FR3066607A1 - METHOD FOR MANAGING THE ELECTRIC CONSUMPTION OF A CONNECTED OBJECT - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for determining, in a first device, the state of a battery installed in a second device, the first device being able to receive signals from the second device, characterized in that the determination Battery status is based on an analysis of the received signals.

Description

Method for managing the electrical consumption of a connected object

Technical area

The invention relates to the field of telecommunications.

The invention relates more particularly to a method for managing the electrical consumption of a connected object.

Recall that a connected object is a data processing device capable of communicating via a wireless network information to at least one other data processing device, known as a second device, of the home gateway, computer, electronic tablet, or smartphone type. or other equivalent device capable of communicating and processing data.

State of the art

The Internet of Things market, also known as the Internet of Things, is booming, with both individuals and businesses. Connected objects are mostly equipped with a (rechargeable) battery or a battery. The autonomy of objects is therefore a real brake on the expansion of these objects.

A known solution for increasing the autonomy of a battery (or a battery) is to increase its amperage. However, this solution requires integrating additional cells (also called accumulators) into the battery; which has the consequence of weighing down and making more massive an object which generally seduces by its light weight and its fine design.

Another solution is for a user to recharge the object's battery regularly (example: every day); which is not always practical for certain objects such as sensors, for example a smoke detector, often located on the ceiling in a room.

Another solution would be to install an alert module in the object so that the object can issue an alert when the battery reaches a given voltage threshold (in Volts). In other words, the connected object declares the state of the battery. However, this would require that the object be equipped not only with a voltmeter but also with an alert module capable of issuing a notification. This would result in a significant cost of money; in addition, the alert module would consume energy, which is not desirable.

The invention offers a solution which does not have the drawbacks of the state of the art.

The invention

To this end, according to a functional aspect, the invention relates to a method for determining, in a first device, the state of a battery installed in a second device, the first device being capable of receiving signals from the second device, characterized in that the determination of the state of the battery is based on an analysis of the signals received from the second device.

Unlike the state of the art where the state of the battery is supplied declaratively by the second device, the method of the invention makes it possible to determine the state of the battery of the second device as a function of signals emanating from this device. second device. The invention therefore avoids the installation of an alert module in the connected object; the invention also avoids electrical consumption that such an alert module would impose on the connected object.

It will be seen below that the analysis of the signals received is carried out with reference data available to the first device; these reference data aim, without being limited thereto, to a number of reference signals which the second device must transmit over a time range, a reference signal strength. Any deviation from this reference data is used to assess the battery level.

According to a first embodiment, the analysis corresponds to the sum of the number of signals received over a given time range and to a comparison of the sum obtained with a number of reference signals to be received over the same time range. This first mode is based on the number of signals that the second device is supposed to transmit over a given time range. If at least one signal is not received, it may be due to a critical state of the battery. This first mode has the advantage of not requiring modification of the second device.

According to yet a second particular implementation mode of the invention, which can be implemented alternatively or cumulatively with the previous mode, the first device receives from the second device signals transmitted from the second device with a given frequency. In this configuration, in the case where at least one signal is not received, the first device transmits to the second device a message requesting an increase in the transmission frequency. This third mode allows, by increasing the transmission frequency, to be fixed more quickly on the state of the battery; if no message is received in return with the new frequency, it can be concluded that the battery has a low or even zero level. It is true that an increase in the frequency implies more important electrical consumption in the second device; however, imposing an increase in frequency on a device having a low battery level which does not allow proper functioning of the second device has little effect on the electrical state of the battery of this second device, or even no effect when the battery is completely discharged.

According to yet a third particular mode of implementation of the invention, which can be implemented alternately or cumulatively with the previous ones, the analysis corresponds to obtaining the strength of the received signal and to a comparison of the strength obtained with a reference force. This third mode does not require modification on the second device; in fact, the strength (or power) of the signal received from the second device is sufficient to follow the change in the state of the battery, a drop in the signal strength signifying a drop in the state of the battery.

Let us specify here that the signal strength a measure of the power in reception of a received signal. In radio technology, this force is noted RSSI (Anglo-Saxon acronym of Received Signal Strength Indication).

