IT201600077333A1 - ELECTRONIC SYSTEM FOR REMOTE READING OF METERS OR CONSUMPTION METERS - Google Patents

Description

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM FOR REMOTE READING OF

COUNTERS OR CONSUMPTION METERS

DESCRIPTION

The present patent relates to devices for the automatic reading of consumption meters and in particular it concerns a new electronic system for the remote reading of meters or consumption meters for utilities such as water, gas and others.

The managers of the utilities of services such as water supply or gas or other, have the need to measure the consumption of users to define the cost of the service.

For this purpose, the meters installed in the system and bearing indications relating to consumption, in addition to an identification code associated with a user, are well known.

For water supply systems, for example, meters are installed on a pipe and housed for example in a sump.

The legislation, and in particular the recent resolution 218/2016 / R / idr of the Energy Authority, provides that the burden and responsibility of the metering service are attributed to the service managers.

The collection of measurements can be done by the staff appointed by the manager and also by self-reading by the user.

In particular, this resolution provides for a minimum number of reading attempts that the manager is obliged to make:

2 reading attempts per year for users with average annual consumption up to 3000 m;

3 reading attempts per year for users with average annual consumption over 3000 m;

In the event that these attempts are unsuccessful, due to the impossibility or difficulty of accessing the meters by the operator, or in the event that the user does not communicate the self-readings, the manager is required to make a further attempt to read the arc of the year.

The manager is required to perform readings in a manner that allows, in the event of a dispute, the production of evidence of the values expressed by the meter and used for billing purposes, for example through photographic documentation.

Furthermore, in rural areas, most of the meters are located inside the users' properties, often installed in underground wells that are difficult to reach, and whose reading, assuming that the user is available, requires a not negligible time (access to the property, opening the cockpit, cleaning the dial, photographic detection, closing the cockpit).

In particular, currently, the operator appointed by the manager to carry out the readings needs the user to allow him access to the property where the meter is located. After entering the property, the clerk will have to open the cockpit where the meter is located, clean the dial of the latter, take a picture of the dial and close the cockpit, all with a considerable waste of time.

A remote reading system of gas and water consumption is known, comprising: at least one photo-reading device, positioned above the water consumption meter, suitable for taking photographic measurements of the numerical indicator of the meter and sending them to a receiving device, called "concentrator" and equipped with two antennas, one for radio frequencies and one for GSM / GPRS networks. The concentrator collects the data coming from the photo-reading device and sends them to a database, accessible both by the manager and by users.

Said reading system therefore requires the fixed installation of a plurality of said concentrators distributed throughout the territory according to the arrangement of the meters.

This reading system does not require the intervention of operators who have to physically go to each meter. However, this system is not conveniently applicable in particular territories, where the meters are very distant from each other, such as in rural or mountainous or hilly areas.

In these situations, in fact, the installation of said "concentrators", ie of the entire communication network, is not economically convenient.

In addition to this, this reading system cannot be used by users directly, but only indirectly through access to the service network. The system in question arises from the need of water or gas service managers to reduce the costs of reading the meters, as well as avoiding the installation of complex and expensive data communication systems. REMOTE READING SYSTEM

The new electronic system for the remote reading of consumption meters, for utilities such as water or gas supply, consists in its main parts of:

- at least one photo-reading device mounted on a meter and adapted to photograph at least the numerical indicator or totalizer of said meter,

at least one electronic device in the possession of the user or operator responsible for reading, said electronic device being able to communicate remotely with said photo-reading device,

at least one application installed on said at least one electronic device,

and where said electronic device, by means of said application, requires said photo-reading device to perform at least one photo-reading of said numerical indicator of the meter and to send said photo-reading, and possibly also the data relating thereto, to the portable electronic device itself.

Said application, installed in said at least one portable electronic device, is dedicated to the connection with the photo-reading devices installed on the meters.

In particular, the new system includes an application for the user, through which the user can make and send self-readings to the manager, or receive notifications or communications from the latter.

In addition, the system includes an application intended for operator operators, installation and reading personnel, who will be able not only to read, but also program the parameters of the photo-reading device, such as the user code, the identification of the meter, GPS coordinates for geolocation, firmware update, etc ...

