Method for error detection and flow direction determination in a measuring meter

• US 7,559,012 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2003
• Issued: 07/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neptune Technology Group Incorporated (Roper Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Neptune Technology Group Incorporated (Roper Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Castleberry, Walter, Scarborough, John, Hamilton, David, Lovett, Jerry, Bianchi, Tim
• Primary Examiner(s): Britt; Cynthia
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, STEVE N
• Application Number:
  US10/701,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20040123656A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,072 Days
• Field of Search: 738/61, 714/784, 714/706, 714811-812
• US Class Current: 714/812
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/006 Remote reading of utility meters to a non-fixed location, i.e. mobile location
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/2448 Correction of gain, threshold, offset or phase control
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 21/40 Monitoring; Error detection; Preventing or correcting improper counter operation
• 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

A method for correcting data signal errors in a meter has been developed. The method includes receiving ordered data signals from the meter. Next, the sequenced of ordered data signals is analyzed to determine whether a data signal is missing. Finally, if a data signal is missing, a predetermined value is added to a sequence counter to compensate for the missing signal.

Claims

1. A method for correcting data signal errors in a meter, comprising:

receiving ordered data signals from the meter;

analyzing the sequence of the ordered data signals to detect a missing data signal by calculating a temporary 2-bit binary variable based on a present data signal and a previous data signal in the sequence of ordered data signals;

correcting the value of a last valid direction indicator that indicates flow direction in the meter, and

compensating for the missing data signal by adding a predetermined value to a sequence counter.

2. The method of claim 1, where values related to the previous data signal are stored in a status register.

3. The method of claim 2, where the status register is a non-volatile memory component.

4. The method of claim 3, where the non-volatile memory component is a ferro-electric random access memory component.

5. The method of claim 1, where the variable is calculated by subtracting a binary value of the previous data signal from a binary value of the present data signal.

6. The method of claim 5, where the subtracting is done by adding the two'"'"'s complement of the binary value of the previous data signal to the binary value of the present data signal.

7. The method of claim 1, where a missing data signal is detected by determining whether a binary state value for a present data signal is the same as a binary state value for a previous data signal.

8. The method of claim 1, where the sequence counter counts up.

9. The method of claim 1, where the sequence counter counts down.

10. A method for detecting errors in a meter, comprising:

step for receiving a sequence of data signals of the meter;

step for analyzing the sequence of data signals to detect a missing data signal by calculating a temporary 2-bit binary variable based on a present data signal and a previous data signal in the sequence of ordered data signals;

correcting the value of a last valid direction indicator that indicates flow direction in the meter, and

step for compensating for a missing data signal by adding a predetermined value to a sequence counter.