Utility Meter Clock Accuracy Measurement via Remote Collector
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing utility meter systems face challenges in accurately measuring and correcting the time kept by low-power clocks, leading to potential inaccuracies in meter readings and excessive network resource consumption due to redundant data forwarding from multiple collectors.
Innovation Solution
A packet format and associated metering infrastructure that synchronizes and measures the accuracy of utility meter clocks, allowing collectors to filter and correct time inaccuracies, and prioritize data forwarding from reliable collectors to minimize network resource usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a low-power clock is used in utility meters to extend battery life, then energy consumption is reduced, but time accuracy deteriorates due to clock drift
Solution Approach 1:
A collector device acts as an intermediary between the utility meter and the central system. The collector receives packets from the meter, extracts time stamps, compares them against a reference time source, calculates drift, and transmits correction data back to the meter. This allows the low-power clock to maintain acceptable accuracy without requiring frequent high-power synchronization operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary time synchronization and drift measurement at the collector level before data reaches the central system. By pre-processing time accuracy checks locally, the system reduces the need for frequent high-power clock updates at the meter, thereby extending battery life while maintaining time accuracy.
2Reliability
If multiple collectors maintain overlapping coverage areas for fault tolerance, then system reliability is improved, but network resource consumption increases due to redundant data forwarding
Solution Approach 1:
The central system provides feedback to collectors about which meters are currently being served by which collectors. When a meter moves into or out of a collector's coverage area, the system updates the assignment to minimize redundant data forwarding. This maintains fault tolerance through overlapping coverage while reducing network resource consumption by eliminating unnecessary duplicate transmissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts collector assignments based on real-time meter locations and collector availability. Meters are assigned to the most appropriate collector at any given time, allowing the system to optimize network resource usage while maintaining the redundancy needed for fault tolerance. This dynamic reassignment prevents static, inefficient routing patterns.
Data Source
AI summary
Packet formats and associated metering infrastructure for filtering meter reading data that is being transmitted by utility meters are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method is provided of measuring the accuracy of an endpoint clock, such as a utility meter clock, from a remote device configured to capture transmissions that originate from the utility meter. Generally, the method includes synchronizing the time maintained by the utility meter with the time maintained by the remote device. The method receives and decodes a packet that includes a time stamp provided by the utility meter. Then, the method calculates the extent of the inaccuracy of the time stamp in the received packet and determines whether the extent of the inaccuracy satisfies a predetermined threshold.