PHOTOLETTING DEVICE

In particular, said photo-reading device in turn comprises:

at least one device for the acquisition of images or camera or micro-camera suitable for being positioned in such a way as to frame at least the upper part of the meter, and suitable for photographing at least the area with the consumption indicator or totalizer and any identification code of the meter and / or user; said micro-camera is for example equipped with a LED flash or other device suitable for allowing the acquisition of images in low light conditions;

at least one microprocessor to collect and process the data collected by the micro-camera;

at least one radio module for receiving the data received from said microprocessor and for transmitting said data to said portable electronic device; said radio module communicates via radio signals, for example with Bluetooth® Low Energy / Bluetooth® technology, wifi, NFC, or other protocols in the ISM band, or in frequency bands dedicated to sensor networks, or cellular networks; power supply means, for example and suitably one or more batteries.

Said components of said photo-reading device are preferably mounted on a suitable printed circuit; in particular, said at least one micro-camera is turned towards the dial of the meter and placed in a suitable position for photographing said dial and in particular at least the totalizer of the meter.

Said at least one microprocessor receives the commands sent via radio from said at least one portable electronic device, such as for example a smartphone, tablet or PC, commands the micro-camera to take at least one photo, collects the data detected by said micro-camera, processes them using software dedicated, and sends them to said radio module for remote transmission. Said electronic device will therefore receive at least the photograph that has been taken, and possibly also other data relating thereto, such as for example numerical values detected, date and time of the survey, etc.

Said at least one radio module can be either in the form of a pre-assembled module, i.e. composed of a main integrated transceiver circuit and an antenna, mounted on a small dedicated printed circuit, or the individual components, i.e. transceiver circuit and antenna, can be used. to be mounted on said main printed circuit. The radio technology used is preferably that provided for by the various standards Bluetooth®, Bluetooth® Low Energy, Bluetooth® Smart, Bluetooth® Smart Ready and any other Bluetooth® version that is implemented in the future, but depending on the applications and technical requirements they can be used also WiFi technologies, and future versions, NFC, and future versions, or any protocol for communication networks in the ISM band, or in frequency bands dedicated to cellular networks or sensor networks.

Any radio protocol that can connect said photo-reading device with an electronic device such as a tablet, smartphone or PC can be used to control the device and transmit data remotely.

The radio module can also be adapted to communicate with other devices suitable for remote reading, for example if networks are installed for remote reading of sensors scattered throughout the territory, with frequency bands dedicated to this type of applications.

In the case of specific applications, the radio module can also be of the 3G / 4G / 5G type or any future type for connection also with cellular communication networks.

Said photo-reading device also conveniently comprises at least one containment body, for example made of plastic material, of a shape that can be applied to most existing water or gas meters. The installation of said photo-reading device, therefore, does not affect or influence in any way the metrological part of the meters. In order to ensure photo-reading, said photo-reading device is suitably installed above the totalizer / quadrant to be photographed.

For this purpose, said containment body also comprises at least one transparent part or window which allows the micro-camera to view the quadrant or totalizer.

Said containment body also comprises at least one further part or transparent window suitable for allowing normal reading / inspection of the totalizer / dial with the naked eye, even with the device installed. Said containment body also includes external seals and / or along the perimeter of the junction of any parts that compose it, designed to ensure an adequate level of water and humidity tightness, especially where the meters are installed in underground wells, and therefore subject to flooding.

Said containment body also includes a compartment or space for housing one or more supply batteries, which will be sized in number and capacity (mAh) according to the required application.

Said photo-reading device is also structured or equipped so as not to be tampered with by the user or by any other person not authorized by the manager, for example by means of a leaded wire to be tied between said photo-reading device and the meter.

The sealing acts as a guarantee, in the event of a dispute, where the photo-reading is not able to directly capture the identification number of the meter, for example because this number is engraved on the outer metal ring of the meter. In this case, in fact, the sealing establishes a safe association between the meter and the reading device. In addition to this, the sealing constitutes a deterrent against any theft or tampering of the photo-reading device.

1) SELF-READING BY THE USER

The user who wishes to carry out the self-reading of the meter, will only have to approach it with said at least one electronic device, for example a smartphone or tablet, activate the function for radio communication, for example via Bluetooth® or other supported radio technology, open the application dedicated to users and installed on said electronic device and, following the instructions, connect to said photo-reading device installed on the meter.

