Smart Meter Firmware Download via Subnetwork Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for downloading software to large networks of smart meters, such as gas meters, often fail to ensure all meters receive the firmware update correctly, requiring a sweep method to restart the process and resulting in numerous meters not receiving the update.
Innovation Solution
A method involving mapping meter and data concentrator positions, defining subnetworks with unique downloading dates, and using unicast and broadcast transmissions to ensure each meter within communication range receives the software update from its associated data concentrators at scheduled times, eliminating the need for a sweep method.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If firmware is downloaded to all meters via their associated data concentrators over a period of a week using unicast transmission, then each meter receives a unique downloading date, but numerous meters fail to receive the download correctly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the network into multiple subnetworks based on geographical positions of meters and data concentrators. Each subnetwork is assigned a specific downloading date, allowing parallel downloads across different subnetworks. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling faster overall download (reducing time loss) while maintaining high reliability through targeted broadcast transmissions within each subnetwork.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic downloading dates assigned to different subnetworks, where each subnetwork receives firmware on its designated date. This periodic approach allows the system to complete downloads across all subnetworks much faster than sequential unicast downloads, reducing total time loss while ensuring high reliability through repeated broadcast attempts to meters within each subnetwork.
2Reliability
If a sweep method is performed to restart the download process for meters that have not received the download, then an attempt is made to recover failed downloads, but there remain numerous meters that have not received the download correctly
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the network into subnetworks with geographically proximate data concentrators, the patent simplifies the download process within each subnetwork. Broadcast transmission to all meters in a subnetwork on a designated date is more reliable and simpler than individual unicast attempts, eliminating the need for complex sweep methods while achieving high completion rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses data concentrators as intermediaries that perform broadcast transmissions to multiple meters simultaneously within their communication range. This intermediary approach replaces complex individual unicast operations with simpler broadcast operations, reducing process complexity while improving reliability through simultaneous delivery to multiple receivers.
3Measurement precision
If the network uses unicast transmission to assign unique downloading dates to each meter, then each meter has a scheduled download time, but the total download duration is extended over a week
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple unicast scheduling operations into a single broadcast transmission per subnetwork. Instead of individually scheduling each meter over a week, the system assigns one downloading date per subnetwork and uses broadcast to deliver firmware to all meters in that subnetwork simultaneously. This merging maintains precise scheduling (one date per subnetwork) while dramatically reducing total duration from a week to a few days.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic downloading dates for different subnetworks, where each subnetwork is assigned a specific date for firmware distribution. This periodic structure maintains precise scheduling control while enabling parallel execution across subnetworks, reducing the total download duration from sequential weekly scheduling to concurrent multi-date scheduling.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for downloading software to a plurality of meters (M1, M2, . . . , MN) via a plurality of data concentrators (DC A, DC B, . . . ) includes the steps of: mapping the positions of the meters and of the data concentrators; defining a plurality of subnetworks, each comprising data concentrators; associating each subnetwork with a downloading date comprising, the downloading date of each subnetwork being different from the downloading dates of the other subnetworks; transmitting to the data concentrators of each subnetwork the downloading date associated with said subnetwork so that, when the downloading date associated with said subnetwork is reached, all of the data concentrators of said subnetwork download the software to all of the meters that are positioned within communication range of the data concentrators of said subnetwork.