Patent Publication Number: US-10771869-B2

Title: Radio and advanced metering device

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/035,730, filed Jul. 16, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,425,704, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/576,380, filed Oct. 24, 2017, both of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates generally to metering systems and more specifically to a module that provides radio and advanced processing capabilities to a host device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Metering devices are deployed at businesses, homes, and other premises for measuring consumption of resources, such as electricity, water, and gas. Some metering devices provide only basic metering functions, whereas other metering devices provide advanced metering functions, as well as communications functions. 
     It may be desirable to provide advanced metering and communications functions to a metering device that provides only basic metering functions. One option is to redesign the meter to provide the additional functions. However, this option may require extensive design and testing, which may be costly and time consuming. Hence, other solutions are needed for easily upgrading a basic metering system with advanced functionality. 
     SUMMARY 
     Certain aspects and features include an advanced metering system. In an example, a multi-device module includes a host device interface configured to connect to a host device. The host device interface includes a communications interface configured to send communications to and receive communications from the host device. The host device interface also includes a power interface configured to provide power to the multi-device module. The host device interface further includes an antenna interface configured to connect a radio on the multi-device module with an antenna on the host device. The radio is configurable to transmit radio frequency signals to a wireless network via the antenna interface. The radio is further configurable to receive radio frequency signals from the wireless network via the antenna interface. The advanced metering system also includes a computing device communicatively coupled to the communications interface and to the radio. The computing device may provide advanced metering functions. In one example, the computing device is configurable to provide interval data functions by receiving resource consumption information from a metering device on the host device via the communications interface. The computing device is further configurable to process the resource consumption information to generate interval data, wherein the interval data indicates consumption over at least one interval period. The computing device is further configurable to store the interval data in memory on the multi-device module, generate an interval data message that includes at least a portion of the interval data, and cause the radio to send the interval data message via the wireless network to a central system. 
     These illustrative examples are mentioned not to limit or define the disclosure, but to provide examples to aid understanding thereof. Additional examples and further description are provided in the Detailed Description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure are better understood when the following Detailed Description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, where: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary radio and advanced metering device. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary layout of a radio and advanced metering device. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary block diagram of a host device with a radio and advanced metering device. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary network of radio and advanced metering devices. 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process for resource measurement using the advanced metering device. 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram depicting an example computing system for performing functions of the advanced metering system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Aspects of the present invention relate to an integrated radio and advanced metering device. In an example, a radio and advanced metering device includes a wireless transceiver or radio and a computing device. The radio can perform communications functions such as joining a wireless mesh network or other network. The computing device can receive basic information such as resource consumption from a host device and use the information to provide advanced functions such as smart metering or home automation. 
     A radio and advanced metering device can be added to a host device, such as a low cost meter, to provide additional capabilities. The radio and advanced metering device can be a self-contained, plug-and-play module with a small form factor and a relatively low cost. Advantages of the radio and metering device include its quick and easy installation in a host device to provide enhanced functions without the need to design and test a new meter. Its small size allows the device to be installed in host devices with small form factors. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary radio and advanced metering device. Radio and advanced metering device  100  includes host device interface  102 , one or more computing devices  108   a - n , transceiver  110 , and power supply  106 . Radio and advanced metering device  100  can connect, via the host device interface  102 , to a host device such as a meter, and provide additional functionality to the host device. Radio and advanced metering device  100  includes various interfaces, such as interface  120  that connects computing devices  108   a - n  with transceiver  110 , interface  121  that connects computing device  108   a - n  with the host device interface  102 , and interface  122  that connects transceiver  110  with the RF (Radio Frequency) port  104 . Although the interfaces are shown in  FIG. 1  as separate interfaces, other configurations are possible. 
     Host device interface  102  facilitates a connection between the radio and advanced metering device  100  and the host device. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the host device interface  102  can provide multiple connections to the host device. Computing devices  108   a - n  may receive communications from the host device and in some instances may also send communications to the host device using a communications interface of the host device interface  102 . Host device interface  102  can support protocols such as universal serial bus (USB), universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter (UART), serial connection, or other protocols for communications between the host device and the radio and advanced metering device. Host device interface  102  can include analog connections such as raw meter outputs, digital connections such as digital pulses generated from metering devices, or other signals. Connection via a USB connection allows the host device interface  102  to receive power and signaling. Host device interface  102 , via the communications interface can receive communications from a host device that is configured to communicate with a head-end system via power-line communications, i.e., communications that are transmitted over a power delivery line. 
