Abstract: A method and a device are used during battery operation of a smart metering meter equipped with a consumption sensor and a transmit clock generator for a radio module for transmitting consumption data packets, in the event of a decreased residual capacity of the battery, to determine if the data packets can be transmitted as previously with the residual capacity over the residual time period until a scheduled battery exchange at the end of a specified operating time period. If not, the transmit power, for example, of the data packets is reduced and/or their transmit clock is extended over the residual period. This determination, along with a control specification, are preferably performed in a concentrator and are transmitted to the meter by using bidirectionally operating radio modules so that computer capacities required therefor need not be retained in each individual meter of a supply area.

Abstract: A method collects data, a physical or physico-chemical parameter and/or an operating state, during operation of a sensor. The sensor contains a measuring element which provides elementary measuring units, which correspond to a physical or physico-chemical variable or the physical or physico-chemical parameter, as raw measurement data, and the sensor has a communication device and a memory. To determine the measurement resolution of the sensor, the conditions for generating time stamps are first determined using a correlation model. Time stamps of successive raw measurement data are generated in the sensor on the basis of the correlation model. The time stamps are transmitted with the result that the raw measurement data acquired by the measuring element are reconstructed and evaluated based on the time stamps using the correlation model. Wherein operating state monitoring of the sensor is carried out by comparing current time stamps with historical and/or empirical time stamps.

Abstract: A method for collecting data, preferably in connection with a consumption, a physical or physico-chemical parameter and/or an operating state in a supply network for consumables. A measuring element of a local sensor provides elementary measuring units, which correspond to at least one physical or physico-chemical variable or parameter, as raw measurement data. In order to determine the measurement resolution of the sensor, the conditions for generating time stamps are determined in advance using a correlation model, time stamps of successive raw measurement data are generated in the sensor on the basis of the correlation model, the time stamps are transmitted and the raw measurement data acquired by the measuring element are reconstructed and evaluated on the basis of the time stamps using the correlation model. The temporal offset between a sensor and a receiver is corrected by transmitting telegrams to compensate for the temporal offset.

Abstract: A method operates a data recording system which has a central station, an intermediate station, and a terminal station. The central station and the intermediate station define a tertiary, two-way communication path and the central station and the intermediate station define a primary, two-way communication path via a radio link. A plurality of messages or message parts which have different validity time limits are generated in the central station on the basis of a command, the plurality of message parts which are valid for a limited time are transmitted from the central station to the intermediate station. The validity of the message parts is checked in the intermediate station, and, if a message part is still valid for transmission from the intermediate station to the terminal station, the message part concerned is transmitted within a message from the intermediate station to the terminal station.

Abstract: Domestic data are transmitted in the form of data messages from a data source to a memory in an unsynchronized manner in time slots via a freely accessible and accordingly heavily used transmission channel. On account of the interfering influences on the long data messages which occur in this case, the transmission of the data messages must be repeated several times until a data message is received without interference once. A comparator is used to determine a packet error rate from the ratio of the number of data messages received without interference over a certain period to the number of data messages actually transmitted during the period. A predefined packet error rate can be adaptively complied with despite varying transmission circumstances by varying the repeated transmissions per unit time.

Abstract: A method selects frequency channels in a communication system using a frequency hopping method, in which data are transmitted between a transmitter and a receiver. The data are transmitted as data packets having a plurality of bits in a frequency/time block. A respective data packet is coded before transmission by the transmitter and is decoded after reception by the receiver. The transmission quality of the frequency channels is evaluated and, a decision is made for a selection of the frequency channel which is used for the transmission of the data. A likelihood ratio for the likelihood of a successful transmission is determined before the decoding by the receiver, the likelihood ratio is used as a metric for determining the interference state of the respective data packet, and the transmission quality of the respective frequency channel is evaluated on the basis of the interference state of the data packet.

