Method for collecting data, sensor and supply network

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11422005-B2
Application number	US-201916715058-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 16, 2019
Priority date	Dec 14, 2018
Publication date	Aug 23, 2022
Grant date	Aug 23, 2022

Abstract

A method collects data during operation of a local sensor as a component of a supply network for distributing a consumable. The supply network contains a master in communication with the local sensor via a primary communication path. The sensor contains a measuring element which supplies, as raw measurement data, elementary measurement units. A wired primary communication path is provided between the sensor and the master. To define the measurement resolution of the sensor, the conditions for generating time stamps are defined in advance using a correlation model. The time stamps of successive items of raw measurement data are generated in the sensor on the basis of the correlation model. The time stamps are transmitted via the primary communication path so that the raw measurement data acquired by the measuring element is reconstructed using the correlation model on the basis of the time stamps received by the master, and analyzed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for collecting data of a component of a supply network for distributing a consumable, the supply network containing at least one local sensor and a master being in communication with the at least one local sensor via a primary communication path, the at least one local sensor containing a memory and a measuring element, the measuring element of the at least one local sensor supplying, as raw measurement data, elementary measurement units corresponding to at least one physical or physical/chemical variable or at least one physical or physical/chemical parameter, which comprises steps:
defining conditions for generating time stamps in advance using a correlation model in order to define a measurement resolution of the at least one local sensor;
generating the time stamps of successive items of the raw measurement data in the at least one local sensor on a basis of the correlation model;
transmitting the time stamps via the primary communication path so that the raw measurement data acquired by the measuring element is reconstructed using the correlation model on a basis of the time stamps received by the master, and analyzed;
transmitting a plurality of the time stamps as one data packet along the primary communication path; and
wherein a data transmission depends on whether a specified amount of the time stamps have been reached since a previous data transmission.

2. The method according to claim 1 , which further comprises providing a tertiary communication path between the master and a head-end.

3. The method according to claim 1 , which further comprises transmitting the time stamps in compressed form via the primary communication path.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein:
a specific value, a specific change in value or a specific difference in value of the at least one physical or physical/chemical variable or the at least one physical or physical/chemical parameter is defined within the correlation model for a purpose of assigning a time stamp; and
when the measuring element detects the specific value, the specific change in the value or the specific difference in the value, the time stamp is actuated and saved in the memory of the at least one local sensor.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a meter reading that increases in steps or incrementally and/or a value table can be modeled within the correlation model using the time stamps.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the time stamps are given a sign.

7. The method according to claim 1 , which further comprises generating a raw measurement-data stream using the correlation model on a basis of the time stamps received at the master.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein in a further course of data processing, analyzing the raw measurement-data stream on a time-historical basis with no time gaps, aside from the measurement resolution of the at least one local sensor.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the elementary measurement units are a voltage or a current.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one physical variable measured relates to a supply medium of the supply network.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein one of the at least one physical or chemical/physical parameter measured is an indicator of a volume, quality and/or composition of a fluid that is flowing through, or makes contact with, the at least one local sensor concerned.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the measuring element generates a time stamp as soon as the measuring element receives a pulse.

13. The method according to claim 1 , which further comprises transmitting the time stamps without redundancy via the primary communication path.

14. The method according to claim 1 , which further comprises deleting the time stamps in the memory of the at least one local sensor only once a transmission of the time stamps via the primary communication path has been confirmed by a receiver or the master.

15. The method according to claim 1 , which further comprises performing a hand-shake procedure as part of a transmission of the time stamps via the primary communication path.

16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein after being received, data packets or data telegrams containing the time stamps are re-assembled in a corresponding time-sequence reference.

17. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the primary communication path is a BUS system, a meter-bus (M-Bus) system, or a communication path based on Recommended Standard (RS) RS232, power-line communication (PLC) or RS485.

18. A sensor system, comprising:
a sensor having a measuring element, said sensor programmed to:
define conditions for generating time stamps in advance using a correlation model in order to define a measurement resolution of said sensor;
generate the time stamps of successive items of raw measurement data in said sensor on a bask of the correlation model;
transmit the time stamps via a primary communication path so that the raw measurement data acquired by said measuring element is reconstructed using the correlation model on a bask of the time stamps to be received by a master, and analyzed;
transmitting a plurality of the time stamps as one data packet along the primary communication path; and
wherein a data transmission depends on whether a specified amount of the time stamps have been reached since a previous data transmission.

19. A supply network for distributing a consumption medium, the supply network comprising:
at least one local sensor for generating and/or transferring raw measurement data and having a measuring element;
a master;
a wired primary communication path between said at least one local sensor and said master;
a head-end for analyzing the raw measurement data;
a tertiary communication path between said master and said head-end; and
the supply network programmed to:
define conditions for generating time stamps in advance using a correlation model in order to define a measurement resolution of said at least one local sensor;
generate the time stamps of successive items of the raw measurement data in said at least one local sensor on a basis of the correlation model;
transmit the time stamps via said wired primary communication path so that the raw measurement data acquired by said measuring element k reconstructed using the correlation model on a basis of the time stamps to be received by said master, and analyzed;
transmit, by said at feast one local sensor, a plurality of the time stamps as one data packet along the primary communication path; and
wherein a data transmission depends on whether a specified amount of the time stamps have been reached since a previous data transmission.

Assignees

• Diehl Metering Systems Gmbh
• Diehl Metering S A S
• Diehl Meterings Systems GmbH

Inventors

• Joppich-Dohlus Petra
• Kauppert Thomas
• Schmidt Achim
• Schmitz Stefan
• Sosna Christoph
• Gottschalk Klaus
• Bach Guy
• Breton Aster

Classifications

• Y04S20/30

  Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading · CPC title

• G01D9/005

  Solid-state data loggers · CPC title

• H04W4/38

  for collecting sensor information · CPC title

• G01F9/001

  with electric, electro-mechanic or electronic means (G01F9/008 and G01F9/02 take precedence) · CPC title

• G01D9/00

  Recording measured values · CPC title