WO2016079421A1

WO2016079421A1 - Distributed system for metering energy and/or fluid consumption

Info

Publication number: WO2016079421A1
Application number: PCT/FR2015/053110
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eric DUPOND; Marie DUPRIEZ; Damien GERANTON
Original assignee: Orange
Priority date: 2014-11-18
Filing date: 2015-11-18
Publication date: 2016-05-26

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for metering energy and/or fluid consumption, which includes: a consumption metering sensor (REA), a member for limiting the supply of energy and/or fluid (COM), a non-transient memory storing at least one consumption history (MEM'). In particular, the non-transient memory (MEM') is provided remotely in a remote router (RI), which also comprises means (PROC) for processing the consumption history, as well as a communication interface (IC1) with a central distribution management server (SC). The sensor and the limiting member are, in turn, grouped together in a single physical metering entity (EC), which also includes means (CC) for communicating with the router in order to send the router at least one reading of current consumption metering, from the metering sensor.

Description

Distributed energy and / or fluid consumption metering system

The invention lies in the field of counting the energy distribution and / or fluid.

Distribution networks must implement meters to measure the quantities supplied by the network to the users. Historically, these meters are physical and require the intervention of the man to raise them. Operators have begun to make the meters communicating to automate the succession through the telephone network for example. This remote reading is then rare because expensive. This mode of operation does not allow fine management of the network. As communication is rare, it does not make it possible to know the consumption profiles or the management of complex tariff plans.

The advent of technologies has led to the emergence of smart meters capable of carrying sophisticated electronic means and the computer logic necessary to memorize consumption or calculate complex tariff plans. It is then possible to implement a fine management of the network with minimal communication. However, this implementation has major drawbacks. The very high cost of the meters limits the profitability of the deployment on a very large scale. The complexity of embedded intelligence in the meters actually limits the deployment of the solution in different environments. A meter is strongly related to the element distributed to its management mode (tariff plan, contextual limitation). Changes in this intelligence go through phases of deployment on long and complex counters.

The present invention improves this situation.

It proposes for this purpose a metering system of energy consumption and / or fluid, comprising:

a consumption metering sensor,

a device for limiting power supply and / or fluid,

a non-transitory memory storing at least one consumption history.

In particular, the non-transitory memory is deported to a remote router, further comprising means for calculating the consumption history, as well as a communication interface with a central distribution management server.

The sensor and the limiting device are in turn grouped in the same physical entity, counting, further comprising a means of communication with the router to communicate to the router at least one current consumption count statement, from the sensor of counting. The term "central distribution management server" means a server generally responsible for the management of the energy distribution network and / or fluids, possibly also the billing of consumer users, for example also possible decisions of load shedding to reduce the load on the distribution network, etc.

The term "power limiting member" means a member capable of reducing or even cutting off the supply of energy and / or fluids. It can thus be used to cut the power supply in the event of fraud detection, for example, and can integrate a power limitation function, for example a load limiting function in the case of electric power distribution, in particular for load shedding applications. .

The term "non-transient memory" means that this memory can store durably (as opposed to a random access memory) including computer program instructions at least for calculating the consumption history, as well as for example:

the last index received from the physical counting entity,

the history of consumption (for example in a sliding manner over 24 hours),

calculation instructions and the calculation itself of a consumption profile (from these histories),

and possibly fraud detection / suspicion information (as detailed below).

The router having such a memory thus has virtual counter features and is hereinafter referred to as a "smart router".

It will then be understood that this intelligent router interfaces with the central distribution management server and comprises technical means including functionalities making it possible to calculate at least the consumption history recorded by at least one counting entity, possibly to check this history. , and transmit the data of this history to the central server so that the billing including the consumed resource is established by the central server for a user of the counting entity (or "user" below).

The solution of the invention then makes it possible to virtualize the logical functionalities of the counting entity. More particularly, the basic functionalities of the physical counting entity, combined with the more sophisticated functionalities of the intelligent router, make it possible to develop together a distributed virtual counter that is efficient and takes account, for example, of national regulations (application of tariff grids, management consumption monitoring thresholds, etc.). We then have the advantage of a simple and inexpensive physical equipment while taking advantage of the advent of networks to deport the intelligence of the physical counting entity with fewer intelligent routers than the physical counting entities. The improvements are as follows:

the physical metering entity installed in a user is very simple,

- the centralized intelligence allows a total flexibility of management, as well in the time (change of management mode) as in the complexity (method of calculation),

the solution is independent of the distributed element (water, gas, electricity, steam, etc.) because only the meter needs to be adapted,

the solution allows a real-time supervision of the network by its communicating nature,

- the solution allows a simplified update of the software controlling the advanced functions of the routers, thanks to the virtualization of these functions in the intelligent routers.

It becomes possible then to deploy the solution on a large scale.

Thus, in one embodiment of the system according to the invention, the non-transitory memory is organized to store a plurality of consumption histories relating to a plurality of respective counting entities, each comprising a means of communication with the router.

It is thus possible to pool for several counting entities (several hundred in practice) an intelligence of counting and consumption monitoring, whereas the state of the prior art recommends that this intelligence be individualized for each consumption counter.

It is then possible to deploy the routers advantageously in a distribution network (and to integrate advanced metering functions in a high-speed IP network, since this may be the communication between the routers and the central server in particular).

For example, in one embodiment, the non-transitory memory further stores a history of energy and / or fluid distribution from a distribution point (such as a transformer station for a power distribution electrical), comprising a distributed energy and / or fluid counting entity including a means of communication with the router.

In such an embodiment, the router can then be arranged to determine a difference between a total quantity of energy and / or distributed fluid and a total quantity of energy and / or fluid consumed according to the readings received from the counting.

In one embodiment, it is thus possible to organize the metering system by following the specificities of the distribution network, with then several routers downstream of the central server, and several counting entities downstream of each router. The system thus comprises a plurality of routers connected to the central server, and a plurality of counting entities connected to each router. Such an organization advantageously makes it possible to centralize business rules with the central server and to deploy them in real time to the routers. It is then easy to modify or assign them to independent counting entities or groups of entities, for example, for a monthly billing of consumption, a prepayment of the consumable, a limitation or automatic cut-off of consumption by thresholds, in particular for reasons of load shedding periods or zones or any other criteria.

For example still, the central server can be arranged to communicate to the routers instructions for updates at least consumption consumption calculation rules. Such an update with the routers can be done practically in real time and without fear of an individual fraud attack.

On the other hand, advantageously, the communication between the counting entity and the router remains secure by encryption means.

The present invention also aims at a router of a system according to the invention and comprising:

a communication interface with a central distribution management server,

a communication interface with at least one physical counting entity,

means for calculating at least one count history of the consumption recorded by at least the counting entity, and

a non-transitory memory storing at least said consumption history.

The present invention also relates to a computer program, comprising instructions at least for calculating consumption history, when this program is executed by computing means of such a router. As indicated above, the program can also perform other functionalities such as the calculation of a consumption profile or others.

The present invention also aims at a physical entity for counting a system according to the invention, and comprising:

a consumption metering sensor,

a member for limiting energy supply and / or fluid supply, and

- A means of communication with a remote router.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a system according to the invention; FIG. 2 illustrates an example of architecture, in particular of a more complete electrical network,

FIG. 3 details the elements that comprise the counter EC and the intelligent router RI of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a communication diagram for pairing a new EC meter with an RI router;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a communication diagram for consumption monitoring with an RI router, in one embodiment where the distributed quantity to be consumed has been prepaid.

With reference to FIG. 1, the solution proposed by the invention consists of virtualizing the smart meter by deporting the intelligence of the counter from RIs (or "Service Gateways" in English) and a central server SC for managing the smart meter. distribution and billing in particular. The router RI provides periodic communication between the physical counting entities (or "counters" below) EC1, EC2, EC3, and the central server SC. Counters EC1, EC2, EC3 are arranged in premises (domestic or professional) of respective users Ul, U2, U3.

The RI router is an intelligent mediation and computation / aggregation component between the simple counters EC1, EC2, EC3 and the central server. The intelligent router RI makes it possible in particular to virtualize the regulatory functions of a consumption metering (determination of a consumption history, evaluation of a corresponding load curve, financial evaluation of the corresponding consumed resource by application of a tariff schedule, pricing by thresholds to check for example that a quantity of prepaid resource is not soon exceeded as described later, and others). A router manages a large number of counters. Intelligent routers RI are expected in a very limited number compared to the number of counters EC.

In fact, with reference to FIG. 2, presenting a use case in an electricity distribution network, provision is made for deployment of the RI routers and EC meters which follows the topology of the electrical network. At the level of PS distribution stations in the network itself, there are: - ECPS meters allowing in particular to count the energy distributed by a corresponding PS distribution station,

an RI router managing in particular the counter of this ECPS station as well as the consumer EC counters downstream of the PS station.

At the user level U, we find:

EC meters in particular for counting the energy consumed by users U.

The central server SC, in connection with the routers RI, supervises the entire network. The SC server can therefore identify and anticipate changes in consumption (waves of consumption by example) and more generally the load of the distribution network. If the central server detects a rise in consumption reaching the limits of production capacity, it can arbitrate to totally or partially offload users to protect the power supply of a hospital UH for example. In a case of load shedding, the central server can command the routers to open the meters at the distribution stations or more precisely at the level of user groups to offload the production network, or to lower the power capacity to counter to preserve minimal use. The term "open a counter" means opening the circuit breaker controlled by the meter (which corresponds to activating the "cut-off device" according to the general terminology adopted above).

The intelligent router RI, by its position in the embodiment of Figure 2, supervises the PS production station, and is therefore capable, by energy balance, to determine leaks or energy fraud. If the energy injected at the substation is greater than the energy consumed at the level of the users (by means for example of the usual on-line losses related to the nature of the drivers), and possibly in correlation with a profile of user appearing abnormal, it detects a leak and notifies the information to the central server SC to order an inspection. The intelligent router supervises its postal network sufficiently finely (every 15 minutes for example) to raise alarms allowing the central server to detect fraud habits and assist in the detection. The router can also for example decide a temporary load shedding in case of leak detection too large (compared to a threshold).

Thus, in such an architecture, the EC meter becomes a simple and standard component that must ensure only basic functions. With reference to FIG. 3 detailing the elements that comprise the EC meter and the intelligent router RI, for an electricity consumption record, the EC meter comprises:

a counting sensor and a RAM of relatively low capacity (2 bytes for example) for temporarily storing a measurement of current consumption of the energy distributed to the user U,

a switching device COM of the distribution to the user on command of the intelligent router, by action on a contact switch INT of a supply circuit AC of electricity discharged by the network RES (or on a regulator of power circuit breaker, or on a valve to cut / increase / decrease fluid flow in an alternative fluid counting application),

an encryption key storage memory MEM for securely communicating with the router RI,

- A CAP integrity sensor to detect a physical attack against the counter (to force it in case of fraud for example). The counter EC further comprises a microcontroller CTL for controlling all of these elements from commands it receives from the router RI, via the communication card CC that it comprises. It can also go back counting information or counter integrity to the router RI, always via the communication card CC. It can thus put the meter in security (supply cutoff) in the event of an external event (insulation of the counters and its system, detection of attack, or other) on command of the router RI.

Thus, the meter has the technical features:

- count,

- action on the energy or the distributed fluid (contact, power circuit breaker, electro valve),

a communication interface with the router implementing cryptographic functions,

a durable storage of the counter identity (in MEM memory) and private cryptographic data,

a counter integrity check (detection of opening, fracturing, non-verticality, shock, etc.).

An automaton (such as the CTL microcontroller represented by way of example in FIG. 3) allows:

to bridge the counting member (sensor and RAM REA), the breaking device COM, and the communication card CC,

to interpret simple and low-level commands of the router to which it is connected, for example, to send a current consumption statement on request from the router, or to manage the COM breaker on request of the router, and

- Control in autonomous mode the breaking device COM in case of loss of integrity detected at the meter or in case of loss of sustainable communication with its router.

The RI router is composed of the following elements:

a network router ICI making it possible to provide the communication functions with the access networks to the central server SC,

a secure IC2 interface to the EC meter network,

a rewritable storage area MEM 'and secured, for storing the configurations of the counters, the measurements made on the counters in time and the commands for the non-transmitted counters,

one or more CAP sensors for detecting the integrity of the router (detector for opening, fracturing, non-verticality, shock, etc.),

a PROC processor (with a programmable intelligence).