The correct association between the identification code of the meter and the user code allows the connection of said electronic device only with the photo-reading device installed on the meter associated with the specific user, and not with others.

This photo-reading device will, upon receiving a command from the application installed on said photo-reading device, take a photo of the dial of the meter, and in particular of at least the totalizer and the identification code, if the latter is also imprinted on the dial in numeric or barcode form. The captured photo will be sent to the user's electronic device.

It is then possible to provide that said acquired photo can be sent to the manager or by common means of e-mail or by accessing the manager's site, or through the same application, with which said photo can be sent to the manager's servers and stored by the same user.

The whole operation can be done without the user having to open the cockpit or cabin in which the meter is contained, but simply approach it.

2) READING BY AN OPERATOR APPOINTED BY THE MANAGER

Using the new reading system, the operator in charge does not have to directly access the meter, as is currently the case, but can remain outside the boundaries of the property, simply by approaching the manhole that contains it, most of which are generally located near the borders, and therefore without requiring the presence of the user.

The operator will only have to approach with his own electronic device to the pit where the meter is located, without having to open the pit itself, activate the radio communication function, for example via Bluetooth® or other supported radio technology, open the application dedicated to the operator's operators and installed on said electronic device and, following its instructions, connect to said photo-reading device installed on the meter.

The application for the operators will be able to connect with any of said photo-reading devices, drawing the associations between the user code and the serial numbers of the meter from a database provided by the manager.

Once connected with said electronic device of the attendant, the photo-reading device will, receiving a command from the application, take a picture of the dial of the meter, and therefore of the totalizer and the identification code, if the latter is also imprinted on the dial in numeric or barcode form.

The photo will be sent to said electronic device and, through the same application, it can be sent to the manager's servers instantly, via 4G data network or other technology, or stored in memory to be sent in bulk at the end of the day together with the other readings made.

The manager's server will be able to send a notification to the mobile phone of users whose meters have been read, as well as the photo taken by the employee, as a notification of the reading.

The operator can also, through his own electronic device and the application installed in it, use other functions such as: geolocation of each meter on a map, checking the battery charge status of the photo-reading devices with which it connects, programming any additional parameters and functions, software update via radio, if necessary.

3) MONITORING APPLICATIONS

Said photo-reading device, equipped with suitable software, can also be used as a continuous consumption monitoring device (data logger).

In this way, the user can set the photo-reading device, again using a dedicated application for portable or even non-portable electronic devices, such as a PC capable of connecting via radio, to periodically take pictures of the meter on which it is installed, and send them to the user's electronic device or to a server. The user, but also the manager, can thus promptly detect and document any losses or abnormal consumption.

It is also possible to provide for a power supply to the device also via cable, where conditions allow it (for example in industrial environments).

BENEFITS

The advantages deriving from the use of this system by the managers are obvious:

- The presence of the user is no longer necessary, as the reading can take place with an operator who remains outside the boundaries of the property, thus drastically reducing the number of failed reading attempts and the consequent obligation to retry;

It is no longer necessary to open the wells to access the meters, thanks to the wireless connection; consequently the time taken to carry out each single reading is drastically reduced; Increase in productivity: with the same number of hours of work and the number of operators, the number of readings made increases significantly.

The user can carry out self-reading and send it to the manager for billing even more frequently than required by law, thus also monitoring the presence of any malfunctions or anomalous values;

Given the time and costs that would result from the installation of a sensor network in rural areas, this solution is an excellent alternative to the network or as an integrative solution to the network itself.

The characteristics of the new system will be better clarified by the following description with reference to the drawing table, attached as a non-limiting example.

Figure 1 schematizes the new system (1), in which a photo-reading device (2) applied to a meter (A), not the subject of this patent, a portable electronic device (3) in use by a user, is represented, a portable electronic device (4) in use by an operator.

In the example of the figures, the new system (1) is applied to a water consumption meter (A) of the known type, installed on a pipe (A1), and comprising an upper part (A2) on which there is a quadrant with numerical indicators or totalizer, to display consumption, and possibly also an identification code.

The new electronic system (1) for the remote reading of consumption meters, for utilities such as water or gas supply, includes at least one photo-reading device (2) which photographs at least the numerical indicator or totalizer of a meter (A) .

Said photo-reading device (2) in turn comprises a containment body (21) adapted to be fastened above said meter (A), and comprises at least one device for acquiring images or camera or micro-camera (22) suitable for be positioned so as to frame at least said upper part (A2) of the meter (A), and suitable for photographing at least the area with the consumption indicator or totalizer and any identification code of the meter and / or user.

Said photo-reading device (2) comprises, in its preferred embodiment, a printed circuit (23) on which at least one microprocessor is mounted, able to collect and process the data collected by the micro-camera (22), at least one radio module, for reception and transmission of the data received by said microprocessor, and power supply means, for example one or more batteries.

Said at least one microprocessor has the functions of:

receiving the commands sent via radio from an electronic device, preferably of the portable type (3, 4), such as a smartphone, a tablet or a dedicated device for use by a user or an operator; - collect and process the data detected by said micro-camera (22); sending said data to said radio module.

Said radio module in turn comprises at least one transceiver circuit and an antenna, and communicates via radio signals, for example with Bluetooth® technology of any type, WiFi, NFC, or other, with said at least one electronic device (3, 4) .

At least one application is installed in said electronic device (3, 4), and where said electronic device (3, 4), by means of said application, requests said photo-reading device (2) to perform at least one photo-reading of said numerical indicator of the meter (A) and to send said photo-reading, and / or the data relating thereto, to the portable electronic device itself (3, 4).

The system (1) provides for two types of operation.

The first type provides that said application can be used by the user, for example of the water supply service, and is installed on an electronic device (3) used by the user, such as his own smartphone or tablet or PC with module radio communication.

This first type of operation, which allows the user to perform self-readings relating to consumption as well as monitoring any anomalous values, includes the following phases:

1) The user who wishes to carry out self-reading of the meter (A) brings his electronic device (3) close to the meter (A) on which a photo-reading device (2) is installed;

2) The user activates the radio communication function on his electronic device (3) and, through said application installed on said electronic device (3), connects to said photo-reading device (2); the application verifies the association between the identification code of the meter (A) and the identification code of the user, or user code, allowing the electronic device (3) of the user to connect only with the photo-reading device (2) installed on the meter (A) associated with the user himself;

3) The user sends to said photo-reading device (2) the command to detect a photographic image relative to the dial of the meter (A);

4) Said radio module transmits to said microprocessor the command to detect said photographic image through said micro-camera (22). Said micro-camera (22) of the photo-reading device (2) then takes a photograph of the dial of the meter (A), in which at least the totalizer and the identification code can be detected, if the latter is also imprinted on the dial in numeric or barcode form.

5) Said microprocessor acquires said photo and sends it, through the radio module, to said electronic device (3) of the user.

It is then possible to foresee that said acquired photo can be sent to the manager (C), via mobile phone network or internet connection (B), for example using said same app.

The second type provides that this application can be used by the operators of the manager, in charge of installation and reading, who will be able not only to read, but also to program the parameters of the photo-reading device (2), such as the user code, the identification code, GPS coordinates for geolocation, firmware update, etc ...

This second type of operation involves the following phases:

1) The operator who has to read a meter (A) brings his electronic device (4) close to the meter (A) on which a photo-reading device (2) is installed;

2) The operator activates the function for radio communication on his electronic device (4) and, through said application installed on said electronic device (4), connects to said photo-reading device (2); with said application for the operator, the electronic device (4) can be connected with any photo-reading device (2), associating a user code with an identification code of a meter (A) by means of a database provided by the manager (C);

3) The operator sends to said photo-reading device (2) the command to detect a photographic image relative to the dial of the meter (A);

4) Said radio module transmits to said microprocessor the command to detect said photographic image through said micro-camera (22). Said micro-camera (22) of the photo-reading device (2) then takes a photograph of the dial of the meter (A), in which at least the totalizer and the identification code can be detected, in the event that the latter is also imprinted on the dial in numeric or barcode form;

5) Said microprocessor acquires said photo and sends it, through the radio module, to said electronic device (4) of the operator.

