Smart Meter Data Format Hashing for Low-Bandwidth Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data transmission methods between smart meters and data collection servers, particularly in noisy communication networks, suffer from excessive bandwidth consumption due to extensive metadata, which often exceeds the volume of metrological data and changes infrequently.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where smart meters detect configuration changes, determine a hash digest of the metadata, and transmit this digest along with the metrological data, allowing the data collection server to identify the data format using a lookup table, thereby reducing the need for full metadata transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If extensive metadata is transmitted to describe the format of metrological data, then the data collection server can correctly interpret the received data, but the bandwidth consumption on the communication network increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the essential configuration information needed to identify the data format from the extensive metadata. Instead of transmitting the complete metadata describing the entire data format, the system transmits only a condensed representation (such as a format identifier or hash) that allows the receiving server to retrieve or determine the full format description, thereby eliminating unnecessary data transmission while preserving interpretation accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The invention inverts the traditional approach by having the server store comprehensive metadata locally and transmit only minimal identification data from the meter to the server. Instead of the meter transmitting full format descriptions, the server uses the received identification to look up the corresponding format information from its stored metadata, reversing the direction of information flow and reducing transmission requirements
2Reliability
If full metadata is transmitted with every data packet, then the data format can be accurately described, but the transmission time increases due to the large volume of metadata
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the critical identification elements from the complete metadata structure. By transmitting only a compact format identifier rather than the full metadata description, the system maintains the ability to accurately describe data formats while dramatically reducing the time required for transmission, as the identifier is a small fraction of the original metadata size
Solution Approach 2:
The invention performs preliminary action by having the data collection server pre-load and store comprehensive metadata information in its memory before receiving actual metrological data. This allows the server to quickly match received data against stored format descriptions without requiring real-time transmission of complete format specifications, thereby reducing transmission time while maintaining format description accuracy
3Adaptability or versatility
If extensive metadata is transmitted to accommodate configuration changes in measuring devices, then adaptability is improved, but the bandwidth consumption increases even though configuration changes occur rarely
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the essential configuration change indicators from the extensive metadata. By transmitting only a condensed representation that captures configuration state changes (such as a format version number or configuration hash), the system maintains adaptability to accommodate rare configuration changes while avoiding the continuous transmission of full metadata that would consume excessive bandwidth during normal operation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements periodic action by having the measuring device transmit full metadata only when configuration changes are detected, rather than transmitting extensive metadata with every data packet. During periods of stable configuration, only minimal identification data is transmitted, reducing bandwidth consumption while maintaining the ability to adapt when configuration changes occur
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for transmitting metrological data from a measuring device to a data collection server, executed in the measuring device configured to convert a physical quantity into metrological data. The method comprises: detecting (S1) a change in the configuration of the measuring device, related to the metrological data to be transmitted; determining (S2) a sequence of information representative of a transmission format for said metrological data; determining (S3) a digest of the information representative of the transmission format; and transmitting (S4) the digest and then the metrological data to be transmitted to the data collection device. The invention also relates to a complementary method executed in the data collection server.