POWER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, RELAY APPARATUS, AND POWER MANAGEMENT METHOD

• US 20170331570A1
• Filed: 12/22/2015
• Published: 11/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: YAMANE, Takeshi
• Application Number:
  US15/535,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20170331570A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/40 of relay systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15 Active relay systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• 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 2213/13107 Control equipment for a part of the connection, distributed control, co-processing
• 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: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A relay apparatus 400 performs control to measure a first signal quality of a radio signal from a smart meter 300 and present the first signal quality to a user. The relay apparatus 400 establishes a radio connection with the smart meter 300 having a radio communication function. The relay apparatus 400 relays communication between the smart meter 300 and the power management apparatus 200.

Claims

1. A relay apparatus, comprising:

a first radio communication unit that establishes a radio connection with a smart meter having a radio communication function; and

a controller that performs control to measure a first signal quality of a radio signal from the smart meter and present the first signal quality to a user, wherein

the controller relays communication between the smart meter and a power management apparatus that manages power information obtained by the smart meter.

2. The relay apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the controller performs control to present the first signal quality to the user in a state in which a radio connection with the smart meter is not established.

3. The relay apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first operation unit that receives from the user a first connection operation instructing to establish a radio connection with the smart meter, wherein

the controller performs control to establish a radio connection with the smart meter when the first operation unit receives the first connection operation.

4. The relay apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

when the radio connection with the smart meter is established, the controller performs control to present a notification, which indicates that the radio connection with the smart meter has been established, to the user.

5. The relay apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

when a state of connection with the smart meter deteriorates after the radio connection with the smart meter is established, the controller performs control to present a warning, which indicates that the state of connection with the smart meter has deteriorated, to the user.

6. The relay apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second radio communication unit that establishes a radio connection with the power management apparatus, wherein

the controller performs control to further measure a second signal quality of a radio signal from the power management apparatus and present the first signal quality and the second signal quality to the user.

7. The relay apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

the controller performs control to present the second signal quality to the user in a state in which a radio connection with the power management apparatus is not established.

8. The relay apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

a second operation unit that receives from the user a second connection operation instructing to establish a radio connection with the power management apparatus, wherein

the controller performs control to establish a radio connection with the power management apparatus when the second operation unit receives the second connection operation.

9. The relay apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

an operation unit that receives from the user a connection operation instructing to establish both a radio connection with the smart meter and a radio connection with the power management apparatus, wherein

the controller performs control to establish a radio connection with the smart meter and a radio connection with the power management apparatus when the operation unit receives the connection operation.

10. The relay apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

when the radio connection with the power management apparatus is established, the controller performs control to present a notification, which indicates that the radio connection with the power management apparatus has been established, to the user.

11. The relay apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

when a state of connection with the power management apparatus deteriorates after the radio connection with the power management apparatus is established, the controller performs control to present a warning, which indicates that the state of connection with the power management apparatus has deteriorated, to the user.

13. The relay apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the controller performs authentication processing on the smart meter, and establishes a radio connection with the smart meter when the authentication processing is successful.

14. The relay apparatus according to claim 13, wherein

the controller performs authentication processing on the power management apparatus, and establishes a radio connection with the power management apparatus when the authentication processing is successful.

15. The relay apparatus according to claim 13, wherein

the controller performs authentication processing on the power management apparatus using first authentication information stored in advance.

16. The relay apparatus according to claim 13, wherein

the relay apparatus automatically starts searching for a signal emitted from the power management apparatus after electric power is supplied to the relay apparatus, and performs authentication processing on the power management apparatus when the signal emitted from the power management apparatus is detected by the searching.

17. The relay apparatus according to claim 13, wherein

the power management apparatus stores second authentication information, which is used for authentication processing on the smart meter, in advance, and

the controller acquires the second authentication information from the power management apparatus after establishing a radio connection with the power management apparatus, and performs authentication processing on the smart meter using the second authentication information.

18. The relay apparatus according to claim 17, wherein

the second authentication information is the same authentication information as authentication information used for authentication processing when establishing a radio connection with the smart meter.

19. The relay apparatus according to claim 17, wherein

the second authentication information is authentication information different from authentication information used for authentication processing when establishing a radio connection with the smart meter.

20. The relay apparatus according to claim 14, wherein

a communication standard used for radio communication with the smart meter is different from a communication standard used for radio communication with the power management apparatus.

21. The relay apparatus according to claim 13, wherein

control to measure a signal quality of a radio signal from the power management apparatus and present the signal quality to a user is performed.

22. The relay apparatus according to claim 13, wherein

when a state of connection with the power management apparatus deteriorates, control to present a warning, which indicates that the connection state has deteriorated, to a user is performed.

23. The relay apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

after establishing a radio connection with at least one of the power management apparatus and the smart meter, the controller transmits to the power management apparatus a fact that the radio connection has been established.

12. A power management method, comprising:

measuring, by a relay apparatus, a first signal quality of a radio signal from a smart meter having a radio communication function;

presenting, by the relay apparatus, the first signal quality to a user;

establishing, by the relay apparatus, a radio connection with the smart meter; and

relaying, by the relay apparatus, communication between the smart meter and a power management apparatus that manages power information obtained by the smart meter.

24-25. -25. (canceled)