Abstract: A method provides communication between a meter and a flying device. The meter records consumption data. The flying device performs flight movements to a prescribed target position of the meter. Radio signals are received by a reception device and information is ascertained, relating to the transmission quality of a radio channel, based on the received signals. A poor transmission quality, satisfaction of which is dependent on the quality of the information, results in the reception of received signals and the ascertainment of the information being repeated after a communication protocol for communication with the meter has been changed, a position of the flying device being altered and/or a directivity of the reception device is altered until the transmission quality or a termination condition is satisfied. Upon having a satisfactory quality condition, meter information is captured and a message for controlling the operation of the meter is sent to the meter.

Abstract: A method for operating an electronic consumption data module. Consumption data are transmitted via a communication system to a receiver, and different keys are provided for different software authorizations. Command authorizations are defined as software authorizations in the consumption data module. A consumption data module has a memory, a control and/or regulating unit, and a communication device for the consumption data transmission. Different keys are provided for different software authorizations, and the command authorizations are defined as software authorizations in the consumption data module. The consumption data module is operable by the method.

Abstract: A method improves the transmission quality between a data collector and a plurality of metering units. A first communication module is assigned to the data collector and a second communication module is assigned in each case to a metering unit. The second communication module transmits data via radio signals to the first communication module. The first communication module has a first frequency reference device and the second communication module has a second frequency reference device. The radio signals transmitted are dependent on the second frequency reference device. The measurement of a parameter of the radio signal is performed by the first communication module. An estimation of an error of the second frequency reference device on the basis of the parameter measured values is determined. An adjustment of the frequency of the first frequency reference device is performed such that the error is reduced.

Abstract: A method operates a mobile readout system having at least one stationary consumption meter and a mobile readout receiver for reading out the consumption meter as the readout receiver moves past the consumption meter. A two-way communication takes place between the consumption meter and the readout receiver by using the consumption meter to transmit status information stored in the consumption meter, using the readout receiver to receive the status information, using the readout receiver to request additional information from the consumption meter by using a request command, and transmitting encrypted additional information from the consumption meter to the readout receiver. A readout receiver having a receiver for acquiring data from a plurality of spatially distributed consumption meters by using radio transmission according to the method is also provided.

Abstract: A method operates a radio transmission system with a radio transmitter and a radio receiver. The radio transmitter has a transmitter timer and transmits a packet and/or a subpacket and/or a plurality of packets in succession for the transmission of data. A carrier frequency and the transmission times of the data and/or the carrier frequency and the sampling rate of the data and/or the transmission times of the data and the sampling rate of the data depend on the transmitter timer. The radio receiver has a receiver timer with time-measuring measures to define transmission times, carrier frequencies and/or sampling rates. The radio receiver estimates an error on the basis of the received data and determines a time error therefrom. A temporal correction factor for the compensation is defined on the basis of the time error.

Abstract: Data are transmitted by radio between a terminal and a data collector. The data collector is intermittently or constantly in receive mode. The terminal attempts, from an idle phase, to set up a communication with the data collector in order to send all or some of the data to the data collector and/or to receive them from the data collector. Alternatively, the data collector attempts to set up a communication with the terminal in order to send all or some of the data to the terminal and/or to receive them from the terminal. The setup of the communication is followed by the terminal sending a message to the data collector and the data collector, after receiving the message, continuing, interrupting and/or terminating the transmission of the data during communication on a basis of the content of the message.

Abstract: To optimally receive smart meter control messages transmitted by a concentrator, in a meter having a transceiver for bidirectional data interchange, despite its minimal resources, a current modulation reference frequency which is subject to drift is shifted by the instantaneous frequency difference between the current transmitter-side reference frequency and the current transceiver-side reference frequency in the concentrator. Therefore, the current reference frequencies correspond in the downlink without having to intervene in the meter. This frequency difference in the concentrator is obtained by comparing the current receiver-side demodulation reference frequency with the current transmitter-side reference frequency, and the current transceiver-side reference frequency, on the other hand, from messages from the transmitter of the concentrator and from the transceiver of the meter which are received using the receiver of the concentrator.