     Radio and advanced metering device  100  can have one or more computing devices  108   a - n . Code space for one or more applications may reside on one device and additional code space may reside on another device. A communications stack may reside on the same device as the code space for an application or a different device. Exemplary advanced metering applications may provide interval data, tariffication, event logging, load control, QOS (quality of service), outage detection, load disaggregation, load forecasting, usage analytics, distributed energy resource management, load switch management, appliance fault detection, and thermostat control. Other types of applications are also supported that provide enhanced functions, including wireless communications, to a host device. 
     Host device interface  102  can also provide RF port  104  or antenna interface, which can connect to an antenna or Radio Frequency subsystem, e.g., an amplifier, etc. located on the host device. RF port  104  enables transceiver  110  to send or receive communications, e.g., via an external antenna such as antenna  308  depicted in  FIG. 3 . 
     Computing devices  108   a - n  can communicate with devices that are external to the radio and advanced metering device via transceiver  110 . Transceiver  110  may support any type of communications protocol including, but not limited to a wireless standard, such as IEEE 802.15.4, a proprietary wireless protocol, or a cellular standard. Transceiver  110  implements communications functions. Example communications functions are encoding, decoding, encryption, or decryption of digital messages, and multiplexing or demultiplexing of signals, e.g., TDMA, CDMA, or FDMA. Other example functions are the modulation or demodulation of signals on to carrier signals. 
     Power supply  106  can receive power from the host device via host device interface  102  The host device may be powered by a battery or by another power source. When the host device is an electric meter, it may be a mains powered device. Power supply  106  can provide regulated power to other components (e.g., computing devices  108   a - n , or transceiver  110 ). In this manner, the host device interface  102  allows power from the host device to power the components of the radio and advanced metering device via a power interface of the host device interface. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary layout of a radio and advanced metering device.  FIG. 2  depicts example radio and metering device  200 . Radio and metering device  200  includes a computing device  108   a  and transceiver  110 . Radio and advanced metering device  200  can also include a front end module, memory, a clock, a regulator, and other components. The arrangement and layout depicted in  FIG. 2  are one example of a multi-device module. Other arrangements and layouts are possible. 
     In one example, the radio and metering device  200  can use a multi-device-module or a multi-chip module (MCM) with a land grid array (LGA) package, which may be soldered directly to a circuit board of a host device. In this example, all components, e.g., computing device  108 , transceiver  110 , etc., are located on one side of a printed circuit board (PCB). The components are encapsulated and covered by a shield to prevent tampering. The MCM has pads, or attachment points, on the opposite side or underside of the PCB (not shown). The radio and advanced metering device  200  can use other types of packaging such as system-in-package (SiP), chip-scale packaging (CSP), stacked integrated circuits, three-dimensional integrated circuits, a PCB connected via a connector on the host device, etc. 
     To minimize the size of the device, the radio and metering device may be designed to minimize the number of components, to use small components, and/or to optimize the layout of the components. For example, radio and advanced metering device  200  can use a single integrated circuit that contains both the radio transceiver and a microcontroller with additional built-in functions such as memory, etc. In one exemplary implementation, the radio and advanced metering device has dimensions of 22 mm×23 mm. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary block diagram of a metering system  300  that includes a host device and a radio and advanced metering device. The host device includes radio and advanced metering device  306 , metering device  304 , meter interface  302 , antenna  308 , and power supply  310 . Radio and advanced metering device  306  is a device that can perform radio communications and advanced metering functions, such as radio and advanced metering device  100  depicted in  FIG. 1  or radio and advanced metering device  200  depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
     In an example, radio and advanced metering device  306  connects via a host device interface such as host device interface  102 , to devices or components, such as metering device  304 , antenna  308 , and power supply  310 . Radio and advanced metering device  306  includes metering application  330 . As described further herein, metering application  330  can perform various advanced functions, including advanced metering functions and network communications. 
     Metering device  304  can measure the consumption of water, gas, electricity, etc. When the metering device measures the consumption of electricity, the metering device  304  may measure current and/or voltage and may perform some limited analysis or calculations. Metering device  304  may send basic metering data, such as instantaneous or accumulated electrical quantities, such as KWh, VI, VA, etc. to the radio and advanced metering device  306 . 