The processor PROC, in cooperation with the non-transitory memory MEM '(notably storing program instructions to confer this intelligence to the router) makes it possible to send to the central server that interpreted and preprocessed data necessary to the functionality of the central server.

The central server SC provides for its high-level functions and high complexity for example:

- manage all billing modes,

- the different customer profiles,

- manage the different forms of tariff grids,

- Instantly change billing methods (business rules) without deployment,

- globally supervise the state of the network (both the distribution network and the communication network connecting the metering, metering and distribution management equipment),

- detect and supervise fraud and leaks in the meter network,

- calculate the orders to the meters (load shedding of the zone, insolvent customer, forcing). All of its actions can be performed in real time or at regular intervals. Due to the permanent communication between the routers and the central server, the solution allows natively a supervision of the distribution network.

Thus, a router has two communication interfaces:

- an interface to the counters it manages to ensure their management,

- An interface to the central server to retrieve customer configurations, orders and transmit count data.

The communication between the counters and the router is provided by means of H AN / PAN / F AN / LAN (or other) type of short-haul network communications.

The messages exchanged between the counter and the router are of type:

- from the router to the counter: a counter control message, used to set the contact state, change the power limit, ask for a counter status.

from the meter to the router: a counter status message containing the internal value of the counter, the value of the instantaneous power, the state of its contact, the state of its power limitation and its general state.

The dialogue between the EC meters and the RI router requires an initial pairing phase. Pairing goes through two phases of configuration: the counter and the router.

The meter configuration is frozen during its manufacturing phase, with:

a unique identifier of the counter, and

- A private key of the counter (private key symmetrical or asymmetrical according to the technical capabilities of the meter). This so-called "supply" data is transmitted by the manufacturer to the central server SC by a secure means.

The configuration of the router is dynamic and comes from the central server SC which transmits to the router a message containing the provisioning information with the meter identifiers that the router must support. This message contains in particular a list of counters, and for each counter the following information is transmitted:

- unique identifier of the counter,

- private key of the meter,

- counter status (contact, power, mode).

Thus, the router can send its pilot messages to its counters.

With reference to FIG. 4, the central server SC sends, for example to the router RI, information adding an EC counter (with its data). The router creates a virtual counter in association with this new EC counter. Then, on request for pairing the new EC meter, the router recognizes in its memory its identifier and responds with a favorable message to the new EC meter, with a security negotiation phase. This router is typically the only one to answer the pairing request of the new EC meter, since it is a priori the only one to have been notified of the identifier of this new counter. This router RI then imposes on the EC meter parameters that it has obtained from the central server SC and in particular:

- a maximum power allocated to the user (according to his distribution contract),

an initial contact state (open or closed) of the switch for an electrical distribution: typically, before an effective line creation, as long as the user has not provided a payment element, the switch is open and it is delivered as such and installed open at a user. On the order of the central server (for example at the first payment), the router can send a command to close the switch (deactivation of the meter cut-off device). On acknowledgment of the execution of the commands associated with these parameters received from the EC meter (arrow OK of FIG. 4), the RI router can begin its "index" (consumption reading) requests to the EC meter.

Counters can accept messages from an IN router without knowing the router. The counters can respond or broadcast their status, but the router in charge of a counter can ensure the integrity of the communication with this counter because the router holds the private information of the counter. Such an embodiment does not prevent a transmission of messages from a counter to a nearby counter, and this step by step, to the router in charge of the counter whose messages are issued, according to a communication mode point to point. The central server related communication is long distance broadband type LAN / WAN communication (2G / 3G, 4G, 5G, Ethernet, IP, or other).

The messages exchanged between the RI router and the central server SC are of type:

from the central server SC to the router RI: a configuration message of the router, mainly transmission of supply information,

- From the RI router to the central server SC: meter reading messages, credit requests or events, allowing the central server to perform its supervision and management of the network,

from the central server SC to the router RI: counter control messages, in which the central server can ask the router to change the state of the counter contact or their power level.

Thus, in the example of FIG. 5, the router RI can consult the central server SC to determine whether a credit has been taken by the user of an EC meter. The central server responds favorably by indicating the credit and the current price for this counter. In this case, the router drives a closed contact of the switch and repeatedly requests a consumption index from the meter. On several successive index returns, the router can calculate the consumption history and determine if the remaining credit could soon be exceeded (according to a management by thresholds). As such, it queries the central server and, in the event of credit recovery, the process is repeated, until, in the example shown, receipt of information that there is no more credit remaining. In this case, the router controls an open contact of the switch and asks for an index to check for example that no consumption is made, with the switch open.

