DESC:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter described herein relates to the field of power distribution systems and particularly to electric metering in power distribution systems, involving field force automation processes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electrical power distribution systems supply power to a large number of electrical loads, such as residences, factories or businesses. The power consumed by each electrical load is separately measured by an electrical metering device. There are many electrical power distribution systems that include tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands or more metering devices.

The electrical metering device needs to be read to determine the electrical energy and power consumption of the associated load. However, electrical billing requires the meter to be physically visited in the field for reading the value. Thus, the meter reading may not be available to people every now and then or whenever an official wishes to. Communication of the meter reading by way of internet demands the constant availability of the internet at the both ends of the communication system and the terminals being within the network only when communication is via intranet.

The document US20040239522 A1 relates to energy meters with an induction type of measurement system that uses one or more mechanical disks and dials to accumulate energy imported or exported with respect to the connected electrical load. It includes a controller which retrofits to existing induction electrical meters to record and transmit energy data to the producer or billing agent. The transmission apparatus comprising energy data codification and modem communication preferably via power line carrier to a Group Command location. Power line carrier data received at Group Command is converted to RF link for transmission to the utility or billing agency Central Command. Thus, it can record the energy consumption from one period to the next, promoting savings of energy and reduced peak demand on the electrical system.

The document US20130198245 A1 discloses systems and methods for collecting, analyzing, billing and reporting data from intelligent electronic devices. Also, systems and methods for managing sensor data are provided. In some embodiments, a system for managing sensor data may include intelligent electronic devices, a server, a plurality of client devices, and a network. Each of the intelligent electronic devices is configured to obtain sensor data related to power parameters distributed to a load. The server is configured to receive the sensor data from the plurality of intelligent electronic devices and store the sensor data in a database. Each client device is configured to retrieve the sensor data from the database. The network enables communication among the server, the plurality of intelligent electronic devices, and the plurality of client devices.

The document DE102010027171 A1 discloses a system and method for displaying information about the energy consumption of a user in terms of a flexible, inexpensive and with little effort realizable display of the information by performing the steps of reading an electronic electricity meter for the user to determine data about the Energy consumption, transmitting the data to a server (determining the processed data at a unit at the user and displaying the data received from the unit on a television set connected to the unit.

The existing system for fetching the meter data, consumer details and other such data is a web based browser application only accessible in the intranet network of electricity power supplier like CESC LTD. This implies that these details could only be fetched from computers within the intranet network. Figure 1 shows the interface available in the terminals of the CESC LTD system in which figure 1 (a) shows the metering details page, figure 1(b) shows the consumer details page while figure 1(c) shows the usage details page. But the availability of data from such system can only be via intranet and only with selected computer terminals. Moreover, in this conventional system, usage of voice interactivity or facilities of bar code and QR code scanning are not available. Further, the location guidance provided includes only hand sketches that are of static nature and not dynamic or interactive like a map view. Still further, for such system anyone can access the details that are in the vicinity of the intranet and there are no provisions for specific user authentication.

Therefore, there is a need for information pertaining to meter being made securely available to field officials, without the need of any computer and intranet connectivity, through a simple interface in the user equipment such as the mobile phone of the official.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following disclosure presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the present invention. It is not intended to identify the key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concept of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description of the invention presented later.

An object of the present invention is to overcome the problems associated with the prior arts.

An object of the present invention is to provide a system that brings in Data Democratization across an organization related to power distribution.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system that improves operational efficacy.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system that is capable of it empowering the site officials by enabling them to access the critical data in the mobile device, even on the go.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system that is capable of improving the user interactivity with the system.

In one implementation, present invention provides a system to fetch details of a consumer in an electric power supply organization, where the said system comprises at least one consumer electricity meter positioned at the consumers premises configured to measure electricity consumption, an user interface configured to access the details of the consumer electricity meter and the consumer and a barcode consisting of consumers details printed on the consumer electricity meter.

In one implementation of the present invention the user interface comprises a keypad or an in-built scan module having at least one camera configured to scan the barcode printed on the consumer electricity meter for feeding consumer electricity meter number details in the user interface and wherein the in-built scan module comprises at least one processing module configured to process the scanned barcode to fetch the consumers details to the power supply organization.

In one implementation of the present invention the user interface optionally comprises a voice interactive feature configured to input the consumer electricity meter number details in the user interface by pronouncing the electricity meter number details.

In one implementation of the present invention the user interface is a hybrid mobile based application in the users’ mobile phone and the hybrid mobile based application is connected to a central database of the organization and is authenticated by process owner or administrator before being put into use.

In one implementation of the present invention the system comprises a text to speech module with text to speech functionality in the user interface configured to input navigation voice command to scroll the details of the electricity meter and the consumers in the mobile application.

In one implementation of the present invention the central database has latitude-longitude details of the consumer electricity meter to plot exact location of the consumer electricity meter wherein the exact location of the consumer electricity meter is plotted on a map of the mobile application for location guidance.