     Radio and advanced metering device  306  can receive metering data from metering device  304  and use the data to perform additional analysis or calculations. Advanced metering functions provided by radio and advanced metering device  306  can include, but are not limited to: applications such as determining interval data, tariffication, event logging, load control, and QoS (quality of service). QoS analysis can include the analysis of data such as voltage, frequency, waveform, phase, or continuity of service. Radio and advanced metering device  306  can provide QoS analysis to meter interface  302 . Radio and advanced metering device  306  may communicate the data or other information to other devices via the radio and antenna  308 . 
     Once connected to metering device  304  and powered up, radio and advanced metering device  306  can automatically connect to a wireless network. The advanced metering functions may be pre-configured and may be adjusted over the radio link as needed. 
     Meter interface  302  is an interface used to display information. For example, meter interface  302  can display consumption, rate, and status information to a user, e.g., an end customer. Meter interface  302  can display information using light emitting diodes (LEDs)  310   a - n , each of which can indicate a status. For example, one of the LEDs  310   a - n  can indicate whether the meter is working properly or whether the meter is communicating with an external device such as a network. Meter interface  302  can also include display  314 . Display  314  can be a display such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), LED display, or any other kind of display. Display  314  can indicate a status of metering device  304  such as whether a resource is being consumed, or a status of radio and advanced metering device  306  such as whether radio and advanced metering device  306  is functional or communicating with the network. 
     Meter interface  302  can include one or more relays  312   a - n . Relays  312   a - n  can control external devices. For example, relays  312   a - n  can control signals that enable the connection of a resource to a premises such as a 120 Volt or 240 Volt supply. 
     Radio and advanced metering device  306  can communicate information to meter interface  302 , so that the information may correspond to the analysis and functions performed by the radio and advanced metering device  306 . 
     Power supply  310  can provide power to the components of the host device, as well as to radio and advanced metering device  306 . In an aspect, power supply  310  is omitted from the radio and advanced metering device  306 . Antenna  308  may be used by the radio and advanced metering device for wireless communication. Antenna  308  may be integrated on the host device PCB or may be an external antenna. In an aspect, antenna  308  is omitted from the radio and advanced metering device  306 . 
     The radio and advanced metering device  306  can execute one or more metering applications  330 . In an aspect, metering application  330  can also implement a software-defined radio. Software-defined radio components can include at least some of the communication functionality described with respect to transceiver  110 . Software-defined radio functions can include filtering, mixing, amplification, or other functions. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary network  400  of radio and advanced metering devices. The network  400  includes radio and advanced metering devices  401   a - e  and collector  450 . The collector connects the network to a headend system  460  via data network  470 . Each radio and advanced metering device  401   a - e  can be a host device with a radio and advanced metering device. Alternatively one or more of the devices may be a different type of metering device. Additional or alternative devices may also be connected to the network. Metering devices  401   a - e  can be located within a customer&#39;s premises such as a home or business. 
     Connections  420 - 426  depict wireless communications links. For example, as shown, radio and advanced metering devices  401   a  and  401   b  are connected by communication link  424 ,  401   a  and  401   c  by communications link  422 , devices  401   c  and  401   d  by communication link  423 , devices  401   a  and  401   e  by communication link  420 , devices  401   a  and  401   c  by communication link  422 , and devices  401   d  and  401   e  by communication link  421 . The network may be a wireless mesh network so the wireless communications links may change. 
     Data network  470  connects collector  450  and headend system  460 . Data network  470  can be any kind of data network, for example, wired or wireless. Advanced metering devices  401   a - e  can measure, log, and transmit data such as voltage, power, phase, or energy consumption over a period of time to collector  450 . 
     The following provides examples of some advanced functions provided by the radio and advanced metering device. 
     Interval Data 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process for an interval data metering function. At block  501 , method  500  involves receiving resource consumption information from a metering device on the host device via the communications portion of the host device interface. For example, metering device  304  provides resource consumption data to the radio and advanced metering device  306 . Resource consumption data includes voltage, current, power, phase, or energy consumption data. 
     At block  502 , method  500  involves processing the resource consumption information to generate interval data, wherein the interval data indicates consumption over at least one interval period, and storing the interval data in memory. For example, the radio and advanced metering device can determine power from voltage and current, or energy consumption over time from power and time. 
