Method for the central reading of utility meter data attached to locally distributed data sites in buildings, particularly for heating and hot water

The invention relates to a method of detecting at the central data positions locally distributed accompanying consumption data in buildings, in particular for heating and hot water, wherein a central office retrieves the data from the respective data point by radio and stores. - The invention further relates to a device for performing the method with a central transmitter and receiver unit of the central office with a bidirectional Transmitting and receiving circuit and associated with the data transmission and points Receiving units also with bidirectional transmission and reception circuits.

The starting point of the invention is a data retrieval and transmission system, namely general all data transfers between instruments or other systems to a data collector in the form of a central system and a radio center - 946. See US-A-4940 Inventive application This data retrieval and transmission system are home centers for Consumption data acquisition, industrial buildings for the consumption data acquisition, monitoring of different measurements, data transmissions from different locations on a central point, data retrieval of measurement devices via modem and other Femanschlußsysteme and Momentankonstrollen of different gauges.

The main area of ​​application is - in addition to the other, aforementioned applications - In particular, the data query, data storage and data transfer by means of a radio system for centralized, usage-based data acquisition costs for heating and hot water. The known method provides this Meßdatenstellen For example, prior to radiators, which are connected by radio to a control center. Here, the radio center and all meters with a bidirectional transmission and Receiving circuit equipped. Reading via radio of the individual instruments is an easy, time-saving and precise transfer to the decentralized Consumption data to a central recording system is without complex and expensive Verkabetung. This consumption data acquisition system includes mainly possible human Reading and input errors. Apartments must not be entered, and thus are appointments with residents not necessary.

Besides the advantages mentioned, the detection system according to the invention for the desired has Data also minor flaws and disadvantages. So you need, for example in the radio center a very high, signal input sensitive receiver which characterized is relatively expensive. Or you need an alternative station with a very high transmission power, which is not in battery devices because of the life and the power requirements is always possible. Therefore, one is forced to install several receivers or antennas, which are directly connected to the alarm center. However, this leads to an increased Assembly and installation costs. The investment of another recipient but often not accepted by the users when measuring out of range lie. Furthermore, a complete gauging of equipment or buildings usually impossible or no longer commercially viable. Basically should the Buildings are measured in terms of their reception facilities. Often namely lead structural conditions for delivery restrictions when building through this Circumstances, the transmission data of different measuring devices can not reach the center.

Proceeding from this, the invention, <b>task</b> based on all data points also be able to reliably detect by the central body when out of range the receiver of the central office, or when by structural conditions the transmission data of different data points can not go to the central office.

As technical <b>solution</b> proposes procedurally with the invention that when not reaching a certain data point by the central office, this central office a reachable data point or otherwise, achievable bridge site and anfunkt that these achievable data point or bridge connection does initially unreachable Data point anfunkt directly or indirectly and upon reaching the data via Radio retrieves and further terminates at the central office.

Thus, a data retrieval and transmission system is provided which no delivery restrictions by structural conditions or too far distant having data points to the central office. Thus, the building must respect its reception facilities no longer be measured. The basic idea of ​​the invention it is that which in the receiving range of the central office data points be used and assigned to address the data points not received retrieve and their data and forward it to the central office. So calling the central office the relevant, available data points to by its identification number, its to send data to the central office. itself does not answer one or more data points, so the received data points are prompted to the data points not received to address and data on the so intermediate data point to the central office rebroadcast. If the controlled by the central office data points desired Data point still does not reach, so must - as stated below in more detail will be - further data transmission sites are interposed. Among them is then understood an indirect data transmission. If the right of the central office Making been radioed data point equal to the connection to the desired data point can, including an immediate data transmission is understood. If a data point out of range of lying next to her data point, so you can bridge this distance by radio with an intermediate point in the form of a dummy data point, so that also for this case, the data transmission is possible. This is therefore at this intermediate location to a neutral unit, which serves only the data transfer and on the self-apply any measurement data. This pure data exchanger is so then used to lying one out of range of a particular meter Another gauge still be able to receive more.

A development of the method proposes that when a new Failure to achieve the initially not reach data point of the by the central office achievable data points or bridge sites cascade more achievable data points or bridge locations are radioed to the connection to the initially not reached position data is produced and that does not initially reached, starting from the The data point to be transmitted to the central office to data on the reverse connection path retransmitted data point / bridge point to data point / bridge point will. This step enable or Zwischenabfragung of corresponding data points can be cascaded as extended indefinitely. For example, a data point get the call from the central office to call a particular data point. now calls up this data point the desired data point and this does not answer, so the present data point to pass on the request to other data points. This can be set up for any length of chain, the only time a limit place. The system thus looks for self the right way to the goal, which is to the initially did not reach data point, which is to send their data to the central office. Through the special feature that all data points that hear the call, the transmission command pass on the desired data point, it is also not necessary, in the central office lay a plan, that is, the central office does not know where the data points are set up because all the received data points not to the same quasi "call or search" received data points. This system works through the e training like a snowball effect, ie the central office as a point retrieves the data points on and all data points lying in the receiving circuit of the central office are received. The no data points received are represented by the received data points in their respective wanted reception circuits and received. The unreceived data points here will be prompted accordingly by the data points newly received, to send their data in the additionally created receiving circuit.

