# US 2014/0191881 A1 · Method for remotely reading fluid meters, and meter and server associated with said method

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- Number: US 2014/0191881 A1
- Document ID: US20140191881A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/129,516
- Filed: 2012-06-26
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2011-06-27
- Assignees: Suez Environment
- Inventors: Philippe Calvez
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140191881A1

## CPC

- G01D 4/002: {Remote reading of utility meters}
- G01D 21/00: Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
- H04Q 9/00: Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
- H04Q 2209/60: for transmitting utility meters data, i.e. transmission of data from the reader of the utility meter
- H04Q 2209/845: where the measuring is synchronized between sensing devices
- Y02B 90/20: Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector (smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00)
- Y04S 20/30: Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading
- G01D: MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H04Q: SELECTING (switches, relays, selectors H01H; wireless communication networks H04W)
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
- Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS

## Abstract

The invention relates to a method for remotely reading fluid meters, according to which a meter comprises a module having a metering clock and a wireless transmitter for transmitting a frame of time-stamped remote-reading information to a server which comprises a server clock; after every N frames are transmitted, the meter module enters a receiving mode (Rx) for a period of time (ΔRx); upon receiving a frame of time-stamped information, the server determines the difference between the time information contained in the received frame and the time information provided by the server clock; then, if the difference is greater than a predetermined limit (ΔL), the server sends a reset message to the meter; upon receiving the reset message, the module of the meter updates the meter clock.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for remotely reading fluid meters, wherein a meter has a module having a meter clock and a radio transmitter/receiver for transmitting a frame of time-stamped remote-reading information to a server which has a server clock and a radio transmitter/receiver, the method comprising:
every N frames transmitted, the module of the meter enters receiving mode (Rx) for a determined period of time (ΔRx), after transmission of the frame,
upon receiving a frame of time-stamped information, the server determines the discrepancy between the time information contained in the received frame and the time information provided by the server clock,
then, if the discrepancy is greater than a predetermined limit (ΔL), the server transmits a reset message to the meter,
upon receiving the reset message, the module of the meter updates the meter clock.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The remote-reading method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number N of transmitted frames after which the meter module enters receiving mode is an integer number greater than 1.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The remote-reading method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined limit (ΔL) of the discrepancy for the transmission of a reset message is between 30 seconds and 2 minutes, in particular equal to 1 minute.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The remote-reading method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reset message has an immediate correction instruction for compensating for the determined discrepancy, and a periodical correction instruction for removing or reducing future discrepancies.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The remote-reading method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the meter module enters transmitting mode (Tx), if necessary followed by a receiving mode, according to a period (P), for returning to the quiescent state between transmissions in order to save energy.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The remote-reading method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving mode (Rx) has two phases, a first phase (Rxa) of a duration (ΔRxa) being implemented by default, and when, during the course of this first phase, the meter module begins to receive a reset message, the meter module enters, in a second phase, receiving mode (Rxb), for a duration (ΔRxb) greater than that (ΔRxa) of the first phase.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The remote-reading method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the duration (ΔRxa) of the first phase of the receiving mode is between 2 and 5 ms, in particular equal to 3 ms.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The remote-reading method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the time (ΔRx) over which the meter module enters receiving mode is between 60 ms and 200 ms, in particular equal to 120 ms.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The remote-reading method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the meter has an identifier included in each frame of time-stamped information transmitted to the server.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The remote-reading method as claimed in claim 9, wherein, following a consumption measurement, the transmission of the frame of time-stamped information is deferred in time according to a predefined program, the server using the identifier of the meter to identify the corresponding program and to take into account the deferred transmission of the frame in the calculation of the discrepancy.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A fluid meter, in particular a water or gas meter, comprising a metering device, a module with a meter clock, a radio transmitter, a radio receiver and a means for updating the meter clock, making it suitable for use according to the method as claimed in claim 1.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

A server comprising a transmitter and a receiver, a server clock and a means for measuring a discrepancy, making it suitable for use according to the method as claimed in claim 1.