Automatic meter reading system and method for transmitting meter reading data in the same
First Claim
1. An automatic meter reading (AMR) system comprising:
- at least one AMR terminal, attached to the corresponding meter, for transmitting meter reading data; and
an AMR server for commanding the AMR terminal to perform meter reading and for processing meter reading data transmitted from the AMR terminal to perform charging, the AMR terminal comprising;
an image sensing module for sensing an image signal of a metering value displayed on a numeral display panel of the meter;
a character recognition module for performing pattern recognition of the image signal transmitted from the image sensing module and for generating a numeral code of the metering value to output it in a predetermined format, the character recognition module comprising a microcomputer and an ID setting means for setting a terminal ID; and
a communication module for transmitting digital data transmitted from the character recognition module to the AMR server side, wherein;
when a communication signal is received from the AMR server during operation of a power saving mode, the microcomputer wakes up and decodes received data; and
when a meter reading command is received, the microcomputer operates the image sensing module to receive the image signal of the metering value, performs pattern recognition according to a predetermined algorithm, generates the numeral code of the metering value to form a packet together with the terminal ID, and transmits the packet to the communication module.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is a remote automatic meter reading (AMR) system for image-sensing, reading and transmitting metering values. The AMR system includes an AMR terminal, a collector and an AMR server. The AMR terminal includes an image sensing module for sensing an image signal of a metering value displayed on a display panel of the meter. A character recognition module performs pattern recognition of the image signal, and a communication module transmits digital data from the character recognition module to the AMR server side. The character recognition module may include a microcomputer and an ID setting During power saving mode, the microcomputer wakes up and decodes received data; and when a meter reading command is received, the image sensing module receives the image signal of the metering value, performs pattern recognition, generates the numeral code to form a packet together with the terminal ID, and transmits the packet to the communication module.
113 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An automatic meter reading (AMR) system comprising:
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at least one AMR terminal, attached to the corresponding meter, for transmitting meter reading data; and
an AMR server for commanding the AMR terminal to perform meter reading and for processing meter reading data transmitted from the AMR terminal to perform charging, the AMR terminal comprising;
an image sensing module for sensing an image signal of a metering value displayed on a numeral display panel of the meter;
a character recognition module for performing pattern recognition of the image signal transmitted from the image sensing module and for generating a numeral code of the metering value to output it in a predetermined format, the character recognition module comprising a microcomputer and an ID setting means for setting a terminal ID; and
a communication module for transmitting digital data transmitted from the character recognition module to the AMR server side, wherein;
when a communication signal is received from the AMR server during operation of a power saving mode, the microcomputer wakes up and decodes received data; and
when a meter reading command is received, the microcomputer operates the image sensing module to receive the image signal of the metering value, performs pattern recognition according to a predetermined algorithm, generates the numeral code of the metering value to form a packet together with the terminal ID, and transmits the packet to the communication module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An automatic meter reading (AMR) system comprising:
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a plurality of AMR terminals, each attached to a corresponding meter, for transmitting meter reading data;
an AMR server for commanding the AMR terminals to perform meter reading and for processing meter reading data transmitted from the AMR terminals to perform charging; and
a collector for waking up the AMR terminals under the control of the AMR server to request the meter reading data when a meter reading command is transmitted from the AMR server, and for packetizing the meter reading data collected from the AMR terminal in a predetermined format to transmit the packetized resultants to the AMR server. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A method for transmitting meter reading data in an automatic meter reading (AMR) system comprising at least one AMR terminal attached to the corresponding meter to transmit the meter reading data, and a collector for relaying an AMR server for processing the meter reading data to perform charging, the method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a meter reading command at the AMR server;
waking up all AMR terminals under the control of the collector when the meter reading command is an overall meter reading command and requesting data with respect to each AMR terminal to collect the meter reading data;
waking up the AMR terminal designated by the collector when the meter reading command is an individual meter reading command and requesting data with respect to the designated AMR terminal to collect the meter reading data;
returning to sleep mode for the corresponding AMR terminal when collection of the meter reading data is completed; and
transmitting the collected meter reading data to the AMR server in a predetermined format when a meter reading data request command is received from the AMR server. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An automatic meter reading (AMR) system comprising:
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an AMR server for issuing a meter reading command to perform meter reading of a metering value of each customer and for collecting meter reading data to perform charging and statistical processing;
a collector for transmitting the meter reading command to a corresponding AMR terminal when the meter reading command is received from the AMR server through a communication network and for transmitting the received meter reading data to the AMR server; and
the AMR terminal including a current transformer for measuring a current applied to a load;
an analog-digital converter for converting analog outputs of the current transformer into digital data;
a displaying means for displaying a metering value of consumption electric power;
a memory for storing at least one program and data;
a communication module for providing communication function to perform the meter reading; and
an operation control section for calculating amounts of present consumption electric power to perform cumulative operation using current data inputted from the analog-digital converter in each metering cycle, storing the operated resultants in the memory, and controlling to transmit the meter reading data stored in the memory through the communication module when the meter reading command is received through the communication module. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification