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WO2017212485A1 - Procédé de collecte de données - Google Patents

Procédé de collecte de données Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2017212485A1
WO2017212485A1 PCT/IL2017/050632 IL2017050632W WO2017212485A1 WO 2017212485 A1 WO2017212485 A1 WO 2017212485A1 IL 2017050632 W IL2017050632 W IL 2017050632W WO 2017212485 A1 WO2017212485 A1 WO 2017212485A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
data
meter
communication device
image
smart communication
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/IL2017/050632
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Dannyl GOLDBERG
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
B D Innovations Ltd
Original Assignee
B D Innovations Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by B D Innovations Ltd filed Critical B D Innovations Ltd
Publication of WO2017212485A1 publication Critical patent/WO2017212485A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • 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
    • G01D4/00—Tariff metering apparatus
    • G01D4/008—Modifications to installed utility meters to enable remote reading

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of data collection. Specifically the invention relates to a method of simplifying and making more reliable the collection of data and digitizing it to allow further processing by computer systems. Background of the Invention
  • the most common types of utility meters that are installed in homes and business around the world are mechanical meters that measure electricity in units such as kilowatt hours, gas in cubic meters, and water in cubic meters. These meters comprise a measuring mechanism that turns a series of gears attached to a series of clocklike dials or a mechanical counter that records the total consumption from the time that the meter was installed.
  • the utility company periodically sends an employee around to read, through a transparent face of the meter, the numbers on the dials or counter. The employee then writes down the location of the meter and the current reading on the meter.
  • the employee returns to the office of the utility company and the current readings are transferred from the list that he has prepared into the company's billing system where the previous reading is subtracted from the current reading to determine the consumption during the billing period and the cost of that consumption is calculated and invoices are prepared and sent to the customers.
  • the invention is a method of using a smart communication device comprising a camera, a GPS sensor, a processor, a display screen, data storage units, and a dedicated software data collection application to collect consumption data from a utility meter.
  • the method comprising the following steps:
  • step (ii) if the displayed data does not correctly correspond to that on the meter then return to step (a); and the process starts again on a new image; f) transferring the data to the company's server and database.
  • the pattern recognition algorithm is an OCR algorithm.
  • the data that is to be collected is the serial number of the meter and the dials or counter that record the energy, gas, or water consumption.
  • step (e.ii) the image of the face of the meter is captured from a different angle.
  • the image of the face of the meter is captured after wiping the cover of the meter to remove dirt or dust.
  • the data is manually recorded.
  • the images of the meter are saved in the database of the smart communication device and are analyzed either by more powerful algorithms or by a human in the company's office.
  • the transfer of data from the smart communication device to the company's server is carried out in real time if the smart device has access to the internet or a cellular network at the site of the meter that is being read.
  • the data is stored in the smart device until the smart communication device arrives at a location at which it can access the internet or cellular network or until it arrives at the company's office.
  • the data collected by the smart communication device is used as input to a billing algorithm that refers to a database containing the previous reading for a given meter, subtracts the previous reading from the present reading, computes the usage and charge and prints an invoice.
  • Embodiments of the method can be used by quality control and safety officials in a manufacturing facility to monitor production processes.
  • the data obtained from images of gauges and meters at various locations in the production line can be entered in real time into a control program that adjusts the flow rate of raw material into the line.
  • the control program automatically can shut down all or part of the production line if the values of measured parameters exceed predetermined allowable ranges.
  • Embodiments of the method can be used by a parking enforcement officer who can use the camera on a smart communication device to capture an image of a license plate of a vehicle and the software in the dedicated software data collection application processes and prints out a parking ticket including the name, address, etc.
  • the digital data can be input to another algorithm in the dedicated software data collection application, which automatically contacts suppliers of wireless pay for parking services in order to determine if a parking violation has occurred.
  • Fig. 1 is a flow chart that schematically illustrates the method of the invention.
  • Smart mobile communication devices e.g. smartphones and tablet computers, are small computers comprising processors, data storage components, and a display. These devices are capable of being connected to the internet and/or cellular and are carried by increasing numbers of persons in almost all parts of the world, including some of the most industrially underdeveloped and poorest countries.
  • These smart devices typically are equipped with a variety of sensors that include digital cameras and GPS location sensors. In addition to their "pure” communication function these smart devices can be provided with software applications that allow them to carry out many other functions such as playing games and providing maps or driving directions.
