Virtual Fluid Meter Emulation for Powerline Data Relay
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automated metering systems for water and gas distribution networks lack an efficient method to collect consumption data, as they do not utilize the existing powerline communication infrastructure available in electricity distribution networks, leading to suboptimal communication infrastructure duplication.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that enables fluid meters to transmit data via a wireless communication standard to a centralized-meter system, which then communicates with a data concentrator using powerline communication networks, allowing for the emulation of a virtual fluid meter to relay consumption information to a management entity, thereby integrating fluid meter data collection into existing electricity distribution network infrastructure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dedicated wireless communication infrastructure (WM-Bus) is deployed for fluid meters, then data transmission capability is achieved, but system complexity and infrastructure cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing powerline communication infrastructure serve dual purposes: traditional electricity metering functions and fluid meter data collection. The data concentrator and communication networks are reused to handle both electricity and fluid meter data, eliminating the need for separate dedicated infrastructure and reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the fluid meter data collection function into the existing electricity metering communication architecture. By integrating fluid meter readings into the same powerline communication network and data concentrator system used for electricity meters, the solution combines multiple functions into a unified infrastructure
2Device complexity
If powerline communication is used to collect fluid meter data, then infrastructure duplication is reduced, but communication reliability may be affected due to shared network usage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual fluid meter as an intermediary layer between the physical fluid meter and the powerline communication network. This virtual entity translates fluid meter data into formats compatible with the electricity metering system, ensuring reliable communication over the shared powerline infrastructure without direct interference between different meter types
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual representation of the fluid meter within the electricity metering system. This virtual fluid meter copies the essential data transmission interface of traditional electricity meters, allowing seamless integration into the existing communication protocol and ensuring reliable data collection through the shared network
3Extent of automation
If wireless communication modules are installed on each fluid meter, then remote reading capability is achieved, but device cost and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables fluid meters to utilize the existing powerline communication capability already present in the electricity metering infrastructure. Instead of adding new wireless modules to fluid meters, the system leverages the existing communication pathways, allowing fluid meters to 'self-serve' by using the already-deployed powerline network for data transmission
Data Source
AI summary
A system, referred to as a reading system, used in an automated metering management system in the context of a fluid-distribution service comprising a plurality of fluid meters is disclosed. The first communication module in accordance with a wireless communication standard is used by each fluid meter and a second communication module suitable for communicating by powerline with a data concentrator via a first network, said data concentrator communicating with a management entity of the automated metering management system via a second network. Instancing an application emulating a virtual fluid meter able to communicate directly with the data concentrator for each fluid meter in the plurality, and, for each fluid meter in the plurality, the corresponding virtual fluid meter takes responsibility for retransmitting information representing a fluid-consumption reading, said information having been supplied to the reading system by said fluid meter to the management entity via the data concentrator.