Procedure for time synchronisation of a remote consumption meter

p0001The invention relates to a method for time synchronization of a Fernzählsystems according to the preamble of claim 1.

p0002In Fernzählsystemen counts and / or values ​​derived from Remote reading garaging are mainly transmitted to a Remote reading headquarters, where the count values ​​and the derived values ​​in the Remote reading garaging for predetermined measurement periods is determined and / or calculated. The transmitted count values ​​or derived values ​​are used mainly for collective purposes and therefore have to be very accurate for legal and other reasons. This accuracy depends inter alia on the accuracy of the measurement period duration. A clock of Remote reading headquarters is preferably time synchronized by a time standard, while the Remote reading garaging turn are time-synchronized by the Remote reading headquarters. However, each time synchronization is a small-time measurement error of the measurement period, since the latter is either shortened or lengthened by the time synchronization, and thus results in an error in the meter readings and the detection of the derived values, what big a inadmissible in considering the many synchronizations error results.

p0003The invention has for its object to realize a method of the aforementioned type, which reduces with as little effort caused by the time synchronization time measurement error and thus the error in the meter readings and the detection of the derived values.

p0004This object is inventively achieved by the features indicated in characteristics of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention result from the dependent claims.

p0005An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing and will be described in more detail below.

p0006Show it:<dl id="dl0001" compact="compact"><dt>Fig. 1</dt><dd>a block diagram of a Fernzählsystems,</dd><dt>FIG. 2</dt><dd>a flowchart of an inventive method and</dd><dt>Fig. 3</dt><dd>a diagram of various time windows.</dd></dl>

p0007A Fernzählsystem (see Fig. 1) has Remote reading garaging FU1, FU2, ... and FUn among others to determine counts and at least one Remote reading headquarters FZ, wherein between the latter and the Remote reading garaging FU1 to FUn, z ., via separate transmission paths, data is transmitted in both directions. The counter values ​​are determined in the garaging FU1 to FUn by far more readable counter and / or far-readable count-aggregating devices. The counters are preferably electric, gas, water and / or heat meters.

p0008All time-dependent functions of a computer equipped with Remote reading headquarters FZ based on a time that computer. not enough for the reaching time accuracy, an internal clock of the Remote reading headquarters FZ means of serving as a time standard, external standard time signal is synchronized. For example, the Remote reading headquarters FZ means signals the German DCF-77 transmitter or an American GPS ( "Global Positioning System") - time synchronized satellites. If more than one central computer linked to each other, the time base of a vehicle equipped with a time signal receiver computer is regarded as time base for the entire network. The time signal receiver has a serial port belonging to him Remote reading headquarters FZ and is designed specifically each signal. If the reception of the time signal is of poor quality, or even impossible in the Remote reading headquarters FZ, accepts a crystal oscillator in the time signal receiver, the function of the DCF-77 transmitter and the GPS satellites. A system administrator in this case defined as the Remote reading headquarters FZ has to behave. The time of Remote reading headquarters FZ is then placed either at the specified time, regardless of the poor reception of the time signal and switching on the internal crystal oscillator, or the time is not set when the time of the time synchronization of the time signal receiver with the internal crystal oscillator is working.

p0009The Remote reading garaging FU1 to FUn turn are preferably time synchronized by the Remote reading headquarters FZ from. The counts obtained during predetermined measuring periods are transferred from the Remote reading garaging FU1 to FUn to the Remote reading headquarters FZ. Each time one of the synchronization Remote reading garaging FU1 to FUn results in a small error in the duration of the measurement period, since the latter is by any time synchronization either shortened or lengthened. In order to obtain as little as possible of such distorted measurement periods, ie to prevent a variety of diseases caused by synchronizations truncations or extensions of the measurement periods is a Remote reading subsite FU1 and FU2 or .. or FUn according to the invention only be time-synchronized when the absolute value of a time difference At between the Remote reading headquarters FZ and the respective Remote reading subsite FU1 or FU2 or .. or FUn exceeds a certain first predetermined positive threshold P1. If the time difference T in absolute value smaller than the first threshold value P1 is no time synchronization. There preferably is also no time synchronization of Remote reading subsite concerned FU1 or FU2 or .. or FUn, when the absolute value of the time difference .DELTA.t between the Remote reading headquarters FZ and the Remote reading subsite concerned FU1 or FU2 or .. or . FUn a certain second predetermined positive limit value exceeds P2, which is greater than the first predetermined threshold value P1. If the absolute value of the time difference .DELTA.t between the Remote reading headquarters FZ and the Remote reading subsite concerned FU1 or FU2 or .. or FUn the certain second predetermined limit value P2 is preferably exceeds a warning or an alarm of Remote reading subsite concerned FU1 or FU2 or .. or FUn generated by the Remote reading headquarters FZ.

p0010In FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the inventive method is shown, which includes a first functional block 1, a second function block 2, a first decision block 3, a second decision block 4 and a third function block 5, which are connected in the stated order in series. The Yes-outputs of the decision blocks 3 and 4 are marked with Y ( "Yes") and the No-outputs with N ( "No"). After starting the routine (function block 1) is determined .DELTA.t in function block 2, the value of the time difference and comparing the absolute value at decision block 3 with the second threshold value P2. Is their absolute value not greater than the threshold value P2 (output N of 3), at decision block 4, the absolute value of the time difference is compared .DELTA.t with the first threshold value P1 and, if it is greater than the threshold value P1 (output Y 4), in the function block 5 synchronization S performed. If the absolute value on the other hand is not greater than the threshold value P1 is (starting from N 4), the function block 5 is skipped and the program goes directly to the output of function block 5, which is the output of the routine the same. If the absolute value of the time difference .DELTA.t is greater than the threshold value P2 is (output Y of 3) the program goes to a fourth function block 6, according to which the warning west or the alarm in the Remote reading headquarters FZ is triggered. Subsequently, the program proceeds to the exit routine.

p0011From Fig. 3 different time windows are visible. For values ​​of the time difference .DELTA.t, which lie between -P1 and P1 +, there is no synchronization S and no warning W. The values ​​of the time difference .DELTA.t, which lie between + P2 + and P1 or between -P2 -P1 and, together form a configurable synchronization window. If the value of the time difference .DELTA.t within this synchronization window, can synchronize the Remote reading S subsite concerned FU1 or FU2 or .. or FUn and no warning of W Remote reading headquarters FZ. Time synchronizations are carried out without warning triggered only within the synchronization window thus. Are the values ​​of the time difference T is greater than or less than + P2 -P2, no synchronization of S Remote reading sub-body concerned is FU1 and FU2 .. or or FUn performed. However, it will trigger an alert in the W Remote reading headquarters FZ. Because time synchronization is done in certain large time intervals, each too great a deviation of the time base of the Remote reading lower body concerned can be FU1 or FU2 or .. or FUn determined by the Remote reading headquarters FZ by the warning west.

p0012The two acceptance limits P1 and P2 and thus the synchronization window may be freely selected and set on site by the user in the Remote reading headquarters FZ and / or, that they are freely programmable. They can be configured to FUn a synchronization input z. B. locally in the Remote reading garaging FU1. You can choose between a non-active time synchronization, time synchronization with positive edges or those with negative edges. The number of time synchronizations per day is preferably programmed, the time synchronization is done distributed at regular intervals throughout the day. Per day automatically takes place at least one time synchronization. Maximum can be performed time synchronization z. B. every 15 minutes.