The photo can be sent to the manager's servers (C) instantly, via the network (B) or stored in memory to be sent in bulk at the end of the day together with the other readings made.

It is also possible to provide that said radio module of the photo-reading device (2) can also communicate with other photo-reading devices or with other devices suitable for remote reading, for example in the case in which networks for remote reading of the sensors scattered in the territory, with frequency bands dedicated to this type of applications.

In the case of specific applications, the radio module can also be of the 3G / 4G / 5G type or any future type for connection also with cellular communication networks.

These are the schematic modalities sufficient for the skilled person to realize the invention, consequently, in concrete application there may be variations without prejudice to the substance of the innovative concept.

Therefore, with reference to the preceding description and to the attached table, the following claims are expressed.

Claims (13)

CLAIMS 1. Electronic system (1) for remote reading of consumption meters (A), for service users such as water or gas supply, comprising at least one photo-reading device (2) installed on a meter (A) and suitable for acquire at least the images relating to the numerical indicator or totalizer of said meter (A), characterized in that said system (1) also comprises: at least one electronic device (3, 4) in use by a user or operator, able to communicate remotely with said photo-reading device (2); at least one application installed on said at least one electronic device (3, 4) and dedicated to the connection with said photo-reading device (2); and where said electronic device (3, 4), by means of said application, communicates with said photo-reading device (2) to request to perform at least one photo-reading of said numerical indicator of the meter (A) and to send said photo-reading to the electronic device (3 , 4) itself. 2. System (1) as per claim 1, characterized in that said photo-reading device (2) in turn comprises: at least one device for image acquisition or camera or micro camera (22) suitable for being positioned so as to frame at least the upper part (A2) of the meter (A), and suitable for photographing at least the area with the indicator or totalizer consumption and any identification code of the meter and / or user; at least one microprocessor adapted to receive and process the commands sent via radio from said electronic device (3, 4) and to collect and process the data collected by said microcamera (22), at least one radio module for receiving the data received from said microprocessor and for transmitting said data to said portable electronic device (3, 4). System (1) as per claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said photo-reading device (2) also comprises one or more supply batteries and / or at least one cable for connection to the electrical supply network. 4. System (1) as per claim 2, characterized in that said photo-reading device (2) communicates with said electronic device (3, 4) through radio signals with Bluetooth® Low Energy and / or Bluetooth® Smart technology and / or Bluetooth® Smart Ready and / or wifi and / or NFC and / or other protocols in the ISM band and / or in frequency bands dedicated to sensor networks and / or cellular networks. 5. System (1) as per claim 1, characterized in that said electronic device (3, 4) is of the portable type, such as a smartphone, a tablet or a dedicated device. 6. System (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said remote reading device (2) comprises a body (21) for containing said components able to be connected to said meter (A) and gaskets suitable for ensure an adequate level of water and humidity tightness. 7. System (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said photo-reading device (2) comprises 8. System (1), as per any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one management server (C) able to exchange data with said electronic device (3, 4), said data being transmitted through any network cellular communication (B). 9. System (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said electronic device (3), in use to the user of the water or gas supply service, is able to communicate, by means of said application, with said microprocessor of the photo-reading device (2) installed on a meter (A), and where said application checks the identification code of said meter (A), detected by said photo-reading device (2), compares it with the user's code, allowing or disallowing communication between said electronic device (3) and said photo-reading device (2). 10. System (1) as per one or more of claims 1 to 9, characterized by the fact that said electronic device (4), in use by an operator of the water or gas supply service manager, is able to communicate, by means of said application, with said microprocessor of the photo-reading device (2) installed on a meter (A), and where said application controls the identification code of said meter (A), detected by said photo-reading device (2), associates it with a user code by means of a database, and associates the photo-reading sent by said photo-reading device (2) to said user code. System (1) as per claim 10, characterized in that said application installed on said electronic device (4), in use by an operator, allows said electronic device (4) to program the parameters of said photo-reading device ( 2). 12. System (1) as per one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of said photo-reading devices (2) mounted on relative meters (A) distributed throughout the territory, and where said radio module of said photo reading (2) communicate with each other. System (1) as per claim 12, characterized in that it comprises a communication network with one or more devices for remote reading and where said radio module of said photo-reading devices (2) communicate with said devices for remote reading.