Remote Meter Reading System With Multiple Master Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional remote meter reading systems face challenges in maintaining communication efficiency due to external changes, leading to reduced success rates and network performance, especially when communication between electricity meters and master devices deteriorates, requiring repetitive reattempts that can overwhelm the network.
Innovation Solution
A remote meter reading system utilizing multiple master devices that construct an optimal network path through information sharing and communication performance measurement, allowing electricity meter modems to communicate with multiple master devices, enabling data transmission and network path reconstruction based on communication state analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If one master device communicates directly with multiple electricity meters, then device complexity is reduced, but communication reliability deteriorates when external conditions change
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple master devices are merged into a coordinated system where they share communication responsibilities. Each master device communicates with electricity meters, and they exchange information about communication status and meter data through multi-hop communication, creating a redundant system that maintains reliability without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Master devices are given multi-functional capabilities: they can communicate directly with electricity meters, relay communications for other master devices through multi-hop communication, and dynamically adjust their roles based on communication conditions. This allows the system to adapt to external changes while maintaining reliable data collection
2Reliability
If repetitive communication reattempts are made upon communication failure, then communication reliability is improved, but network performance deteriorates due to increased traffic
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where master devices monitor communication status and exchange information about successful/failed communications with other master devices. This feedback allows the network to dynamically adjust communication paths and avoid repetitive reattempts on failed connections, maintaining reliability while preventing network overload
Solution Approach 2:
The master device roles and communication paths are made dynamic rather than static. When communication conditions change, the system dynamically selects alternative master devices for communication, avoiding repetitive failures and reducing unnecessary network traffic while maintaining communication success rates
3Reliability
If multi-hop communication is used to compensate for bad communication state, then communication reliability is improved, but communication speed deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects communication paths based on real-time conditions. When direct communication is available, it uses direct paths for fast data transmission. When direct communication fails, it dynamically switches to multi-hop paths through other master devices, maintaining reliability while minimizing speed degradation by only using indirect paths when necessary
Data Source
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AI summary
This specification relates to a remote meter reading system using a plurality of master devices and a remote meter reading method thereof, and more particularly, a remote meter reading system using a plurality of master devices, capable of allowing for communication with another electricity meter modem which can replace one electricity meter modem when there is a trouble in communication between the one electricity meter modem and the master devices, allowing for fast and flexible reaction with respect to changes in communication network between the electricity meter modem and the master devices, and constructing a network path for communication with an optimal communication performance, all by way of enabling network connection and information sharing among master devices through communication between electricity meter modems and the plurality of master devices, and a remote meter reading method thereof.