  • the present invention is a method of data collection that uses a smart communication device that comprises a camera, a GPS sensor, a processor, a display screen, data storage units, and a dedicated software data collection application to replace the notebook and pen formally carried by the meter reader.
  • Fig. 1 is a flow chart that schematically illustrates the method of the invention.
  • step 10 the employee of a utility company approaches a meter and uses the camera on his smart communication device to take an image of the face of the meter.
  • step 12 an imaging processing algorithm in the data collection application compares the overall image of the meter with images of all of the types of meters that have been installed in the homes and businesses of customers of the company on the route of the employee. The reason for this step is to identify the specific model of meter in order to simplify the next step in the process.
  • the image processing algorithm uses the knowledge of the exact model of meter that is being read to employ a pattern recognition algorithm such as OCR only on the parts of the image that contain the data that is to be collected, e. g. the serial number of the meter and the dials or counter that record the energy, gas, or water usage.
  • step 16 the data obtained by the pattern recognition algorithm and location data gathered by the GPS sensor is displayed on the meter reader's smart device.
  • step 18 the meter reader compares the data displayed on his device to the numbers on the meter and the known location of the meter. If the relevant data has been correctly read and converted to digital data, then the meter reader presses on an icon and the data is saved in a database on the smart device. If the displayed data does not correctly correspond to that on the meter then the meter reader takes another photograph, possibly from a different angle to reduce reflection of light from the transparent cover of the meter or after wiping the cover of the meter to remove dirt or dust that might have caused the initial error, and the process starts again on the new image. If a second (or third) error occurs then the meter reader manually records the data and the images of the meter are saved in the database to be analyzed either by more powerful algorithms or a human in the company's office.
  • step 20 the data is transferred to the company's server and database.
  • the transfer of data from the meter reader's smart device to the company's server is carried out according to several alternative scenarios. The transfer can be done in real time if the smart device has access to the internet or a cellular network at the site of the meter that is being read. Alternatively the data is stored in the smart device until the meter reader arrives at a location at which he can access the internet or cellular network or until the meter reader arrives at the company's office.
  • the data that has been entered into the company's computer system is already in digital form and ready to be further processed.
  • the data collected by the meter readers can be used as input to a billing algorithm that refers to a database containing the previous reading for a given meter, subtracts the previous reading from the present reading, computes the usage and charge and prints the invoice.
  • the method described herein above for collecting data related to consumption of electricity, gas, or water by the customers of a utility company can be applied mutatis mutandis to data collection in any pursuit in which large amounts of data are traditionally collected manually.
  • the method described herein can be used by quality control and safety officials to monitor production processes.
  • the data obtained from photographs of gauges and meters at various locations in the production line can be entered in real time into a control program that, for example can adjust the flow rate of raw material into the line or automatically shut down all or part of the production line if the values of measured parameters exceed predetermined allowable ranges.
  • the method can be used to record the license numbers of the vehicles that are parked in violation of parking regulations.
  • the violation is one of overtime parking in parking spaces that are associated with coin operated parking meters or with prepaid cards placed on the windshield of the vehicle the decision concerning whether a violation has occurred is straightforward and the parking enforcement officer simply has to photograph the license plate of the vehicle and the software in his smart mobile communication device can process and print out a parking ticket including the name, address, etc. of the owner that is automatically obtained from the motor vehicle registry and the location of the violation derived from the GPS data available on the smart device.
  • the method described herein can save a considerable amount of time. From a security point of view the employee is not allowed to alter the images or data saved in the database on his smart device. This totally eliminates human error in recording the data, which is important in all applications and totally prevents any type of fraud being perpetrated by the employee, which is important to all employers and of particular importance to utility companies.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Arrangements For Transmission Of Measured Signals (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un procédé pour fournir, sous forme numérique, des données analogiques qui sont actuellement collectées manuellement. Le procédé utilise un dispositif de communication intelligent qui comprend un appareil de capture de vues, un capteur GPS, un processeur, un écran d'affichage, des unités de stockage de données, et une application dédiée de collecte de données de logiciel pour collecter des données telles que des données de consommation à partir d'un compteur de service public.
PCT/IL2017/050632 2016-06-08 2017-06-06 Procédé de collecte de données Ceased WO2017212485A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IL246128A IL246128A0 (en) 2016-06-08 2016-06-08 method of data collection
IL246128 2016-06-08

