Utility Meter Temperature-Based Data Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing utility meter systems do not effectively account for ambient temperature when calculating and storing energy usage data, which can lead to inaccurate billing and inefficient energy management.
Innovation Solution
A utility meter system equipped with sensors to detect ambient temperature and a data collection system that stores energy usage data based on both time-of-use (TOU) rates and ambient temperature, allowing for more precise energy rate adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If utility usage data is stored without considering ambient temperature, then the storage system is simple, but the billing accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments utility usage data into temperature-based categories (e.g., cold, moderate, hot temperature periods) and stores them separately in different data buckets. This segmentation allows accurate temperature-based billing while maintaining manageable data organization structures that balance precision with system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a temperature dimension to the traditional time-based data storage structure. By organizing data in multi-dimensional buckets that consider both time-of-use and ambient temperature, the system achieves higher billing accuracy without exponentially increasing complexity, as the temperature dimension is integrated into the existing hierarchical storage framework.
2Measurement precision
If ambient temperature sensing is added to utility meters, then energy usage tracking accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The utility meter is designed with multi-functionality, integrating both traditional energy consumption measurement and ambient temperature sensing capabilities into a single device. This universal approach allows the meter to perform multiple functions (energy tracking and environmental monitoring) without requiring separate standalone systems, thereby improving accuracy while controlling overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The meter system performs self-service by automatically sensing ambient temperature and integrating this data with energy consumption measurements. The system autonomously categorizes and stores data according to temperature conditions without requiring external intervention, improving tracking accuracy while minimizing the complexity of additional control systems needed.
3Measurement precision
If energy usage data is categorized by temperature, then billing accuracy improves, but data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-defining temperature ranges and categories before data collection begins. Data buckets are pre-configured with specific temperature thresholds and associations, allowing incoming energy usage data to be automatically categorized without complex real-time processing. This advance preparation maintains high billing accuracy while simplifying the actual data processing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by transforming continuous ambient temperature readings into discrete categorical parameters (e.g., temperature zones or ranges). This discretization simplifies data processing by converting continuous variable comparison into discrete category matching, thereby improving billing accuracy through precise temperature-based categorization while reducing the computational complexity of data handling.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system includes a utility meter 30. The utility meter 30 includes a sensor 60, 61 configured to detect a utility usage, a processor 46 configured to determine an ambient temperature of the utility meter 30, and a memory 48 configured to store a data collection system 70. The data collection system 70 is configured to be utilized by the processor 46 to store the utility usage at least partially according to the ambient temperature of the utility meter 30.