Fluid Consumption Data Frames for Low-Bandwidth Meter Transmission
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for communicating fluid consumption data from measuring modules in fluid circulation networks face challenges due to limited data transport capacity, high energy and economic costs, and potential packet loss, leading to incomplete information transfer and increased energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A method that encodes periodic fluid consumption data relative to an initial value, concatenates and transmits it in a data frame with redundancy, allowing for reliable processing and recovery of lost data, even in cases of connection breaks or media unavailability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If consumption readings are transferred periodically through telecommunications means, then remote processing of consumption data is enabled, but data transport capacity is insufficient and energy costs accumulate
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple consumption readings from different time periods are merged into a single data frame containing both current period readings and historical readings from previous periods. This consolidation reduces the number of separate transmissions required, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining complete consumption information.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement module pre-calculates and stores consumption readings in a structured format with timestamps before transmission. By preparing the data in advance with all necessary information organized, the system minimizes the need for retransmissions and acknowledgments, reducing energy consumption while ensuring information completeness.
2Loss of information
If metering instrument returns consumption reading until acknowledgement of receipt is received, then information completeness at processing location is satisfied, but message traffic increases significantly with collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates redundant consumption readings from multiple time periods into each data frame transmission. This prior cushioning ensures that if a transmission is lost or collides, the information is already cushioned against loss through the redundant historical data included in the same frame, eliminating the need for retransmission acknowledgments.
Solution Approach 2:
Historical consumption readings are copied into the current data frame transmission. Instead of transmitting only new readings and requiring acknowledgments, the system creates copies of past readings within the same transmission frame, ensuring information completeness without increasing message traffic for acknowledgments.
3Reliability
If telecommunications means are temporarily out of service for maintenance, then equipment reliability is improved, but information loss occurs during the maintenance period
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement module continuously accumulates and stores consumption readings locally during periods when telecommunications may be unavailable. By preparing this data in advance, the system ensures that when connectivity is restored, all consumption information including that from maintenance periods is already ready for transmission, preventing any information loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system buffers consumption readings in local memory during telecommunications outages. This beforehand cushioning of data in storage ensures that even when the telecommunications system is temporarily out of service for maintenance, no consumption information is lost and can be transmitted immediately upon restoration.
4Productivity
If data frame size is reduced to respect media payload constraints, then transmission efficiency is improved, but resolution of consumption description may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple consumption readings are merged into a single compact data frame structure. By combining several readings with their timestamps into one transmission unit, the system achieves efficient use of media payload while maintaining the resolution of each individual consumption measurement through proper data encoding.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for communicating fluid consumption measured by a measuring module (1) during a plurality (m) of time periods (j), the method comprising the following steps: (E0, E1) Recording all periodic fluid consumptions (Vj) measured; (E3) Encoding the smallest periodic fluid consumption (Vmin) into an initial value (doffset); (E4, E51) Encoding, using the same number of bits, at least one of said periodic fluid consumptions into a coded value (dj) substantially equal to the difference between this periodic fluid consumption and the initial value; (E6) Concatenation of the initial value and all the coded values, sorted chronologically, into a data frame (Fm); (E7) Transmission of said data frame to a terminal remote from the measuring module at the end of the plurality of periods.