Abstract:
A method of remotely reading electricity consumption data in a system that includes isolated electricity meters and a server for processing consumption data. Each isolated electricity meter being provided with communications means for transmitting the consumption data specific thereto over a communications network of the wired or mobile telephone network type. The consumption data from a plurality of isolated meters is initially transmitted over the wired or mobile telephone type communications network to a unit that collects and stores temporarily the consumption data from a plurality of isolated meters, and the consumption data stored temporarily by the unit is subsequently sent in grouped manner to the server. The invention relates to energy distribution networks.

Description:
[0001]    The invention relates to remotely establishing an electricity consumption data statement in a system that includes a server for processing consumption data, which server is in communication with electricity meters that transmit said data. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Drawing up a statement for an electricity meter consists in recovering data representative of electricity consumption as measured by the meter, e.g. for the purpose of establishing a bill for the consumption. This operation may be performed by a technician who notes the consumption data displayed by each meter, but several methods are known for reading meters remotely that make it possible to avoid using such a technician. 
         [0003]    Each meter is then fitted with a modem in order to set up a connection with a consumption data processing server in order to transfer consumption data from each meter to the server. 
         [0004]    The connection used is generally a data transmission connection making use in particular of a wired or mobile telephone type network, which data may be transmitted to the telephone network over various channels. 
         [0005]    The data may be transmitted via a channel of a public switched telephone network (PSTN), i.e. over a wired connection using a modem of the type used to connect a computer to an Internet access supplier, generally referred to as a PSTN modem. 
         [0006]    The data may also be transmitted over a GMS/Data channel, i.e. via a wireless connection using a modem that is similar to those fitted to mobile telephones of the GMS type (global system for mobile communication). Data transmission then takes place in a manner analogous to transmitting text messages in the short message service (SMS) format. 
         [0007]    The data may also be transmitted to the telephone network over a global packet radio service (GPRS) channel, i.e. a connection set up by a high data rate wireless modem of the GPRS type. 
         [0008]    Concretely, the consumption data from each meter is transferred meter by meter to the server, since each meter needs to set up a call with the server in order to transfer its data. 
         [0009]    In practice, the large number of telephone connections needed for reading all of the isolated meters in a set of meters mobilizes a large fraction of the resources of the server. The resources available for processing the data proper are thus reduced, thereby penalizing the time required for processing all of the consumption data. 
       OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The object of the invention is to provide a solution for remedying the above drawbacks. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    To this end, the invention provides a method of remotely reading electricity consumption data in a system that includes isolated electricity meters and a server for processing consumption data from each isolated meter, each isolated electricity meter being provided with communications means for transmitting the consumption data specific thereto over a communications network of the wired or mobile telephone network type, wherein the consumption data from a plurality of isolated meters is initially transmitted over the wired or mobile telephone type communications network to a unit that collects and stores temporarily the consumption data from a plurality of isolated meters, and wherein the consumption data stored temporarily by the unit is subsequently sent in grouped manner to the server. 
         [0012]    With this solution, consumption data coming from isolated meters is sent to the server in grouped manner, such that the server no longer needs to set up telephone connections. The server thus has more resources available for processing the data proper. 
         [0013]    The invention also provides a method as defined above, in which the consumption data from a plurality of distinct isolated meters is converted into a common format prior to being sent to the server. 
         [0014]    The server may thus be configured to process input data in a single format, thereby contributing to improving the performance of the server concerning data processing. 
         [0015]    The invention also provides a system for implementing the above method, in which the server and the collection and temporary storage unit for the consumption data correspond to distinct computer terminals. 
         [0016]    With this architecture, the collection of the data and its processing may thus be performed by different operators, as often happens in practice. 
         [0017]    The invention also provides a system as defined above, in which the unit for collection and temporary storage of consumption data comprises a plurality of computer terminals that are interconnected by a local network, and the consumption data from the isolated meters is stored in at least two distinct terminals in redundant manner. 
         [0018]    The invention also provides a system as defined above, in which the unit for collection and temporary storage of consumption data includes a computer terminal dedicated to transferring data from each isolated meter towards the unit. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a diagram of the system in which the invention is implemented. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is another diagram showing a collection and storage unit of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    The system shown in  FIG. 1  comprises a set or three separate meters identified by  1 ,  2 , and  3  that are physically close to one another. The meters are united in clusters by being connected to a single terrain concentrator referenced  4 , via a power line carrier current data transmission connection referenced  6 . 
         [0022]    The terrain concentrator  4  is suitable for bidirectional data exchange with each of the three meters  1 ,  2 , and  3  so as to interrogate them in turn in order to recover consumption data from each of the meters. The terrain concentrator  4  is fitted with a modem  7  for transmitting the consumption data of these various meters  1 ,  2 , and  3  in grouped manner to a data processor server, given reference  8 . 
         [0023]    The modem  7  is of the GPRS type for wireless data transmission in then form of packets via a data transmission connection making use in particular of a wired and/or mobile telephone type communications network given reference  9 . 
         [0024]    The network  9  is a wired or mobile telephone network serving in particular to transfer digital data by wire or wirelessly. Data may be transferred to the network  9  by wire via a PSTN or other type of modem. Data may also be transferred to the network  9  wirelessly, via a GSM/Data type modem or indeed by GPRS. 
         [0025]    In the present example, the modem  7  transmits data into the network  9  by GPRS, represented symbolically by a dashed line referenced  10 . The connection over which data is transmitted from the modem  7  to the server  8  then travels via an Ethernet connection referenced  11 , over which the data that has been conveyed by the telephone network  9  is delivered to the server  8 . 