Briefly, various aspects of the subject matter described herein are directed at an interface to fetch details of a consumer in an electric power supply organization. The interface is a hybrid mobile based application, designed and developed primarily for the field personnel and executives to fetch consumer and meter related information on-the-go basis. It works simply on the command input from the user and has backend connectivity with the central database of the organization. For safety and security to the main database of the organization, the mobile based application has a user authorization mechanism. Only authorized users can fetch data from the disclosed system.

Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be more apparent in the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1(a) to 1(c) illustrate the user interface of meter and consumer details by officials in the conventional system of the prior art.

Figures 2(a) to 2(e) illustrate the various interfaces of the input and consequent outputs of the system according to the present invention.

Figures 3(a) to 3(b) illustrate the use of the system according to the present invention with example.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and may not have been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figure may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of various embodiments of the present disclosure as defined by the claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding, but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the various embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness.

The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of various embodiments of the present disclosure is provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

It is to be understood that the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to "a component surface" includes a reference to one or more of such surfaces.

All terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which various embodiments belong. Further, the meaning of terms or words used in the specification and the claims should not be limited to the literal or commonly employed sense, but should be construed in accordance with the spirit of the disclosure to most properly describe the present disclosure.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular various embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of various embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising" used herein specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, members, components, and/or groups thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, members, components, and/or groups thereof. Also, Expressions such as "at least one of," when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modify the individual elements of the list.

The present invention discloses a hybrid interface such as mobile based application or mobile app, designed and developed primarily for the field personnel and executives to fetch consumer and meter related information on-the-go basis. It works on the command input from the user and has backend connectivity with the central database of the organization. In order to ensure safety and security to the main database of the organization, the app has a user authorization mechanism. Until and unless a user has been authenticated by the process owner, any information cannot be fetched by the application.

The application serves the basic need i.e. information pertaining to a specific meter and/or consumer, while at site and while handling complaints of consumers. These information, prior to development of the application were not readily available with the field personnel, thereby leaving them incapacitated. The information helps the field personnel, answer queries of the consumer succinctly and also delve deeper into any situation, while at site.

In an embodiment of the invention is disclosed a secure system having a user-friendly interface such as a mobile app. It has a simple user interface where any authorized user can access meter and consumer details of the organization such as CESC LTD simply by just providing the desired meter number. Figure 2 (a) shows this an exemplary embodiment of the first interface where the meter number details are required to provide as input. Such input may be a keyed via a keypad like mobile keyboards or scanned using the scanner icon. The user can scan the barcode or QR codes printed on the meter body through the in-built scan module having at least one camera and processing module to process the scan code. Further, the interface provides a provision for a voice interactive feature whereby the meter number can be also entered by pronouncing the meter number. The various means of input is shown in figure 2(b).

Once the desired meter number is keyed in or voiced in as input, the user will have access to all meter details like Type of meter, the fixing agency, date of Installation, the initial meter reading, meter movement information as well as consumer details like the consumer tariff category, monthly consumption pattern and even his location details. If the meter was previously inspected, the outcomes of such inspections are also available readily in the disclosed interface. Such information may be displayed as shown in figure 2(c). Further, the interface provides means access other details such as history of inspection or location details of the consumer. Any historical data of the consumer, like the reason why the previous meter have been replaced, if any, or if the consumer has any history of theft or payment default are also made available in the interface of the system. The exemplary embodiments of how the details may be displayed have been depicted in figure 2(d). Figure 2(e) depicts the usage data of the consumer being displayed in tabulated format and the location of the user. The location of the user may be available in sketch or in the map itself.

The disclosed system further includes the text to speech module with text to speech functionality in the interface. The module also reads out all the relevant meter and consumer details for the convenience of the user, while the user can navigate through all the pages in the mobile application using voice command. For example, if a user says “Location”, the application will fetch and display either the location sketch of the meter or will locate the meter on a map, if latitude longitude details are available. Similarly saying “consumption” or “usage” will fetch the monthly consumption data of the consumer.

The voice interactive features come handy for the site officials as they often encounter meters in a confined place, where physically keying-in in details is tough. Additionally, the text to speech feature of the system, reads out all the displayed meter details helping the official getting hold of critical data even in the dark, without having to look at the mobile screen repeatedly. According to the conventional solutions, all the data were accessible only through the company intranet, often causing inconvenience to the site officials as they either have to print all these details before moving to the site or had to contact someone from the back-office team to access the required information. The convenient availability of such data to the meter inspectors, also help better redress customer grievances and improve the efficiency.

The information pertaining to meter made available to field officials, without the need of any computer and intranet connectivity, through an app residing in the mobile phone of the user. The app is connected to the central database of the organization and is authenticated by the process owner before being put into use. The system finds application in various Field Force Automation processes, wherein the data from a centralized server (not directly accessible from world-wide-web) needs to be accessed for fetching information pertaining to the meter and electricity consumption of a consumer. The primary object of the disclosed system is to bring in data democratization within the organization, at the same time ensuring that these critical data do not land up with un-authorized persons. For this purpose, a robust back-end authorization process has been implemented, whereby users and devices only authorized by the process owner or administrator, can use the disclosed interface.

In one implementation, present invention provides a system to fetch details of a consumer in an electric power supply organization, where the said system comprises at least one consumer electricity meter positioned at the consumers premises configured to measure electricity consumption, an user interface configured to access the details of the consumer electricity meter and the consumer and a barcode consisting of consumers details printed on the consumer electricity meter.

In one implementation of the present invention the user interface comprises a keypad or an in-built scan module having at least one camera configured to scan the barcode printed on the consumer electricity meter for feeding consumer electricity meter number details in the user interface and wherein the in-built scan module comprises at least one processing module configured to process the scanned barcode to fetch the consumers details to the power supply organization.

In one implementation of the present invention the user interface optionally comprises a voice interactive feature configured to input the consumer electricity meter number details in the user interface by pronouncing the electricity meter number details.

In one implementation of the present invention the user interface is a hybrid mobile based application in the users’ mobile phone and the hybrid mobile based application is connected to a central database of the organization and is authenticated by process owner or administrator before being put into use.

In one implementation of the present invention the system comprises a text to speech module with text to speech functionality in the user interface configured to input navigation voice command to scroll the details of the electricity meter and the consumers in the mobile application.

In one implementation of the present invention the central database has latitude-longitude details of the consumer electricity meter to plot exact location of the consumer electricity meter wherein the exact location of the consumer electricity meter is plotted on a map of the mobile application for location guidance.

Figure 3 explains the system provided by the invention by way of an example. Say for instance, a Meter Inspector is supposed to visit a consumer premise for inspecting a meter. Upon contacting the consumer, the consumer complained to him that his bills for the last few months have been higher than his expectations and has never occurred before. Since the authorized official was unsure about the consumer location, he required to know the exact location of the consumer. Hence decided to check the exact location using the “Metering on the Go” disclosed in the present invention installed in his handset or mobile phone. He could have keyed in the meter number, but since the system allows for voice-interactive feature, the official voiced in the meter number of consumer as input. The meter latitude-longitude details being present in the system, the exact location could be plotted in a Map as available in the mobile app along with the directional help to reach the site. This is shown in figure 3(a).

Once the inspector reaches the site, before proceeding with the inspection, he accessed the meter details page and checked the installation data and the fixing agency. Therefore, without the need of intranet or the need for being within the scope of the intranet network, the official can advantageously access the data as and when needed. He also checked if it was inspected previously and what the outcome was. Next he checked if the consumer has any history of payment defaults or theft cases against him. The display of details available to him from the system has been shown in figure 3(b). The official also had to access the consumption pattern of the consumer and found that there have been multiple instances in previous years where his consumption was greater than his last month usage. With tabulated and easy to comprehend information, the details from the system were shared with the consumer to explain that the consumption trend was not abnormal. Further, he also proceeded to inspect the meter and found that meter accuracy and circuit conditions were in order and updated the details. In absence of this app, the meter inspector would have to take a print of the location details before leaving for site. Moreover, in absence of the consumption data at site, he would either have to call someone at the back-office team or might have faced difficulty in satisfying the consumer about this grievance. Therefore, the disclosed mobile interface is primarily suitable for being used on-the-go and is not only convenient for the user to use but also improves reliability and efficiency.

Some of the non-limiting advantages of the present invention are as follows:

• The benefit of the disclosed system not only limits to the field personnel but also helps executives answer queries of consumer’s on-the-go, even from home.
• The scan-based search and voice input based search makes the application unique in regard of the fact that the field personnel may be having dirty-hands (obvious, given the meter location) and having tools and tackles as the work demands, need not engage his hands at least for keying in the information into the app.
• The text to speech functionality of the interface, also reads out all the relevant meter and consumer details for the convenience of the user, while the user can navigate through all the pages in the app using voice command.

Those skilled in the art will recognize other use cases, improvements, and modifications to the embodiments of the present disclosure. All such improvements and other use-cases are considered within the scope of the concepts disclosed herein.
,CLAIMS:1. A system to fetch details of a consumer in an electric power supply organization, said system comprising:
at least one consumer electricity meter positioned at the consumers premises configured to measure electricity consumption;
an user interface configured to access the details of the consumer electricity meter and the consumer;
a barcode consisting of consumers details printed on the consumer electricity meter;
wherein the user interface comprises a keypad or an in-built scan module having at least one camera configured to scan the barcode printed on the consumer electricity meter for feeding consumer electricity meter number details in the user interface; and
wherein the in-built scan module comprises at least one processing module configured to process the scanned barcode to fetch the consumers details.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user interface optionally comprises a voice interactive feature configured to input the consumer electricity meter number details in the user interface by pronouncing the electricity meter number details.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user interface is a hybrid mobile based application in the users’ mobile phone.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system comprises a text to speech module with text to speech functionality in the user interface configured to input navigation voice command to scroll the details of the electricity meter and the consumers in the mobile application.

5. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the hybrid mobile based application is connected to a central database of the organization and is authenticated by process owner or administrator before being put into use.

6 The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the central database has latitude-longitude details of the consumer electricity meter to plot exact location of the consumer electricity meter.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the exact location of the consumer electricity meter is plotted on a map of the mobile application for location guidance.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user interface displays usage data of the consumer in a tabulated format.