     At block  503 , method  500  involves generating an interval data message that includes at least a portion of the interval data. The interval data message may include a device identifier, or account number, and the amount of resource such as electricity consumed over one or more intervals. At block  504 , method  500  involves causing the radio to send the interval data message via the wireless network to a central system, such as a headend system. Metering application  330  causes transceiver  110  to send the message via the RF port  104  and antenna to a wireless network. The application generates and/or transmits the interval data message to meet the timing requirements of the headend system for interval data messages. A headend system connected to the wireless network receives the message and handles the message appropriately, such as by generating a bill for a user. The radio and advanced metering application also responds to any communications from the headend system regarding missing interval data. 
     Event Logging 
     In another example, metering application  330  provides event logging. For example, an event may be generated by the host device or by the radio and advanced metering device. Events can include momentary or sustained power outages. Either the host device or the radio and advanced metering device can detect such an event. The radio and advanced metering device may log information about the event in its memory. It may also generate an event message, which includes information or fields required by the headend system, and send the message to the headend according to any timing requirements of the headend system. In an aspect, the headend system maintains a list of events and associated details. 
     Load Control 
     Metering application  330  can also control devices external to the host device, such as air conditioners, heaters, or fans. In this aspect, metering application  330  can control power to the device or settings of the device. 
     User Interface 
     Metering application  330  may allow user configuration of certain functions, such as load management, by enabling a user to interact through a remote website or portal with the metering application  330 . For example, a user may log on to a portal and configure metering application  330  to turn off or adjust the settings of an appliance such as an air conditioner to meet certain consumption goals or otherwise configure metering application  330 . 
     The radio and advanced metering device  306 , using metering application  330 , can provide real-time energy usage information to a user via meter interface  302 . Metering application  330  can store historical data, such as past energy consumption, in a memory of computing device  108   a - n , and provide such data to a user for comparison purposes. Additionally, because metering application  330  can connect to a headend system, e.g., via transceiver  110  connecting to a wireless network, metering application  330  can determine applicable utility rates, e.g., kilowatt/hour, and provide accurate cost information to a user. Metering application  330  can also determine an average environmental impact. An environmental impact can be a calculation of the resource use of a change, such as turning on the air conditioner more often. An environmental impact can also be a measurement of the carbon dioxide used by burning a portion of fuel in order to generate the electricity used by a user over a period of time. 
     Firmware Updates 
     In an aspect, metering application  330  can receive firmware updates from a headend system. The updates can include security updates or functional updates. The updates may update existing functions or enable the radio and advanced metering device to provide additional functions. 
     Other Advanced Functions 
     Additional and alternative functions are also possible. In an aspect, the radio and advanced metering device  306  may receive an indication of a rotation of a dial wheel in a meter, such as a pulsed signal, over the host device interface  102  from the metering device  304 . Metering application  330  may process the pulsed signal to determine consumption or for other purposes. 
     Metering application  330  can also support local generation functions. For example, if power generators such as solar panels or a wind turbine, are installed at a premises, then metering application  330  can determine whether power is flowing back into an electric grid and provide information such as energy saved or revenue generated to a user. 
       FIG. 6  is a block diagram depicting an example computing system for performing functions of the advanced metering system, according to some aspects of the current disclosure. Some or all of the components of the computing system  600  can belong to one or more of the computing devices  108   a - n  of  FIG. 1 . For example, the metering application  330  may operate on the computing system  600 . The computing system  600  includes one or more processors  602  communicatively coupled to one or more memory devices  614 . The computing system  600  executes program code that configures the processor  602  to perform one or more of the operations described above with respect to  FIGS. 1-5 . The program code of the metering application  330 , which can be in the form of non-transitory computer-executable instructions, can be resident in the memory device  614  or any suitable computer-readable medium and can be executed by the processor  602 . Execution of such program code configures or causes the processor(s) to perform the operations described herein with respect to the computing devices  108   a - n.    
     The computing system  600  may also include an input/output (“I/O”) interface  608  that can receive input from input devices or provide output to output devices. Interface  608  may include interface  121 . The computing system  600  may be able to communicate with one or more other computing devices or computer-readable data sources using the interface  608 . 
     A bus  606  can also be included in the computing system  600 . The bus  606  can communicatively couple one or more components of the computing system  600  and allow for communication between such components. 
     While the present subject matter has been described in detail with respect to specific aspects thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing, may readily produce alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to such aspects. For example, the host device is not limited to an electricity meter. Other types of host devices are possible and include thermostats, load switches, household appliances, etc. Accordingly, it should be understood that the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of example rather than limitation and does not preclude inclusion of such modifications, variations, and/or additions to the present subject matter as would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.