Method for reading fluid meters

A device of a gateway type, referred as a gateway making it possible to remotely read a plurality of fluid meters in an automated manner in a system comprising the plurality of fluid meters, referred to as meters, each meter measuring a fluid consumption, said device being able to exchange frames according to a wireless communication standard with the plurality of fluid meters via a first communication network, and to communicate with a management entity responsible for processing in a centralised manner information representing a consumption of fluids, referred to as readings, coming from the meters via a second network, the device comprising:

• obtaining means for obtaining at least one ordered list of a plurality of ordered lists of the meters paired with said gateway, said each meter in each list of the plurality of ordered lists having been paired by implementing a pairing procedure during which said device sent to said each meter a frame, referred to as a synchronisation frame, each synchronisation frame of a plurality of synchronisation frames comprising for said each list timestamp information enabling a time of said each meter to be set and information representing one and a same start time of a next period of reading the meters by said device, said device being on standby outside each reading period of a plurality of reading periods, said each meter waking up at said same start time indicated in the synchronisation frame;
• means implemented for said each list and during said each reading period corresponding to said each list comprising:
• control means for going into active mode and running-through means for running through said each list in order, and, for said each meter;
• communication means for sending the synchronisation frame to said each meter, the start time, referred to as a next start time, contained in said synchronisation frame being identical for said each meter in said each list;
• communication means for receiving an acknowledgement for the synchronisation frame, and communication means for sending the frame requesting said each meter to provide a reading, following a reception of the acknowledgement;
• communication means for receiving the frame, referred to as a reading frame, containing a requested reading;
• and
• control means for passing to a following meter in said each list following a reception of the reading frame, said each meter going on standby following the sending the frame requesting said each meter to provide the reading;
• and
• control means for going on standby following the running through of said each list until the next start time.

A method for an automated remote reading of a plurality of fluid meters implemented in a system comprising the plurality of fluid meters, referred to as meters, each meter measuring a fluid consumption, and a gateway, the gateway being able to exchange frames according to a wireless communication standard with the plurality of fluid meters via a first communication network, and to communicate with a management entity responsible for processing in a centralised manner information representing the fluid consumption, referred to as readings, coming from the meters via a second network, the gateway defining meter reading periods during which it performs meter readings, the method comprising, for each meter and each meter reading period:

• obtaining a first start time of a meter reading period, the first start time having been obtained when a synchronisation frame is received, each synchronisation frame of a plurality of synchronisation frames comprising timestamp information enabling a time of said each meter to be set and information representing a start time of a next period of reading the meters by the gateway, said time of said each meter being identical for a set of the meters in an ordered list of the meters paired with said gateway, each synchronisation frame having been transmitted either during an implementation of a procedure of pairing between said each meter and said gateway, or during a previous meter reading period;
• waking up at the first start time;
• in an event of reception of a synchronisation frame, keeping the start time, referred to as a second start time, indicated in the synchronisation frame and transmitting an acknowledgement to the gateway for said synchronisation frame;
• in an event of reception of a frame requesting said each meter to provide a reading, sending to the gateway the frame, referred to as a reading frame, containing the requested said each meter to provide the reading, a time of sending the synchronisation frame and the frame requesting said each meter to providing the reading in the meter reading period being dependent on a position of said each meter in the ordered list;
• and
• going on standby following the sending of the reading frame until the second start time.

A device of a fluid meter type, referred to as a meter, included in a system comprising a plurality of meters, each meter measuring a fluid consumption, and a gateway, the gateway being able to exchange data according to a wireless communication standard with the plurality of meters via a first communication network, and to communicate with a management entity responsible for processing in a centralised manner information representing the fluid consumption, referred to as readings, coming from the meters via a second network, the gateway defining meter reading periods during which it makes meter readings, the device comprising:

• obtaining means for obtaining a first start time of a meter reading period, the first start time having been obtained when a synchronisation frame is received, each synchronisation frame of a plurality of synchronisation frames comprising timestamp information enabling a time of said device to be set and information representing a start time of a next period of reading the meters by the gateway, said time being identical for a set of the meters in an ordered list of the meters paired with said gateway, each synchronisation frame having been transmitted either during an implementation of a procedure of pairing between the device and said gateway, or during a previous meter reading period;
• control means for waking up the device at the first start time;
• communication means for receiving the synchronisation frame;
• storage means for storing a start time, referred to as a second start time, indicated in the synchronisation frame, and communication means for transmitting an acknowledgement to the gateway in an event of reception of the synchronisation frame;
• communication means for receiving a frame requesting said device to provide a reading;
• communication means for sending to the gateway the frame, referred to as a reading frame, containing the reading in an event of reception of the frame requesting said device to provide the reading, the time of sending the synchronisation frame and the frame requesting providing the reading in the meter reading period being dependent on a position of said device in the ordered list;
• and
• control means for putting the device on standby following the sending of the reading frame.