Bidirectional Communication Protocol for Mobile Consumption Meter Reading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile reading systems for consumption meters face challenges in reducing energy consumption while maintaining operational reliability and flexibility, particularly due to continuous data transmission even when not in use or out of range.
Innovation Solution
A method for operating a mobile readout system that involves bidirectional communication between consumption meters and a readout receiver, where status information is sent unencrypted and further information is requested and encrypted as needed, reducing continuous data transmission and allowing for higher relative speeds during reading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous data transmission is performed by consumption meters, then operational reliability is maintained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The consumption meter performs data transmission periodically or event-driven rather than continuously. The meter transmits data packets only when triggered by specific events (e.g., consumption thresholds, status changes) or at scheduled intervals, allowing the radio transmitter to remain inactive during idle periods and thus reducing energy consumption while maintaining operational reliability.
2Productivity
If mobile reading receiver moves at high speed past consumption meters, then productivity increases, but reading reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The consumption meter prepares and buffers data packets in advance before the mobile reading receiver arrives. The meter continuously updates its data buffer with consumption information, so when the receiver passes by at high speed, the data is already ready for immediate transmission, eliminating the need for slow real-time data collection and ensuring reliable reading despite high relative speeds.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If all data is transmitted encrypted, then security is improved, but communication complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different parts of the transmitted data receive different levels of encryption. Critical data fields (e.g., consumption values, identification data) are encrypted with secure protocols, while non-critical fields (e.g., status flags, metadata) are transmitted in plain text. This selective encryption approach maintains data security for sensitive information while reducing overall communication complexity and processing requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for operating a mobile reading system with at least one stationary consumption meter and a mobile reading receiver for reading the consumption meter by moving the reading receiver past the consumption meter, wherein, characteristically, bidirectional communication takes place between the consumption meter and the reading receiver, the bidirectional communication comprising: sending status information stored in the consumption meter by the consumption meter; receiving the status information by the reading receiver; requesting further information from the reading receiver to the consumption meter by means of a request command; encrypted transmission of further information from the consumption meter to the reading receiver.Furthermore, the invention relates to a readout receiver, comprising a receiver for recording data from several spatially distributed consumption meters by means of radio transmission, wherein the readout receiver can be operated according to a method according to at least one of the preceding claims.