaneously.
2Speed
If the DCU increases transmission frequency to estimate location quickly, then location estimation speed improves, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies increased transmission frequency only partially - specifically to endpoints of interest that require quick location. Normal endpoints continue to use standard periodic intervals. This partial application of excessive action (increased frequency) achieves fast location estimation only where necessary, avoiding unnecessary energy consumption across the entire network.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission interval parameter is changed dynamically based on endpoint status. When an endpoint is identified as needing location estimation, its transmission interval parameter is shortened to enable faster location. Once located, the parameter reverts to the original longer interval, thus achieving fast location estimation only when needed and conserving energy otherwise.
3Measurement precision
If the system monitors all endpoints continuously, then detection accuracy improves, but energy consumption and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system is segmented into two tiers: continuous monitoring of endpoint status (presence/absence/tamper) and periodic location estimation only for endpoints of interest. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high detection accuracy by continuously tracking all endpoints while avoiding the complexity and energy consumption of continuous location estimation for all endpoints.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection to identify endpoints of interest before initiating intensive location estimation. By first detecting which endpoints are missing, tampered, or relocated, the system can then apply detailed location estimation only to those specific cases, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high detection accuracy.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method allows for efficient location estimation of missing or tampered endpoints while minimizing power consumption, enabling accurate utility usage monitoring and reducing maintenance efforts.
Implementation Method 1
Some endpoints transmit meter data at preset periodic intervals without any external prompting. These endpoints communicate with data collection units through radio frequency communication.
Implementation Method 2
The data collection unit determines a location of the endpoint based on a signal strength indicator for the transmission from the endpoint.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and apparatus are disclosed to determine the location of endpoints of interest. An example method involves in response to detecting a transmission from the endpoint, determining whether the endpoint is an endpoint of interest. If the endpoint is the endpoint of interest, the example method involves sending a first command to the endpoint to increase a transmission rate of the endpoint, determining an estimated location of the endpoint using signal strengths of subsequent transmissions from the endpoint, and enabling the transmission rate of the endpoint to decrease.