Gas Meter Tamper Detection via Flow-Profile Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas meter systems fail to detect unauthorized tampering, such as removal or bypassing, as the gas flow-rate change profile remains unchanged, making it difficult to prevent tampering.
Innovation Solution
A gas meter device with a flow-rate measuring unit, appliance information input, registration storage, appliance determining unit, and tamper determining unit that detects a particular flow-rate change profile different from the normal profile, utilizing additional features like pressure measurement, seismoscope, and gas type determination to confirm unauthorized use, and includes a gas interruption valve, display, and notification systems to prevent tampering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional flow rate measuring devices are used to determine gas appliances, then the system can identify normal appliance usage patterns, but it cannot detect unauthorized tampering or bypass actions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the tamper detection function into separate dedicated units (vibration detection unit, pressure detection unit, flow rate change profile detection unit) rather than relying on a single complex system. Each unit independently monitors specific parameters and contributes to overall tamper detection, making the system more reliable while keeping individual components manageable in complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The gas meter device integrates multiple detection functions (vibration detection, pressure detection, flow rate measurement) into a single multi-functional device. The control unit processes data from all these different sensors to comprehensively determine both normal appliance usage and unauthorized tampering, achieving reliable detection without proportionally increasing overall device complexity
2Measurement precision
If the gas meter device monitors detailed flow-rate change profiles to detect tampering, then detection accuracy improves, but the complexity of data processing and analysis increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors flow rate changes and compares actual measurements against pre-registered baseline profiles for normal appliance operation. When deviations are detected, the system provides feedback through notifications to the gas supply company, enabling accurate tamper detection through systematic comparison and feedback mechanisms rather than complex real-time analysis
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary registration of normal flow rate change profiles for each gas appliance during legitimate installation and usage. These pre-established baseline profiles are stored in the system, allowing subsequent tamper detection to simply compare current measurements against known good patterns, significantly reducing the complexity of real-time data processing while maintaining high detection accuracy
3Reliability
If multiple detection methods (vibration, pressure, flow rate) are integrated, then tamper detection reliability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple detection methods (vibration detection unit, pressure detection unit, flow rate measurement) into a single integrated gas meter device. All these detection units feed their data to a common control unit that processes information from all sources to determine unauthorized actions, achieving improved reliability through multi-parameter monitoring while managing complexity through unified processing architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit automatically processes data from all detection units and autonomously determines whether unauthorized actions have occurred. The system self-manages the integration of multiple data streams and self-performs the analysis to generate tamper detection results, reducing the need for external complex processing systems while maintaining high detection reliability
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
Effectively detects and prevents unauthorized gas use by identifying abnormal flow-rate changes, pressure reductions, and vibrations, ensuring accurate tampering detection and prevention through real-time notifications and interruptions.
Implementation Method 1
a flow-rate measuring unit which is coupled to a gas supply pipe for homes and measures a gas flow rate
Implementation Method 2
a pressure measuring unit which measures a pressure of the gas within the gas supply pipe
Implementation Method 3
a seismoscope which detects vibrations of the gas meter device
Data Source
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AI summary
A gas meter device is provided which is configured in a manner that even if a user takes an unauthorized action such as the removal of a gas meter device in order to use gas without authorization, since the generation of a particular flow-rate change profile different from a normal flow-rate change profile of a gas appliance is detected, the sign of the tamper of the gas can be detected, whereby the tamper of the gas can be prevented. The gas meter device includes an appliance determining unit 6 for determining a gas appliance being used and a tamper determining unit 7 which determines that the gas is used without authorization in the case where the particular flow-rate change profile different from an appliance determining value registered in a registration storage unit 5 is generated.