         [0026]    When the data representative of the consumption of each of the meters  1  to  3  is received by the server  8 , it is broken down and processed thereby, e.g. in order to draw up corresponding consumption statements. 
         [0027]    This system also includes three isolated meters  12 ,  13 , and  14 . The first isolated meter  12  is fitted with a GPRS modem belonging specifically thereto, identified by reference  16  or transmitting data to the telephone network  9  via a GPRS channel referenced  17 , which data relates to consumption by that portion of the electricity network that is metered by this meter. 
         [0028]    The second isolated meter  13  is also fitted with its own modem, given reference  18 . This modem is of the GSM/Data type for transmitting data to the telephone network  9  over a GSM/Data channel referenced  19 , which data relates to the consumption of the portion of the electricity network it meters. The third isolated meter  14  is fitted with a PSTN type modem given reference  21 , in order to transmit data to the telephone network  9  via a PSTN channel given reference  22 , which data relates to the consumption of that portion of the electricity network that is metered by this meter. 
         [0029]    Thus, via the communications means as constituted by the modems  16 ,  18 , and  21 , the three isolated meters  12 ,  13 , and  14  transmit the corresponding consumption data in individual manner to the telephone network  9 . 
         [0030]    The data transmitted by each of these three meters  12 ,  13 , and  14  is conveyed over the telephone network  9  so as to be subsequently transferred via a connection  24 , possibly of the Ethernet type, to a unit  23  for collection and temporary storage of the data, said connection  24  connecting the unit  23  to the telephone network  9 . 
         [0031]    Thus, the transmission line over which the data from each isolated meter  12 ,  13 ,  14  is transferred passes in succession via: the telephone network  9 , by means of a PSTN, GMS/Data, or indeed GPRS channel; then the wired connection  24  so as to reach the unit  23  for collection and temporary storage of the data. The consumption data from the various isolated meters such as the meters  12 ,  13 , and  14  is then sent in grouped manner to the server  8  via another wired connection  26  connecting the unit  23  to the server  8 . 
         [0032]    The unit  23  thus collects the consumption data coming from each isolated meter  12 ,  13 ,  14  in order to store it prior to sending it in grouped manner to the server  8 . As shown diagrammatically in  FIG. 1 , the server  8  may be connected for this purpose to the unit  23  via a wired connection  26  such as an Ethernet connection. 
         [0033]    Since the server  8  receives the consumption data from the isolated meters  12  to  14  in grouped manner, it processes that data in the same manner as if it were receiving consumption data coming from meters united in a cluster in order to establish consumption statements. 
         [0034]    The temporary data collection and storage unit  23  constitutes a virtual concentrator given that it presents the server  8  with data that is grouped in the same manner as if it had been aggregated by the terrain concentrator situated upstream from the telephone network  9 , even though it is in fact aggregated downstream from the telephone network  9 . 
         [0035]    The unit  23  is shown diagrammatically in  FIG. 2 . It comprises a plurality of computer terminals connected together by a local network  28 , and also connected to the telephone network  9  and to the server  8  via wired connections  24  and  26 . 
         [0036]    More particularly, the unit  23  has a telephone call terminal  29  suitable for connecting to each of the isolated meters  12 ,  13 ,  14  via the telephone network  9  in order to recover the consumption data from said meters. 
         [0037]    Once the data from a meter has been received in the terminal  29 , it is forwarded to a second terminal, given reference  31 , that constitutes a data distributor. The distributor  31  sends the received consumption data to a plurality of other terminals, here referenced  32  and  33 , that constitute redundant storage terminals. 
         [0038]    The storage terminals  32  and  33  are connected to a routing terminal  34  so as to provide the server  8  with the consumption data they have stored temporarily. 
         [0039]    In practice, once the consumption data from a sufficient quantity of isolated meters has been stored in the terminals  32  and  33  of the unit  23 , the data is transmitted to the server  8  by the routing terminal  34 . 
         [0040]    This transmission may take place in packets, in application of the communications protocol used between the unit  23  and the server  8 , but with the consumption data from a plurality of isolated meters being transferred in grouped manner in a single transmission. 
         [0041]    It should be observed that in general, bidirectional communication is established between each isolated meter  12  and  13  and the unit  23 : the unit  23  interrogates each isolated meter in succession in order to request the transmission of consumption data, with the data from each isolated meter being collected in entirely autonomous manner by the unit  23 . Analogously, software updates for the system in each isolated meter may be transmitted by the unit  23  for installation in the meters. 
         [0042]    In the example shown in the figures, the unit  23  is embodied by computer terminals that are distinct from the terminal running the server. However the unit  23  may also be constituted merely by a software application that is distinct from the application constituting the server  8 . The application constituting the unit  23  and the server  8  may thus be run on a single computer terminal. 
         [0043]    The invention provides the following advantages in particular: 
         [0044]    It enables isolated electricity meters to be managed using a server that is dedicated to processing information coming from meters united in clusters, without there being any need to modify the server. 
         [0045]    So far as the server is concerned, there is no difference in how it handles meters that are united in clusters and meters that are isolated, since the data coming from the terrain concentrator  4  and the data coming from the unit  23  is all addressed to the server  8  in the same format. The unit  23  thus provides the same logical interface as the terrain concentrator  4 . 
         [0046]    The unit  23  thus serves to reduce the load on the server, since the server no longer has to handle communications with each isolated meter, nor does it need to handle a diary telling it when isolated meters need to be read. 
         [0047]    The resources needed for operating the server are thus reduced and server optimization is made significantly easier by the fact that it needs to handle only one format input data. 
         [0048]    Because of the redundancy of the data storage terminals  32  and  33 , the consumption data that has been collected in the unit  23  will not be lost.