Device and method for detecting a consumption variable
The invention relates to a device ( 10 ) and method for recording a consumption variable supplied to a point of consumption. The device comprises a metering module ( 12 ) for recording the consumption variable, a first communication module ( 16 ) which is designed to communicate, preferably wirelessly, with a remote central collection unit ( 32 ) via a first communication network ( 30 ) and to transmit at least consumption-related data to the central collection unit ( 32 ); a data processing module ( 14 ) which is designed to transmit and receive radio signals via the first communication module ( 16 ) and to receive and analyze a signal generated by the metering module ( 12 ); a power supply module ( 24 ) which is designed to supply the metering module ( 12 ), the first communication module ( 16 ) and the data processing module ( 14 ) with current; and a battery ( 26 ) which is arranged such that it supplies the power supply module ( 24 ) with power. To simplify operation, it is provided that the device ( 10 ) has a second communication module ( 18 ) which is coupled to the data processing module ( 14 ) and is designed to create a wireless communication connection ( 34 ) between the data processing module ( 14 ) and a user identification means ( 36 ) of a user and to receive user data of said user, wherein the device ( 10 ) has an authentication module ( 22 ) coupled to the data processing module ( 14 ) and designed to verify the user data and assign it to an account of the user, and wherein the data processing module ( 14 ) is designed to assign the consumption variable provided to the user and recorded by the metering module ( 12 ) to the account of the user and to transmit it to the central collection unit ( 32 ) via the first communication module ( 16 ).
1 . A volumetric flow meter for recording a consumption variable in a form of a consumption quantity of a flow, a heat, or an electric power supplied to a point of consumption, comprising:
a data processing module;
a metering module coupled to the data processing module;
a near field communication module coupled to the data processing module, and in wireless communication with a user identification means;
an authentication module coupled to the data processing module;
a Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) standard communication module in communication with a remote and central collection unit in a form of a cloud server, via a wireless LPWA communication connection;
a power supply module connected to the metering module, the data processing module, and the LPWA standard communication module; and
a battery connected to the power supply module;
wherein the volumetric flow meter:
establishes a wireless near field communication connection by using the near field communication module between the data processing module and the user identification means of the user;
authenticates the user by verifying an identity of the user;
starts the provision of the consumption variable at the point of consumption, automatically, or by the user;
records the consumption variable provided to the user by using the metering module, and assigning the recorded consumption variable to an account of the user using the data processing module;
ends the provision of the consumption variable, automatically, or by the user; and
transmits consumption-related data relating to the provision of the consumption variable from the data processing module to the central and remote collection unit in the form of the cloud server directly, without a local server, by means of the Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) standard communication module via the wireless LPWA communication connection;
stores the consumption-related data by the central and remote collection unit;
wherein the data processing module, the LPWA standard communication module and the metering module are supplied with current via the power supply module, and
wherein the power supply module is supplied with power by the battery.
2 . The meter according to claim 1 , wherein the LPWA standard communication module permits communication via NB-IoT or LTE-M standards.
3 . The meter according to claim 1 , wherein the near field communication module is an NFC (Near Field Communication) module, an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) read/write module, or a Bluetooth® module.
4 . The meter according to claim 1 , further comprising a LAN/WLAN module and/or a GPS module.
5 . The meter according to claim 1 , wherein the user identification means is a cell phone or a chip card.
6 . The meter according to claim 1 , wherein the data processing module calculates a consumption quantity from the metering signal of the consumption variable generated by the metering module.
7 . The meter according to claim 1 , wherein the metering module has a sensor module integrated in a housing of the meter in a form of a magnetic, current, light, pressure, or sound sensor.
8 . The meter according to claim 1 , wherein the metering module further comprises a recording module, wherein the recording module and the sensor module are arranged in a housing of the meter, or wherein the recording module is an external module which is coupled to the sensor module wirelessly, and is detachably connectable to the housing of the meter.
9 . The meter according to claim 8 , wherein the recording module is a turbine wheel flow meter with a turbine wheel having a magnet, an oval wheel meter with an oval gear having a magnet, a temperature sensor, or a current sensor.
10 . The meter according to claim 1 , further comprising a connection module coupled to at least one of an external power module and an external metering module, wherein the connection module is an optical, electrical, magnetic and/or an electromagnetic interface.
11 . The meter according to claim 10 , wherein the meter is an automatic fuel terminal, wherein the external power module is a pump, wherein the connection module is connected to a control input of the pump, wherein a fluid inlet of the pump is coupled fluidically to a fluid contained in a reservoir in a form of a tank, wherein a fluid outlet of the pump is connected to an input of the recording module in a form of a flow meter, and wherein an output of the recording module is coupled to the point of consumption in a form of a fuel tank of a motor vehicle.
12 . A method for recording a consumption variable in a form of a consumption quantity of a flow, a heat, or an electric power supplied to a point of consumption by means of a volumetric flow meter, comprising: establishing a wireless near field communication connection by using a near field communication module between a data processing module and a user identification means of a user; authenticating the user by verifying an identity of the user; starting the provision of the consumption variable at the point of consumption, automatically, or by the user; recording the consumption variable provided to the user by using a metering module selected from the group consisting of a flow meter, a temperature meter, and a current meter, and assigning the recorded consumption variable to an account of the user using the data processing module; ending the provision of the consumption variable, automatically, or by the user; transmitting consumption-related data relating to the provision of the consumption variable from the data processing module to a central and remote collection unit in the form of a cloud server directly, without a local server, by means of a Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) standard communication module via a wireless LPWA communication connection; storing the consumption-related data by the central and remote collection unit; wherein the data processing module, the LPWA standard communication module and the metering module are supplied with current via a power supply module, and wherein the power supply module is supplied with power by a battery.
13 . The meter according to claim 5 , wherein the chip card is an RFID chip card or an NFC chip card.