Method and system for tariff, load and meter data management with radio ripple control

• US 7,995,963 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2008
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EFR Europaische Funk-Rundsteurung GmbH
• Original Assignee: EFR Europaische Funk-Rundsteurung GmbH
• Inventors: Rupprecht, Gabriel, Bicker, Roland, Wienold, Heinrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai; Lam T
• Application Number:
  US12/339,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20090163136A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 455/12.1, 455/13.1, 455/3.02, 455/427, 455/437, 455/436, 455/428, 455/430, 370/310, 709/227
• US Class Current: 455/3.05
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• 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

The invention relates to a method for the management of a plurality of decentralized customer terminals by means of a bidirectional communications connection between a central unit and customer connection units associated with the customer terminals, wherein the central unit transmits at least one synchronous radio control program to a plurality of customer connection units by means of at least one longwave transmitter via a central radio ripple control channel, wherein each customer connection unit triggers a predefined process at least one associated customer terminal in dependence on the received radio control telegram, and wherein each customer connection unit transmits at least one data telegram which includes information related to the associated customer terminal to the central unit via a decentralized return channel which is separate from the radio ripple control channel; wherein the transmission of the data telegram to the control unit takes place based on time, based on an event and/or in dependence on a previously received radio control telegram. The invention furthermore relates to a management system for a plurality of customer terminals which is operable in accordance with the method in accordance with the invention.

Claims

1. A method for the management of a plurality of decentralized customer terminals (11) by means of a bidirectional communications connection between a central unit (13) and customer connection units (15) associated with the customer terminals (11),

wherein the central unit (13) transmits at least one synchronous radio control telegram (18) to a plurality of customer connection units (15) by means of at least one longwave transmitter (17) via a central radio ripple control channel;

wherein each customer connection unit (15) triggers a predefined process at at least one associated customer terminal (11) in dependence on the received radio control telegram (18);

wherein each customer connection unit (15) transmits at least one data telegram (20) which includes information related to the associated customer terminal (11) to the central unit (13) via a decentralized return channel which is separate from the radio ripple control channel; and

wherein the transmission of the data telegram (20) to the control unit (13) takes place based on time, based on an event and/or in dependence on a previously received radio control telegram (18).

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the decentralized return channel is based on the networks or protocols PLC, GSM, GPS, UMTS, TCP and/or IP.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the decentralized return channel is based on at least one cellular radio network.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the transmission of the data telegram (20) via the decentralized return channel is made insensitive with respect to interference signals by means of a correlation process.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the transmission of the radio control program (18) via the central radio ripple control channel is made insensitive with respect to interference signals by means of a correlation process.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the synchronous radio control program (18) includes control instructions with high time priority.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the synchronous radio control telegram (18) additionally includes information data.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the transmission of the data telegrams (20) by the customer connection units (15) to the central unit (13) takes place with a time delay with respect to the radio control telegram (18) previously received by the customer connection units (15).

9. A method in accordance with claim 8, characterized in that the data of the data telegram (20) are logged in response to a received radio control telegram (11) and are stored in a memory device associated with the respective customer terminal (11) until the transmission to the central unit (13), with a time stamp being added to the logged data which enables a subsequent time association of the data.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that management of load, tariff, consumption and/or information including the customer terminals (11) or devices (19) associated with the customer terminals (11) is carried out by means of the central radio ripple control channel and the decentralized return channel.

11. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the customer terminals (11) or devices (19) associated with the customer terminals (11) are switched on or off in dependence on the synchronous radio control telegram (18).

12. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that a display device (21), in particular an optical display device, provided at the customer terminal (11) for the display of information related to the customer terminal (11) is activated or updated in dependence on the received radio control telegram (18).

13. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the customer terminals (11) include power logging devices and/or switching devices for supply devices such as electrical supply devices, water supply devices and heat supply devices.

14. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the synchronous radio control telegram (18) triggers a time-synchronized data logging, in particular a power data logging, in the customer terminals (11).

15. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the synchronous radio control telegram (18) triggers a change in tariff at the customer terminals (11).

16. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the synchronous radio control telegram (18) triggers a switching off or a switching on within the framework of load management in the customer terminals (11) or the devices (19) associated with the customer terminals (11).

17. A management system for a plurality of customer terminals (11) which is operable in accordance with a method for the management of a plurality of decentralized customer terminals (11) by means of a bidirectional communications connection between a central unit (13) and customer connection units (15) associated with the customer terminals (11),

wherein the central unit (13) transmits at least one synchronous radio control telegram (18) to a plurality of customer connection units (15) by means of at least one longwave transmitter (17) via a central radio ripple control channel;

wherein each customer connection unit (15) triggers a predefined process at at least one associated customer terminal (11) in dependence on the received radio control telegram (18);

wherein each customer connection unit (15) transmits at least one data telegram (20) which includes information related to the associated customer terminal (11) to the central unit (13) via a decentralized return channel which is separate from the radio ripple control channel; and

wherein the transmission of the data telegram (20) to the control unit (13) takes place based on time, based on an event and/or in dependence on a previously received radio control telegram (18).