Abstract: Data are transmitted and/or received in a communication system by a communication participant, which has a communication device, a microprocessor, and an energy supply. The latter has an electrical variable that changes from an initial value when it supplies the microprocessor and/or the communication device with energy. The microprocessor encodes the data before transmission and/or decodes the data after reception, each using a computing cycle. When the electrical variable changes during the computing cycle, it is interrupted, preferably at any desired point. The encoding and/or decoding are carried out separately during the computing cycle in individual encoding phases in which the value of the electrical variable changes. Regeneration phases for regenerating the electrical variable are provided between and/or within the encoding phases. The duration of a regeneration phase is such that the value of the electrical variable approaches or reaches the initial value during the regeneration phase.

Abstract: A method selects frequency channels in a communication system using a frequency hopping method, in which data are transmitted between a transmitter and a receiver. The data are transmitted as data packets having a plurality of bits in a frequency/time block. A respective data packet is coded before transmission by the transmitter and is decoded after reception by the receiver. The transmission quality of the frequency channels is evaluated and, a decision is made for a selection of the frequency channel which is used for the transmission of the data. A likelihood ratio for the likelihood of a successful transmission is determined before the decoding by the receiver, the likelihood ratio is used as a metric for determining the interference state of the respective data packet, and the transmission quality of the respective frequency channel is evaluated on the basis of the interference state of the data packet.

Abstract: A control device for a meter device, particularly a water meter device, includes a first data interface for a meter unit measuring a flow of a fluid of the meter device, a second data interface for a reading device communicating with the meter unit through the control device, and a supply interface receiving a combined clock and voltage supply signal for the control device. The control device can assume a read mode in which data at the first data interface can be transmitted by the control device to the second data interface upon receiving a clock and voltage supply signal having a read signal variation. The control device can additionally assume a write mode in which data at the second data interface can be transmitted to the first data interface upon receiving a clock and voltage supply signal with a write signal variation different from the read signal variation.

Abstract: Mobile units moving in a local network environment and at times in the vicinity of meters of the network, at least temporarily bypass relay functions of a concentrator operated in a stationary manner, if the relay function is not yet available, for instance during construction, for radio communication of data packets of the meter linked into the smart-metering network to a center. The mobile units are persons and/or vehicles with communication devices such as smartphones for long-distance links over the Internet or in the mobile radio standard. The communication devices, as modified mobile radio telephones, receive data packets from meters by using hardware or a software app over a short-distance link to the mobile unit being accidentally temporarily located in the vicinity of the meter. Long-distance communication of packets from mobile unit to center then takes place over the Internet or the mobile radio standard.

Abstract: In a bidirectional wireless data transmission system meter transmitters and concentrators communicate in wireless uplink and downlink connections. In order to be able to receive measured value data messages more reliably from the meter transmitters, the quality of wireless uplink connections which can be better received is reduced. This is done in that the concentrator acts with control signals via wireless downlink connections on parameters, such as transmitting power or message management, of the control of uplink transmitters. For this, uplink quality criteria automatically retrievable in the concentrator are, in particular, absolute or relative levels, signal-to-noise ratio and a relative number of receivable data messages.

Abstract: The suitability of a fixed or current mobile operating location for the receiver (19) in a data memory (13, 15) for picking up the consumption data (12) transmitted by a data radio channel in a wireless local data capture system (11) from consumption points (14) to a data memory (13, 15) can easily and reliably be qualitatively assessed in situ or for the purpose of remote diagnosis by virtue of a channel scan being initiated and the memory receiver (17) performing an RSSI measurement, which is preferably presented as a histogram (20) against current channel use. This renders permanent sources of interference and link budget problems in the data radio (particularly UHF) channel and also temporary sources of interference and collision problems in this channel identifiable and thereby avoids costly receiver location changes, without use of radio-specific specialist personnel, after a site has previously been selected for the receiver installation only empirically but inexpediently.