Moreover, according to another strong distinction with the state of the prior art, the central server does not communicate directly with the counters. It is considered as such that the counters are virtualized by the functionality of the router. The central position of the router ensures (among others) the following functions:

- manage the secure communication and the supervision of the meters,

collect the data coming from the counters and transmit them to the central server,

store and transmit commands from the central server to the counters,

- manage, optimize and secure the communication with the central server,

- communicate to the central server the local events to be handled centrally (definition of the distribution business rules, invoicing, supervision, etc.),

- manage the minimal business intelligence, requiring rapid reaction times,

- manage the local security of the system (fraud, leakage, disconnection, attack, vandalism, etc.) - facilitate the update of the advanced features of the metering system, because these features are virtualized within the smart router.

The router is not intended to replace the central server in its management of business rules, nor to duplicate the intelligence of the central server. The router completes the server in its areas of expertise:

- monitoring and storage of consumption records in the event of communication failure with the central server,

- functions requiring fast reaction times without waiting for the response time of the central server,

- management functions that are not centralized by the central server (for example incrementing or decrementing the units of account in the framework of a prepaid distribution, as illustrated in the example of FIG. 5, and if necessary ordering the opening of switch for a counter that has exceeded its prepaid credit, or detect peak consumption of electrical power users over a period of time and return synthetic information to the central server).

In general, the intelligent router of the invention does not merely perform a protocol correspondence between the central server and the physical counters, but, in addition to this connectivity core application, to execute a second core application ( "Application Host") containing the computer counting program embedded in the router. Thus, all the calculations traditionally done in the usual counters are carried out in this intelligent router, only the physical measurement being performed and transmitted by the physical entity of simple counting in the sense of the invention. In addition, the router does not transmit a simple stream of indexes and events to the central server, but rather advanced data to historian and / or analyze over long periods for application or regulatory requirements.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above by way of example; it extends to other variants.

For example, there is described above an example of application to electrical distribution in prepaid mode. However, the invention applies to any form of energy or fluid distribution, counted.

Claims

claims

1. A system for consuming energy and / or fluid, comprising:

a consumption metering sensor (RE A),

a power supply and / or fluid supply limiting device (COM),

a non-transitory memory storing at least one consumption history (ΜΕΜ '), characterized in that the non-transitory memory (ΜΕΜ') is deported to a remote router (RI), furthermore comprising calculation means (PROC) of the consumption history, as well as a communication interface (ICI) with a central distribution management server (SC), and in that the sensor and the limiting device are grouped together in the same entity physical (EC), counting, further comprising a communication means (CC) with the router for communicating to the router at least one current consumption count record, from the counting sensor.

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the non-transient memory is organized to store a plurality of consumption histories relating to a plurality of respective counting entities (EC1, EC2, EC3), each comprising a means of communication with the router.

3. System according to claim 2, characterized in that the non-transient memory further stores a distribution history of energy and / or fluid from a distribution point (PS) comprising a power metering entity. and / or distributed fluid (ECPS) including means of communication with the router.

4. System according to claim 3, characterized in that the router is arranged to determine a difference between a total amount of energy and / or distributed fluid and a total amount of energy and / or fluid consumed according to statements received from counting entities.

5. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of routers is connected to the central server, and in that a plurality of counting entities is connected to each router.

6. System according to claim 5, characterized in that the central server is arranged to communicate to the routers instructions for updating at least consumption history calculation rules.

7. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the communication between the counting entity and the router is secured by encryption means.

8. Router of a system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises:

a communication interface (ICI) with a central distribution management server,

a communication interface (IC2) with at least one counting entity,

a non-transitory memory (ΜΕΜ ') storing at least said consumption history.

9. Computer program, characterized in that it comprises instructions at least for calculating consumption history, when this program is executed by means of calculating a router according to claim 8.

10. Physical counting entity of a system according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises:

a consumption metering sensor (RE A),

a power and / or fluid supply limiting device (COM), and

a means of communication with a remote router (CC).