Limited Data Messaging with Standards Compliance

• US 20130293391A1
• Filed: 05/04/2012
• Published: 11/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Osterloh, Christopher Lloyd, Ogle, James Patrick, Holmdahl, Bret Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 9,024,780 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.03
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• 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

Techniques for limited data messaging with standards compliance are described herein. A network may be configured as an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) for automatic meter reading (AMR). A plurality of endpoints (EP) may each be associated with a meter configured to measure consumption of a resource, such as electricity or natural gas. The plurality of EPs may communicate consumption data to a data collector (DC), which transfers the data to a central office. In one example, network traffic and battery power consumption of the EPs may be reduced if each endpoint packages data as a compact array, having minimal data formatting and tagging. A class object associated with each EP and stored at the DC allows the DC to interpret the compact array. Based on this interpretation, the DC is able to reformulate the data as a COSEM (or other standards-based object) for transmission to the central office.

Claims

1. A data collector for use within an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) configured for automatic meter reading (AMR) and for management of companion specification for energy metering (COSEM) objects, the data collector comprising:

a class object library manager, configured to receive and store at least one class object associated with at least one endpoint;

a data manager, configured to process raw data obtained from the at least one endpoint; and

a COSEM object manager, configured to create at least one COSEM object according to;

a class object from among the at least one class object; and

the processed raw data;

wherein the created COSEM object includes tags indicated by the at least one class object and not received with the raw data.

2. The data collector as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the data manager is additionally configured to translate differential data obtained from among the processed raw data into a full register read associated with a particular endpoint.

3. The data collector as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the class object library manager is additionally configured to receive a plurality of class objects to define a plurality of profiles of a plurality of endpoints, respectively, and to associate each of the plurality of class objects with a respective one of the plurality of endpoints.

4. The data collector as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the data manager is additionally configured to receive raw data from a plurality of endpoints, the raw data configured as a compact array comprising an indication of an associated OBIS code;

wherein the compact array is interpreted with respect to the class object to configure the COSEM object.

5. The data collector as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the data manager is additionally configured to receive data organized as a compact array, wherein portions of the data are organized without tags;

wherein the received and stored class object is configured for use in mapping the data organized as the compact array into the at least one COSEM object.

6. The data collector as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the raw data comprises a compact array with an indication of an associated OBIS code and a plurality of subfields not delineated by tags; and

the COSEM object manager is additionally configured to create the at least one COSEM object by;

selecting the class object from among the stored at least one class object, wherein the selected class object is associated with an endpoint from which the raw data was received; and

using the selected class object and the compact array to configure the at least one COSEM object.

7. A system comprising the data collector as recited in claim 1 and an endpoint, the endpoint comprising:

a class object manager, configured to upload a class object for receipt and storage by the class object library manager; and

a raw data manager, configured to obtain meter data at intervals and to configure the meter data as raw data for transmission to the data manager.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the raw data manager is additionally configured to:

obtain differential data regarding incremental increases in resource consumption; and

create a compact array with the differential data for transmission to the data manager.

9. A method for communication within an automatic meter reading (AMR) environment and for utilization of companion specification for energy metering (COSEM) objects, the method comprising:

under control of a device executing the method according to a sequence of steps that include;

receiving a class object;

receiving raw data; and

configuring at least one COSEM object according to the received class object and the received raw data, wherein the configured COSEM object includes tags which are indicated by the class object and not received with the raw data.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein:

receiving the raw data comprises receiving differential data that represents differential changes to full register reads at an endpoint; and

configuring the at least one COSEM object comprises translating the differential data into an equivalent of a full register read based in part on processing with endpoint register data stored at a data collector.

11. The method as recited in claim 9, additionally comprising:

receiving a plurality of class objects to define a plurality of profiles of a plurality of endpoints, respectively;

configuring a plurality of COSEM objects based on the plurality of class objects and raw data from the plurality of endpoints, respectively; and

providing the plurality of COSEM objects to a head office.

12. The method as recited in claim 9, additionally comprising:

requesting particular data from an endpoint;

recognizing the received raw data as a substitute for the particular data; and

accepting the received raw data as the substitute for the particular data.

13. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein receiving the raw data comprises:

receiving a compact array comprising an indication of an associated OBIS code;

wherein the compact array is interpreted with respect to the class object to configure the COSEM object.

14. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein receiving the raw data comprises:

receiving data organized as a compact array, wherein portions of the data are organized without tags;

wherein the received class object is configured for use in mapping the data in the compact array into the at least one COSEM object.

15. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein:

the raw data comprises a compact array with an indication of an associated OBIS code and a plurality of subfields not delineated by tags; and

configuring at least one COSEM object comprises selecting a class object associated with an endpoint from which the raw data was received and using the selected class object to configure the at least one COSEM object.

16. An endpoint for use within an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) configured for automatic meter reading (AMR), the endpoint comprising:

a meter;

a class object manager, configured to upload a class object for receipt and storage by a data collector, the class object configured for repeated creation of COSEM objects; and

a raw data manager, configured to;

obtain meter data at intervals; and

configure the meter data as raw data for transmission to the data collector.

17. The endpoint as recited in claim 16, wherein the raw data is configured as a compact array, the compact array comprising:

an indication of an OBIS code;

wherein the compact array, when interpreted with respect to the class object, includes sufficient information to create appropriate tags needed within a COSEM object.

18. The endpoint as recited in claim 16, wherein the raw data comprises:

a compact array having an indication of an OBIS code, wherein portions of the compact array are organized without tags.

19. The endpoint as recited in claim 16, wherein the raw data is configured as a compact array, the compact array comprising:

an indication of an OBIS code; and

a plurality of subfields not delineated by tags;

wherein data in the compact array includes information sufficient to configure at least one COSEM object when interpreted using the class object.

20. A system comprising the endpoint as recited in claim 16 and a data collector, the data collector comprising:

a class object library manager, configured to receive and store at least one class object associated with at least one endpoint;

a data manager, configured to;

process raw data obtained from a plurality of endpoints; and

translate differential data obtained from among the processed raw data into a full register read associated with a particular endpoint; and

a COSEM object manager, configured to create at least one COSEM object according to;

a stored class object from among the at least one stored class objects; and

raw data from the data manager;

wherein the created COSEM object includes tags indicated by the class object and not received with the raw data.