Power Meter Sensor Time Synchronization via Drift Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for remote information exchange between consumption meter sensors and communication gateways face issues with bandwidth usage and time synchronization, particularly during time changes, leading to potential malfunctions and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
The method eliminates the need for prior time reference transmission by using internal sensor clocks to provide time information, which is then interpreted and corrected at the gateway or remote server, and applies conversion formulas based on observed time drift to ensure precise timestamping and efficient bandwidth use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If time reference transmission is performed before each information exchange, then timestamp precision is improved, but bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs time reference transmission only when necessary (at startup or when drift exceeds threshold) rather than before every information exchange. This preliminary synchronization approach maintains timestamp precision while significantly reducing bandwidth consumption compared to continuous time reference transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor device autonomously monitors its own time drift and determines when synchronization is needed, rather than requiring the gateway to continuously send time references. This self-service mechanism reduces unnecessary communications while maintaining precision.
2Reliability
If continuous time reference transmission is used, then timestamp accuracy is maintained, but bandwidth availability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Time reference transmission is performed preliminarily at startup and only when drift thresholds are exceeded, rather than continuously. This maintains timestamp accuracy while freeing up bandwidth for actual consumption data transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from drift monitoring to dynamically determine when time reference transmission is needed. This feedback mechanism ensures timestamp accuracy is maintained only when necessary, optimizing bandwidth utilization.
3Loss of energy
If internal sensor clocks are used without synchronization, then bandwidth is saved, but timestamp precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor device performs preliminary time synchronization with the gateway at startup and when drift exceeds thresholds. This establishes an accurate time reference that allows the sensor to use its internal clock for extended periods without synchronization, saving bandwidth while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameter from continuous synchronization to event-driven synchronization based on drift thresholds. This parameter change allows the internal clock to be used autonomously while maintaining precision through periodic correction when needed.
4Measurement precision
If frequent time synchronization is performed, then time drift is reduced, but communication overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
Time synchronization is performed preliminarily at startup and only when necessary based on drift monitoring, rather than frequently on a fixed schedule. This reduces communication overhead while maintaining time drift within acceptable limits.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback-based synchronization where the sensor monitors its own time drift and triggers synchronization only when thresholds are exceeded. This feedback mechanism eliminates unnecessary synchronization communications while maintaining time precision.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for exchanging information between at least one sensor, associated with a power meter, and a communication gateway that is capable of receiving data information, particularly power use information, from the sensors that are attached thereon, and that is also capable of sending out control information to said sensors, said communication gateway in particular comprising a reference time marking device that is capable of generating reference time information, each sensor comprising an internal clock that is capable of generating local time information, characterized in that the method comprises the various steps of: associating one piece of the data information generated by the at least one sensor to a local time information value generated by the internal clock of the at least one sensor in question; transmitting the data information associated with the local time information value to the gateway; and performing, after the transmission step, a time conversion operation for associating the local time information with a reference time information value.