Another development of the method proposes that all achievable data points or bridge site are radioed sequentially to a Connection is made to the data point is not initially achieved. This ensures, that all possibilities are exhausted, to connect to a produce desired data point.

A further embodiment suggests that the data from the data point or bridge site are stored temporarily and then sent on. Of course it is alternatively also possible to not cache the data, but directly rebroadcast.

A further embodiment suggests that different transmission start times of the individual Data points from a predetermined algorithm and a data location identification is calculated in each data point in itself. This will overlap when sending the corresponding data points prevented.

As an alternative it is proposed that the central body is the data from the individual data points delayed requests. This is achieved by a time-delayed data request allows the headquarters in the log as a definition or time factor as a waiting time.

As technical <b>solution</b> is proposed device standpoint with the invention that the transmitting and receiving units of the data points with each transmitter and receiver capable of are.

This creates the possibility that the data points not only with the central station can communicate via radio, but that the data points directly to one another communicate and receive data in the form of a chain or cascade, and further forming can.

Finally, it is proposed in a further development of the device, in addition to the reception and transmission units of data points Bridge reception / transmission units are provided for pure data transfer. Is thus once a data point outside the reception area of ​​the lying next to her data point, you can generate them Strekke halve by radio with a dummy device, and in this way data transfer yet allow.

An embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawing. This is purely a perspective-schematic, the inventive method the central sensing applied to locally distributed data center data shown.

First, a central unit Z is indicated schematically. It is located at this central point Z about a central transmitting and receiving unit with a bidirectional Transmitting and receiving circuit. This central office Z is centrally any external Record measurement data. The radio range FZ the central office Z is indicated by a circle. This radio range FZ is the transmission and reception range of the central office Z.

Furthermore, five data points D1 to D5 are indicated. These data points D1 to D5 it may, for example, to measuring instruments that measure data, then the Central point Z to be transmitted. The radio areas F1 to F5 of the data points D1 to D5 alike as the radio range FZ the central office Z are indicated by circles. The data points D1 to D5, just as at the central office Z one send assigned to and receiving unit with a bidirectional transmission and reception circuit.

Finally, a bridge point B indicated by their radio area FB. These Bridge point B has only a harmful transmitting and receiving unit, but himself begets no data as the data points D1 to D5.

The operation of the data retrieval and transmission system is as follows:

First, the data of the data point D1 of the central office Z to be transmitted. The Central office Z retrieves the data point D1 by its identification number, its data to send the central office Z. Since the data point D1 in the radio area FZ the central office Z is that data point D1 can directly send their data to the central office Z.

Since the data point D2 in the radio area FZ the central office Z is, is also there Correspondingly, a polling of the present in the data location data D2 possible.

The situation is different with the data to be transmitted to the data point D3. Recipient the data point D3 is out of radio range FZ the central office Z, so that the Data point D3 will not respond to the call of the central office Z. The data point D3 will thus not contact the central office Z. In this case, the received Data points D1 and D2 invited to address the unreceived data point D3 and to send their data. Although data point D3 is out of radio range F2 of the data point D2, but within range F1 of the data point D1. The data point D3 is thus reacting to the corresponding call to the data point D1 and first send the data of the data point D1. The data point D1 caches the Data and finally sends to the central office further Z.

When transmitting the data of the data point D4 to the central station Z of the road is still continue. Since the data point D4 both out of range FZ the central office Z as also out of range F1 is the data point D1, the data point is to D4 calling the additionally switched from the central office Z data point D1 not respond. Therefore, the data point is D1 all data points lie in its radio area F1 Calling and asking them to make contact with the data point D4. This will be the data point D3. Since the data point D4 in the radio area F3 of the data point D3 is the data body D3 may in turn call the location data D4, so that the data point D4 via the data point D3 and D1 transmits the data to the central station Z.

While so far the data points D1 to D4 in their mutual radio areas F1 to F4 There, the data point D5 is out of range FZ the central office Z and especially outside the radio ranges F1 to F4 of the data points D1 to D4. There are thus no data points chain, which for the transmission of data of the data point D5 to the central office can provide Z. But to ensure a transfer nevertheless, is the bridge site B, which itself does not generate its own data. The central office Z is thus first data points D1 and D2 call, as these within range FZ are and whether they are called always "listen". Since the bridge point B is within the radio area F2 of the data point D2 and - as well as the other Data points - is always in listening watch, the data point D2, the bridge site B call. Finally, since the desired data point D5 in the radio area FB of the bridge site B is, they can be accessed and their data on the way Brükenstelle B / Data point D2 transmitted the central office Z.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

<dl tsize="9" compact="compact"><dt>B</dt><dd>bridge site</dd><dt>D1 to D5</dt><dd>data points</dd><dt>Z</dt><dd>Central office</dd></dl><dl tsize="9" compact="compact"><dt>FB</dt><dd>Radio area bridge point B</dd><dt>F1 to F5</dt><dd>Radio ranges data points D1 to D5</dd><dt>FZ</dt><dd>Radio area central office Z</dd></dl>