According to a variant of this third mode, the reference force is the force of a signal received from the second device following a commissioning of the second device; the commissioning is for a first use or follows a battery change in the second device. This variant automates the obtaining of the reference force. Ideally, assuming that the second device is new or has been the subject of a battery replacement, the first signals received are those which will make it possible to define the reference force because these first signals are representative of a maximum (or nominal) battery level.

Several types of analysis can be used to obtain the battery level. According to a fourth particular mode of implementation of the invention, which can be implemented alternately or cumulatively with the previous ones, when several types of analyzes are carried out, the results of analysis are associated with degrees of relevance, respectively. Alternatively, when an overall battery level is calculated, factors are applied to the results of the different types of analyzes, respectively. The different types of analyzes can be those used in the second mode and the third mode without being limited to the latter. This fourth mode makes it possible to prioritize an analysis result over another for obtaining a battery level. Indeed, one type of analysis may be less representative of a drop in battery than another type of analysis; for example, a loss of a signal may be less representative than a drop in signal strength, or vice versa. In this configuration, multiplying factors come to weight the results of the different analyzes to obtain a battery level.

According to a material aspect, the invention relates to a data processing device, called a first device, comprising a reception module capable of receiving signals from a second device equipped with a battery, characterized in that it includes a determination module capable of determining the state of the battery on the basis of an analysis of the signals received from the second device.

According to another hardware aspect, the invention relates to a computer program capable of being implemented on a data processing device, in this case the first device as defined above, the program comprising instructions code which, when executed by a processor, performs the process steps defined above.

Finally, the invention relates to a data medium on which at least one series of program code instructions has been stored for the execution of a method defined above.

The data carrier can be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, the support may include a storage means, such as a ROM, for example a CD ROM or a microelectronic circuit ROM, or else a magnetic recording means, for example a floppy disk or a disc. hard. On the other hand, the information medium can be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, which can be routed via an electrical or optical cable, by radio or by other means. The program according to the invention can in particular be downloaded from a network of the Internet type. Alternatively, the information medium can be an integrated circuit in which the program is incorporated, the circuit being adapted to execute or to be used in the execution of the process in question.

Finally, it should be noted here that, in the present text, the term “module” can correspond as well to a software component as to a hardware component or a set of hardware and software components, a software component corresponding itself to one or more computer programs or subroutines or more generally any element of a program capable of implementing a function or a set of functions as described for the modules concerned. Similarly, a hardware component corresponds to any element of a hardware assembly (or hardware) capable of implementing a function or a set of functions for the module concerned (integrated circuit, smart card, memory card, etc. .).

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given by way of example and made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a broadcasting system according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of steps implemented within the framework of a method according to a first embodiment;

Figures 3a to 3c illustrate examples of determining the level of a battery.

Detailed description of an exemplary embodiment illustrating the invention

FIG. 1 represents a SYS system comprising terminals, namely a device OBJ, said first device, and a GTW device, said second device.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the devices referred to above have a hardware architecture of a conventional computer. They each include in particular a processor (CPU1, CPU2), a RAM type RAM (not shown in the figures) and a read only memory (MEM1, MEM2). Note that the storage means MEM1 and MEM2 described above are arbitrary; these are for example a Flash, ROM, etc. memory.

The second device OBJ, hereinafter called “object”, is capable of transmitting data to the second GTW device via a first communication channel RES. This channel is for example a short range network. A short range network here refers to a network with limited distance coverage. In this context, the first OBJ device can transmit data within a given distance, via the short-range network, to the second GTW device. A network is defined by the longest distance over which a message can be transmitted and received. We also speak of radio coverage area. A short range network is for example an RFiD network (Radio Frequency Identification), a Bluetooth network, or any other equivalent network. To this end, the first device OBJ is equipped with a data transmitter COM1 and the second device GTW includes a CPT sensor capable of receiving data, or more precisely signals, via this short-range network.

The invention is not limited to short range networks but extends to all types of networks such as a mobile network, a Wi-Fi network, or the like.