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2017212485A1 true WO2017212485A1 (fr) 2017-12-14

Family

ID=60578457

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IL2017/050632 Ceased WO2017212485A1 (fr) 2016-06-08 2017-06-06 Procédé de collecte de données

Country Status (2)

Country Link
IL (1) IL246128A0 (fr)
WO (1) WO2017212485A1 (fr)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN108921046A (zh) * 2018-06-11 2018-11-30 武汉兴火源科技有限责任公司 一种基于身份识别的小区停车场防盗预警系统及其方法
CN109889526A (zh) * 2019-02-28 2019-06-14 北京市燃气集团有限责任公司 一种基于位置坐标的燃气管线数据采集方法和采集装置
WO2021030921A1 (fr) * 2019-08-20 2021-02-25 Argroup Ingeniería Y Construcción Spa Système de lecture à distance de services de base dans des logements
CN112738159A (zh) * 2020-12-11 2021-04-30 国网辽宁省电力有限公司经济技术研究院 一种电网公司数字化应用信息采集系统及方法
WO2021229195A1 (fr) * 2020-05-13 2021-11-18 Eyegauge Surveillance numérique non intrusive d'équipements et de machines existants à l'aide de l'apprentissage automatique et de la vision par ordinateur
CN117873397A (zh) * 2024-01-18 2024-04-12 安徽鸿凌智能仪表科技有限公司 一种全阶段燃气仪表数据存储方法及系统

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20130060395A1 (en) * 2011-09-02 2013-03-07 Hunt Energy Iq, Lp Automated field provisioning for energy management systems
WO2013136295A1 (fr) * 2012-03-15 2013-09-19 Northstar Telemetrics, S. L. Procédé de lecture automatique d'un compteur de service public, lecteur de compteurs modernisable, et système de lecture automatique de compteur les utilisant
US20140160297A1 (en) * 2012-12-12 2014-06-12 King Fahd University Of Petroleum And Minerals System and method for remote utility meter reading
US20150084785A1 (en) * 2013-09-20 2015-03-26 Mastercard International Incorporated Wireless utility meter reading system and method

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20130060395A1 (en) * 2011-09-02 2013-03-07 Hunt Energy Iq, Lp Automated field provisioning for energy management systems
WO2013136295A1 (fr) * 2012-03-15 2013-09-19 Northstar Telemetrics, S. L. Procédé de lecture automatique d'un compteur de service public, lecteur de compteurs modernisable, et système de lecture automatique de compteur les utilisant
US20140160297A1 (en) * 2012-12-12 2014-06-12 King Fahd University Of Petroleum And Minerals System and method for remote utility meter reading
US20150084785A1 (en) * 2013-09-20 2015-03-26 Mastercard International Incorporated Wireless utility meter reading system and method

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN108921046A (zh) * 2018-06-11 2018-11-30 武汉兴火源科技有限责任公司 一种基于身份识别的小区停车场防盗预警系统及其方法
CN109889526A (zh) * 2019-02-28 2019-06-14 北京市燃气集团有限责任公司 一种基于位置坐标的燃气管线数据采集方法和采集装置
CN109889526B (zh) * 2019-02-28 2020-01-24 北京市燃气集团有限责任公司 一种基于位置坐标的燃气管线数据采集方法和采集装置
WO2021030921A1 (fr) * 2019-08-20 2021-02-25 Argroup Ingeniería Y Construcción Spa Système de lecture à distance de services de base dans des logements
WO2021229195A1 (fr) * 2020-05-13 2021-11-18 Eyegauge Surveillance numérique non intrusive d'équipements et de machines existants à l'aide de l'apprentissage automatique et de la vision par ordinateur
FR3110314A1 (fr) * 2020-05-13 2021-11-19 Eyegauge Surveillance numérique non intrusive d’équipements et de machines existants à l'aide de l'apprentissage automatique et de la vision par ordinateur.
CN112738159A (zh) * 2020-12-11 2021-04-30 国网辽宁省电力有限公司经济技术研究院 一种电网公司数字化应用信息采集系统及方法
CN117873397A (zh) * 2024-01-18 2024-04-12 安徽鸿凌智能仪表科技有限公司 一种全阶段燃气仪表数据存储方法及系统

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
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