System and method for efficient configuration in a fixed network automated meter reading system

• US 20050240540A1
• Filed: 04/26/2004
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elster Electricity LLC (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Elster Electricity LLC (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Borleske, Andrew J., Scoggins, Sean M., Uy, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,262,709 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/401
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/45 Utility meters networked together within a single building
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/51 Remote controlling of devices based on replies, status thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/60 for transmitting utility meters data, i.e. transmission of data from the reader of the utility meter
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

Meters are configured using either a program update method or a meter update method. In the program update method, meters associated with a specified configuration program are identified and configured with updated parameters. In the meter update method, a specified set of meters is configured with a specified set of updated configuration parameters. The meter update method enables both time of use and other configuration parameters to be updated. Both methods enable various actions to be performed in conjunction with a meter configuration. Such actions may include, for example, recording a snapshot of current billing data, resetting billing data, and resetting demand data.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A method for configuring a device, the method comprising:

receiving a configuration command including at least one updated configuration parameter and at least one action, the at least one action being one of capturing a current snapshot of billing data, resetting the billing data, and resetting demand data;

changing the configuration of the device according to at least one updated configuration parameter; and

performing the at least one action at the device.

3. The method of claim 2, comprising changing the configuration of a meter device.

4. The method of claim 2, comprising capturing a current snapshot of billing data, resetting the billing data, and resetting demand data in response to a single message.

5. The method of claim 2, comprising capturing the current snapshot of the billing data prior to resetting the demand data.

6. The method of claim 2, comprising resetting the demand data prior to changing the configuration of the device.

7. The method of claim 2, comprising changing the configuration of the device prior to resetting the billing data.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving the configuration parameter from a collector.

9. The method of claim 8, comprising:

receiving the updated configuration parameter and a specified reset count; and

performing the action only if the specified reset count exceeds the current reset count by one.

10. A method for configuring a set of devices associated with a configuration program, the set including at least one device, the method comprising:

identifying the set of devices associated with the configuration program; and

sending updated configuration parameters corresponding to the configuration program to the set of devices.

11. The method of claim 10, comprising identifying a set of meter devices.

12. The method of claim 10, comprising identifying a set of devices associated with a time of use configuration program.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising, for each device in the set, setting at least one associated status flag corresponding to a portion of the updated configuration parameters.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving from a first device an acknowledgement that the first device has received the portion of the updated configuration parameters; and

clearing a status flag associated with the first device corresponding to the portion of the updated configuration parameters.

15. The method of claim 14, comprising sending the updated configuration parameter during a first device read.

16. The method of claim 15, comprising:

determining during a second device read that the status flag is still set; and

resending to the first device the portion of the updated configuration parameters.

17. A method for configuring a set of at least one device with a set of at least one updated configuration parameter, the method comprising:

receiving an update request from a user identifying the set of devices and the set of updated configuration parameters; and

sending the set of updated configuration parameter to the set of devices.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising sending the set of updated configuration parameter to a set of meter devices.

19. The method of claim 17, comprising sending updated time of use configuration parameter to the set of devices.

20. The method of claim 17, comprising sending an updated non-time of use related configuration parameter to the set of devices.

21. The method of claim 17, comprising sending updated time of use configuration parameters and an updated non-time of use related configuration parameter to the set of devices.

22. The method of claim 17, comprising receiving the updated request further identifying at least one action to be performed at the set of devices, the action being one of recording a current snapshot of billing data, resetting the billing data, and resetting demand data.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising recording a current snapshot of billing data, resetting the billing data, and resetting demand data in response to a single message from the collector.

24. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving from each device in the set of devices a snapshot of billing data; and

storing the billing data corresponding to a last prior configuration for each device in the set of devices.

25. The method of claim 17, further comprising, for each device in the set of devices, setting at least one associated status flag corresponding to a portion of updated configuration parameters in the set of updated configuration parameters.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

receiving from a first device in the set of devices an acknowledgement that the first device has received the portion of updated configuration parameters; and

clearing a status flag associated with the first device corresponding to the portion of updated configuration parameters.

27. The method of claim 26, comprising sending the set of updated configuration parameters during a first device read.

28. The method of claim 27, comprising:

determining during a second device read that the status flag is still set; and

resending to the first device the portion of the updated configuration parameters.

29. An automated device reading system comprising:

a set of devices associated with a configuration program; and

a collector that identifies the set of devices and sends updated configuration parameters corresponding to the configuration program to the set of devices.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the set of devices comprises a set of meters.

31. The system of claim 29, further comprising a server that receives a request to update the configuration program and sends an update command to the collector.

34. The system of claim 31, further comprising a server that receives a request to update the set of devices with the set of updated configuration parameters.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the request further comprises a set of at least one action to be performed at the set of devices in conjunction with updating the configuration parameters.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the action comprises one of capturing a current snapshot of billing data, resetting the billing data, and resetting demand data.

38. The processor-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the set of devices comprises a set of meters.

32. An automated device reading system comprising:

a set of devices specified by a user; and

a collector that receives a command to update the set of devices with a set of updated configuration parameters specified by the user.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the set of devices comprises a set of meters.

37. A processor-readable medium having stored thereon instructions for establishing a wireless communication network among a plurality of devices, the instructions, when executed by a processor at a collector, causing the processor at said collector to:

identify a set of devices associated with a configuration program; and

send updated configuration parameters corresponding to the configuration program to the set of devices.

39. A processor-readable medium having stored thereon instructions for establishing a wireless communication network among a plurality of devices, the instructions, when executed by a processor at a collector, causing the processor at said collector to:

receive a command to update a set of devices specified by a user with a set of updated configuration parameters specified by the user; and

transmit the updated configuration parameters to the set of devices.

40. The processor-readable medium of claim 39, wherein the set of devices comprises a set of meters.

41. The processor-readable medium of claim 39, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

receive a set of at least one action to be performed at the set of devices in conjunction with updating the configuration parameters; and

transmit the set of actions to the set of devices.

42. The processor-readable medium of claim 41, wherein the action comprises one of capturing a current snapshot of billing data, resetting the billing data, and resetting demand data.

43. A method for registering a device, the method comprising:

receiving a message indicating a configuration program to which the device is assigned, the configuration program being stored at a collector;

sending a first portion of the configuration program to the device during a first meter read;

determining after the first meter read whether the device has received the first portion of the configuration program,

if so, then immediately sending a second portion of the configuration program to the device, and

if not, then resending the first portion of the configuration program to the device during the second meter read.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising recursively resending the first portion of the configuration program during each successive meter read until an acknowledgement is received from the device.

45. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

sending a plurality of portions of the configuration program as part of a first meter read;

determining which of the plurality of portions the configuration program are acknowledged by the end device,

resending non-acknowledged portions during s successive meter read.

46. The method of claim 45, comprising:

sending a first portion of the configuration program corresponding to display information;

sending a second portion of the configuration program corresponding to weekday time of use information;

sending a third portion of the configuration program corresponding to weekend time of use information;

sending a fourth portion of the configuration program corresponding to special time of use information; and

sending a fifth portion of the configuration program corresponding to additional special time of use information.

47. The method of claim 43, further comprising verifying delivery of each portion of the configuration program using a corresponding status flag set at the collector.