The OBJ object is also equipped with a BAT battery to power the various modules present in the object. The modules in question are for example a localization module whose function is to obtain the location of the object, or a temperature measurement module whose function is to provide an ambient temperature, etc.

The object of the invention is to determine the state of the battery by avoiding soliciting the object OBJ since this solicitation would result in an undesired consumption of energy.

According to the invention, the state of the battery is determined by analyzing the signals received. Recall that a signal is a physical representation of information. Its physical nature can be very variable: acoustic, electronic, optical, etc.

We now present a first example of steps implemented in the context of a method within the meaning of the invention. In this example, the second GTW device is a home gateway.

This first example is based on the DECT ULE standard (acronym for “Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications Ultra Low Energy”).

The invention is not limited to this example but, on the contrary, extends to all types of communication protocol such as the Wi-Fi protocol.

With reference to the DECT ULE protocol, messages called "Keep Alive" referenced "An (n = l, 2, ...) are transmitted from the connected object OBJ to the GTW gateway with a given frequency.

FIG. 2 represents an example of steps of an embodiment. This mode relates to the activation of the OBJ object.

During a step E1, at the time of connection of an object OBJ connected with the gateway GTW, the gateway configures on the object a frequency of sending KAn messages thanks to an attribute called "Interval" defined in the DECT ULE standard representative of the frequency of transmission of the KAn message. The periodicity is for example one hour (x = 1 h).

During a second step E2, following the configuration, the object OBJ transmits KAn messages with the fixed frequency, namely every hour.

During a third step E3, the gateway GTW receives by means of its sensor CPT the signals coming from the object OBJ.

During a fourth step E4, the gateway deduces information on the level of the battery as a function of the signals received. It should be noted here that the analysis is based on the signals and not on the data conveyed by the signals. During this fourth step E4, several methods can be used to deduce the level of the battery, including the following.

A first method is illustrated with reference to Figure 3a. In this figure, two axes (GTW, OBJ) are associated with the gateway and the OBJ object, respectively. When receiving KAn messages, the GTW gateway compares the current date of receipt of a KA message with the date of the last KAn-1 message received "so as to check whether the fixed frequency is respected; if not, the GTW gateway counts the number of KAn messages lost. For example, in Figure 3a, a KA3 message has not been received; in FIG. 3a, the reference KA3? illustrates that the gateway does not receive KA3.

Depending on the number of lost messages, the gateway can deduce a battery level. A single lost message can be enough to lower the battery level; in this case, if a KA message is not received, the gateway sends a notification for example on a screen; notification, for example, that a drop in the battery level is possible.

However, a single lost KA message is not always representative of a battery problem. According to a variant, the gateway calculates the number of messages lost over a given time range PL, for example periodically. FIG. 3b illustrates this embodiment. This figure includes a reference having on the abscissa the time "t" and on the ordinate the number of lost packets PP. In this figure 3b, the GTW gateway calculates the number of messages lost over 24-hour PL periods.

An MPS lost message threshold can also be set below which it is considered that the battery level remains acceptable (OK) and above which the battery level is critical (NOK). In this configuration, in our example, the state of the battery is:

- OK if the number of messages lost during a 24-hour PL range is less than the “MPS threshold” number;

- NOK, that is to say low if the number of messages lost during a 24-hour period is greater than the number "MPS threshold".

In this configuration, in FIG. 3B, on the range PL corresponding to day Jl, the battery level is OK; on the PL range corresponding to day D2, the battery level is NOK.

In order to refine the state of the battery, a second method can be provided by using the strength of the RSSI signal received from the object. In this variant, the object OBJ preferably has a fixed position relative to the GTW gateway. Indeed, for a fixed object, the observation of a temporal degradation of the RSSI makes it possible to establish a link between a drop in power of the radio transmission and a drop in the battery level. This second method can be used seuleο alone or in addition to the first method based on lost packets. If this second method is used in addition to the first method, the previous steps are modified as follows:

During the third step E3, when a KAn message is received, the gateway further measures the strength of the received signal (RSSI), updates a history of the strengths of the received signals and calculates an average over a given period. for example the period PL defined above.

During the fourth step E4, from the set of information collected on the number of lost packets and the history of the received signal strengths RSSI of the received signals, the GTW gateway can deduce therefrom a battery level; for example, the battery level is:

a - good OK if the average RSSI signal strength is stable over time and the number of messages lost during the last 24 hours is less than the “MPS threshold” number;

b - Decreasing if the average of the RSSI is constantly decreasing and the number of messages lost during the last 24 hours is greater than a first number "threshold MPS1" (for example 2 messages have not been received);

c - Low NOK if the average RSSI is below a threshold and the number of messages lost in the last 24 hours is greater than a second number "MPS2 threshold" (example 3 messages lost). A threshold RSSI is for example -60 dBm.

When the object is mobile, a processing module present in the gateway takes into account the location of the object and increases or decreases the force received accordingly.

A third method can be used in combination with the previous methods. According to this third method, in the fourth step, an additional condition is that the packets are lost successively.

This variant has the advantage of not considering isolated losses of data packets due for example to a poor punctual radio link between the GTW gateway and the OBI object. This can occur when the object has left the BT coverage field of the gateway for example a few seconds.

A fourth method, which can be used alone or in combination with the previous ones, can be used to accelerate the confirmation of the analysis result obtained according to the methods described above. According to this fourth method, with reference to FIG. 3c, when messages KA (n + 1) are not received (referenced KAn + 1? In the figure), the gateway GTW transmits a command to increase the frequency of sending KAn messages, for example with reference to FIG. 3c, every 5 seconds (X = 5s) instead of 1 hour in our example. If no KAn message is received following the modification of the frequency (a question mark on the axis of the GTW gateway illustrates the fact that no KAn message is received following the frequency modification request) , we can consider that the battery level is critical.

The way of providing the state of the battery is arbitrary. The battery level can be displayed with two or three states as described above, namely:

- Battery OK

- Decreasing battery

- NOK critical battery

The level can also be in gradual form, for example in percentage form.

As an example consider the first method and the second method.

Suppose that the loss rate can vary from 0 to 100%; and that the value of the nominal loss rate (i.e. when the battery is approximately 100% charged) is 5%.

Let us also consider that a signal RSSI power at (-30dbm) is representative of a good signal power but that on the contrary a level (90dbm) is representative of a weak RSSI power and that, in this case, the object has difficulty communicating. Consider that a nominal RSSI value (i.e. when the battery is approximately 100% charged) of the equipment at (-45dbm).

As indicated in the foregoing, the nominal value is determined when the object is put into service as described above.

If we limit ourselves to the packet loss rate, when the TP loss rate (t) increases, from 5 to 30%, the battery level NBr _P (t) can be obtained for example with the mathematical formula next :

NBrp (t) = (100 - TP (t)) / (100 - TPnominal) = (100-30) / (100-5) = 0.74

Or in percentage 74%

If we limit ourselves to RSSI, when the power RSSI (t) decreases to -50dbm, NB _rssi (t) can for example be obtained with the following mathematical formula:

NB _rssi (t) = (RSSI (t) - RSSIfaible) / (RSSInominal-RSSIfaible) = 0.89

Or in percentage 89%.

Ultimately, in our example, the NB battery level is between 74% and 89% for packet loss at 30% and an RSSI at -50dbm, respectively.

The level NB (t) can be restored with the two values calculated at the level of the bridge, or with a single value situated between 74% and 89%, for example by calculating an average value.

As one method may be more relevant than another, according to another embodiment, the analysis results are associated with degrees of relevance, respectively. For example, 74% is associated with information of the "reliable" type and 86% is associated with information of the "unreliable" type.

Alternatively, an overall battery level can also be calculated taking into account the relevance of the calculation methods. For example, multiplicative factors (F_TP, F_RSSI) can be applied to the results obtained by different methods. In our example, the application of multiplicative factors (F_TP, F_RSSI) to the different battery levels NBrp (t) and NBrssi (t), respectively, can be written as follows:

NB (t) = NBrp (t) * F_TP + NB _rssi (t) * F_RSSI

If the method based on lost packets is considered more relevant than the method based on signal strength, factors such as

F_TP> F_RSSI, with F_TP + F_RSSI = 1

For example, the factors can take the following values:

F_TP = 0.6 and F_RSSI = 0.4

Ultimately, using the values obtained in the example described above, the battery level is

NB (t) = 0.74 * 0.6 + 0.89 * 0.4 = 0.8

We get a battery level estimated at 80%

The implementation of the embodiments described above involve the installation of modules on the devices.

In particular, according to an embodiment described above, in which the analysis corresponding to the sum of the number of signals received and to a comparison of the sum obtained with a number of reference signals; the first device in this case includes a module for calculating a sum of received signals and a module for comparing the sum obtained with a number of reference signals.

Also, according to another mode, in which if at least one signal is not received the first device transmits a message requesting an increase in the transmission frequency; the first device in this case includes a module capable of transmitting a message requiring an increase in the transmission frequency.

Also, according to another mode described above in which the analysis corresponds to obtaining the strength of the received signal and a comparison of the strength obtained with a reference force; the first device includes in this case a module for obtaining the strength of the received signal and a module for comparing the strength obtained with a reference force.

In the case where the reference force is the force of a signal received from the second device following a commissioning of the second device; the first GTW device comprises a module capable of obtaining the reference force in question.

Also, according to another embodiment described above, in the case where when several types of analyzes are carried out, the results of analysis are associated with degrees of relevance, respectively; in this case, the first GTW device includes a module capable of associating degrees of relevance with the different analysis results obtained.

Finally, according to another embodiment described above in which, when an overall battery level is calculated, multiplicative factors (F_TP or F_RSSI) are applied to the results of the different types of analysis, respectively; the first device includes in this case a module capable of applying multiplicative factors (F_TP or F_RSSI) to the results of the different types of analysis, respectively.

Although described through a certain number of detailed exemplary embodiments, the proposed method and the object for the implementation of the method include different variants, modifications and improvements which will be obvious to those skilled in the art, it being understood that these different variants, modifications and improvements form part of the scope of the invention, as defined by the claims which follow. In addition, different aspects and characteristics described above can be implemented together, or separately, or else substituted for each other, and all of the different combinations and sub combinations of aspects and characteristics are part of the scope of the 'invention. In addition, some devices and objects described above may not incorporate all of the modules and functions described for the preferred embodiments.

Claims (10)

claims 1. Method for determining, in a first device (GTW), the state of a battery (BAT) installed in a second device (OBJ), the first device being able to receive signals from the second device, characterized in that the determination of the state of the battery is based on an analysis of the signals received from the second device (OBJ). 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the analysis corresponds to the sum of the number of signals received and to a comparison of the sum obtained with a number of reference signals. 3. Method according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the first device receives signals transmitted from the second device with a given frequency, and in that in the case where at least one signal is not received , the first device transmits a message requesting an increase in the transmission frequency. 4. Management method according to claim 1, characterized in that the analysis corresponds to obtaining the strength of the received signal and a comparison of the strength obtained with a reference force. 5. Management method according to claim 4, characterized in that the reference force is the force of a signal received from the second device following a commissioning of the second device. 6. Management method according to claims 2 and 4, characterized in that, when several types of analyzes are performed, the analysis results are associated with degrees of relevance, respectively. 7. Management method according to claims 6, characterized in that when an overall battery level is calculated, multiplicative factors (F_TP or F_RSSI) are applied to the results of the different types of analyzes, respectively. 8. Data processing device (GTW), known as a first device, comprising a reception module (CPT) capable of receiving signals from a second device (OBJ) equipped with a battery (BAT), characterized in that that it includes a determination module capable of 5 determine the state of the battery on the basis of an analysis of the signals received from the second device (OBJ). 9. Computer program capable of being implemented on a data processing device, the program comprising code instructions which, when executed by a processor, performs the steps of 10 process defined in one of claims 1 to 7. 10. Data medium on which at least one series of program code instructions has been stored for the execution of a method defined in one of claims 1 to 7.